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Harry PotterWhere is Harry Potter’s Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross?
Looking for Harry Potter's Platform 9¾ in London? Head to King's Cross station. A real Platform 9¾ photo spot has been installed there, complete with the famous luggage trolley that appears to disappear into the wall.
Good news: access is free and you do not need a train ticket. The photo spot is located in the main concourse at King's Cross, right next to the Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9¾.
Platform 9¾ at King's Cross: key information
- Location: King's Cross station, London.
- Where to find it: in the station concourse, next to the Harry Potter Shop.
- Price: free access and free photos with your own phone or camera.
- Train ticket: not required to access the photo spot.
- Trolley: accessible at all times.
- Photographer: currently available every day from 9am to 9pm.
- Queues: waiting times can be longer during school holidays and festive periods.
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Where exactly is Platform 9¾ at King's Cross?
The Platform 9¾ photo spot is located in the main concourse at King's Cross station. Look for the “Platform 9¾” sign on a brick wall and the luggage trolley that appears to be disappearing through it.
The Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9¾ is right next to it, making the installation fairly easy to find once you are inside the station.
Do not look for the photo spot between the real Platforms 9 and 10. In the Harry Potter universe, the entrance to Platform 9¾ is located between these two platforms. At the real King's Cross station, Platforms 9 and 10 are separated by railway tracks. The visitor installation is therefore located in the station concourse.
Taking a photo at Platform 9¾
The classic photo involves posing behind the luggage trolley that appears to be halfway through the wall, as if you were about to join the Hogwarts Express.
You can take your own photo for free using your phone or camera. A professional photographer is also available at certain times, and the photos taken there can then be viewed and purchased at the neighbouring shop.
The photographer is currently available every day from 9am to 9pm. Props, including scarves in the colours of the Hogwarts houses, may also be available for the professional photo.
When should you visit to avoid the queue?
Platform 9¾ is one of London's most popular Harry Potter stops, so queues can become quite long, particularly during school holidays and festive periods.
If getting the photo is important to you, try to visit early in the day. The trolley remains accessible at all times, even when the professional photography service is not available.
Is Platform 9¾ free?
Yes. There is no ticket to buy to access the trolley and take your own photo. You do not need to catch a train or pass through the barriers leading to the railway platforms either.
Only optional services and purchases, such as professional photographs or souvenirs from the Harry Potter Shop, cost extra.
Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9¾
Right next to the photo spot is the Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9¾. Its interior is inspired by the shops of the wizarding world.
You will find wands, clothing and robes in Hogwarts house colours, accessories, collectables and a wide range of Harry Potter souvenirs.
The currently published opening hours are:
- Monday to Saturday: 8am to 9pm;
- Sunday: 9am to 9pm.
These opening hours may change, particularly during holidays and on special dates. If visiting the shop is part of your plans, check the opening hours before your visit.
Why is Platform 9¾ at King's Cross?
In the Harry Potter books, King's Cross is the London station from which students travel to Hogwarts. To reach Platform 9¾, witches and wizards have to pass through the barrier between Platforms 9 and 10.
On the other side, the Hogwarts Express is waiting for them, with the train to Hogwarts departing at 11am on 1 September.
The train and railway landscapes from the series also have a strong connection with Scotland. The Jacobite Steam Train, often nicknamed the “Hogwarts Express”, crosses the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct seen in the films.
Why did J.K. Rowling choose King's Cross?
King's Cross has a personal connection for J.K. Rowling. The author has explained that her parents met on a train to Scotland that departed from King's Cross, giving the station a special significance in her family history.
The real layout of the station does not, however, match the one imagined in the books: the actual Platforms 9 and 10 do not have a wall that could recreate the passage described in the story.
King's Cross in the Harry Potter films
King's Cross is not only mentioned in the books: the real London station was also used as a filming location for the Harry Potter films. Several films used the station for scenes connected with Hogwarts students leaving and returning.
The photo spot you see today is not an original film set. It is a visitor installation created to bring the famous fictional platform to life inside the real station.
To discover King's Cross in context alongside other locations from the films, see our guide to Harry Potter filming locations in London and the UK.
How do you get to Platform 9¾ in London?
The photo spot is inside London King's Cross Station on Euston Road. The neighbouring St Pancras International station is only a few minutes' walk away.
By Tube, get off at King's Cross St Pancras, served by the Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines.
Once inside King's Cross, head to the main concourse and follow signs for Platform 9¾ or the Harry Potter Shop. There is no need to head towards the real Platforms 9 and 10.
If you arrive at St Pancras International on Eurostar, King's Cross is directly opposite. Platform 9¾ is therefore an easy stop to add when you arrive in London or before your journey home.
Harry Potter guided tours visiting King's Cross
If you want to see more than the photo spot, several Harry Potter guided tours in London visit King's Cross as well as other locations associated with the films and the wizarding world.
These tours are particularly useful if you have limited time and want to see several Harry Potter locations during the same half-day.
What can you do after visiting Platform 9¾?
Taking a photo at King's Cross does not necessarily take long, so it is easy to combine your visit with other Harry Potter experiences in and around London.
Visit the Harry Potter studios
To see the original sets, costumes and props used during filming, visit the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter in Leavesden.
Highlights include the Great Hall, Diagon Alley, the Forbidden Forest and many original props from the films.
Tickets are timed and the most popular slots can sell out quickly, so book once your London plans are confirmed.
See Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
You can also continue your day in the West End with Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre. The play continues the Harry Potter story with a new generation of characters.
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FAQ: Platform 9¾ at King's Cross
Is Platform 9¾ real?
Platform 9¾ is fictional, but a Platform 9¾ photo spot has been installed at King's Cross station in London. It features a sign and a luggage trolley that appears to be passing through the wall.
Where is Platform 9¾ inside King's Cross?
The photo spot is located in the station concourse, right next to the Harry Potter Shop. It is not located between the real Platforms 9 and 10.
Do you need a train ticket to visit Platform 9¾?
No. The photo spot is accessible without a train ticket and without passing through the barriers leading to the railway platforms.
Is the Platform 9¾ photo free?
Yes. You can take your own photo for free using your phone or camera. A paid professional photography service is also available at certain times.
What time can you visit Platform 9¾?
The trolley is accessible at all times. The professional photographer is currently available every day from 9am to 9pm.
When is the best time to visit Platform 9¾ to avoid queues?
Queues are generally longer during school holidays and festive periods. For a quieter visit, try to arrive early in the day.
How long should you allow for Platform 9¾?
The photo itself only takes a few minutes. Allow more time if there is a queue or if you also want to visit the Harry Potter Shop afterwards.
Can you access the real Platforms 9 and 10?
The railway platforms are reserved for passengers authorised to access that part of the station. In any case, you do not need to visit them to see Platform 9¾: the photo spot is located in the main concourse.
Summary
Harry Potter's Platform 9¾ is located in the main concourse at King's Cross station in London, next to the Harry Potter Shop. The luggage trolley installation is free to visit and you do not need a train ticket to take your own photo.
Do not look for it between the real Platforms 9 and 10: at the actual station, these platforms are separated by railway tracks. The photo spot was installed elsewhere inside King's Cross so fans can easily recreate the famous departure for Hogwarts.
To continue the experience, explore our Harry Potter in London guide, covering filming locations, the Studio Tour, must-see experiences and practical tips for planning a Harry Potter-themed trip.
Sources and useful links
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