Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross

[Deminism]

DD and I have a special day just the two of us later this summer - I thought we would start it at king's cross having a pic at platform 9 3/4. Is it worth it those who have done it - I know it is expensive. Anyone know the price range of pics? It is a special treat so don't mind too much but don't like to be taken for a fool Can you also take your own pics of professionals only?

I have never done it as an experience, because I'm not interested. I go to KX a lot though, and walk past it often. My impression is that it is very disappointing, with very long queues. That may be because I am not a HP fan though!

There's info here:
www.kingscross.co.uk/harry-potters-platform-9-34

Last time I saw it you could take your own pics or buy the one they do. There is an HP shop right there. You can also see St Pancras nextdoor which is the station actually used in the films although it's KX in the books. I think there's a London HP walk you can do if you google and a trip to Leadenhall Market (Diagon Alley) is nice, there used to be a HP wand shop there.

There was no trolley there when we were there the other week which was very disappointing.

They’ve moved the location to the main concourse and it’s not a proper platform, just a photo op against a wall, next to the Harry Potter shop. It does get very busy, especially now it’s school holidays and prime tourist season. Be prepared for a long queue. You can take your own photos, no charge. I think the professional photographers charge about £10.

Dd is a huge fan and we live locally, but even we can't get excited about that I'm afraid. Huge queues to stand in line for what is essentially your child hanging onto a trolley half embedded in a wall, while people jostle to get you to hurry up.
If you never go and the queues aren't horrific, go for it, but it really is a lot of palavar for very little, sorry.

You can buy a pass online in advance for about 10 pounds. It allows you to skip the queue and includes a print of the professional photo. Worth every penny! It comes as a VIP pass on a 9 3/4 lanyard.

Correction... the VIP pass is 15 pound. Still worth it in my opinion! www.harrypotterplatform934.com/collections/best-sellers/products/vip-photo-pass

We had a good time when we went, but didn't bother queuing up for a photo with the trolley!! It was a long queue, and we already have trolley photos from HP studios, but we would have been prepared to queue if we hadn't already got photos. The shop is good to look round and my dd got her Hogwarts acceptance letter there. It was £10, and they put your name on it and it comes in a presentation folder with a wax seal, so that was worth going for. We also bought gold Platform 93/4 train tickets in the shop. We took lovely photos outside the shop, and then walked over to where they did the actual filming. So we enjoyed it as part of our day. Primark on Oxford St is also worth a visit while you're there, they have a dedicated HP section, with Hedwigs suspended from the ceiling! Ask a member of staff where that is if you can't find it.

If you're going to HP studios, they have some platforms 9 3/4 there - 3 next to each other, so almost no queue.
For KX, I recommend getting there before 10 am or after 8pm - the queues are enormous!

I queued for the picture and paid for the professional pictures (2 for £15) absolutely love them and better than taking my own! They provide the scarf and wand etc

You can just rock up & take your own pic for free. Obvs earlier is better - no queue