Harry Potter stuff to do in London that isn’t the Studios or the Cursed Child?

[MarianosOnHisWay]

We are going to London for a couple of days in the Easter holidays, will be my DD age 7yo first time. She’s a big Harry Potter fan but isn’t ready for the studios yet as we’ve only watched the first two films and half way through the third book, and she isn’t old enough/ready for the Cursed Child show. I know about the shop at Kings Cross and the half a luggage trolley in the wall there. Just wondering if anyone had any other Harry Potter related recommendations!

There are guided Harry Potter walking tours-that might be fun?

sorry-here is a link with some ideas
www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=harry+potter+walking+tours+london&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

There's some sort of forbidden forest interactive thing on at the moment.

There's a photo exhibition thing somewhere. I'll try and find a link.

here

This shop is great: minalima.com

It's owned by the films' graphic designers and you can pick up beautiful books, artwork, etc. it's great to be able to support independent shops and talent.

There’s a big shop near the theatre where A Cursed Child is on - on Charing Cross Road

You can Google HP London sites. DH and DS3 did their own tour, finished at Platform 9 3/4. They had a lovely time.

@Decorhate

There’s a big shop near the theatre where A Cursed Child is on - on Charing Cross Road

We’re going to see Matilda and it looks like Cursed Child is nearby to Cambridge Theatre 👍🏻

Mina Lima shop is great. Allow spare time as if it's busy you may not get on tour straight away.

We did this when we were in London recently. The guide was brilliant. www.tourformuggles.com/

@DuchessAndThePea

This shop is great: minalima.com

It's owned by the films' graphic designers and you can pick up beautiful books, artwork, etc. it's great to be able to support independent shops and talent.

Looks magical

If you are going to the shop at Kings Cross... take money

@caranations

If you are going to the shop at Kings Cross... take money

She has some birthday money to spend. We’ve been to The Shop That Must Not Be Named on the Shambles in York… managed to stick to £40 which I thought wasn’t too bad!! Might have to take out a loan for when we eventually do get to the Studios (saving it for when she’s seen all or at least more of the films)

Have lunch or a coffee in Leadenhall Market (Diagon Alley). There’s a newish French patisserie shop that might be nice for you all.

@Porridgeislife

Have lunch or a coffee in Leadenhall Market (Diagon Alley). There’s a newish French patisserie shop that might be nice for you all.

Looks nice

I was going to say Mina Lima. Stunning!

I have got an afternoon tea booked for the Easter holidays, at The Potion Room, which is at the Cutter and Squidge bakery. It is not officially Harry Potter themed, but looks quite magical and fun!

@MarianosOnHisWay

Cursed child is literally 2 mins walk from Matilda.

There is a photo exhibition in Covent Garden also easy walking distance. The shop in Kings X was busy but good choice of items. In the later films the footbridge near Blackfriars features & other London sites are seen. Not so much in the first few films though.

If she isn't quite ready to read the books then the audio books are an excellent way to make the later stories more accessible

[quote Auntycorruption]@MarianosOnHisWay

Cursed child is literally 2 mins walk from Matilda.

There is a photo exhibition in Covent Garden also easy walking distance. The shop in Kings X was busy but good choice of items. In the later films the footbridge near Blackfriars features & other London sites are seen. Not so much in the first few films though.

If she isn't quite ready to read the books then the audio books are an excellent way to make the later stories more accessible [/quote]
Thank you. We are reading them together- we have the illustrated editions as well as the normal ones and I read aloud and she follows along in the illustrated one. We do have the audiobooks too and often listen to them in the car (of the books we’ve already read). We read a book; then watch the corresponding film. So we’ve read the first two books and watched the first two films, and currently half way through the third book. We are taking our time enjoying them and soaking it all in as she’s only 7yo and there’s plenty of time to progress on to each one, which is become much more dark and scary as they go on. We have been reading a non-Harry Potter book in between too such as Roald Dahl etc. She loves it though and has lots of merch such as bedspread, stationery and character dolls! Saving the Studios for when she’s maybe around 10 or 11 and we’ve read them all and she’s seen all the films.

Thanks for the other tips

@Twoweeksandcounting

I have got an afternoon tea booked for the Easter holidays, at The Potion Room, which is at the Cutter and Squidge bakery. It is not officially Harry Potter themed, but looks quite magical and fun!

I've done this and it is really really good fun.

We did the Tour for Muggles listed above and really enjoyed it. It then gave a good base for future London trips as we talked about things they pointed out to us

Was also coming to say House of Mina Lima!

If you go to platform 9 3/4 in Kings Cross, allow time for queues.

Just wanted to say, I was in London for a couple of days this weekend and went to House of Mina Lima based on reading this thread last week.

Had never heard of it before - it was great! Beautiful artwork and loved the way they'd decorated the rooms. Thanks for flagging it up! For anyone who hasn't been, I recommend it too now!

Now I'm off to look at the prints online cos they were too big to fit in my suitcase! 😄