Harry Potter’s London Tour: From the Leaky Cauldron to Gringotts Bank

(19 reviews)

London audio tour: Harry Potter’s London Tour: From the Leaky Cauldron to Gringotts Bank

This is a 2.5mi walking tour

It takes an average of 120 mins to complete.

London

The United Kingdom

$14.99

Access all 55 locations offline with the VoiceMap app

Buy for a Group

Reviews

About the Tour

London’s oldest streets are magical if you know where to look. On this walking tour, you’ll step into the enchanting world of Harry Potter and see the city like never before. You’ll take in the real-life locations that inspired JK Rowling’s beloved series, and the iconic sites featured in the blockbuster films.

Starting in front of the picturesque Leadenhall Market, you’ll discover how this popular venue was transformed into the mystical alley that’s home to the Leaky Cauldron. From there you’ll venture into the heart of London where spellbinding Victorian architecture transports you to the bustling streets of the wizarding world.

As you make your way to the Australian High Commission (or Gringotts Bank as it’s known in Harry Potter), you’ll walk across the awe-inspiring Millennium Bridge which was famously destroyed by the Death Eaters in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. You’ll also enjoy panoramic views of the River Thames and the city’s skyline as you make your way to London’s Blackfriars district.

Along the way, you’ll be able to:

Take in sights that were featured in several Harry Potter movies
Experience Borough Market, London’s premier street food market which was also used as the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron
See the magnificent St Paul’s Cathedral, used as the location of the Divination Stairwell in Prisoner of Azkaban and seen again in Goblet of Fire

This London tour goes beyond Harry Potter, too. In addition, you’ll:

Discover why two men fighting over a cheese sandwich led to the installation of London’s smallest public sculpture
Learn about the 1666 Great Fire of London which burned for five days and destroyed 80% of the city
Pop into Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, the four-hundred-year-old pub where people used to travel for miles to be insulted by the landlord’s foul-mouthed parrot
Hear the grisly story of Sweeney Todd, ‘the Demon Barber of Fleet Street’, whose unsuspecting customers ended up as the fillings for meat pies

So join me and unleash your inner witch or wizard and make memories that will last a lifetime. Whether you’re a die-hard Potterhead or simply enjoy a good walk, this spellbinding London tour will introduce you to many of the capital’s most iconic and impressive sights.

Tour Producer

Talk the Walk

11 tours

I’m Ian Grover and for many years it’s been my pleasure to guide visitors around London and throughout the British Isles. As well as the iconic sights, I delight in showing the hidden gems that many people miss.

My background was centred around the automotive industry when in 1980 I started work as a trainee car salesman with Renault UK Ltd. Over the coming years I progressed to sales management with Mercedes-Benz and finally ended up with the splendidly sounding title of Personal Liaison Manager, responsible for UK sales of their two flagship models. These were the ultra-luxurious Maybach, and a 300 km/h supercar called the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. When these two programmes came to an end I decided to take a different path in life and do something that I had always had a passion for and I became a tour guide.

I went to the University of Westminster in London where, after comprehensive training, I qualified with distinction as a City of Westminster Tour Guide, Since then, over the past years I have delivered both walking tours of London and driving tours throughout the British Isles and this is something that I still enjoy immensely.

In addition to my physical tours, through my Talk the Walk profile on VoiceMap, I'm now focussed on producing engaging audio tours so that travellers can explore with me in their own time and at their own pace.

Preview Location

Location 24

Borough Market: The Leaky Cauldron

On your right is number 7 Stoney Street although it's not quite so easy to see these days as there are covered eating areas outside. The building you're looking for is the one directly under the railway bridge with the entrance in the middle and no windows. This entrance was u... On your right is number 7 Stoney Street although it's not quite so easy to see these days as there are covered eating areas outside. The building you're looking for is the one directly under the railway bridge with the entrance in the middle and no windows. This entrance was used as the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron in the Prisoner of Azkaban. When the movie was filmed the building was a flower shop, but at the time of writing this tour it's a Mexican style taco restaurant called El Pastor. The building next door to the right was also seen in the film with a sign showing "Third Hand Book Emporium".

Stop when you get there and find a spot that gives you the best view of the entrance.

In the Prisoner of Azkaban Harry is being transported to the Leaky Cauldron in the Knight Bus. In the scene you see the Knight Bus speed into this street and then Ernie the driver pulls sharply on the brake lever, sending Harry flying face first into the bus's front window. The bus then comes to a bumpy halt when it crashes into the back of a parked car, whose alarm starts going off. The scene ends with Harry being led into the Leaky Cauldron as the Knight Bus speeds away and disappears. You can clearly see the Borough Market buildings on the right at this time. Incidentally the Knight Bus drivers's name was Ernie and the conductor was Stan, and they were named after JK Rowling's grandfathers, Ernest Rowling and Stanley Volant.

Now it's time to get moving again, but if the market's open when you're here you might just find all those delicious cooking smells too much to resist. If you do want to explore the market then stop the tour. Come back here when you're ready to go and press resume. Otherwise start walking again and head back up Stoney Street the way you came.

As you walk you'll pass the main Borough Market buildings on your right. The ornate portico you'll see originally belonged to the Floral Hall in Covent Garden. This was next door to the Royal Opera House and was used as a concert hall and occasionally as an ice rink. The Floral Hall burned down in 1956 and was left in a dilapidated state for many years. In the 1990s when it was being redeveloped, this portico was put into storage and eventually moved here in 2003. Instead of a concert hall, the upper floor now contains a restaurant.

As you go you'll probably see loads of people standing in the road but cars and lorries also regularly come down here so be careful as you go. Read More

View locations and route

How VoiceMap Works

Focus on your surroundings, not the screen

The VoiceMap app uses GPS to play audio automatically, at the right time and place, so you can focus on your surroundings, not the screen.

Follow a route with turn-by-turn-directions

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a fixed starting point. That lets us give turn-by-turn directions and use context to tell a better story.

Resume playback to go at your own pace

If you'd like to stop for a drink or go into a museum, end your tour then use the Resume feature to pick up exactly where you left off.

Listen as many times as you like

You can listen to your tours as often as you like using both the VoiceMap app and website.

Take virtual tours anywhere, like a podcast

Select Virtual mode in the VoiceMap app to listen to tours like a podcast - at home or in transit.

Buy for less on voicemap.me and sync

Once you've purchased a tour, it's added to your VoiceMap library. To access it in the app, just sign in using the same account.

Do tours without paying for data

Tours work offline, so you don't have to pay roaming fees. Just download them over WiFi before you get started.

Major Landmarks

Australian High Commission
Leadenhall Market
Philpot Lane Mice Sculpture
Pudding Lane
Monument to the Great Fire of London
London Bridge
Borough Market
The Clink Prison Museum
Anchor Bankside
Shakespeare's Globe
Millennium Bridge
St. Paul's Cathedral
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
Fleet Street
Temple Bar Memorial
Royal Courts of Justice

View all

Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
Gracechurch St, London EC3V 1LT, UK
Total distance

4km
Final location
Strand, London WC2B 4LA, UK
Distance back to start location

2km

Directions to Starting Point

The tour starts in Whittington Avenue which is a small street off Leadenhall Street in London's financial district. The start point is the grand Victorian entrance to Leadenhall Market. If you are coming via the London Underground (known to Londoners as The Tube) then Monument Station is a 2 minute walk away. This is served by the District and Circle lines. Please remember to bring comfortable walking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, and, of course, your wand.

Show Directions

Gift vouchers

Buy tours for friends and family who delight in discovery

Buy Now

Buy for a group

Get 15% to 50% off when you buy for a group

Buy Now

License this tour

Adapt this tour to use your brand and suit your guests

Find out more

Tips

Places to stop along the way

There is no shortage of places to stop for a quick drink, a light snack or a full meal along the way. Borough Market has over one hundred outlets selling some of the finest quality street food in London. If a more substantial meal might be preferred then Borough Yards has a great selection of quality restaurants on offer. Alternatively you could enjoy some traditional pub grub in one of London's oldest riverside pubs.

Best time of day

This tour can be taken all year round and at any time of day. You will be starting in London's financial district and on weekdays the streets outside get pretty busy during the rush hour. Try to start the tour after 10:00 and before 17:00 if possible.

Precautions

London is generally a very safe city. Like all major cities though it's always best to be aware that pickpockets sometimes operate around busy areas such as bus stations and rail stations so make sure that your belongings are secured and out of sight. Take particular care while crossing roads as we drive on the opposite side of the road compared to many countries. Watch out also for cyclists as they do not always pay attention to red lights and traffic directions.

Get The App

Download tours to use them offline

Listen hands-free with GPS playback

Get turn-by-turn directions

Scan the QR Code

“This app has become my go-to app for audio tours. I pretty much use it for every trip and it works wonderfully. I highly recommend VoiceMap for travelers to truly experience cities.”

App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”