Last year I finished another Rama walking tour, this time focusing on Harry Potter film locations in London. This basically combined my two ultimate favourite things – history and Harry Potter, so I very much enjoyed writing it!!
The statistics for Harry Potter are just phenomenal - the books have sold over 450 million copies (in seventy languages, including latin), and the films have grossed over £4 billion worldwide. Millions of people adore the books and the films, so this was a great opportunity to get people talking about Harry Potter in London, as well as the history behind some of the locations.The tour starts at Kings’ Cross, the departure point for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry…though the real station has some great history. Some believe the ghost of Boudicca haunts the station, as the site of her last battle is located near King’s Cross. St. Pancras station, recently renovated, is a beautiful sight next to King’s Cross – used as the facade for King's Cross in the films, it was known as the ‘cathedral of the railways’ when it was built. St. Pancras refers to a church dedicated to a young Roman boy who was executed for being a Christian. The tour also includes a walk along my favourite stretch of London: Southbank to Tower Bridge. St. Paul’s, the Globe, Tower Bridge, what more do you want? I never get tired of seeing St. Paul’s, and my favourite thing about it is the architect, Sir Christopher Wren. When the original church was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666, Wren, who chose the symbol rising from the ashes to symbolise London’s regeneration, redesigned the church, finishing it in 1711. Wren is buried in the church, and an inscription states “reader, if you seek a memorial, look around you.”
Follow the tour on twitter! https://twitter.com/#!/Harrys_London
“When I die, London will be forever engraved on my heart”.
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