Leadenhall Market

Airy, beautiful, and rich in heritage, Leadenhall Market is one of the oldest markets in London. Today, it’s known for its stunning Victorian architecture, eclectic shops and restaurants—and of course, for starring in the first Harry Potter movie.

In the film, the cobblestone marketplace provides the original exterior shots of Diagon Alley, the shopping hub where Hogwarts students stock up on school supplies like spell books and wands.

And if you wander down the market’s Bull’s Head Passage—42 Bull’s Head Passage, to be exact—you may recognize a certain blue door that leads to the fictional Leaky Cauldron pub. If you were to open the door, however, you’d simply find yourself inside an optics shop.

Historically, Leadenhall Market was built in the center of Roman London, the capital of Roman Britain during most of Rome’s rule. In 1321, the market was a popular meeting place for poulterers. In 1411, the former Lord Mayor Richard “Dick” Whittingham gifted the site to the city, and under the City of London Corporation it became a premier meat and fish market.

In the 1600s, it was the most important market in medieval and early modern London, and by the 1800s it was officially in the heart of the financial district. City architect, Sir Horace Jones, was tasked with designing a “respectable arcade” for the poultry market to suit the financial city, and he replaced the market’s stone facade with the iconic wrought iron and glass we know today.

Retail activities flourished in the 1900s, and the market was granted Grade II listed status in 1972. Today, the roof, cobblestones, and buildings are all preserved, and above each entrance are intricately carved dragons, shields, and other London-y images.

As a breathtaking landmark and cultural hub, it’s no wonder the location scouts for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone saw the magic in Leadenhall Market.