York for Harry Potter fans

York is a magical city whether you love tales of wizards or not, with its twisting alleyways and historic buildings – but there are some extra reasons to visit York for Harry Potter fans.

ad – contains paid promotion/affiliate links/review visits*

From shops selling memorabilia and merchandise galore to the chance to make your own (drinkable) potion and buy Butterbeer (sort of), plus a few fun touches that only the sharp-eyed will notice, it’s the perfect place for a magical city break.

And while you can’t magic up the Hogwarts Express to take you there (shame), it’s a great time to grab the best Muggle equivalent, with fewer crowds in the city.

For more ideas of days out in the UK for Harry Potter fans, check out this post

The Shambles

This narrow street with its half-timbered buildings helped inspire Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter films – JK Rowling drew her own inspiration from Edinburgh and London – and the Shambles has embraced the wizarding world with open arms.

Once the medieval butchers, it’s now packed with shops selling Harry Potter products or offering enchanting experiences (read on for one of those).

If you only visit one shop, make it The Shop Which Must Not Be Named, with its broomstick parking outside, and everything from wands to Hogwarts uniforms, chocolate frogs and Marauder’s Map notebooks.

Expect to queue (best to get there early), with limited numbers inside and it’s worth saving your money too: my daughter emerged with a purple pygmy puff, among other treasures, although I had to say no to a Nimbus 2000 at £250…

The Wizard Walk of York

Set off in search of magical creatures, led through the streets of York by your wizard guide, on York’s only tour specifically designed for children – named the Best Tour of York in the Little Vikings Awards for Kids, voted for by families.

The multi award-winning Wizard Walk of York tour is perfect for fans of Harry Potter although you don’t need to be an expert on the wizarding world to enjoy it.

Starting and ending at the Shambles, said to be one of the inspirations for Diagon Alley, the tour lasts around an hour and is aimed at kids aged 5-10, although it’s fun for witches and wizards of all ages.

You can even add on a special wand kit as an enchanting souvenir, with a handcrafted wooden wand and instructions for seven tricks to learn at home. Runs most Saturdays and selected other days, including regular tours during school holidays.

York Station

If you’ve taken the train to York – and even if you haven’t – keep an eye out for the bridge which Harry and Hagrid cross to get to Kings Cross Station in the first movie.

The pedestrian bridge which links the platforms was the spot where Hagrid gives Harry his ticket for the Hogwarts Express. It’s changed a bit since filming, but at less than 20 minutes’ walk from the Shambles, it’s easy to stroll over and see.

If you want to pop to Hogsmeade as well, the scenes were shot at Goathland railway station on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway – it’s around 90 minutes away by car (or there’s a bus, plus you can take the train from Pickering to Whitby via Goathland).

National Railway Museum

A snitch’s throw from York Station (well, about five minutes’ walk), there’s another little Harry Potter link for determined fans at the free National Railway Museum.

Not the Hogwarts Express, alas, although it was briefly on display there – you can see plenty of other locomotives including the Flying Scotsman, as well as The Rocket, and a simulator to virtually transport you to the footplate of the world’s fastest steam locomotive, The Mallard.

Hunt around and you can also find the sign for Platform 9 3/4 – head into the North Shed, the one with the Flying Scotsman, and it’s tucked away there at the back.

The Potions Cauldron

Based at 9 3/4 Shambles, The Potions Cauldron boasts they’ve been potion makers since 1335, and if you’re on the trail of Harry Potter in York with kids, there are some fantastic experiences to try.

Sign up for the Potions Experience, and you’ll be led into the back room, with cauldron gently bubbling, a mysterious locked chest and the chance to design your own drinkable potion – adults can have an extra shot of poison in theirs if they want too!

I recommend the unicorn essence, pink with swirling gold in, while my daughter chose a Lion Heart potion for her slushie, guaranteed to give you courage (which you need for the popping candy which explodes enthusiastically once you scatter it on the ice).

Throw in a gift for kids who help track down the missing baby dragon, and best of all, it’s less than £5 each, There’s also a longer evening experience for adults with a couple of cocktails.

Or you can just pop in (you may have to queue) and buy a drink to take away, including butterscotch beer. No official Harry Potter link, but on the plus side, no scowling Snape as you mix your potion!

Magic bonus: keep your eyes peeled as you go in, and you’ll see the tiniest door on the street, for no 10 The Shambles, just to the left of the entrance

The Hole in Wand

Where else can you win a magical potion after playing wizard-themed mini golf? The sister attraction to The Potions Cauldron, your quest at The Hole in Wand is to track down missing gargoyle Grobblenook while taking on 9 holes of crazy golf.

There are so many little details, you’ll want to spend half your time soaking them up – flying golf clubs which look like the flying keys from the first movie, cobwebby books and even a secret exit from the final hole.

There’s an added quest to break a code along the way (top tip: look for the stray capital letters!) and depending how well you did, you’re graded serpent, basilisk, unicorn or wizard and get a prize of a potion.

We’re big fans of crazy golf but there are some seriously tricky holes, so best to leave any competitive streak with your broom outside – there’s chance to have a photo snapped against a green screen outside.

After posing and playing, we walked away with bottles of Basilisk Blood and the giggles – a fun way to spend an hour if you love magic.

Take a Harry Potter tour

For a walking tour with a difference, try this Harry Potter tour of York – it’s family-friendly with quiz questions as you go, and a great way to learn some unexpected facts about the city.

You’ll visit the station along the way, as the only Harry Potter scene filmed in York, as well as other places in the city which have links (or may have!) to the wizarding world.

There’s plenty of history of York too, and a chance to explore some streets you might not otherwise visit, so a great option if you’ve got limited time in the city.

Try a wizard escape room

Can you help the spliced wizard put his body back together after a spell has gone wrong? York’s Harry Potter Escape Room is perfect for families too, with 60 minutes to take on the tasks needed to reverse the damage.

There’s wand lore, rune deciphering and more potions, and you’ll need to work together to solve all the problems you’re faced with.

Designed for people who’ve never tried an escape room before and to be solvable if you’re visiting with younger Harry Potter fans, as well as groups of adults, it’s based at Rehab Piccadilly, not far from Merchant Adventurer’s Hall.

For more things to do in York with kids as well as days out in Yorkshire, check out my pick of the best

PIN FOR LATER: YORK FOR HARRY POTTER FANS

Disclosure: This post contains paid promotion and affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission. I was given free entry to some places mentioned in the post for the purposes of review but all opinions (and pygmy puffs) are my own

Images copyright MummyTravels

LIKED THIS? SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL NEWSLETTER