From Diagon Alley's Leadenhall Market to the MI6 building on the Thames, London's streets double as some of cinema's most recognizable backdrops. Here is where to find them and which tours cover the ground.
London is one of the world's busiest screen-tourism cities, with locations from Harry Potter, James Bond, Paddington, The Crown, Bridgerton and Ted Lasso spread across its boroughs. Most outdoor spots are free to view, while Warner Bros. Studio Tour London near Watford holds the original Harry Potter sets and requires pre-booked tickets.
Few cities appear on screen as often as London. In 2022 alone the city recorded 11,966 filming days, and international feature productions brought in over £1.3 billion of inward investment in 2019. That scale means visitors can walk from a Harry Potter filming site to a Bond landmark in a single afternoon.
Many locations are public streets, bridges and markets that cost nothing to see. Others, such as St Paul's Cathedral, Temple Church and the Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College, require tickets. The Warner Bros. Studio Tour at Leavesden, which holds the original Harry Potter sets, props and costumes, sits outside the city and needs planning ahead.
London's screen credits span more than two decades of blockbusters and prestige television. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone used Leadenhall Market as Diagon Alley in 2001, while the Bond franchise has returned repeatedly, from GoldenEye's Somerset House courtyard in 1995 to Skyfall's National Gallery and MI6 scenes in 2012. Television has been equally drawn to the city: Sherlock, The Crown, Bridgerton, Ted Lasso and Doctor Who all filmed at recognizable addresses.
| Title | Year | Type | What was filmed here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone | 2001 | Film | Leadenhall Market as Diagon Alley and Leaky Cauldron entrance |
| Skyfall | 2012 | Film | National Gallery, MI6 building, London locations |
| Paddington | 2014 | Film | Paddington Station, Portobello Road, Chalcot Crescent |
| The Crown | 2016 | TV | Old Royal Naval College, various royal and historic sites |
| Notting Hill | 1999 | Film | Portobello Road Market, blue door on Westbourne Park Road |
| Mission: Impossible - Fallout | 2018 | Film | St Paul's Cathedral dome, Brompton Cemetery |
| 28 Days Later | 2002 | Film | Westminster Bridge, empty London streets |
| Sherlock | 2010 | TV | North Gower Street, Speedy's Cafe |
| Ted Lasso | 2020 | TV | The Prince's Head pub in Richmond, Selhurst Park |
| The Da Vinci Code | 2006 | Film | Temple Church, Westminster Abbey |
| Bridgerton | 2020 | TV | Ranger's House Greenwich, Old Royal Naval College |
| GoldenEye | 1995 | Film | Somerset House courtyard, MI6 building |
| Love Actually | 2003 | Film | St Luke's Mews, various London streets |
| Kingsman: The Secret Service | 2014 | Film | Savile Row, The Black Prince pub |
| Cruella | 2021 | Film | Liberty London, Tower of London |
| Doctor Who | 2005 | TV | Various landmarks including Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square |
10 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
City of London, London Free to see
Filmed here: Diagon Alley and Leaky Cauldron entrance exterior
This ornate Victorian covered market in the City of London served as Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron entrance exterior in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Access is free during market hours. It gets busy at lunchtime, when the shops and cafes fill up with nearby office workers.
Camden, London Free to see
Filmed here: Hogwarts Express departure point
The Hogwarts Express departure point in the Harry Potter series. There is a free photo opportunity with a trolley prop built into the wall, though queues can be long, especially at peak travel times. The station itself is a working rail hub, so arrive with time to spare.
Greenwich, London Free to see
Filmed here: Buckingham Palace exteriors, various period scenes
The Greenwich centrepiece stood in for Buckingham Palace exteriors in The Crown and Skyfall, and appeared in Bridgerton's period scenes. The grounds are open daily and free to wander. The Painted Hall, one of the most filmed interiors in Britain, is ticketed and worth the separate entry.
Lambeth, London Outside only
Filmed here: MI6 headquarters exteriors
The real intelligence headquarters on the Thames appeared in GoldenEye and Skyfall. Access is exterior only, but the building is easily viewed from public riverside paths. Many visitors pair it with a walk along the South Bank toward Westminster.
Kensington and Chelsea, London Free to see
Filmed here: Market scenes and bookshop area
Notting Hill's market scenes and bookshop area were filmed here, and Paddington returned to the same street. The Saturday antiques market is the busiest and most atmospheric time to visit, though shops open daily. Expect crowds on weekends regardless of the season.
City of London, London Ticketed
Filmed here: Dome slide scene
The dome featured in the famous slide sequence in Mission: Impossible - Fallout from 2018. The exterior is free to admire, while interior entry is ticketed. Climbing to the dome's galleries rewards visitors with views across the City of London that echo the film's rooftop chase.
Westminster, London Free to see
Filmed here: Various street and landmark scenes
A recurring screen backdrop, appearing in Skyfall, Wonder Woman and Captain America: The First Avenger. The square is always open and free, and the National Gallery, itself a Skyfall location, sits on its northern edge. It is a natural stop on almost any central London walk.
Richmond, London Free to see
Filmed here: The Crown & Anchor pub
This working pub in Richmond plays the Crown & Anchor in Ted Lasso, complete with its painted sign for the show. It remains popular with fans and serves as an easy excuse to explore Richmond, one of the prettier corners of the capital and a short train ride from central London.
City of London, London Ticketed
Filmed here: Crypt and interior scenes
The crypt and interior featured in The Da Vinci Code from 2006. Entry is ticketed and opening hours vary, so check before visiting. The church sits within the quiet, courtyarded Temple complex, a world away from the traffic of Fleet Street a few minutes away.
Westminster, London Free to see
Filmed here: Deserted bridge scenes
The bridge appeared deserted in the haunting opening scenes of 28 Days Later from 2002. In reality it is a busy, pedestrian friendly crossing with direct views of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Early morning offers the closest thing to an empty frame.
For visitors who want to step inside the sets rather than stand outside them, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, The Making of Harry Potter, is the headline attraction. Located at Studio Tour Drive in Leavesden, Watford, northwest of central London, it houses the original Harry Potter sets, props and costumes. Tickets must be pre-booked, and the tour runs seasonal features in 2026. Most visitors reach it by train from London to Watford Junction followed by a shuttle bus, or by booking a tour that includes transport.
Guided tours split into two camps: central London walking tours that visit filming locations around the city, and studio excursions that handle the journey to Leavesden. Walking tours suit short visits and tighter budgets, with one well rated option priced at $26.94. Studio tours cost more but remove the logistics of reaching Watford, and several add extras such as hotel pickup or a stop in Oxford. Ratings below reflect traveler reviews at the time of writing.
Harry Potter: Warner Bros. Studio Tour from King's Cross
Coach departure from King's Cross, the station that houses Platform 9¾, priced at $122 with a 4.7 rating across 6,729 reviews.
Tour for Muggles The Ultimate Harry Potter Walking Tour in London
The highest rated walking option at 4.9 from 4,876 reviews, covering London's wizard filming sites on foot.
Original Harry Potter Locations Tour - Guided Tour of London
At $26.94 with a 4.9 rating from 4,230 reviews, this guided walk is the strongest value among London location tours.
Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour with Transport from London
Round-trip transport from London to the studios, rated 4.4 from 4,178 reviews, a mid-price alternative to premium options.
London: Warner Bros. Studio Tour with Hotel Pickup
At $209, this is the most convenient option, with hotel pickup and a 4.7 rating from 1,158 reviews for travelers who want zero logistics.
London: Harry Potter's Magical Tour & Movie Locations
Combines wizard locations with broader movie sites, though its 3.7 rating from 653 reviews sits well below the category leaders.
London: Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour with Transfer
Studio entry with transfer included at $126, rated 4.6 from 631 reviews, a small step up from the standard coach option.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter and Oxford Day Trip
A full day pairing the studio tour with Oxford, rated 4.6 from 628 reviews, for visitors who want two experiences in one trip.
Harry Potter London Small Group Walking Tour
A small-group format for a more personal pace, rated 4.5 from 500 reviews, exploring the city's wizard landmarks.
Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour London from King's Cross
Another King's Cross studio departure, though its 3.9 rating from 322 reviews lags the alternatives at a similar starting point.
Harry Potter Film Locations Guided Walking Tour
A dedicated film locations walk rated 4.8 from 298 reviews, ideal for visitors whose interest goes beyond a single franchise.
Bridgerton Walking Tour of Filming Locations & Storylines - Bath
For devoted fans of the period drama, this 4.4-rated walk from 245 reviews covers filming locations in Bath, a city easily reached from London by train.
Yes. Leadenhall Market, the Diagon Alley filming site, is free during market hours, and Platform 9¾ at King's Cross offers a free photo opportunity with the trolley prop. Queues at the platform can be long, so time your visit outside peak hours.
The studios are in Leavesden, Watford, at Studio Tour Drive. Most visitors take a train from London to Watford Junction and then a shuttle bus, or book a tour that includes coach transport, transfers or hotel pickup. Tickets must be pre-booked in advance.
St Paul's Cathedral, Temple Church and the Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College charge for entry, though their exteriors are free to view. Most other locations, including Westminster Bridge, Trafalgar Square and Portobello Road Market, are public and free.
The Vauxhall Cross building, seen in GoldenEye and Skyfall, is a working government facility with exterior-only access. It can be viewed from public paths along the Thames, which also offer pleasant walking routes toward Westminster.
Yes. The Prince's Head in Richmond is a working pub that appears as the Crown & Anchor in the series. It is popular with fans and easy to combine with a wander through Richmond, reachable by a short train ride from central London.
London-based guided options focus mainly on wizard franchise locations. Fans of Bridgerton can take a dedicated walking tour in Bath, a historic city within easy reach of London by train, covering filming locations and storylines from the series.
London rewards both casual viewers and devoted fans. A single day can cover free public sites like Leadenhall Market, Westminster Bridge and Trafalgar Square, while a pre-booked studio excursion to Leavesden delivers the full set experience. Travelers short on time should pick a well rated walking tour and save the studio trip for a longer stay.
Before You Go
The tours travellers book most for London.
