There are so many places to get Harry Potter souvenirs throughout the UK, that I wasn’t sure if I should buy something at the Harry Potter Studio Tour, or wait until I went to the gift shop at King’s Cross Station (where it might be cheaper, orrr they might not have it!), or wait until I got to the Shambles in York, where it would just be so much cooler to buy a wand!
So to help you decide, I’m reviewing the shops at the studio tour, as well as listing out ALL of the other locations I found where you can buy Harry Potter souvenirs, and if they’re worth waiting for.
- Good to Know: There are more Harry Potter shops than just the ones listed here. You can literally find one everywhere you turn.
- If you’re not traveling to the UK, you can also find amazing Harry Potter souvenirs at Universal Orlando.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour
The Harry Potter Studio Tour is actually the best place to buy Harry Potter souvenirs in the UK. Their shops are definitely the most extensive, plus they are all themed. You can buy candy from Honeydukes, or a wand from Olivander’s.
I chose not to buy anything at the gift shops here (on my first visit), because I wanted to buy souvenirs from the Shambles (AKA the real life Diagon Alley—pictured above!), but I ended up regretting that decision. This is really the best place to buy souvenirs. They have an insane amount of variety, whereas all the other Harry Potter gift shops are fairly small.
Be sure to spend some time browsing around the shops at the studio tour!
Heathrow Airport
When you first arrive in London at Heathrow, you can visit the Harry Potter gift shop in terminal 5.
- Please note: We arrived at terminal 2, and did not travel to terminal 5. You might need to go out of your way to visit this shop.
Platform 9 3/4
There is a Harry Potter themed gift shop at King’s Cross Station, the site of Platform 9 3/4. There is also a photo op of Platform 9 3/4, but it is not on the actual train platforms (otherwise, you would need a ticket). Look for it in back of the main rail station lobby.
- Good to Know: You will have to wait in line to get inside this popular shop.
The York Shambles
The Shambles are arguably the coolest street in England. They definitely have a Diagon Alley vibe, which I think makes it the perfect place to buy a wand.
There are several Harry Potter themed gift shops here, the largest one being The Shop That Must Not Be Named. Keep in mind that, even though it is a larger shop, there are still a lot of things you can find at the studios that you can’t find here.
The Jacobite Steam Train
If you choose to ride the Jacobite Steam Train in Scotland someone will come push the souvenir cart around so you “get something off the trolley.”
Of course they do not have a lot of options, as it is just a little cart, but you can get some unique steam train (Hogwarts Express) themed items here.
Mallaig
This is where the steam train stops off at, before returning to Fort William. We found a fun little shop here, hidden away down a secret alley.
Again, it was mostly the same things you will find at other gift shops, and because it is a smaller shop, the selection will be slimmer. It is fun, however, to find secret hidden shops that make buying Harry Potter souvenirs more special.
Glenfinnan Viaduct
You can visit the Glenfinnan Viaduct to watch the steam train go by! And then of course, you can find buy Harry Potter souvenirs in their visitor center.
This is not strictly a Harry Potter shop though, and the selection is small. But you will find more Hogwarts Express themed merchandise here, if you are not able to go on the actual train.
Literally Every Street in Edinburgh
Everywhere you go in Edinburgh, you will find stores advertising the “birthplace of Harry Potter.” It’s all the same merchandise, so there’s no need to wait to find something better somewhere else, if you do find something you want.
Where to Get the Best Harry Potter Souvenirs:
After traversing the UK in search of all things Harry Potter, I would conclude that the best place to buy souvenirs really is at the Studio Tour in London. So go ahead and consider this permission to blow all your vacation fund at their gift shops.
However, it is especially fun to buy Harry Potter souvenirs from Diagon Alley (the York Shambles) and the Hogwart’s Express (the Jacobite Steam Train).
But if you find something special, buy it at the studio. You can always buy chocolate frogs and every flavor beans at any of the shops you come to, but you might not find the same merchandise that they have at the large studio stores.
Any Suggestions?
If you have any questions, or any more suggestions of places to buy Harry Potter souvenirs in the UK, please feel free to email me or comment below!
You might also like:
- Harry Potter Places to See in the UK
- Harry Potter World: London vs. Orlando
- How to Get to the Harry Potter Studio Tour from London
- How to Ride the Real Life Hogwarts Express
Julia is a travel blogger with a Bachelor’s Degree in photography from Indiana Wesleyan University. She worked as a professional photo-retoucher for seven and a half years, before leaving the company to work in the travel industry. She now works at a historic 1800’s hotel. When she’s not working, she’s reading fantasy novels or classic literature, and planning trips to magical destinations.
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