If you’re a Harry Potter fan and you’re visiting London, you probably want to see the actual Platform 9 3/4 in King’s Cross Station. This guide will tell you exactly how to find Platform 9 3/4, what to expect there, if it’s worth it, and other places you could visit instead.
Year visited: 2026
Time of Year: April
What’s in this Article:
- Where is Platform 9 3/4?
- Getting Photos at Platform 9 3/4
- The Harry Potter Store
- Is It Worth Visiting?
- Compare with the Harry Potter Studio Tour
- Other Harry Potter Places to Visit
Where is Platform 9 3/4?
King’s Cross Station
The fictional “Platform 9 3/4” from the Harry Potter series is between platforms 9 and 10 in King’s Cross Station, London. There is a photo op spot set up in the real life King’s Cross Station in London.
King’s Cross is a major train/underground station in north central London. It is right next to St. Pancras Station, and easily accessible by the underground from anywhere in the city (read more about how to get around London).
Platform 9 3/4
Of course, there isn’t really a platform between platforms 9 and 10, and to access that part of the station, you need a ticket. The Platform 9 3/4 photo op is just outside of the Harry Potter Shop in the main terminal. It is very easy to find.
If you take the underground to King’s Cross, follow the signs up to the rail station. If you enter the station from Euston Road, you will see the entrance to Platforms 0-8 immediately on your right. Follow the signs further in, toward Platforms 9 & 10. But before you get to 9 & 10, you will see the Harry Potter Shop and the line of people on the right, waiting to take a picture at Platform 9 3/4.
It is just before you reach the bathrooms (famous for winning the “Loo of the Year” award, so, you know, there’s that) in the back corner of the station. The entrance to Platforms 9 and 10 is to the left of the bathrooms and the store.
Finding the End of the Line…
The end of the line can be tricky to find… When I was there on a Saturday, the line for photos inside the station was completely full, and the end of the line was actually a separate line outside!
There is a line right in front of the photo spot (it kind of makes it hard to see the photo spot, but you’ll see the store, and the crowd of people!), that snakes back and forth. There is a security guard at the end of the line, so they will either let you into the line, or let you know where to go to wait in the outside line. I waited with two other girls (dressed in Harry Potter gear) for another security guard to take us outside.
Getting Photos at Platform 9 3/4
Platform 9 3/4 Hours
The photo op is only available during the hours that the King’s Cross Harry Potter Shop is open.
The current hours are:
- 8:00 am-10:00 pm Monday-Saturday
- 9:00 am-8:00 pm Sunday
How Long is the Line???
So. I had planned to wait in line as long as it took to get my photos (for the blog, of course!). However, I was already later than I intended because I had done other things that morning that hadn’t worked out the day before, and I thought I might run out of time. Plus… let’s be real… I got bored.
I was there around 11 am on a Saturday (not the best time to visit!), and I waited in the line outside the building for half an hour. By the time I finally made it inside, it looked like the people who had been brought in when I first went outside had moved about one row of the line in that time (there were four rows of lines snaking back and forth). I estimated the line to be another two hours from there.
In other words… too long. Already several people in front of me had given up and left at this point.
- Pro Tip: Try to visit early on a week day, for a shorter line.
- I estimated the inside line to take about 2 hours to get through.
Photo Props
A lot of people wear their own Harry Potter gear to get photos. I wore a Hufflepuff scarf my friend had made for me, and a yellow shirt with a black sweater. The girls in front of me had headbands from their Harry Potter “house” which I thought were really cute.
But if you don’t have props, or don’t want to wear them outside in public… They do have scarves you can borrow for all four houses, as well as wands.
- Good to Know: There is a staff member here who will hold your scarf out for the photo so it looks like it’s flying behind you!
Cost of Photos
You do not have to purchase professional photos. You can take your own photos on your phone. You will either have to have your travel buddy or another person in line take the photo for you, as the staff only take the professional photos.
- Pro Tip: Ask the person in line before or behind you to take your photo. Pickpockets have been known to hang out in this area, offer to take your photo, and then walk away with your phone.
If you want to purchase photos, you have several options. These are the prices when I visited in spring 2026:
- £15 for one photo (print & digital)
- £25 for two photos
- £30 for four photos
You will have to go into the store to get your photos, which involves another wait in line.
There were no professional photographers back then… But also no lines!
The Harry Potter Shop at King’s Cross
Like the Platform 9 3/4 photo op, there is a line to get into the King’s Cross Harry Potter Shop. I did not bother waiting in line to get in, especially since I was on my way to the Harry Potter Studio Tour, where you can find the same souvenirs for sale.
The line is shorter than the photo line, but if you are going to visit the studio tour, I personally wouldn’t bother with either. If you aren’t visiting the studio tour, then it is worth a visit to the gift shop. Try to visit early in the morning for shorter lines.
As mentioned above, the hours are 8:00 am-10:00 pm Monday through Saturday, and 9:00 am-8:00 pm on Sundays.
- Good to Know: You can take your backpacks in the store with you, but you cannot wear them on your back. You can wear them on your front, or hold them at your side.
Is Platform 9 3/4 Worth Visiting?
In my personal opinion… the photo op and store at Platform 9 3/4 are absolutely not worth visiting. The lines are extremely long, and you can find the same souvenirs and photo ops without the lines at the Harry Potter Studio Tour.
The highlights here are that they provide props and do the “flying scarf” thing… And you can get professional photos, which are cool. So there are some unique perks (and clearly a lot of people consider it worth it!), but I personally would (and did!) skip it.
If you do want to visit, try to come early on a weekday for shorter lines.
Compare with the Harry Potter Studio Tour
I 100% think the Harry Potter Studio Tour is worth visiting over Platform 9 3/4 at King’s Cross.
While it’s not the actual King’s Cross Station, these are the actual sets they used for filming! There are so many authentic, fun sets to visit, and plenty of photo opportunities galore! Including a Platform 9 3/4 photo op.
While there are no professional photographers or photo props to borrow here, it is much easier to get a photo here than at King’s Cross Station. There are several different photo ops you can choose from (see photo below), and since everyone walks through at their own pace, there will not be a big line.
The only thing I had to wait for here was someone else to come by to take my photo for me.
At the end of the tour there is also a huge Harry Potter store to visit, so you definitely don’t need to wait in line at King’s Cross Station when you can just go here.
Other Harry Potter Places to Visit
There are plenty of other Harry Potter filming locations, stores, activities, and places to see around London, the UK, and the world! Here are a few ideas of other stops to make on your trip (or other trips to make!)
Harry Potter Studio Tour
Of course, as mentioned above, there is the Harry Potter Studio Tour just outside of London. These are the studios where they actually filmed much of the movies! I absolutely think this is a much better use of your time than waiting in line at King’s Cross Station.
You can easily visit on your own, or get a guided tour from London.
- Good to Know: There is also a Harry Potter Studio Tour in Tokyo. It is a similar experience to the one in London.
Universal Orlando Harry Potter World
While the Studio Tour lets you see the actual sets and brings the movie magic to life, the Harry Potter World sections of the Universal theme parks in Orlando let you immerse yourself in the world of Harry Potter. You can eat pumpkin pasties, see fire-breathing dragons, shop with galleons, send mail via Owl Post, and even use “magic” wands.
Plus, you can walk through Platform 9 3/4 to board the Hogwarts Express between parks. You won’t really get a photo opportunity here, but it is cool to ride the train!
The Jacobite Steam Train
If you’re heading to Scotland, you have an opportunity to ride the actual steam train that was used as the Hogwarts Express in the films!
The Jacobite Steam Train runs from Fort William in north west Scotland. You can ride the train, and/or watch it go by on the Glennfinnan Viaduct, about a 30 minute drive from Fort William. I personally thought visiting the viaduct was more worthwhile than riding the train (although my husband thought the steam train was one of his favorite parts of Scotland!).
Any other questions?
If you have any more questions about visiting Platform 9 3/4 in King’s Cross Station, or other Harry Potter things to do, or if you have any tips of your own to add, please feel free to email me or comment below.
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You might also like:
- Which Harry Potter World is Better: London vs. Orlando
- How to Get to the Harry Potter Studio Tour London
- The Best Harry Potter Places to Visit in the UK
- The Beginner’s Guide to London
- How to Ride the Jacobite Steam Train
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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