What to do · London
Leadenhall Market, the Way to the Leaky Cauldron
Information
- Price
- Free
- Duration
- 30 min
- Season
- All year; the covered streets, at any hour
- Who it's for
- All ages
- With a dog
- On a lead; it is a covered public street
A Victorian covered market in the heart of the City, with its iron-and-glass roof painted maroon and cream and a cobbled floor. It is a filming location: part of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was shot here in 2000 and 2001, in the scene where Hagrid leads Harry through the streets of London towards the Leaky Cauldron.
What can you see today?
The market as it is, with shops, pubs and office-lunch restaurants. The current building dates from 1881 and is the work of Horace Jones, the City's architect, although there are records of a market here from 1321. In the film, the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron was a door in Bull's Head Passage, one of the alleys leading off the market: today it is an ordinary shop with no sign of the saga, so you recognise it by the shape of the door, not by a notice.
The covered streets are open 24 hours and cost nothing. The shops, pubs and restaurants each keep their own hours; the market sits in the middle of the City's office district, so on weekdays at midday it is very busy.
How do you get there?
By Tube to Bank or Monument, five minutes on foot. The Sky Garden is two streets away and the Tower of London is fifteen minutes' walk: it is easy to fit into a morning in the City.
Tips
- Go first thing Before the offices open the market is quiet and easier to photograph.
- Look for Bull's Head Passage It is the alley with the Leaky Cauldron entrance. There is no plaque: look at the door.
- Better if it rains It is covered, and a comfortable stop between outdoor visits.
Frequently asked questions
Do you pay to enter Leadenhall Market?
No. The market streets are public and open 24 hours.
Is it Diagon Alley?
In the film, the market is the London street that leads to the Leaky Cauldron. The Diagon Alley you see afterwards is a studio set.
How long do you need?
Half an hour is enough to walk round and take photos.
As a familyWith teenagersWith a dog
