The Leaky Cauldron is the pub where Harry Potter and Hagrid entered throgh a secret doorway to reach 'Diagon Alley' - the cobblestoned street of the wizarding world where all sorts of magical items could be found. From wands and owls to charmed chocolate frogs and copies of Gilderoy Lockhart's Magical Me, they could all be found here.
While the Leaky Cauldron is fictional, when the first Harry Potter movie was made, the entrance to the famous pub was very real indeed and thousands of Harry Potter visit it every year! And, having been transformed into a speciality coffee house, you can walk through the famous door, just like Harry Potter and Hagrid did!
Filming for the 2001 movie “Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone” took place around Leadenhall Market - a famous Victorian landmark and a popular destination for office workers in the heart of The City of London. The entrance to The Leaky Cauldron was once The Bulls Head pub on the edge of the market in Bull's Head Passage.
This narrow historic passage, which links Lime Street Passage with Gracechurch Street - one of the main roads through The City (between London Bridge and Liverpool Street Station) is reminiscent of Diagon Alley and is a busy shortcut for those exploring the area.
The iconic door into the Leaky Cauldron is now the entrance to 'Two Eyes Coffee House' which serves very, very good coffee, some of the best in London, along with special magical Wizarding drinks. www.two-eyes.co.uk
When “Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone” used the door as part of the film, few locals realised how famous the door would become and hundreds of visitors stop by every week to pose for a photo, or buy refreshments.
Two Eyes Coffee House is in Bull’s Head Passage, a four-minute walk from Monument Underground Station and around ten minutes from Liverpool Street Station. It is also an easy walk from Fenchurch Street Station or Bank Underground Station. www.two-eyes.co.uk
The postcode for Bull's Head Passage in London is EC3V 1LU
Should you want to walk through the iconic door, Two Eyes Coffee House is open from Monday to Friday. It opens in the morning and closes in the afternoon.
Although the coffee house is not open at the weekends, you can still take selfies in the doorway!
From Leadenhall Market, hop on the tube for a quick ride to explore more iconic Harry Potter locations across London.
Your first stop should be King’s Cross Station, where you can search for Platform 9¾ and snap a photo with the famous luggage cart disappearing into the wall. Don’t forget to visit the official Harry Potter shop for exclusive merchandise and souvenirs.
Just across the road, St Pancras Station is another must-see. Its striking clock tower was featured in the films, and the station’s exterior was used in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets when Harry and Ron made their daring escape in the flying Ford Anglia.
Next, head over to Great Scotland Yard, the entrance to the Ministry of Magic. While the building now serves as a government office, it’s thrilling to see the location where key scenes from the wizarding world unfolded.
Continue your adventure by walking across Lambeth Bridge, the setting for the wild Knight Bus ride in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, where it squeezed between two London buses. It’s a great spot to relive the excitement of Harry’s journey back to the wizarding world.
If you have more time, visit the London Zoo, where Harry first discovered his ability to speak to snakes in The Philosopher’s Stone. The Reptile House remains a fascinating attraction, perfect for Harry Potter fans and animal lovers alike.