Platform 9 3/4
Platform 9 3/4
3.5
8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
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Top ways to experience Platform 9 3/4
The area
Address
Neighborhood: Kings Cross
How to get there
- King's Cross St. Pancras • 1 min walk
- Euston • 10 min walk
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
10,000 within 3 miles
Attractions
2,768 within 6 miles
See what travelers are saying
- Family WDouglas, United Kingdom243 contributionsA bit of fun for Harry Potter fansOur kids are getting into Harry Potter, so took a detour during our London sightseeing trip to Kings Cross to see Platform 9 3/4. Even at about 09:00 on a Sunday morning the queue was already filling up. The kids were keen to join and in we waited about an hour for the photo op and another 15 mins browsing the store. Contrary to some other reviews there’s no obligation to buy the professional photos they take and you’re perfectly at liberty to take your own photos when you get to the front of the queue.Visited October 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 25, 2023
- Amelia12 contributionsvery busy and very crowed, but great sight to see for harry potter fansunless you get in the queue for a photo you can’t actually see the trolley, only the sign. and if you want a photo you have to wait in a massive queue and take it in front of a massive crowd of people. the shop was very busy, very small, and very overpriced (typical for a harry potter attraction though). no space to queue for the till so it’s a bit of a free for all and you’re not allowed to have backpacks on, they must be carried. so if you’re in london just to see harry potter sights, for sure this is a good one. but if you’re travelling through king’s cross and want to stop by on the way past, maybe come back another time.Visited September 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 26, 2023
- StephToronto, Canada234 contributionsVery busy, but iconic and cool for HP fansStopped by on my way to St. Pancras. Cool place and shop, but extremely busy. I didn't bother getting in line to take my photo with the Harry Potter baggage cart, the line was too long. The shop was extremely busy, but the staff got us in and out efficiently.Visited November 2023Traveled soloWritten December 6, 2023
- Vernon MBristol, United Kingdom5 contributionsPlatform 9 3/4 crowd controlSurely a temporary screen would stop persons blocking the accessible lounge. Security are not effective in stopping the crowds. The screen could have the Glenfinnan viaduct on the photoshoot side and be blank on lounge side to stop the crowds and save on security guards. Just saying.Visited April 2024Traveled with familyWritten April 6, 2024
- WhyNotSmile2014Belfast, United Kingdom16 contributionsNice to see, but be prepared to queueWe expected a small queue, but it turned out that it was about an hour long, and managed by WB staff. It was fairly well organised, just long. At the front of the queue, the staff had scarves and wands to use as props, and they arranged each family into a “pose” to take an official photo, which you can choose to buy or not. You can also take your own photos. The posing did mean that the whole thing took longer than it needed to, which was a bit frustrating. The staff were friendly and helpful, though.Visited July 2024Traveled with familyWritten July 3, 2024
- Damo1367Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom398 contributionsLovely shop worth a visitBeen threatening to drop in for years but never quite made it. On approach you cannot help but notice the 1000 strong queue of Japanese and Chinese desperate to get the obligatory picture with the trolley in the wall. The shop has an amazing stock of gifts and the staff were everywhere so no danger of struggling for service. Amazing stick of wands! 2000 plus I was informed. Anyway enchanting little shop.Visited September 2024Traveled soloWritten September 15, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
3.5
968 reviews
Excellent
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Very good
299
Average
229
Poor
93
Terrible
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Stephenbkk20156
Okayama Prefecture, Japan695 contributions
Aug 2019
We could not resist dropping by the Harry Potter shop, especially as we were staying near King's Cross. On the way in, we saw this place. A luggage cart disappearing into the wall under a sign saying "Platform 9 and 3 quarters." It is quite near Platform 9, too.
That is, when we finally saw it, we discovered what it was. At first, though, it was hidden by crowds and coeds of Potter fans. Very orderly. A queuing system almost worthy of the Disney parks. People at the front of the show had a chance to pose with the cart while a professional photographer took their picture, plus anyone else who wanted to could take a picture. The professional ones were in sale inside, but no real pressure to buy.
We didn't queue up. We didn't pose. But we did enjoy the fun and kindness in the air.
That is, when we finally saw it, we discovered what it was. At first, though, it was hidden by crowds and coeds of Potter fans. Very orderly. A queuing system almost worthy of the Disney parks. People at the front of the show had a chance to pose with the cart while a professional photographer took their picture, plus anyone else who wanted to could take a picture. The professional ones were in sale inside, but no real pressure to buy.
We didn't queue up. We didn't pose. But we did enjoy the fun and kindness in the air.
Written April 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
therichastill
Stevenage, UK3,458 contributions
Mar 2021
Platform 9 3/4 features if the Harry Potter series of novels and is located at Kings Cross railway station.
Kings Cross station is served by mainline trains from Scotland and the North East as well as the Home Counties. It is also next to St Pancras station which is served by trains from Kent, Home Counties, East Midlands and the Eurostar from Europe. There are also Tube services on the Hammersmith & City, Circle, Metropolitan, Northern, Victoria and Picadilly lines. Many buses also serve the area.
If you go during the day there is normally a MASSIVE queue of people waiting to get there picture taken as they prepare to go through the wall onto platform 9 3/4 and journey to Hogwarts School of Magic.
There is a gift shop which is normally open when there is no lockdown where you can get all sorts of Hogwarts memorabilia.
Kings Cross station is served by mainline trains from Scotland and the North East as well as the Home Counties. It is also next to St Pancras station which is served by trains from Kent, Home Counties, East Midlands and the Eurostar from Europe. There are also Tube services on the Hammersmith & City, Circle, Metropolitan, Northern, Victoria and Picadilly lines. Many buses also serve the area.
If you go during the day there is normally a MASSIVE queue of people waiting to get there picture taken as they prepare to go through the wall onto platform 9 3/4 and journey to Hogwarts School of Magic.
There is a gift shop which is normally open when there is no lockdown where you can get all sorts of Hogwarts memorabilia.
Written March 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dreamer581567
San Diego, CA3 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
The Harry Potter shop monopolizes the site and very actively tries to prevent you from taking a picture of the platform, even when standing off to the side, unless you wait in their very long line. Someone wearing a silly “Warner Brothers security” vest stated I could not stop in the train station and take a photo of the platform (absurd!!) and someone who worked in the Harry Potter shop jumped into my shot, attempting to ruin it.
Written August 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BindiSE20
London, UK8 contributions
May 2024 • Family
This was such a disappointment. We went on a Monday afternoon and we queued for an hour and a half. When we got there, the security guard told us the queue had reached its limit and then he escorted us outside where there was a queue to join the queue!!! Crazy! We were in the outside queue for around 15 mins and then we joined the main queue which took an hour and 15 mins. The main reason it takes so long is because groups of people/families pose for the photos and it takes ages for them to get in the poses. It would have been much quicker had each person posed for a photo and then it's over to the next person. But no, every group had to be told to stand in this pose or that pose. When it finally came to our turn, it was only our son who was in the photo (my husband and I didn't want to be in the photo) and it was over in a flash!
I found the whole thing to be a money-making opportunity. Nothing magical about it. There is a photographer there and the photographer's assistant tells you how to pose and where to stand. Once your photo op is done, the only way you can leave is through the conveniently situated Harry Potter shop which means that if you have a child with you, they're going to ask to buy something. Everything is extortionately priced of course.
I took my own photo of my son because I had no intention of being pressured to buy their official photo which would have cost an arm and a leg of course!
So, my top tip would be to get there as soon as it opens (8am I think) so you can avoid waiting for hours in the queue, which is not fun. You aren't obligated to buy their photo so stand next to the photographer and take your own – they are just as good.
Sorry to sound so cynical but I'm just being honest.
I found the whole thing to be a money-making opportunity. Nothing magical about it. There is a photographer there and the photographer's assistant tells you how to pose and where to stand. Once your photo op is done, the only way you can leave is through the conveniently situated Harry Potter shop which means that if you have a child with you, they're going to ask to buy something. Everything is extortionately priced of course.
I took my own photo of my son because I had no intention of being pressured to buy their official photo which would have cost an arm and a leg of course!
So, my top tip would be to get there as soon as it opens (8am I think) so you can avoid waiting for hours in the queue, which is not fun. You aren't obligated to buy their photo so stand next to the photographer and take your own – they are just as good.
Sorry to sound so cynical but I'm just being honest.
Written May 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Garfieldluvr
Denver, CO977 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
I was disappointed to arrive to find that you can’t simply just stand in front of the platform and have a friend take a quick photo of you. Instead, you have to stand in a very long line, and then have props put on you and have professional photos taken. Lucky for us, we came late in the day and waited around until they “closed” which means they bring in the little trolly and they stop taking professional photos. However, the platform and 9 ¾ sign is are still there, and you are able to take pictures freely without any props or charges. I would recommend going at night to get photos if all you want isa photo of you and the platform.
Written January 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kes515
Louth, UK36 contributions
Feb 2022 • Family
Really can’t complain at all! Decided on arrival at Kings Cross for my sons first time properly visiting London that I’d do the annoying mum thing and insist on doing some touristy stuff like when I visited with my daughters before, and so we joined the queue, only to be taken aside by a member of staff explaining that disabled people (I’m in a wheelchair) get priority and we were escorted to the front of the queue to wait while the people who were having their pictures done had finished.
It can be highly exhausting waiting around in queues even for wheelchair users so it’s very much appreciated and it was highly unexpected. Thank you.
It can be highly exhausting waiting around in queues even for wheelchair users so it’s very much appreciated and it was highly unexpected. Thank you.
Written March 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ciaranomeara
Glasgow, UK90 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
Actually rather unimpressed with the size of the thing. Online and in some photos it looks like large, however in person it is absolutely tiny. Almost like a hole in the wall. It is also not located on a platform like in the movie, instead it is in the mobbed waiting area. If you insist on visiting like us, and don't mind my massive recommendation is to avoid the queue of around 50 people & instead quickly pop out of the open side door in the gift shop to snap a photo. The most you'll get is a slap around the head.
Written June 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nicola D
Hessle, UK3,079 contributions
Jul 2022
We visited at 11am when we arrived by train but the queue was enormous! We returned the following morning at 8:30 am and it was empty! There is an official photographer and props (house scarves, wand, owl cage, luggage trolley) but you can take your own photo too which we did. I dread to think how much the official photo costs. We also went in the shop (you automatically end up there after the photo opportunity), it was impossible to avoid. We found the staff unhelpful.
Written August 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Family W
Douglas, UK243 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
Our kids are getting into Harry Potter, so took a detour during our London sightseeing trip to Kings Cross to see Platform 9 3/4.
Even at about 09:00 on a Sunday morning the queue was already filling up. The kids were keen to join and in we waited about an hour for the photo op and another 15 mins browsing the store. Contrary to some other reviews there’s no obligation to buy the professional photos they take and you’re perfectly at liberty to take your own photos when you get to the front of the queue.
Even at about 09:00 on a Sunday morning the queue was already filling up. The kids were keen to join and in we waited about an hour for the photo op and another 15 mins browsing the store. Contrary to some other reviews there’s no obligation to buy the professional photos they take and you’re perfectly at liberty to take your own photos when you get to the front of the queue.
Written October 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Angela F
Novara, Italy200 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Visit made with my 14 year old son, we queued for about 1 hour to take photos of the famous Harry Potter trolley. The guys at the shop put the scarf on you, give you the wand and take your photos. Furthermore, the companion can take as many photos as they want. My son liked it a lot.
Written September 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yolanda R
Spain
Dear, how did you get the VIP pass tickets? I can't find them in the web.... Thanks!
Written June 8, 2023
We didn’t have a VIP pass. I don’t know anything about that. It’s literally just a line of people waiting to take a photo at the sign with a few props if want to use them. I don’t know that this helpful, but I really don’t know about VIP for this….
Written June 23, 2023
How long is the line typically? Just want to ensure we a lot enough time. Thanks.
Written January 6, 2020
It’s a huge line. Expect an hour or so
Written January 6, 2020
How long does it take VIP Pass to be sent to Australia?
Written May 24, 2019
Hi, I had a quick look at their website to see if I could help. It seems to suggest 7-10 days and an additional £9.95 postage on top of the £15 for the pass. They do provide an email address for specific queries. I would try that if they aren’t monitoring this. Tripadvisor doesn’t like pasting in email or web addresses, otherwise I would have. A quick google will get you there. Hope that helps.
Written May 24, 2019
Buongiorno fino a che ora è possibile fare la foto con il carrello?
Grazie
Written April 27, 2019
Se non ricordo male dalle 08 alle 18
Written April 27, 2019
c'è un orario "migliore" per evitare lunghe code per la fotografia,di mattina ?
Written October 7, 2018
Credo che ci sia fila in ogni momento della giornata. Io sono arrivata corccorca attorno alle 11 di mattina e devo dire che è andata abbastanza bene. Ho aspettato circa mezz’oretta. Dopo di me si è formata una cosa assurda quindi ho avuto fortuna
Written October 8, 2018
Does each person need a pass to skip the line for the photo or just one pass for a family?
Written August 6, 2018
It’s one “skip the queue” per photo . So if you were having a family photo only one is needed. However if you have two kids for example and they want individual photos, you’d need two . They are well worth it!
Written August 6, 2018
Ciao, non ho capito una cosa. Se io faccio la fila e mi faccio scattare la foto da un amico è lo stesso a pagamento?
Written July 22, 2018
No no puoi farlo tranquillamente senza pagare niente
Written July 23, 2018
What time does the queue for pictures start and finish? Wondering how early we can get there on Sunday morning or how late on a Saturday evening. Thank you!
Written May 17, 2017
According to their website, you can visit the trolly at any time, but between 9am to 9 pm you have to wait in line (they will take a professional photo for you, but also let you take a photo of your own). My friend and I went on an afternoon around 5-ish and waited maybe 45 minutes in line.
Written May 18, 2017
Hi, is there a fee for taking photos with the cart?
Thanks!
Written March 13, 2017
Hiya
The official Harry Potter staff take pictures which you can view and buy in the shop if you want to but there is no actual charge to have your pics taken but whoever you are with can take as many pics as you want for free. My hubby took loads of pics of me so we didn't buy any of the official ones. It's well worth a visit
Written March 14, 2017
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