THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER: DIAGON ALLEY
THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER: DIAGON ALLEY
Once upon a time, Universal Studios was primarily known for its studio lot tours, thrilling stage shows (though you can still find those!), and rides featuring some of our favorites from the 80s, 90s, and even 2000s, like Jaws, Back to the Future, and Twister. But that all changed when Univeral won the rights to create a theme park area after the bestselling book series and smash hit film franchise, Harry Potter.
On July 8, 2014, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley/London opened and featured two attractions, several shops and dining experiences lifted from the pages of the beloved books and the scenes of cherished films. Now, muggles can walk into this magical world and see if they have what it takes to be chosen by a wand at Ollivanders, hold their own when they barter with the goblins at Gringrott’s, or indulge in a butterbeer.
Before entering this magical world, guests will walk around London and have the chance to visit with the driver of the Knight Bus and see if they can spot number 13 Grimmauld Place. Then they can pass through the shifting brick wall onto Diagon Alley.
Once you pass through to the magical world of Diagon Alley from the muggle realm of London, you can explore all of the shops and dining locations, like Ollivander’s wand shop, the Leaky Cauldron, Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour, The Fountain of Fair Fortune, and the Hopping Pot.
If you happen to be chosen by a wand that is magically enchanted, you can explore Diagon Alley, and its notorious counterpart, Knock Turn Alley, to try out some spells and make mysterious situations occur around the shops and buildings.
But no visit to Diagon Alley is complete without venturing into Gringotts!
This is not only where you can exchange your muggle money for the currency used in the magical world (what is the exchange rate for a galleon, again?), but where you can ride one of the two rides in Diagon Alley, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is an indoor roller coaster with motion-based 4D effects and will take you on the thrilling adventure of when Harry, Ron, and Hermione escaped from Gringotts on the dragon back!
And if you have a park-to-park ticket, you can board the Hogwarts Express at King’s Cross station over to Hogsmeade station. King’s Cross is impeccably themed, and if you ask the train attendants where to find platform nine and three-quarters, they’ll be mystified, like any muggle would be — check for yourself!
