Like most muggles, I almost missed Platform 9 3/4 entirely.
Tucked deep into an alcove to the right of the entrance for platform 9, the 9 3/4 platform sign and luggage cart jutting from the wall, sitting adjacent to the year-old Harry Potter Shop, are only obvious to those who know to look for it. But I didn’t have Harry Potter on my mind as I went to King’s Cross station on that day. In fact, I completely forgot about the station’s association with JK Rowling’s much-loved series of books.
On this day, I was running late and only focused on catching my train for my day trip to Cambridge. It only took me 10 tries at the ticket machine to realize that no, my American credit card, lacking a chip and pin, was not going to work. Defeated, I impatiently waited in the long line to buy my ticket from an agent, along with other tourists that were similarly chipless or just required a lot of hand holding. This was not a line that moved quickly.
Sure enough, I missed my train and was left with nearly an hour to kill until the next one. I walked towards the tracks to make sure I knew where my train would be boarding, and in the corner of my eye, I noticed the alcove and small crowd by it.
Harry Potter gift shop at Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross station in London
The Harry Potter Gift Shop at Platform 9 3/4
Note: you can buy the official Harry Potter souvenirs online here.
And this was how I’d stumbled upon the Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9 3/4. It was a fun surprise to accidentally “discover” the gift shop, and definitely a great way to kill time before my train.
In the unlikely event someone is reading this who is wondering why the heck there is a Harry Potter gift shop in the middle of King’s Cross station, I’ll provide a brief explanation. In the Harry Potter books, Platform 9 3/4 at King’s Cross station in London is the critical juncture between the muggle and wizard world, serving as the departure point for young wizards leaving for Hogwarts via the Hogwarts Express.
What’s it like to browse through the Harry Potter gift shop? Wood-panelled, with lots of drawers and dim lighting, the gift shop has the feel of what I imagine Ollivander’s, the wand shop described in the books, must be like.
The first thing you see when walking through the door are these Harry Potter Undesirable No. 1 prints ( £10).
As expected, the walls are lined classic souvenir gifts like mugs ( £8) and magnets. I liked the subtlety of these items, marked with the platform name only, the words Harry or Potter nowhere to be found.
I thought the Platform ticket was a clever souvenir, but the Hogwarts trademark symbol mars the “authenticity” factor.
These 9 3/4 platform tee shirts ( £19.99) are exclusive to this shop and are not available at other Harry Potter gift shops.
Slytherin and Ravenclaw Quidditch sweaters ( £69) and ties ( £19.99)
Gryffindor Quidditch sweater (£69) and Grey Gryffindor cardigan, embroidered with the house name and crest. £59.
Lots of sweaters and ties in the Hogwart’s House of your choice. I liked the Gryffindor colors best.
The gift shop’s biggest draw is the extensive wand collection at the back of the shop.
Choose from Noble or Ollivanders wands, or wands used by the characters– Harry’s wand, Hermione’s wand and even a Death Eater wand were all on offer.
The wands come packaged in these velvet lined gift boxes.
Harry Potter replica props would make a unique gift for the dedicated fan.
Harry Potter’s signature glasses can be yours for £70.
Horcrux ring display, £60.
The Horcrux locket ( £59.99), found by Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince– featuring a green crystal ‘S’ (for ‘Slytherin’).
Professor Umbridge’s Quill, £47.50.
Pens that represent each of the house colors and animals.
Harry Potter Dementor’s crystal ball.
These young readers were fascinated by the Harry Potter themed books on display.
Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans and Chocolate Frogs make fun, inexpensive Harry Potter souvenir gifts. Warning– they are not kidding when they say the beans come in “every flavor”. I got lucky with a fruity flavor but my friend tried the “bogey” flavor and confirmed it was not pleasant tasting.
Right outside the shop, you can get decked out in Harry Potter scarves and have your souvenir photo taken as you “enter” the platform.
Just try not to get so wrapped up in Harry Potter world that you forget to make time to take in the dramatic architecture of the real King’s Cross station (dating back to 1852).
To buy official Harry Potter souvenirs online, check out the official shop!
Check out our tour of more Harry Potter souvenirs at Hogsmeade Village at Universal Studios in Orlando!
Have you been to a Harry Potter gift shop? What are your favorite souvenirs? Share in the comments below!
Souvenir Shopping Details:
Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9 3/4
King’s Cross Station, London England
All photos copyright 2013 by Souvenir Finder, all rights reserved.
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Shepard C Willner
Monday 21st of August 2017
I also visited the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in May of '14, and the shops are bigger. There's a shop in the Hogwarts Castle one can visit before or after the simulation ride "The Forbidden Journey." There's Honeydukes Sweet Shop, Ollivanders, The Three Broomsticks bar, etc. Of these shops, I visited the one at Hogwarts Castle and Honeydukes. I bought the Chocolate Frogs: anything with peppermint and chocolate flavors, I'm gonna buy. Grape and strawberry too (the shoelace licorice). As for whether I would want a prop with Umbridge's name attached to it, uh-uh. I hated her in the Order of the Phoenix and Deathly Hollows I movies.
Sunday 12th of July 2015
you will not get me £39.00 at the shop other then that any free lapel pins
Shepard C Willner
Sunday 17th of August 2014
Yes, I've been to the Harry Potter shops at Universal Studios. i especially liked Honeydukes' Sweet Shop, where I bought peppermint frogs and strawberry licorice laces. At the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, there were also the lapel pin kiosks where I bought lots of lapel pins for my collection. As for the shop inside the Hogwarts Castle simulator ride, I looked around and didn't see what I wanted until I saw the aforementioned lapel pin kiosks. If I come to the shop mentioned in this article, I might get something nice, like those pens on the Sorting Hat. :-)
kelly
Friday 18th of July 2014
Pity they're charging for photos now. The first two times I visited King's Cross, you could pose with the trolley for free. It was v amusing watching people take pictures, as well.
Based on your photos, BTB, the shop here has nicer merchandise than the one on the Leavesden tour.
Just Add Attitude
Friday 3rd of January 2014
I must check out the Harry Potter gift shop next time I am in King's Cross. ;)
Kristin Francis
Tuesday 7th of January 2014
It's a fun little shop to visit even if you aren't a superfan-- who wouldn't want a magic wand?