September 1st is the day in which the young wizards and witches in the world born from the pen of J.K. Rowling, go to platform 9 ¾ and board the Hogwarts Express, which leaves at exactly 11 o'clock on September 1st, to start a new year of magical lessons at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Back to Hogwarts in 2023 was held for two days, on Friday 1 September and Saturday 2 September, an area dedicated to Harry Potter was installed at King’s Cross railway station in London and, within the area, fans of the beloved wizard were able to live their own personal experience of traveling to Hogwarts, with three different celebratory areas for the creation of photos and videos.
Each of these areas was designed to retrace some of the most iconic moments of the journey to the magic school: from the brick wall to cross at King's Cross station, to the iconic platform 9 ¾, up to the Great Hall of Hogwarts for sorting in the homes. In the area there were also life size statues of the main characters of the saga: Harry Potter, Hermione Grenger and Ron Weasley among the others.
This is one of the events hosted in London for the anniversary of Harry Potter this year.
In September in fact London is ready to host one of the biggest Harry Potter Festivals with tons of events, galas and cosplayers participating in the activities.
Studios in London
On this occasion, The Warner Bros. Studio Tour is a real daydream.
It is a guided tour of the studios dedicated to the young wizard and during such tour it is possible to visit the real film studios where the Harry Potter saga was filmed and explore the original sets, from Diagon Alley to the Forbidden Forest obviously passing through Hogwarts.
Other small events but not less important are scattered throughout the city.
The basement of a bakery in Soho has been transformed into a veritable Potions Room.
Not only will you seem to be catapulted into the film, but you will be able to taste a series of magical and colorful drinks after they are made.
The oldest pubs in London periodically organize themed quizzes in which to test yourself and challenge your friends and other customers and this month the theme is Harry.
A themed escape room has opened in London and the experience lasts an hour and is suitable for groups of 3 to 5 wizards or witches who, with great cunning, will have to find an escape route.
London offers many guided walks among the iconic places of the Harry Potter saga. One of the most famous is the Muggle Tour.
You need to have seen all the films of the saga to fully enjoy it.
An art gallery in Soho has created an exhibition inspired by the Harry Potter films and many shop windows have dedicated a display or two to the wizard and his friends.
Inside a public garden, sorry I do not remember which one and I could not find information about it, I saw magical creatures from the saga in the shape of makeshift statues.
Window shops
In conclusion, London and Harry Potter go hand in hand and this event is making the city even more magical.
Many are the places of the city portrayed in the film: St.Pancras, the Millenium Bridge, Charing Cross Road and even Piccadilly Circus appears in one of the most memorable scenes from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows where we see Harry, Hermione and Ron running through London's West End.
