London belongs to England, but Harry Potter belongs to the world

🌟 Magical London Tour: Pushing Open the Door to Platform 9¾ 🚂

In the drizzling rain of the British Isles lies a secret about magic. In late 19th-century London, when a single mother named J.K. Rowling wrote the first chapter of *Harry Potter* in a café, she likely never imagined she was creating a magical legend that would transcend centuries. Today, London is deeply imprinted with the marks of that magic.

🚉 The Enchanted Code of King's Cross Station
The bronze statue of a luggage trolley on the platform captures countless fans mimicking the classic "walking through the wall" pose. This Victorian-era train station had its fate forever altered in 1997 by *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*—the magical barrier between Platforms 9 and 10 turned an ordinary brick wall into the world's most popular photo backdrop. Interestingly, the station has installed a half-embedded trolley at the exact spot, and when the fluttering scarf prop catches the wind, it almost feels like you can hear the whistle of the Hogwarts Express.

🦉 The Real-Life Diagon Alley
Near Charing Cross Road, beneath the colorful glass dome of Leadenhall Market, lies the inspiration for the "Leaky Cauldron." Built in 1881, this Victorian-style market, with its maze of light and shadow created by colorful tiles and cast-iron columns, perfectly mirrors the magical shopping street accessible only by "tapping a brick three times with a wand." On Clink Street near Borough Market, the eerie, narrow medieval vaults served as the inspiration for Knockturn Alley.

🍺 A Smiling Butterbeer
Standing in the recreated Hogsmeade Village at the Warner Bros. Studio, holding a frothy butterbeer, you suddenly understand Rowling's words: "Magic exists in the cracks of everyday life." This specialty drink, made with cream soda as its base, melts on your tongue with caramel and butter syrup, evoking the woody aroma of the Three Broomsticks pub. Photo tip: Opt for the raspberry syrup version—the red beer looks just like "Fire Whisky" in pictures!

✨ When the sunset gilds the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral, it’s hard not to recall Dumbledore’s words: "Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." Perhaps the most wonderful magic of this city is its ability to turn sparks of imagination into tangible memories.

Post by ExploreWithEthan | Aug 4, 2025