To me, there's nothing more special than visiting famous locations I've seen in movies or read about in books. From the London Tower where Henry VIII's wives were beheaded to the Beatles' Abbey Road, London is packed with famous places and stories. Perhaps the most-celebrated modern tale comes from J.K. Rowling, the author of Harry Potter. If you've enjoyed the movies and the books, take one of the many Harry Potter tours offered in London. There's everything from self-guided walking tours to 2 day bus trips around England to see the most picturesque filming locations. On a Harry Potter tour, you'll get the chance to snap a shot at platform 9 ¾ or make the journey up to Oxford University to see some of the rooms used in the Harry Potter movies. You'll love feeling the magic at the real Harry Potter locations.

Harry Potter Walking Tours

Whenever I visit the city, I walk as much as possible because I get to see things I might not have seen otherwise. On a London Harry Potter tour, you'll see the Harry Potter Sites, but you'll also get to see other famous sites in London along the way. Before a self-guided walking tour, do some good research and figure out the best Tube routes for getting around. Make sure to visit the front doors of the Australia High Commission (interior of Gringotts Wizarding Bank), Cecil Court (inspiration for Diagon Alley), the Great Scotland Yard (entrance to the Ministry of Magic) and St. Pancras Chambers (Kings Cross film location).

For a good, group Harry Potter tour on foot, take one of the two Harry Potter walks offered by London Walks. The tours are fun, well-priced and the guides are very knowledgeable. You'll learn interesting London history and see Harry Potter film locations such Leadenhall Market (used for filming parts of Diagon Alley) and the Great Scotland Yard (exterior of Ministry of Magic). The guided walks take place every Sunday from Bank Tube, exit 3.

London Harry Potter Tour by Bus

If you're most interested in seeing the Harry Potter sites as efficiently as possible, take a Harry Potter bus tour. The bus tours cover all of the major Harry Potter sites of London, including: entrance to the Ministry of Magic, Platform 9 ¾, Lambeth Bridge where the Knight bus squeezed between two buses, the entrance of the Leaky Cauldron, Reptile House of London Zoo where Harry cast a spell on Dudley, and the exterior of the building used for Gringotts Bank. You can also take a Harry Potter Tour in a taxi, if you're looking for a more personalized option.

2-day long England Harry Potter Tour

The most die-hard fans will need to take a multiple day Harry Potter tour to see all of the famous sites and memorable movie locations. Cruise past the Dursley's house at Privet Drive, Godrics Hollow where readers learn who murdered Harry's parents, the Hogwart's hospital, the Hogwart's dining room, classrooms, and school corridors. The Harry Potter tour provides a wealth of Harry Potter information and will also show you some of the countryside of London. Make sure to make plans early and book in advanced to reserve your trip!