London used more than one on-screen Leaky Cauldron approach. Leadenhall Market and the Borough Market area belong to different films.
Free trail + guided alternatives
London filming locations
A practical self-guided route with honest walking times, Tube shortcuts, source-backed location labels and a transparent comparison of guided tours.
Central London; route starts at Leadenhall Market4–6 hours for the core routeMostly free; transport and optional attractions extraMonument or Bank for the recommended start
Editorial review 1 September 2026 • latest cited-source check 15 September 2026
The best self-guided day runs broadly east to west, avoiding the classic mistake of starting at King’s Cross and zigzagging across London. The core route below links genuine filming sites; clearly labelled inspiration stops are included only as optional extras.Source: Visit London • checked
Wear proper shoes, check opening restrictions, and remember that these are working streets, stations and businesses rather than film sets. Do not obstruct entrances or photograph through private windows.Source: City of London Corporation • checked
For fans, not just tourists
Details worth noticing
Goodwin’s Court is included as an inspiration stop, not presented as a confirmed filming location. The distinction matters.
These are real streets, bridges, markets and stations. The most fan-friendly behaviour is also the most London-friendly: keep moving and respect workers.
Central London filming-location routeInteractive street map • nine numbered stops • north is up
Interactive street map. Use the zoom buttons to change scale. Marker details are repeated in the text alternative after the map.
Confirmed filming locationFan-association stopProduction-design stopFull walking sequenceOptional Tube shortcut
- 01Leadenhall Market — Filming location; Monument or Bank; Start
- 02Borough Market & Stoney Street — Filming location; London Bridge; 1.1 mi / 1.8 km
- 03Millennium Bridge — Filming location; Blackfriars or Mansion House; 0.8 mi / 1.3 km
- 04Lambeth Bridge — Filming location; Westminster or Lambeth North; 2.1 mi / 3.4 km
- 05Westminster station — Filming location; Westminster; 0.6 mi / 1 km
- 06Great Scotland Yard — Filming location; Charing Cross or Westminster; 0.5 mi / 0.8 km
- 07Piccadilly Circus — Filming location; Piccadilly Circus; 0.7 mi / 1.1 km
- 08Goodwin’s Court — Inspiration stop; Leicester Square; 0.6 mi / 1 km
- 09House of MinaLima — Design stop; Tottenham Court Road; 0.5 mi / 0.8 km
East-to-west route stripSequence only • not for navigation
- Walk solid connection
- Tube shortcut
- Rail Euston–Watford
- Bus live alternative only
- Shuttle Watford–Studio
01Leadenhall MarketMonument or Bank
02Borough Market & Stoney StreetLondon Bridge
03Millennium BridgeBlackfriars or Mansion HouseGood split point
04Lambeth BridgeWestminster or Lambeth North
05Westminster stationWestminster
06Great Scotland YardCharing Cross or WestminsterGood split point
07Piccadilly CircusPiccadilly Circus
08Goodwin’s CourtLeicester Square
09House of MinaLimaTottenham Court Road
| From | To | Mode | Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 02 | Walk | 1.1 mi / 1.8 km |
| 02 | 03 | Walk | 0.8 mi / 1.3 km |
| 03 | 04 | Walk | 2.1 mi / 3.4 km |
| 04 | 05 | Walk | 0.6 mi / 1 km |
| 03 | 05 | Tube shortcut | Blackfriars → Westminster |
| 05 | 06 | Walk | 0.5 mi / 0.8 km |
| 06 | 07 | Walk | 0.7 mi / 1.1 km |
| 07 | 08 | Walk | 0.6 mi / 1 km |
| 08 | 09 | Walk | 0.5 mi / 0.8 km |
Public transport
Getting there without guesswork
Start
Take the Circle or District line to Monument, or Central/Northern/Waterloo & City line to Bank, then walk to Leadenhall Market.
River section
Walk from Leadenhall to Borough Market and Millennium Bridge. This is the longest continuous section but stays visually rewarding.
West End jump
From Blackfriars, use the District line to Westminster for the station and Great Scotland Yard, then continue on foot through Trafalgar Square.
Finish
End in Soho at MinaLima and the Palace Theatre. Leicester Square and Tottenham Court Road are the easiest Tube exits.
The free self-guided route
Choose the route your feet can enjoy
The map below is detailed enough to orient you; use its live directions link for turn-by-turn navigation and current closures.
6–7 mi / 10–11 km • 5–6 hr
Open route All nine stops on foot, including Lambeth Bridge. No Tube shortcut.
- Start
- Leadenhall Market • Monument or Bank
- Finish
- House of MinaLima • Tottenham Court Road
- Meal / rest
- Make Borough Market the main meal; add a seated West End recovery stop
- Toilets
- Plan named facilities at Borough and a chosen West End venue; street stops provide none
- Daylight
- In short-day months, begin in the morning or split the route into City and West End halves
Planning status: distances and timings are editorial estimates, not field-timed accessibility results. Live streets, opening information and transport control the day.
0 of 9 saved as visited
Interactive street map. Use the zoom buttons to change scale. Marker details are repeated in the text alternative after the map.
Walking sequence
Selected stop
Leadenhall Market
The covered Victorian market appears as the approach to the Leaky Cauldron in the first film; look for Bull’s Head Passage.
Monument or BankOpen exact directionsDetailed map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Route links open in Google Maps or TfL for live navigation.
Text alternative for the current interactive map
The live map is centred on Leadenhall Market at representative coordinate 51.5128, -0.0836. Its nearby public-transport label is Monument or Bank. The current route order is:
- 01 · Leadenhall Market — Start; Monument or Bank
- 02 · Borough Market & Stoney Street — 1.1 mi / 1.8 km; London Bridge
- 03 · Millennium Bridge — 0.8 mi / 1.3 km; Blackfriars or Mansion House
- 04 · Lambeth Bridge — 2.1 mi / 3.4 km; Westminster or Lambeth North
- 05 · Westminster station — 0.6 mi / 1 km; Westminster
- 06 · Great Scotland Yard — 0.5 mi / 0.8 km; Charing Cross or Westminster
- 07 · Piccadilly Circus — 0.7 mi / 1.1 km; Piccadilly Circus
- 08 · Goodwin’s Court — 0.6 mi / 1 km; Leicester Square
- 09 · House of MinaLima — 0.5 mi / 0.8 km; Tottenham Court Road
These coordinates orient the map marker but do not identify a surveyed entrance. Use the written directions and an official live journey tool.
Know before you go
Small details that save the day
Reality check
Some famous-looking alleys are inspirations or fan associations, not confirmed filming locations. This guide labels the difference.
Markets
Leadenhall and Borough are busiest around weekday lunch and weekend peaks. Early morning is better for architecture.
Photography
Use compact equipment, respect traders and commuters, and never stage photos in the road.
Weather plan
The route works in light rain. In heavy weather, split it into City/South Bank and Westminster/Soho halves.
Bookable alternatives
10 current tours worth comparing
Duration and access details are a dated shortlist, not a promise. Recheck the live product page, meeting point and cancellation rule for your exact date.
Official or free route first
Before a marketplace package
Use the free self-guided route for central London, or try official Studio admission when Leavesden is the goal. A paid package is useful only when its guide, transfer or inventory solves a real constraint.
Good fit when…
A compact film-and-book-context walk
Guided walk • About 2½ hoursWhy surfaced: its dated listing matches this trip shape; provider name and commission are not ranking factors.Check live details Ordinary outbound link • no commissionGood fit when…
Groups wanting games and participation
Interactive walk • 2 hoursWhy surfaced: its dated listing matches this trip shape; provider name and commission are not ranking factors.Check live details Ordinary outbound link • no commissionGood fit when…
A fixed central departure and return
Entry + coach • About 7½ hoursWhy surfaced: its dated listing matches this trip shape; provider name and commission are not ranking factors.Check live details Ordinary outbound link • no commission| Tour and provider | Package inclusions | Duration and meeting | Language and cancellation | Access note | Link status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walking tour + Thames cruiseGetYourGuide • Walk + boatListing checked ; provider page and voucher control. | Guide, central-location walk and Thames cruiseGood fit: A guided central walk with a river view | About 4 hoursPlatform 9¾; confirm selected date | EnglishFree cancellation was shown when checked; selected-date terms control | Operator lists wheelchair access; confirm the walking route and boat boarding | Ordinary outbound link • no commissionView provider |
| Studio Tour with Victoria transferGetYourGuide • Entry + coachListing checked ; provider page and voucher control. | Timed Studio entry and return coach transferGood fit: One central departure and a fixed return | About 7 hoursVictoria Coach Station; confirm the gate | Self-guided inside; audio options advertisedCheck the selected date and ticket type | Operator says not suitable for wheelchair users; ask before booking | Ordinary outbound link • no commissionView provider |
| Original locations tour with boat rideViator • Walk + boatListing checked ; provider page and voucher control. | Guide, location walk and boat rideGood fit: A shorter central route with language options | About 2½ hoursSouthwark View Point | English plus other optionsSelected-date policy controls | Confirm street route and boat boarding with the operator | Ordinary outbound link • no commissionView provider |
| A Muggle’s Guide walking tourViator • Guided walkListing checked ; provider page and voucher control. | Guide and central London walking routeGood fit: A compact film-and-book-context walk | About 2½ hoursVoucher controls; confirm after booking | EnglishSelected-date policy controls | Walking route; ask about the exact step and surface sequence | Ordinary outbound link • no commissionView provider |
| Studio Tour with central-London transportViator • Entry + coachListing checked ; provider page and voucher control. | Timed Studio entry and return central-London transportGood fit: Studio admission and transport in one transaction | About 7 hoursCentral departure varies | Self-guided insideExact product, fare and selected-date terms control | Ask the operator about coach and boarding access | Ordinary outbound link • no commissionView provider |
| Studio Tour + Oxford day tripViator • Full-day coachListing checked ; provider page and voucher control. | Coach, Oxford segment and timed Studio entryGood fit: Visitors deliberately combining Oxford and the Studio | About 11 hoursCentral London departure | EnglishSelected-date policy controls | Long day with substantial walking; ask about coach access | Ordinary outbound link • no commissionView provider |
| 18-location London walking tourHeadout • Guided walkListing checked ; provider page and voucher control. | Guide, 18 advertised locations and headsetsGood fit: A high-stop-count central walk | 3 hoursWestminster area; voucher controls | EnglishOperator listed this product as non-refundable | Operator warns it is difficult for reduced mobility | Ordinary outbound link • no commissionView provider |
| Interactive games and reenactments tourHeadout • Interactive walkListing checked ; provider page and voucher control. | Guide, central walk, trivia, games and reenactmentsGood fit: Groups wanting games and participation | 2 hoursSouthwark View Point | Options vary by slotOperator showed free cancellation up to 24 hours | Operator lists wheelchair and pushchair access; confirm the exact route | Ordinary outbound link • no commissionView provider |
| Studio entry + return coachGolden Tours • Entry + coachListing checked ; provider page and voucher control. | Timed Studio entry and return coach transferGood fit: A fixed central departure and return | About 7½ hoursVictoria, Baker Street or King’s Cross option | Self-guided insideSelected fare and booking terms control | Contact the operator for coach and boarding access | Ordinary outbound link • no commissionView provider |
| Studio Tour ticket and transfer collectionTiqets • Entry + transferListing checked ; provider page and voucher control. | Inclusions vary by the exact package selectedGood fit: Comparing multiple transfer combinations | Usually 7–8 hoursEuston or Victoria; varies | Varies by packageSelected-ticket policy controls | Depends on the chosen package; confirm before payment | Ordinary outbound link • no commissionView provider |
How links work: These are ordinary links today and this site earns nothing from them. Official-direct options stay first. Placement uses disclosed trip-fit criteria, never commission. Marketplace descriptions are volatile: verify the exact date, price, inclusions, meeting point, language, cancellation and access terms with the provider. Unavailable products are removed when found.
Tickets and useful links
Book the right thing
The free route is ideal for independent travellers. Choose a paid tour for specialist commentary, family games, a private guide, a river cruise or a bundled Studio Tour day.
Official and direct options first
Marketplace alternatives
Use these only when their guide, transport or availability solves a need. Provider pages and vouchers control the booking.
GetYourGuide London Potter toursOrdinary outbound link • no commissionMarketplace • check live price, inclusions and termsViator London Potter toursOrdinary outbound link • no commissionMarketplace • check live price, inclusions and termsHeadout London walking toursOrdinary outbound link • no commissionMarketplace • check live price, inclusions and termsTiqets Potter tour collectionOrdinary outbound link • no commissionMarketplace • check live price, inclusions and terms
Evidence and limits
What this guide knows—and what to recheck
These sources support the factual spine of the page. Practical route choices and time budgets remain editorial judgments.
Official tourismVisit LondonMajor central-London production locations and visitor contextChecked Public authorityCity of London CorporationLeadenhall Market and Bull’s Head Passage filming contextChecked Official tourismVisitBritainKing’s Cross, Leadenhall, Lambeth Bridge and Millennium Bridge contextChecked Public authorityTransport for LondonPay-as-you-go overview and accepted payment methodsChecked
Put it into a day
Itineraries that make room for this stop
Choose a realistic day shape, then adapt fixed tickets, pace and weather in the trip builder.