OnCharing Cross Road in London, the Leaky Cauldron is a shabby pub and inn that serves as the entrance to Diagon Alley, invisible to the Muggle world. The rear doorway of the pub opens into a courtyard enclosed by a brick wall, and a particular brick must be tapped three times by a magic-user in order to access Diagon Alley.
Numerous locations within Diagon Alley are notable in the series:[3]
Eeyelops Owl Emporium sells owls, which deliver wizard mail. It is here thatRubeus Hagrid purchases the snowy owlHedwig as a birthday gift for Harry.
Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour sells ice cream and other treats. InHalf-Blood Prince, the parlour is boarded up and Mr Fortescue has gone missing.
Flourish & Blotts sells a variety of magical books including Hogwarts textbooks.
Gambol and Japes is a wizarding joke shop.
Gringotts Wizarding Bank is the only wizarding bank mentioned in the novels. It is operated primarily bygoblins and contains vaults that are protected by very strong and complex security measures.
Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions sells robes and other clothing.
The Magical Menagerie sells magical creatures and offers advice on animal care. It is here that Hermione purchases her catCrookshanks.
Ollivanders is awand shop owned by the wandmakerMr. Ollivander. His shop closes inHalf-Blood Prince after he is kidnapped by Death Eaters. He is rescued by Harry and his friends inDeathly Hallows.
Potage's Cauldron Shop sells various types ofcauldrons.
Slug and Jiggers Apothecary sells scales, potions and potion ingredients.
Twilfitt and Tatting's is a clothing shop.
Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes is a popular joke shop founded byFred and George Weasley. It sells joke and trick items, useful novelties, sweets, and items for use in defence against the Dark Arts. The shop is temporarily closed inDeathly Hallows, but Fred and George continue to run an owl-order service. In the playHarry Potter and the Cursed Child, George and his brother Ron manage the business.
Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment sells various types of equipment used in the wizarding world.
Market Stalls – Diagon Alley contains a variety of stalls which sell magical objects, sweets and trinkets. After Voldemort returns, some wizards illegally peddle amulets and other objects which they claim can protect againstDementors,Inferi andwerewolves.
Diagon Alley in Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter.
Several fan adaptions of Diagon Alley have been made. Some notable examples include a pop up Diagon Alley inSykesville, Maryland,[11] a Diagon Alley-themed Christmas display inAustin, Texas,[12] and a pop-up Diagon Alley in theChangi Airport.[13]
A real-world version of Diagon Alley was unveiled atUniversal Studios Florida in 2014.[15][16] The attraction was estimated to cost Universal approximately $400 million (equivalent to $521,000,000 in 2024).[17] In the week preceding the announcement of the attraction,The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon was used to promote theHarry Potter franchise andUniversal Resorts.[18] After the release of Diagon Alley,Jimmy Fallon moved his show to Universal. Fallon broughtPitbull andJennifer Lopez as guest stars for the episodes filmed at Universal.[19] The creation of Diagon Alley was achieved by dismantling aJaws attraction.[20]
Before the release ofHogwarts Legacy, some media outlets speculated that Diagon Alley could be a visitable place in the game, but considered it unlikely.[23] After the release of the game, several advocated for the inclusion of Diagon Alley in any potential sequel.[24][25]
IGN ranked the 2025 Diagon Alley Lego set as the 11th bestHarry Potter Lego set of all time.[26] Patrick Cavanaugh, writing forComicBook.com, criticized the size of the set but described the set as a "detailed and delightful display."[27] Sophie Brown, writing forWired, rated the Diagon Alley board game as a 4/5.[10]
Scott Reintgen described the first time Harry Potter goes to Diagon Alley in the film version ofHarry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone as his favorite scene in the movie.[28]Charlie Lyne, writing forThe Guardian, compared the same scene to "getting a massive nostalgia cuddle from your mind."[29]
The dragon at the end of Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida has been described as noticeable.[30]Bonnie Wright described Universal Studios Florida's Diagon Alley as "more detailed than on the set".[31] Carly Caramanna, writing forBusiness Insider, praised the food and drink options at Universal Florida's Diagon Alley.[32] Others praised the Escape from Gringotts ride.[33]
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