Harry Potter London Bus Tour
Film location bus tour on a vintage Routemaster — see the Leaky Cauldron, Gringotts and the Knight Bus route through London
Film location bus tour on a vintage Routemaster — see the Leaky Cauldron, Gringotts and the Knight Bus route through London
A purple-painted 1960s Routemaster bus pulls up at Embankment and takes you on a two-hour tour of Harry Potter filming locations across London. The vintage double-decker is a tribute to the Knight Bus from The Prisoner of Azkaban, and the guide on board is a dedicated Potter expert armed with film clips and behind-the-scenes trivia.
You will pass the Leaky Cauldron pub, the exterior of Gringotts Bank, the bridge destroyed by Death Eaters and the narrow street where the Knight Bus famously squeezed between two double-deckers. Two stops allow you to explore key locations on foot for photographs.
The Harry Potter London Bus Tour is operated by Brit Movie Tours, one of the longest-running film location tour companies in the capital. Since launching over a decade ago, the tour has carried tens of thousands of Potter fans through the streets of London aboard a vintage Routemaster repainted in the distinctive purple of the Knight Bus. The route covers locations from across the eight films, weaving between the City of London, Southwark, Westminster and Lambeth.
The two-hour itinerary is carefully plotted to pass as many filming locations as possible while also taking in some of London's most recognisable landmarks. You will see the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, St Paul's Cathedral and Piccadilly Circus alongside the movie locations, making it a solid sightseeing tour even for passengers who have never read the books.
The tour's centrepiece stops are at Leadenhall Market, where the ornate Victorian arcade doubled as the entrance to Diagon Alley in The Philosopher's Stone, and Borough Market, where the Knight Bus famously squeezed between two double-deckers. At both locations you leave the bus to explore on foot and take photographs with your guide pointing out the exact camera angles used in the films.
From the bus you will see the Millennium Bridge — digitally snapped in two by Death Eaters in the opening of The Half-Blood Prince — the real-world entrance used as the Ministry of Magic visitor entrance, and the Lambeth Bridge approach where the Knight Bus performed its hair-raising near-miss. Screens on board play the relevant film clips at each location so you can compare fiction with reality.
Tickets are available exclusively through the Brit Movie Tours website and must be booked in advance. The tour runs Wednesday to Sunday at 2pm throughout the year, rain or shine, with additional departures during school holidays and peak summer months. Popular dates sell out several weeks ahead, so booking early is recommended, particularly for weekends and school half-terms.
The bus departs from Bus Stop B at Embankment, a two-minute walk from Embankment Tube station. Arrive at least ten minutes before departure as the bus leaves promptly. The tour is suitable for all ages, though children under three travel free on a parent's lap. Pushchairs can be stored in the luggage area of the bus.
All tickets must be booked in advance online — no tickets are sold at the meeting point
Weekend and school holiday tours sell out fast. Book through the Brit Movie Tours website as early as possible, especially for Saturday departures.
The bus leaves from Bus Stop B at Embankment promptly at 2pm. Late arrivals cannot be accommodated as the bus will have already departed.
The top deck of the Routemaster gives the best views of filming locations and London landmarks. Grab a front seat if you can.
You will want photos at the two walking stops. There are no charging points on the vintage bus, so start with a full battery or bring a bank.
The tour does not visit King's Cross. Head there afterwards to see the Platform 9 3/4 trolley and the Harry Potter shop — it is 15 minutes by Tube from Embankment.
London Travel Writer · 12+ years covering UK attractions and tourism
Last reviewed: March 9, 2026
