Hogsmeade Station 🚂 HP Location Guide

[5] Diagon Alley

"A cobblestoned shopping area for the wizarding world, where Hogwarts students can purchase necessary supplies."

—Description of Diagon Alley 

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INTRODUCTION:

Diagon Alley is a cobblestoned wizarding alley and shopping area located in London, England behind a pub called the Leaky Cauldron. Inside the alley is an assortment of restaurants, shops, and other sights. All items on the Hogwarts supply list can be bought at Diagon Alley. 

MUGGLE PREVENTION:

The alley is completely hidden from the Muggle world which is right outside of its boundaries. It is very large in area and essentially the center of wizarding London.

LOCATION:

Diagon Alley is accessible from Muggle London through the Leaky Cauldron, which is on Charing Cross Road, set between a bookshop and a record shop. The Muggles who pass by the inn seem to be quite unconscious of its existence. Knockturn Alley, a dark artefacts area, is an off shoot of Diagon Alley, as are the areas of Horizont Alley and Carkitt Market.

ACCESS:

The entrance is behind the Leaky Cauldron in a small, walled courtyard with a dustbin. Diagon Alley can be accessed by tapping the correct brick in the wall behind the Leaky Cauldron (from the trash can, three up and two across). The wall goes in a small hole first but forms a large archway. It can also be accessed by Floo Powder and Apparition. There may be other entrances as well.

SHOPS AND BUILDINGS:

2nd Hand Brooms

Amanuensis Quills

Apothecary 

Broomstix

Eeylops Owl Emporium 

Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour 

Flourish and Blotts 

Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop 

Gringotts Wizarding Bank 

Junk shop 

The Leaky Cauldron

Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions 

Madam Primpernelle's Beautifying Potions 

Magical Menagerie 

Obscurus Books 

Ollivanders 

Potages Cauldron Shop

Quality Quidditch Supplies

Rosa Lee Teabag

Scribbulus Writing Instruments

Second-Hand Bookshop

Second-Hand Robes 

Slug & Jiggers Apothecary

Sugarplum's Sweets Shop

TerrorTours 

The Ministry Press

The Daily Prophet's main office 

Twilfitt and Tatting's 

Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes 

Whizz Hard Books 

Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment 

Various Stalls and Peddlers 

NOTES FROM THE ADMINS:

•The words "Diagon" and "Alley" when pronounced together, produce the word "diagonally" which is most probably the origin of the name "Diagon Alley". When Harry mispronounced the name due to inhaling a mouthful of ash, he landed in a fireplace in nearby Knockturn Alley.

•In the United States, there is a shop which is a remake of Diagon Alley in Los Angeles, California called Whimsic Alley (which is a play on the word "whimsically"). The store features false store fronts inside the shop which mimic those of the "real" Diagon Alley, where many Harry Potter and wizard themed items can be purchased.

•As depicted in the films, Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley are strictly pedestrian precincts, as the streets are too narrow to accommodate either vehicular or carriage traffic. Presumably magical means are exercised for stocking the shops, eliminating the need for standard transportation corridors.

•As depicted in the films, Diagon Alley was inspired by the look of London in the early 1800s, but with fantastical touches, such as buildlings leaning at such sharp angles that they would surely fall if not supported by magic.

•Though Muggles are unable to view the Leaky Cauldron and thus reach the entrance to Diagon Alley, Hermione Granger's parents accompanied her on her trip in her second year. It is possible alternative arrangements are available for such cases, such as a temporary connection to the Floo Network.

•There is a Diagon Alley in the Universal Studios theme park, joined with Knockturn Alley. It includes a lot of the same shops and buildings where one can purchase Harry Potter merchandise, such as Harry Potter-themed clothing in Madame Malkin's and wand replicas in Ollivander's and Gregorovitch's.

•Some have proposed that Diagon Alley is based on Victoria St in Edinburgh, which is located a few blocks from the Elephant House café. Victoria St is a narrow, winding road with high shops on either side, including a book shop, a clothing shop, a joke shop at one end, and a shop that sells wands. However, Rowling has never mentioned Victoria St.