Credit: Harry Potter Shop King's CrossThis week, the first-ever official Harry Potter Shop posted a closure notice affecting anyone planning to visit on Tuesday, April 21, or Thursday, April 23. Here’s what Wizarding World fans need to know before heading to the real Platform 9 3/4 at King’s Cross Station in London.
Harry Potter Shop King’s Cross Announces Closure
On Tuesday, the official Harry Potter Shop Instagram (@harrypottershop) posted a story impacting anyone planning to visit its original location in London, which opened in 2012. The press release read:
“Harry Potter Shop King’s Cross will be closing at 8pm on Tuesday 21st April and Thursday 23rd April.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
The merchandise location is typically open until 10:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, meaning that it’s closing two hours early on April 21 and April 23. At this time, operations on Wednesday, April 22, and from Friday, April 24, onward, appear unaffected. The store has not said why the shop is closing two hours early on Tuesday and Thursday.
The Harry Potter Shop King’s Cross is home to the original Platform 9 3/4 photo op, where guests can queue for a photo with Harry’s suitcase trolley as it magically travels through the brick wall. This experience is first-come, first-served, and operates on the same hours as the attached souvenir store. Presumably, it will also close two hours early on Tuesday, April 21, and Thursday, April 23, but the official Instagram account didn’t confirm this.
The Harry Potter Shop franchise later expanded with United States locations in Chicago, Illinois, and New York, New York, as well as Harajuku and Akasaka in Tokyo, Japan. However, these four locations were not impacted by the closure notice posted on Tuesday.
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The stores sell merchandise similar to that sold at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme parks at Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Japan, and Universal Studios Beijing, but also offer location-exclusive items inspired by J.K. Rowling’s fantasy series and its films.
Where is your favorite place to purchase official Harry Potter merchandise? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments!
