Visit Harry Potter’s 12 Grimmauld Place London (Claremont Square)

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Did you know that you can visit Harry Potter’s 12 Grimmauld Place in London that was owned by Sirius Black?

Of course, Potterheads already know that the House of Black and The Order of the Phoenix HQ is protected by a Fidelius Charm. But, you will be able to see the Muggle neighbourhood where it’s hidden in Islington.

The filming location is located in Claremont Square and you can easily visit on a short walk from King’s Cross Station just like it’s described in the books.

Here is a complete guide to the Claremont Square Harry Potter filming location and how to visit 12 Grimmauld Place London or the Order of the Phoenix HQ!

12 Grimmauld Place London Claremont Square Harry Potter location — *Strolling down Grimmauld Place London!*

What is 12 Grimmauld Place London?

12 Grimmauld Place is the ancestral home of the Noble House of Black family in the world of Harry Potter. One of the largest and wealthiest pure-blood wizard families.

Notable members of the House of Black are Sirius Black who is Harry’s God Father and Regulus Black who was the previous owner of the Locket of Slytherin.

Bellatrix Lestrange and even Draco Malfoy are on the famous Black family tree tapestry as related cousins.

Despite the Black family being pure-blood wizards, they actually live in a Muggle neighbourhood in the Borough of Islington which is located in London.

However, 12 Grimmauld Place is protected by a Fidelius Charm so you can only see the house if you’re a magical person and have been told the secret of its location.

The Muggle’s here thought it was by mistake that house 11 was located by house 13. But, of course, those of the Wizarding World who are informed of the secret residence know otherwise.

The property was handed down to Sirius Black and became the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix with Albus Dumbledore as the secret-keeper.

Eventually, Harry inherited 12 Grimmauld Place from Sirius and it continued as a hideout for the Order.

It’s not currently known what Harry did with Grimmauld Place after the Second Wizarding War. So, I guess you’ll have to visit and find out for yourself in London!

12 Grimmauld Place London Claremont Square Harry Potter — *Grimmauld Place*

Is 12 Grimmauld Place real?

A quick look on Google Maps will tell you that there is no real 12 Grimmauld Place in London or even a street called that in UK. It only exists in the pages of the Harry Potter books.

Indeed, we are first introduced to 12 Grimmauld Place in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix as a hideout for those Witches and Wizards who are part of the Order.

However, that doesn’t mean that this location wasn’t inspired by a real location. J. K. Rowling did live in London whilst working for Amnesty International and she wrote some of the first chapters while living in her flat in Clapham Junction.

Many people believe that the inspiration for 12 Grimmauld Place in the Harry Potter books is actually Lincoln’s Inn Fields.

It’s a square of Georgian townhouses that is very similar to where they filmed the Order of the Phoenix HQ in the Harry Potter movies. It’s probably why the director David Yates chose it and the fact that it’s just a short walk from King’s Cross Station!

They do have a real 12 Grimmauld Place set at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios Orlando you can visit. You can even make the House-Elf Kreacher peer out of the window with your wand.

But, thankfully, there is a location a little closer to home in London for Harry Potter fans based in the UK!

wizarding world of harry potter instagram spots — *Grimmauld Place at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando*

Claremont Square Harry Potter filming location London — *Claremont Square, London*

Where is 12 Grimmauld Place filmed? Where is the 12 Grimmauld Place London location?

In the movies, we see The Order of the Phoenix HQ in a muggle neighbourhood in London and the 12 Grimmauld Place filming location is actually Claremont Square.

It’s still part of Islington and is only a short walk away from King’s Cross Station – so it fits in perfectly with the book description.

Claremont Square is located near to Pentonville Road and the houses here were all built from 1815 – 1828. Numbers 2 – 44 are now Grade II listed including the street that was used to film 12 Grimmauld Place in Harry Potter!

It’s good to note that they only filmed the exteriors of The Order of the Phoenix HQ for the movies here. They filmed the interior rooms in a studio including the scenes with the Black Family Tree Tapestry.

12 Grimmauld place London Claremont Square Harry Potter filming location — *Claremont Square, Harry Potter Order of the Phoenix HQ!*

Grimmauld Place Harry Potter filming location

What Harry Potter movie was filmed at 12 Grimmauld Place?

So, the house is mentioned multiple times in the books and movies. But, there are actually only two Harry Potter films that feature 12 Grimmauld Place as a filming location. These are;

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) – Where Harry hides out with Sirius Black and the Order and where the Weasley’s later celebrate Christmas.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 (2010) – where Harry, Ron and Hermione hide out from Voldemort and search for the Locket of Slytherin confronting the House-Elf Kreacher.

How to visit Claremont Square in London, Order of the Phoenix HQ filming location!

So, if you wanted to visit the Claremont Square Harry Potter filming location then you will need to fly your broom over to central London.

The official address of this filming location is number 23-29 Claremont Square, Islington, London N1 9LX.

I would recommend taking the tube and walking over to the Order of the Phoenix HQ as driving in London is quite an expensive and timely option.

The nearest tube to Claremont Square is Angel and you can then walk over to 12 Grimmauld Place in around 5 minutes from there. Click here to plan your tube journey.

Alternatively, Claremont Square is only a ten-minute walk away from King’s Cross Station which is perfect if you were planning to visit The Harry Potter Shop located there.

23-29 Claremont Square Harry Potter filming location — *Numbers 23-29 Claremont Square are Grimmauld Place in Harry Potter!*

What number house is 12 Grimmauld Place in Claremont Square?

Once you’ve reached Claremont Square, you’ll then need to locate the correct street to find where they filmed 12 Grimmauld Place.

There are three streets that all look quite similar to each other around the square. So, make sure to head to house numbers 23-29 to find the Order of the Phoenix HQ filming location!

But, remember that Number 12 Grimmauld place is actually invisible to muggles due to the Fidelius Charm. So, you won’t be able to see it unless someone tells you the secret. But, maybe you’ll see a sneaking Kreacher in one of the windows there?

Click here to use the ‘Order of the Phoenix HQ’ Google Pin to help you find it on your visit. It’s a real pin location FYI and was made by a very helpful Potterhead.

Important Muggle notice: this is a private residential area so please respect the residents here. I’m sure they get Potterheads visiting all the time but don’t be nosy or disturb them! Enjoy the Order of the Phoenix HQ location from afar.

12 Grimmauld Place London Harry Potter Claremont SQuare — *The Order of the Phoenix HQ!*

What else can you do in Claremont Square?

So, there’s not much more to do in Claremont Square after your visit to 12 Grimmauld Place if you’re a Potterhead.

You could visit a local park nearby by The Meditatio Centre at Myddleton Square. I sat here for a while to plan my next journey to Highgate Cemetery and it was so lovely and quiet which is rare for central London.

In fact, it was an oasis. So, if you’re feeling exhausted from the hustle and bustle of London, I would sit here for a while just to reset.

After you’ve had a look at the Order of the Phoenix HQ and snapped some photos, I would recommend moving on to see some more Harry Potter filming locations in London.

12 Grimmauld Place London Sirius Black's House Aesthetic

Why not head to King’s Cross Station next?

Did you know that King’s Cross Station in London is located just a short walk away from Claremont Square or 12 Grimmauld Place?

King’s Cross Station is of course the place where Harry Potter travels to Platform 9¾ in order to catch the Hogwarts Express! So, you have to make a stop here if you’re a Potterhead visiting London.

Unfortunately, there is no Platform 9¾ as that doesn’t logically exist. But, if you wanted to see the filming location, just head to the archways between platforms 4 & 5.

If you did want to enjoy some Harry Potter magic, you should visit The Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross.

The Platform 9 3/4's Trolley Photo at King's Cross Station — *The Platform 9¾ Trolley Photo at King’s Cross Station*

This has the iconic trolley photo opportunity and a huge gift shop filled with all sorts of Wizarding World souvenirs to buy.

Just across the road from King’s Cross, you can also visit the St Pancras International Hotel that featured in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002).

It’s the building that Ron and Harry fly the Ford Anglia over London when they miss the Hogwarts Express!

Click here to read my complete guide on how to find Platform 9 3/4 at King’s Cross!

Grand Staircase St Pancras Renaissance Hotel

Are you looking for more Harry Potter locations in London?

There are plenty more locations that you can seek out if you’re a Potterhead in London!

After your visit to King’s Cross Station, I would catch the tube over to the River Thames to see sights like the Millennium Bridge, Tower Bridge, London City Hall, and Borough Market that all featured as filming locations.

You can head into St Paul’s Cathedral to see their Geometric Staircase that was the Divination Stairwell at Hogwarts.

One of my favourite locations I visited has to be Leadenhall Market. It’s a gorgeous Victorian shopping area that featured as the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley.

Talking of Diagon Alley you can visit some of the locations that inspired that wizarding shopping street like Cecil Court and Goodwin’s Court near Charing Cross Road.

Goodwin's Court Harry Potter — *Goodwin’s Court*

Nearby that, you can watch The Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre or lose yourself in the House of MinaLima.

The Harry Potter Photographic Exhibition is also in Covent Garden which is home to London’s only Butterbeer Bar.

Or, why not enjoy some immersive magical experiences like brewing some cocktails at The Cauldron or an afternoon tea at Cutter & Squidge.

Of course, the ultimate Harry Potter experience can be found on the Warner Brothers Studio Tour. This has plenty of sets, props, and costumes from the movies. You can even walk down Diagon Alley, see how they filmed Hogwarts Castle and sip on Butterbeer.

If you can I would recommend a visit around one of their special events like the Dark Arts at Halloween or Hogwarts in the Snow.

Click here to read my complete guide on London Harry Potter locations