Harry Potter swaps King’s Cross for Waterloo as new TV show takes over sprawling London train station
The Harry Potter TV series has replaced its iconic King’s Cross station set with Waterloo as filming took over at a London train station on Sunday.
Filming on the latest adaptation of JK Rowling’s novels began earlier this year and the series is scheduled to air next year.
11-year-old Dominic McLaughlin will take on the role of Harry Potter, 11-year-old Arabella Stanton will take on the role of Hermione Granger, and 11-year-old Alastair Stout will take on the role of Ron Weasley.
In films released between 2001 and 2011, the Olton Hall engine, currently on display at the Warner Bros Studio Tour near Watford, starred as the Hogwarts Express and set off from King’s Cross.
Filming of the series started in May; The cast and crew were spotted filming on Île de Sein, off the coast of Brittany, France.
Now they’ve moved on to some of the more infamous scenes as they set the stage for the new school year at Hogwarts.
Harry Potter TV series replaced the iconic King’s Cross station set with Waterloo as filming took over at London railway station on Sunday (pictured left: Dominic McLaughlin)
Filming on the latest adaptation of JK Rowling’s novels began earlier this year and the series is scheduled to air next year (current filming has been filmed outside Waterloo).
A classic red double-decker bus is pictured outside the station, depicting the ‘Crouch End’ destination.
Crouch End is a leafy, affluent urban village in North London (N8) known for its Edwardian architecture, creative community and independent shops.
But the name Crouch lies much deeper into the story, as in the Harry Potter universe, there is a distinct and ancient pureblood lineage.
Bartemius Crouch Senior (Roger Lloyd-Pack) was a high-ranking Ministry of Magic official known for his ruthlessness during the First Wizarding War.
And Bartemius Crouch Junior (David Tennant) was a loyal Death Eater who famously impersonated Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody to manipulate the Triwizard Tournament.
Traditionally, hundreds of fans would gather in fancy dress at King’s Cross to re-enact the scene in which the students pass through the wall towards the secret Platform 9 and 3/4, where the Hogwarts Express awaits.
The Return to Hogwarts tradition, which celebrates the start of each academic year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry every September 1, previously involved displaying train services on departure boards.
However, in 2024, Warner Brothers Discovery announced the cancellation of the public event and confirmed that the event was canceled this year as well.
11-year-old Dominic McLaughlin will take on the role of Harry Potter, 11-year-old Arabella Stanton will take on the role of Hermione Granger, and 11-year-old Alastair Stout will take on the role of Ron Weasley.
And in final scenes, a classic red double-decker bus was spotted outside Waterloo Station and its destination ‘Crouch End’ was spotted.
Extras from the series were seen waiting to board the bus. Crouch End is a green and affluent urban village in North London (N8), known for its Edwardian architecture.
Scenes of the location were not explicitly stated during filming, but the crowd suggests it will play a major role in one or some of the episodes
Traditionally, hundreds of fans would gather in fancy dress at King’s Cross to re-enact the scene where students make their way through the wall towards the secret Platform 9 and 3/4, where the Hogwarts Express awaits.
A statement published on the Wizarding World website in July 2025 advised fans to stay away from Kings Cross.
It read: ‘Special Hogwarts notice: unfortunately, we must once again discourage fans from heading to King’s Cross Station on 1 September as there will be no countdown or train announcements in 2025. ‘Safety first, folks.’
A spokesman confirmed to The Sun: ‘The situation remains the same this year, we will not be hosting the event at the station.’
In addition, the screening of the fourth Harry Potter film will be held at Cineworld Leicester Square with a Q&A session from actors James and Oliver Phelps.
Early last year, it was revealed that the Wightwick Hall steam locomotive was on course for worldwide fame as it was cast as the Hogwarts Express in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series.
The locomotive, beautifully restored by volunteers over the course of 41 years, will transport the wizard from platforms 9 and 3/4 of London King’s Cross station to the magic school.
Wightwick Hall was built in 1948. It traveled 640,000 miles on the Great Western Railway before being withdrawn in 1964 and sold to a scrapyard in Barry, South Wales.
It was purchased for £9,180 in 1978 from the Buckinghamshire Railway Center in Quainton by volunteers who restored it.
The locomotive is currently on long-term loan to the Bluebell Railway in West Sussex.
Wightwick Hall will devote six months a year to filming the HBO series for the next eight years. He will run around the tourist attraction between takes.
