Which London railway station inspired a key location in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books?

King’s Cross Station inspired the key railway location in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books.

In the novels, Harry and other students depart for Hogwarts from Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross. They reach it by passing through the barrier between platforms 9 and 10, a magical entrance that became one of the series’ most recognizable locations.

Rowling has explained that King’s Cross had personal significance because her parents met on a train traveling from King’s Cross to Scotland. The station therefore connected a real family detail with the fictional departure point for the wizarding school.

The real station’s platform numbering does not match the magical arrangement described in the books. The films used a specially created platform area for filming, and the station later installed a visitor photo spot marked Platform 9¾. King’s Cross is in London, while the fictional Hogwarts itself is located somewhere in Scotland.