Which London railway station inspired J.K. Rowling’s idea for Harry Potter’s platform?

King’s Cross station inspired J.K. Rowling’s idea for Harry Potter’s platform.

In the Harry Potter stories, students reach the Hogwarts Express through the hidden Platform 9¾ at London’s King’s Cross station. Rowling has described the station as part of the inspiration for the setting, connecting the ordinary world of London rail travel with the magical world of Hogwarts.

The platform number is fictional, and the real station’s platforms are arranged differently from the story’s description. The idea works because King’s Cross is a major gateway associated with journeys, departures, and northern train routes.

Visitors can find a Platform 9¾-themed trolley installation at the station, created for fans and tourism. The installation is not evidence that a literal hidden platform exists; it commemorates the fictional location made famous by the books and films.