Which London railway station inspired J.K. Rowling’s name for Platform 9¾?

King’s Cross Station inspired J.K. Rowling’s name for Platform 9¾.

In the Harry Potter books, Platform 9¾ is the hidden platform from which the Hogwarts Express departs. It is reached by passing through a barrier between platforms 9 and 10 at London’s King’s Cross railway station.

Rowling has explained that she chose King’s Cross because her parents met on a train traveling from King’s Cross to Scotland. The fictional platform is concealed in the books, whereas the real station originally had platforms 9 and 10 separated by tracks, creating a memorable setting for the story.

King’s Cross later embraced its association with the series. A luggage trolley installed at the station marks a platform 9¾ photo location, and the station became a major stop for Harry Potter fans. The nearby Harry Potter shop also uses the fictional platform’s branding.