Which London station inspired J.K. Rowling’s platform nine and three-quarters?

King’s Cross Station inspired J.K. Rowling’s platform nine and three-quarters.

In the Harry Potter books, the Hogwarts Express departs from a magical platform between platforms 9 and 10. Rowling selected King’s Cross because her parents met on a train departing from the station for Scotland, giving the location a personal connection as well as its strong association with rail travel.

The fictional platform is not an actual hidden platform. At the station, platforms 9 and 10 were historically separated by railway tracks, and the setting required imaginative adaptation. A themed luggage trolley at the station later became a popular visitor attraction and marks the fictional platform.

The station is in London’s King’s Cross area and is separate from nearby St Pancras station, although the two terminals are close together. That neighboring location can cause confusion when visitors look for the Harry Potter landmark.