Leadenhall Market

★ 4.4 (23,548)Free

Designed by Horace Jones and completed in 1881 on the site of Roman London's ancient forum, Leadenhall Market's elaborate green-and-maroon ironwork and glazed roof have made it a favourite backdrop for film crews, most notably standing in for Diagon Alley's entrance in the Harry Potter films. Reviewers with a 4.4 rating from over 23,000 reviews praise its ornate design as much as its shops and restaurants, with one describing it as Victorian architects given 'too much confidence and paint' — meant, and taken, as high praise. Free to wander and centrally located near Monument and the Gherkin, it's an easy, atmospheric lunch or browsing stop in the City.

✨ Reasons to go

1Designed by Horace Jones and completed in 1881 atop the site of Roman London's ancient forum.
2Its blue-door entrance was used as a filming location for Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter movies.
3Features ornate Victorian ironwork painted in a distinctive green-and-maroon color scheme under a glazed roof.

💡 Good to know

1Visit at lunch_1 or lunch_2 when the surrounding restaurants and pubs are busiest and most atmospheric
2look for the small blue door often pointed out as the Harry Potter film location
3combine it with the nearby Monument, Lloyd's building and the Gherkin for a City architecture walk.

⏱️ Typical visit

35 min

🕰️ Best time

morning or lunchtime

🚶 Walking intensity

Moderate walking

📍

Address

Gracechurch St, London EC3V 1LT, UKGoogle Apple

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Booking

Walk-in

What people say

"A good place to visit near Monument in central London. It has many interesting shops and restaurants. The building has a very beautiful architecture and design and matching colour. Its a must place to visit in central London."

— Joseph Dias

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