YOUR HARRY POTTER TOUR STARTS
OUTSIDE TEMPLE UNDERGROUND STATION
HARRY POTTER TOUR DIRECTIONS
The Harry Potter Tour begins by exiting left out of Temple Underground Station. Go up the steps, off which bear right, go over the crossing, and veer right along Temple Place. Pause on the left by the phone boxes outside:-
NUMBER TWO TEMPLE PLACE - FORMERLY THE ASTOR ESTATE OFFICE.
Although this flamboyant building boasts an exquisite exterior, and most certainly would not look out of place in Tudor London, it is in fact relatively modern. It dates from 1895 when it was built for the immensely wealthy American William Waldorf Astor. It was constructed to his own detailed specifications and when completed he used it as his residence and estate office.
It is your first stop on the Harry Potter Tour and, although it has never been used as a Harry Potter film Location, one can't help feeling that it would probably make an ideal setting for a school of wizardry or even a setting for a Magical Ministry. Its exterior boasts much to occupy the children so get them ready and see if they can find the following.
LONDON TREASURE HUNT CLUE ONE
Can you find a Golden Flying Ship?
ANSWER
Just look up at the magnificent weather vane that surmounts the building. This gilded caravel was intended as a representation of Christopher Columbus's Santa Maria, the vessel that took him to America.
HARRY POTTER TOUR DIRECTIONS
Just after Number Two Temple Place go left into Milford Lane and keep ahead to ascend the long flight of steps underneath the brick arch and keep ahead along Essex Street. However don't go too fast because the next clue is located on Essex Street. So slow the pace and set the next treasure hunt challenge on your Harry Potter Tour.
LONDON TREASURE HUNT CLUE TWO
As you walk see if you can find this face?
ANSWER
You will find the face above the doorway of numbers 36 and 37 on the right side of Essex Street.
HARRY POTTER TOUR DIRECTIONS
Keep going to the top of Essex Street (there are toilets in the middle of the road opposite should they be required) go left along Strand. On arrival at its junction with Arundel Street, go right over the traffic lights and on your right is the Church of St Clement Danes.
ORANGES AND LEMONS SAY THE BELLS OF ST. CLEMENTS
This famous rhyme has been sung by generations of children. The rhyme "Oranges and Lemons" has, over the centuries appeared in varied versions and it has been suggested that it originated with a street dance in the course of which people danced through the streets to the ringing of the bells.
There is some debate as to which church the rhyme is about as St Clement Eastcheap (over near the Tower of London) claims to be the actual church being referred to on account of the fact that there was once a market that sold oranges close to old London Bridge, which was very close to St Clement's Eastcheap.
However, those who favour St Clement Danes as the "Oranges and Lemons" Church point out that it was customary for ships to offload their cargoes to the west of the City of London, on what is now the Victoria Embankment where your Harry Potter Tour began, in order that they might avoid the City's expensive harbour dues. In those days the churchyard of St Clement Danes reached down to the riverbank and cargoes were transported through it to Clare Market, where the London School of Economics now stands. The church probably made a charge on all fruit that passed through its churchyard and thus this was the church where the tolls were collected for "Oranges and Lemons".
HARRY POTTER TOUR DIRECTIONS
The church is open to the public 7 days a week from 9am to 4pm unless there is a service on. Make your way inside where there is an information board giving a detailed history of the Church and of the origins of the rhyme "Oranges and Lemons". The next Harry Potter Tour Treasure Hunt Challenge is also inside this wonderful church.
LONDON TREASURE HUNT CLUE THREE
Can you find the rats tails inside the Church?
ANSWER
The rats tails are in fact silver spoons. You can find them inside the church in a glass case on the right at the back of the church.
If you time your arrival to arrive at the church at 9am, Noon, 3pm, 6pm, and 9pm, you can listen to the church bells chime "Oranges and Lemons say the bells of St Clements.
HARRY POTTER TOUR DIRECTIONS
Exit the church and go straight ahead to cross over the smaller road and keep ahead to pause outside:-
AUSTRALIA HOUSE - GRINGOTTS BANK HARRY POTTER FILM LOCATION
The Australian High Commission in London, the glorious marble interior of Australia House became the interior for Gringotts, the wizards bank run by goblins in the Harry Potter films. The filming was done inside the building, which is not normally open to the public, although a glimpse of the sumptuous interior can be obtained with a discreet peep through the doors!
