Cecile Court, London

Heading down Charing Cross Road, or better still along the parallel St. Martin's Lane-take a few steps to the second turn on your right and you’ll find yourself in the magical time capsule known as Cecil Court. One-block-long and steeped in Victorian charm, this cobbled little pedestrian street is one of London’s oldest-and arguably most enchanted-lanes.

Now, rumor has it that J.K. Rowling took a stroll through here and thought, “Hmm, what if this were crawling with witches and wizards?” And thus, Diagon Alley was born! And honestly, it’s not hard to see why. The shop windows practically wink at you with curiosities: magical and psychic literature, shimmering maps, collector’s posters, and more old banknotes than Gringotts would know what to do with.

There’s The Witch Ball, serving up spells and spine-tinglers, and Marchpane, a children’s bookshop that quietly flexes its rare, signed Harry Potter editions like they’re just another Tuesday. Wandering here, don’t be surprised if you hear a whisper of wand wood against velvet or catch the scent of Butterbeer on the breeze.

It’s Diagon Alley with a London postcode-and no Ministry of Magic ID required.