Goodwin’s Court, London

Imagine you're wandering through London's Covent Garden, dodging selfie sticks and street performers, when suddenly-bam!-you stumble upon a time portal disguised as an alleyway. Welcome to Goodwin’s Court: dark, narrow, and delightfully mysterious, like London’s best-kept secret and possibly its spookiest shortcut.

Tucked behind the unassuming facade of The Theatre Goers Club of Great Britain-and just a wand-flick away from Charing Cross Road and Cecil Court-this sliver of Georgian charm has been haunting the city since around 1627. Amid those glossy black doors with gleaming knockers, brass nameplates that whisper of bygone businesses, and bow-fronted windows that curve so gracefully, you’d swear they were sketched by a Georgian architect with a flair for drama.

Now, Harry Potter fans-prepare your gasps. Goodwin’s Court didn’t make it to the big screen, but it might as well have. Its moody vibes, authentic old-school lanterns, and shadowy elegance evoke a sense of (and inspired the props created by Warner Bros. for) its creepy evil cinematographic twin, Knockturn Alley. Depending on the weather and lighting-and London’s got options-it can feel equal parts Diagon and doom.

Sure, you won’t find a wand shop or a dodgy apothecary tucked behind those windows here. But the eerie resemblance to the set designs in the films is so uncanny, it might just send shivers down your spine, prompting you to start checking over your shoulder for Death Eaters. Bellatrix Lestrange-is that you, darling?-or is it Lucius Malfoy apparating in the dead of night!?

So brace yourself for this detour. After all, Goodwin’s Court isn’t just a street-it’s a stroll through magical déjà vu...