Harry Potter: Back to Hogwarts at King’s Cross platform 9¾ - When is it? Where is it? How to take part

Marking Harry Potter’s birthday today (July 31), the search is on for the UK’s biggest Harry Potter fan to lead the Hogwarts Express departure countdown at Back to Hogwarts.

Having begun organically, as a fan celebration, each year on September 1, Back to Hogwarts marks the moment when wizards and witches board the Hogwarts Express on Platform 9 ¾ at 11am, bound for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Thousands of fans from all over the world make the trip to London’s King’s Cross station.

Back to Hogwarts competition

The Wizarding World, which oversees the Harry Potter franchise, is inviting fans to once again unite on Back to Hogwarts Day to see the train to Hogsmeade light up the departure board at 11am.

It has launched a UK competition for one fan aged between five and 17 to travel to King’s Cross and help host the countdown. The competition is now live and fans can submit a video (via their parent or guardian) of their best countdown online by 11.59pm on August 7.

The winner, and a parent or guardian, will also get a Harry Potter London Breaks Experience, which includes tickets for the Warner Bros Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, as well a merchandise bundle from the Harry Potter Shop.

The Back to Hogwarts competition can be entered online.

King’s Cross station platform 9¾

In addition to the countdown, from September 1-3, fans visiting King’s Cross will get the chance to sip on Butterbeer, play Hogwarts Legacy on PlayStation5 courtesy of Warner Bros Games, and enjoy Lego Harry Potter giveaways and photo opportunities. In celebration of the publication of The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac, fans will be able to spin Bloomsbury’s giant wand spinner and find out whose wand they are best suited to, with free gifts up for grabs for those taking part.

Harry Potter cinema screenings

Around the day of Back to Hogwarts, Everyman will screen all eight films at Everyman Kings Cross and select Harry Potter movies at its cinemas nationwide. Odeon will present Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets nationwide over the course of the weekend.

Warner Bros

Pam Lifford, president, global brands, franchises and experiences, at Warner Bros Discovery, said: “Back to Hogwarts is a day cherished by Harry Potter fans of all ages, from all over the world. Just like their passion for the magic of the stories, their celebrations grow every year. 2023 is set to be a year like no other – we will see fan world record attempts in Germany, high octane quiz competitions in France and of course, the UK’s search to find the perfect person to join that amazing countdown. We are so proud to offer new and exciting ways to bring fans together and give them new ways to celebrate the Harry Potter magic – there’s nothing quite like Back To Hogwarts.”

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