It seems Muggles are now excluded from Harry Potter celebrations at King’s Cross.
Fans of the beloved Harry Potter series were left feeling let down at London’s King’s Cross station on Sunday when the anticipated announcement for the Hogwarts Express, the famous fictional train, did not take place.
For years, Network Rail has celebrated the symbolic “departure” of the Hogwarts Express, which famously transports Harry Potter and his friends to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, on the 1st of September. However, this year, the tradition was noticeably absent, despite the usual excitement surrounding the event.
In July, Network Rail had warned that there would be no official event this year, citing operational issues due to the overwhelming number of fans who turned up last year. Despite this, many fans still arrived in costume, eager to partake in the yearly tradition, only to express their disappointment through booing when the announcement was not made.
Last year, the departure board at King’s Cross had displayed the fictional journey to Hogsmeade station, with the Hogwarts Express set to depart from Platform 9 ¾ at 11 am on September 1st. The event even featured a whimsical announcement calling for witches and wizards to board the magical steam train.
A spokesperson for Network Rail explained the decision: “While we occasionally host commercial events at our station concourses, our primary responsibility is to ensure the smooth travel of our passengers. What started as a small gathering of fans to celebrate the Hogwarts Express has grown immensely in popularity. Last year’s event drew thousands to King’s Cross, creating challenges for us as the station operator. This year, we opted not to host an in-person event but instead offered online celebrations for fans across the country to enjoy.”
So, Harry Potter fans, stop showing up every September 1st. There’s nothing happening. If there is, it’s on the secret platform 9 3/4, which requires a magical touch to access.
You can, however, still visit the gift shop for all your Harry Potter gear needs and take your picture at the Platform 9 3/4 entry statue (but expect to stand in line…).
Author: Jonathan Thomas
Jonathan is a consummate Anglophile who launched Anglotopia.net in 2007 to channel his passion for Britain. Londontopia is its sister publication dedicated to everything London.