There’s magic in the air with the release of the latest Wizarding World film Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, and it’s filling Covent Garden from today. That’s because giant wands are to illuminating Covent Garden’s Central Avenue, bringing back a beloved sight that’s already charmed Londoners at St Paul’s Cathedral in 2018 (pictured below) and Leicester Square in autumn 2021 (to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone arriving in cinemas)
The wands, which stand at fifteen feet tall, are giant versions of those belonging to characters in both the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films, such as Newt Scamander and the big man himself, Harry Potter. You’ll find them in the Market Building’s Central Avenue, where they’ll make for a much-coveted selfie spot for us Muggles, we imagine.
You’ll find them around the corner from the Harry Potter Photographic Exhibition, which has partnered with Covent Garden to bring the installation to life. That also means the return of the exhibition’s Butterbeer Bar, sure to serve a mug of foamy goodness to ward off the late winter chill we’ve been experiencing recently. This is also the place to pick up a Chocolate Frog, and if you combine your Butterbeer with a ticket to the photo exhibit, you’ll score a souvenir tankard as your very own chalice of champions.
Elsewhere in Covent Garden, you can sit on a LEGO brick-built Sorting Hat chair, to confirm once and for all that you’re a true Ravenclaw at heart. Equally popular will be the Platform 9 & 3/4 trolley, which is making an appearance too – if you’ve never braved the queue for the Kings Cross version, this could be an excellent chance for that photoshoot you’ve been after.
Meanwhile, the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child portrait wall looks back on memorable moments from the film series, filling us with even more nostalgia. The installations are in place from today (April 8) until April 24, so head down to Covent Garden soon to see these magical sights!