The annual Back to Hogwarts event at King's Cross station won't go ahead in 2024.
In recent years, fans of the Harry Potter series have gathered at King's Cross on 1 September. It began as a small fan event, marking the day when young witches and wizards board the Hogwarts Express back to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for the start of a new school year. But in recent years, Back to Hogwarts has ballooned, with thousands of international Harry Potter fans — many in costume — turning up to celebrate.
The King's Cross station team have gamefully played along, making a tannoy announcement for the fictional train to Hogsmeade, and displaying it on the departure board alongside the usual muggle services. That's normally followed by a rendition of the Harry Potter theme tune — officially called Hedwig's Theme — by composer John Williams.
However, in September 2024, Harry Potter fans are being asked NOT to travel to King's Cross for the occasion, as there will be no special announcement, no departure board, and no countdown for the Hogwarts Express. Organisers have said that "celebrations are adapting so that as many fans as possible can be part of the magic", but we think it likely that those growing crowds have started to cause problems.
How to celebrate Back to Hogwarts on 1 September 2024
Celebrations aren't cancelled completely. Back to Hogwarts is going online instead, with a special prerecorded show on the official Harry Potter YouTube channel, at 11am on 1 September, hosted by TV personality Sam Thompson. Two brand new Back to Hogwarts Lenses will be released on Snapchat on the same day.
Various in-person events are taking place in other cities around the world, including a Back to Hogwarts pop-up at Grand Central station in New York, and a Quidditch event in Lyon, France.
Here in London, design studio House of MinaLima — which created many of the props for the Harry Potter films — will hold its own Back to Hogwarts celebration at its Soho home, with tickets due to be released soon.
Keep an eye on the Wizarding World website for further updates about Back to Hogwarts 2024.
