Cecil Court

WITH its rows of antiquarian booksellers, gas lamps, and also “magic” stores, it is little wonder Cecil Court has piqued the interest of Harry Potter superfans, who believe it could be the inspiration behind the apothecaries and owl emporiums of JK Rowling’s fictional Diagon Alley.

Every day bus crowds of people are brought to the street, just off Charing Cross Road in Covent Garden, to get selfies or make films for social media, despite the Harry Potter author rejecting the claims.

It has been suggested that the character Hagrid walks down a “Charing Cross Road” to reach the entrance of a vaguely similar looking alley in the films.

But businesses are fighting back this week with notices suggesting the Muggles are getting mugged off by the tour guides.

A sign put up in Cecil Court this week said: “Harry Potter has nothing to do with this street. Ask your tour guide and get your money back.”

‘Nothing to do with us…’ The sign that appeared this week [RICHARD LEWIS]

Richard Lewis, who spotted the sign and works in the nearby National Portrait Gallery, told Extra: “There’s nearly always a Harry Potter walk or talk going on in various languages.”

According to one tour guide website, Cecil Court is a place of interest to Potter fans because it is connected to Charing Cross Road.

“Death Eaters” also race into the Diagon Alley after passing Leicester Square tube station, the tour guides said, adding: “So, be sure to keep a keen eye peeled for their approach as you make your way along this section of your walk.”

But in a review on the website Tripadvisor, Tom Priory had said: “If you’re a Harry Potter fan you’re in for a big disappointment.

“The tour guide said Cecil Court was the inspiration for Diagon Alley. Well you need a vivid imagination for that. This Edwardian street is 400 years later than the medieval street portrayed in the Harry Potter films.”

The “Leaky Cauldron” – another fictional pub in the films – is also said to be in Charing Cross Road.

It has been suggested that Goodwin’s Court could be the inspiration the Knockturn Alley in Harry Potter was based on.

On Twitter Potter books author JK Rowling has posted: “I had no idea how many different streets were claiming to be ‘the inspiration’ for Diagon Alley, but this is the first time I’ve seen Knockturn Alley!

“Neither was based on any real place.”