5 Things Every Gryffindor Should Do in London

Fighting justice? Snuffing out traitors? Solving mysteries from centuries past? The Tower of London is just the thing to do in London for a righteous Gryffindor. Join an early-access tour for a VIP visit to experience the grand opening ceremony and meet the legendary Yeoman Warders. Then, venture into the torture chambers and dungeons for a peek at the execution site of Henry VIII’s wives (and, who knows, maybe Nearly Headless Nick, too?). Don’t skip the Royal Mint—home to the Crown Jewels—either. After all, gold is one of your house colors.

A boat ride along the River Thames affords magnificent views of famous monuments such as Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, and St. Paul’s Cathedral. However, while a romantic sunset cruise might be better suited to your Hufflepuff friends, Gryffindors should instead hop aboard a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) for a white-knuckle ride that’ll whiz you past Tower Bridge and the Shard.

Fiery red is the house color of Gryffindor, and it’s also the color of some of London’s most recognizable images—think: red buses, red telephone boxes, and the bearskin-hatted Queen’s Guards. So, take a seat on the Hop-on hop-off London bus tour to catch your breath (after all, even Gryffindor’s need to take a break sometimes) as you drive past top attractions such as Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, and Tower Bridge.

Gryffindor’s are natural daredevils, so test your mettle by zooming down the 583-foot (178-meter) high ArcelorMittal Orbit Slide, riding the Emirates Airline Cable Car across the River Thames, or braving the glass-floored walkway at Tower Bridge. Or, like a real Gryffindor, you need to up the ante some more? In that case, buckle up your harness for a guided climb onto the O2 stadium roof. Come at sunset for the most magical views over Greenwich and the Thames, with the London skyline rising on the horizon.

The dimly lit streets and eerie alleyways of East London have a spine-chilling history to rival Hogwarts’ haunted past. Channel your inner Harry or Hermione as you hunt for ghosts on a walking tour of haunted London, unravel the mysteries of notorious Londoners such as Jack the Ripper and Sherlock Holmes, or even brave a ride on a vintage ghost bus. With any luck, you won’t bump into the Headless Hunt.