Where to Find Fantastic Beasts? Right Here!

The Harry Potter series can be considered a national treasure IP of the UK. The subsequent film series Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them has also won the love of magic fans around the world. The third instalment of the Fantastic Beasts film series is about to start filming, but one of its main characters, the dark lord Grindelwald, faces a recasting. From Depp, who was embroiled in domestic abuse scandals, to "Denmark's sexiest man" – Mads Mikkelsen, affectionately known as "Mads" by Chinese fans.

Mads Mikkelsen won the affection of Chinese audiences with his outstanding performance in the TV series Hannibal. Both Hannibal and Grindelwald are refined, elegant, charmingly dangerous villains. I'm sure you're all itching to see Mads' version of the first dark lord of the wizarding world!

Before the third Fantastic Beasts film is released, let's take a trip around London first to visit the filming locations of the first two movies! Perhaps around some corner, you might unexpectedly encounter magical beasts.

Lacock Abbey

Lacock Abbey is surely no stranger to Harry Potter fans. It once appeared as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in two Harry Potter films, and again in the same role in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Many scenes of Dumbledore in the films were shot at Lacock Abbey.

Lacock Abbey was built in 1232, so it has a classically English architectural structure. As a representative of British temperament in contemporary pop culture, it's no surprise that the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series chose to film here.

Highgate Cemetery is where the final battle of the second Fantastic Beasts film takes place. Grindelwald gathers his followers here to deliver his message to change the world, while the protagonist Newt and his companions rush to stop him.

With moss-covered tombstones, Tudor Gothic architecture, and maze-like cloisters... Highgate Cemetery possesses great architectural beauty and humanistic value, making it an excellent filming location for the mysterious Fantastic Beasts series.

It is also the final resting place of many famous people, including the renowned sociologist, philosopher, thinker, and activist Karl Marx, the famous physicist and chemist Michael Faraday, and Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which sci-fi fans must have read.

St Paul's Cathedral (originally ¥176, free with London Pass)

In the Fantastic Beasts films, I'm sure everyone remembers the secret conversation between Newt and Dumbledore on the roof of St Paul's Cathedral. As Muggles, although we can't chat on the roof with magic, we can still visit the exquisite carvings and decorations inside the cathedral.

St Paul's Cathedral was designed in 1666 and is the second largest domed cathedral in the world. It has played an indispensable role in London's history, serving as the venue for many royal weddings, christenings, and state funerals. Its solemn, dignified classical architectural style makes it particularly eye-catching in central London.

Besides specific buildings, many scenes in the Fantastic Beasts series were filmed on the streets of central London or in studios simulating London streets. The British temperament of the films is inseparable from the architectural ensemble and atmosphere of London's streets.

Taking a hop-on hop-off London sightseeing bus is one of the best ways to explore London's streets and lanes. From the top deck of a double-decker bus, you can effortlessly take in panoramic views of London.

British Film Tour (originally ¥106, free with London Pass)

Besides visiting the above spots on your own, magic fans absolutely cannot miss the British Film Tour. Including the Romantic Comedy London Walking Tour, Harry Potter London Walking Tour, and Sherlock Holmes London Walking Tour, the British Film Tour lets visitors relive the filming processes and experiences of those beloved films and TV shows in the most hassle-free way, guided by professional guides.

From the Ministry of Magic to the Leaky Cauldron, then take a turn and stroll from Baker Street to the banks of the Thames. The moment for TV drama fans to make their dreams come true is now.

Let us embrace our longing for magic and experience the most realistic dreamlike journey on the streets of London.