Leadenhall Market - London, UK

If you’re a Harry Potter fan, you probably recognize Leadenhall Market as the location of The Leaky Cauldron and entryway to Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone film. However, while there are no real entryways into the wizarding world here, there is a sense of magic you feel while exploring this unique passageway.

I took the Northern line to Bank Station and walked a few minutes to get there. It was early on a Friday morning and the financial district was alive with commuters in jackets and slacks. Most of the shops were still closed, and as the rush hour slowed down, it felt as if I had the market all to myself.

The history of the market runs deep. Leadenhall Market dates from the 14th century and sits atop the remains of a Roman Basilica and Forum dating back to 40 AD. Parts of the base of the basilica remain in the basement of a barbershop at the corner of Gracechurch Street and Leadenhall market. It is believed that this Basilica and Forum where the site of the first market located at Leadenhall.

Parts of its history have been obscured in mystery. As the Dark Ages took hold of Europe, very little is known of what happened to the area around that time. But in 1309 the owner of the Leadenhall Manor (a lead-roofed house) opened its grounds to local merchants and by 1321 the area around Leadenhall Manor was already known as a meeting point for poultry merchants. By the1400s, it had already become the center of the meat and fish trade.

The Great Fire of 1666 destroyed a part of the market, but it was rebuilt with a covered structure for the first time, paving the way for its iconic ornate ceiling. It was Sir Horace Jones who designed today’s iron and glass structure and built in the late 1800s.

Today, the meat stands have been replaced with a series of boutiques, cafes and even an award-winning pub. My personal favorite was the Pen Shop, located right at the center of the market, which unfortunately closed permanently earlier this year.