The 1st September can only mean one thing – it’s time to go Back to Hogwarts! We’ve rounded up all the ways you can join the celebrations in the UK right here…

Back to Hogwarts on the 1st September is one of the most important moments in the wizarding world calendar. It is a celebration of the day that students board the Hogwarts Express and make the iconic journey back to the castle for another year of mischief and magic.

Here at the home of Harry Potter, the UK’s Back to Hogwarts festivities have significantly grown in popularity as more fans join the community. In recognition of this, celebrations are adapting so that as many fans as possible can be part of the magic. We’re inviting fans to take part in new competitions and take part in special events both physically and digitally.

Firstly, an important note:

Come 1st September, fans are strongly discouraged from travelling to London King’s Cross as there will be no event, departure board or countdown at the station. Instead, fans can join in the celebrations from wherever they are as everyone is invited to tune in and join Sam Thompson in a specially recorded online programme to celebrate Back to Hogwarts. Head to the official Harry Potter YouTube channel to watch along at 11:00am.

Without further ado – here are all the ways you can join in the Back to Hogwarts celebrations in the UK both physically and digitally…

Tune in for a special Back to Hogwarts online programme

If you head to the official Harry Potter YouTube channel on 1st September, you’ll spot a certain Hufflepuff and King of the Jungle. That’s right! Sam Thompson will be hosting a specially recorded online programme to celebrate Back to Hogwarts. So, gather your fellow Potter fans and watch along with us at 11am.

Try out new Snapchat immersive AR Lenses and filters

Haven’t received you Hogwarts letter? Don’t worry there might just be something to help with that…Keep an eye out for new immersive AR Snapchat Lenses and filters that might just make your dream of a Hogwarts letter a reality. So set yourself a reminder (or grab a Remembrall) to check it out in mid-August.

Win the opportunity to attend a Back to Hogwarts ‘Welcome Feast’

Have you always wished you could attend the Hogwarts start-of-term feast? Do you imagine yourself sat in the Great Hall, surrounded by floating candles and all the scrumptious food you can eat? Well for the very first time, this could come true…

Fans can win the unique opportunity to dine like a Hogwarts student at a real-life, VIP ‘Welcome Feast’ in the magical setting of the Great Hall at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter on 31st August. Winners will tuck into a special dinner reminiscent of the Philosopher’s Stone’s start-of-term feast – served family-style, before experiencing the Studio Tour at their leisure (plus more surprises)

One lucky winner and their family will win an overall prize of an Ultimate Back to Hogwarts experience – including a family ticket to the ‘Welcome Feast’, a stay at the luxurious five-star Grove Hotel and a personalised Hogwarts house merchandise bundle. You can find full details on how to enter here.

Update: this competition has now closed.

But that’s not the only chance to win tickets to this event! There are multiple opportunities to win tickets. For all the information about all the ways to enter click here.

Win Back to Hogwarts goodies with Wizarding Wednesdays

Wizarding Wednesdays is back and is giving a whole heap of goodies away to celebrate Back to Hogwarts. Some of the prizes you could win include tickets to the multi-award-winning Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in London, a personalised Hogwarts House Gift Trunk from the Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9 ¾, a copy of the forthcoming Warner Bros. Games title Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions – and that’s just a few of them! Find out how you could get your hands on these fabulous prizes and more here.

Rewatch the films

What better way to celebrate going Back to Hogwarts than rewatching some of the greatest films ever made (in our humble opinion). The first three films from the Harry Potter series will be showing at UK cinemas on 30th August – just in time for Back to Hogwarts. Remember to check your local listings for details!

ITV will be broadcasting and streaming all 11 Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films on ITV1 and ITVX throughout the summer – finishing with the network premiere of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. So, grab a blanket, a mug of tea and settle down to watch the films from the comfort of your very own sofa.

Join in the MinaLima special event

There is no doubt that the graphic props in the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films are quite something to behold. The design studio behind them, the House of MinaLima, is inviting fans to join a special event on 1st September where they can get their hands on a limited-edition giveaway Back to Hogwarts 2024 button badge (while supplies last). There are also more surprises to be revealed so make sure to visit their website for more details.

Win the chance to attend a special Wand Dance Workshop

There’s an art to wand-waving you know and the folks at Harry Potter and the Cursed Child certainly appreciate that. In you fancy honing your wand skills, make sure to enter to be in with a chance of attending a special Wand Dance Workshop, hosted by Cursed Child’s Resident Movement Director Tash Holway. If you would like the opportunity to take part, you can visit their website for more details.

Celebrate Back to Hogwarts with LEGO

A fan of Harry Potter and a fan of LEGO? Then this Back to Hogwarts celebration will be right up your street. LEGO are hosting exciting LEGO Harry Potter activities at LEGO.com and select LEGO retail stores, with more details to follow soon.

Look out for Hamleys and Smyths special events

Even your favourite toy stores are joining in the fun! Both Hamleys and Smyths toy stores will also be holding their Back to Hogwarts events in-store.


You can find out how we are celebrating Back to Hogwarts season 2024, be it physically or digitally, right here. You can also sign up to our handy newsletter at the Harry Potter Fan Club, to be kept constantly in the loop. The countdown to 1st September is on!