The climb to the tower classroom

St Paul’s Cathedral, the Geometric Staircase — City of London

In the London guide · Plan a day here

On screen

Harry, Ron and Hermione climb a dizzying spiral staircase to a tower classroom, for a lesson with a teacher who reads the future. She studies the tea leaves in Harry’s cup and finds an omen of death.

The place today

The cathedral is open to sightseers with a ticket, and free for services. You can’t climb the staircase itself: you see it only on a special guided tour, at extra cost and booked ahead.

Did you know? The staircase’s official name is the Dean’s Staircase. According to the cathedral, it has appeared in two Harry Potter films, Prisoner of Azkaban among them.

Sources: St Paul’s Cathedral · London SE1