The ancient Romans had their forum on this site, while the Leadenhall Market (leadenhallmarket.co.uk) dates from the 14th century. The spectacular covered shopping arcade it now sits inside dates to the Victorian era, with cobblestones underfoot and 19th-century ironwork linking its shops, restaurants and pubs.
This impressive aesthetic has made the market quite the celebrity, appearing in a host of blockbuster movies; it was Diagon Alley in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, and the optician's shop with a blue door was used as the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. It’s even appeared in a Bollywood movie and the popular Mario Kart gaming series, which is why it's often filled with pop-culture tourists.
