Diagon Alley Fact file

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Diagon Alley is a cobblestoned wizarding alley and shopping area located in London, England behind a pub called the Leaky Cauldron. Inside the alley is an assortment of restaurants, shops, and other sights. All items on the Hogwarts supply list can be bought at Diagon Alley. The alley is completely hidden from the Muggle world which is right outside of its boundaries. It is very large in area and essentially the centre of wizarding London.

History
Creation:-
It is a popular historical theory that the oldest building in Diagon Alley is Gringotts Wizarding Bank and that the other shops grew up around it. However, there is a possibility that Ollivanders is the oldest building, records dating back to the late fourth century B.C.

Return of the Dark Lord
In 1996, the return of Voldemort affected the appearance of Diagon Alley dramatically. Wizards and witches no longer felt safe wandering out in public. The once-crowded streets stood virtually empty, the few shoppers staying together in groups; "Wanted" posters with the faces of Death Eaters plastered the fronts of once-bright shops and street stalls popped up, hawking "protective" amulets and charms. Ollivanders and Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour were closed.

Location
Diagon Alley is accessible from Muggle London through the Leaky Cauldron, which is on Charing Cross Road, set between a bookshop and a record shop. The Muggles who pass by the inn seem to be "quite unconscious" of its existence. Knockturn Alley, a dark artefacts area, is an off shoot of Diagon Alley, as are the areas of Horizont Alley and Carkitt Market.

Access
The entrance is behind the Leaky Cauldron in a small, walled courtyard with a dustbin. Diagon Alley can be accessed by tapping the correct brick in the wall behind the Leaky Cauldron (from the trash can, three up and two across). The wall goes in a small hole first but forms a large archway. It can also be accessed by Floo powder and Apparition. There may be other entrances as well. Diagon Alley connects to a second, less reputable shopping district, Knockturn Alley.

Shops

• 2nd Hand Brooms - A shop that sells used broomsticks.
• Amanuensis Quills - A shop in Diagon Alley that sells quills. It is next to Madam Malkin's Robes For All Occasions shop.
• Broomstix - A shop that sells broomsticks.
• Eeylops Owl Emporium - A pet shop located in Diagon Alley that sells owls and various other things needed for the care of owls, like Owl Treats. It sells a variety of breeds, including Screech, Barn, Tawny, Brown, and Snowy.
• Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour - It was owned and operated by Florean Fortescue, and was located at Diagon Alley.
• Flourish and Blotts - A popular bookshop in Diagon Alley where most Hogwarts students purchase their schoolbooks.
• Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop - Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop is located in Diagon Alley. Fred and George, and Lee Jordan stocked up on Dr. Filibuster's Fabulous Wet-Start, No-Heat Fireworks.
• Gringotts Wizarding Bank - Gringotts is the only known bank of the wizarding world. It was created by the goblin Gringott. It is located in Diagon Alley and is owned and run by Goblins. In addition to storing money and valuables for wizards, one can go there to exchange Muggle money for wizarding money.
• Junk shop - A shop that sells secondhand items such as broken wands, lopsided scales, etc.
• The Leaky Cauldron - A popular Wizarding pub in London. It is the entrance to Diagon Alley.
• Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions - Sometimes simply referred to as Madam Malkin's, it is a shop in Diagon Alley. Students get their Hogwarts school uniforms there, and also dress robes, travelling cloaks, and the like.
• Madam Primpernelle's Beautifying Potions - Located at 275 Diagon Alley, this shop helps witches getting rid of "warts and worse".
• Magical Menagerie - One of the shops where students buy their pets and supplies.
• Obscurus Books - Located at 18a Diagon Alley, Obscurus is a Wizarding book publisher. Its range of titles include the popular Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
• Ollivanders - Ollivander's Wand Shop is the sole wand shop of Diagon Alley. Peeling gold letters over the door of the shop read: Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.. The shop's display consists of a solitary wand laying on a faded purple cushion in the dusty window. The shop is tiny, empty except for a single, spindly chair in the corner. Thousands of narrow boxes containing wands are piled right up to the ceiling of the tiny shop, and the whole place has a thin layer of dust about it.
• Potage's Cauldron Shop - A shop that sells cauldrons.
• Quality Quidditch Supplies - A shop in Diagon Alley. Its main products are things having to do with Quidditch such as Quaffles, Bludgers, and broomsticks.
• Rosa Lee Teabag - A teashop located in Diagon Alley as well as in Hogsmeade.
• Scribbulus Writing Instruments - A shop that sells ink and presumably other stationary items (quills, parchment).
• Second-Hand Bookshop - A shop that sells second-hand books.
• Second-Hand Robes - A shop that sells second-hand robes.
• Slug & Jiggers Apothecary - This is where students buy their potion ingredients.
• Sugarplum's Sweets Shop - A shop that sells confections.
• TerrorTours - Located at 59 Diagon Alley, TerrorTours is presumably a travel agency for wizards and witches.
• The Ministry Press - A publishing house affiliated to the Ministry of Magic.
• The Daily Prophet's main office - Presumably where the Daily Prophet newspapers are printed.
• Twilfitt and Tatting's - Twilfitt and Tatting's is a wizarding clothing shop located in Diagon Alley. Given that it is favoured by elitist pure-blood witch Narcissa Malfoy, it is probably an upmarket shop.
• Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes - Located at 93 Diagon Alley, it is a joke shop owned by Fred and George Weasley. It sells practical joke objects, such as Extendable Ears, a Reusable Hangman, and Fred and George's special WonderWitch products, such as love potions and ten-second pimple remover. There is also a section of Muggle magic tricks in honour of their father Arthur. They're not big sellers, but they do fairly well.
• Whizz Hard Books - Located at 129B Diagon Alley. Whizz Hard Books is a Wizarding book publisher. Its range of titles include the popular Quidditch Through the Ages and Hairy Snout, Human Heart.
• Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment - A miscellaneous equipment shop.
• Various Stalls and Peddlers - There are a variety of street peddlers who take up space in between shops out on the main thoroughfare of Diagon Alley. Included are a flower vendor, a vendor who is selling roasted chestnuts, and a jewellery vendor.

By C.Wilson