Harry Potter New York

Start with a stop at Harry Potter New York, the flagship store near the Flatiron Building. This immersive retail shop includes VR experiences, a Butterbeer bar, and themed photo ops. On Harry Potter Day, the store often runs special promotions or limited-edition merchandise drops.

Afterward, head to one of the city’s themed trivia nights or pop-up events (past years have seen Potter-themed drag shows, pub crawls, and costume contests). Check listings at Caveat NYC, The Cauldron, or House of Yes.

If you’re visiting NYC in early May and want to mix in something playful and offbeat, Harry Potter Day adds a touch of magic to your itinerary (literally).

Even if you’ve never read a word of the books, you’ll still find the Harry Potter Store absolutely enchanting. The space is immersive and beautifully designed, with magical photo ops and a Butterbeer bar. There’s also a wand shop, house robes for sale, and plenty of exclusive merch. It’s one of the most whimsical experiences for kids in NYC—not to mention a great rainy day activity.

Whether you’re a fan of the series or not, visiting the Harry Potter store is one of the best things to do in the Flatiron District for all ages. The store offers a wide range of wizarding merchandise like robes, wands, chocolate frogs and unique collectibles.

Explore themed areas like the Wand Shop and Magical Creatures, or pop into the Butterbeer Bar. The store provides an immersive experience for fans to indulge in all things Harry Potter while enjoying the enchanting ambiance of J.K. Rowling’s magical world.

I’ll be honest with you, I never got into the Harry Potter craze. So, I wasn’t expecting much when I paid a visit to the Harry Potter Store and yet I found myself thoroughly impressed.

The entire store is a mythical wonderland, no wonder parents consider this one of the best activities in New York City with kids. The store spans two floors and has a small cafe that sells butter beer. Brace yourself for crowds of shrieking children, the joy is hard to hide.

Visiting the Harry Potter store is one of the best free things to do in New York City with kids (if you can get out without splurging on merchandise, that is). But, I must admit, the chocolate frogs make great souvenirs!