"Skulking around Knockturn Alley? Dodgy place. Don't want no one to see you there. People will think you're up to no good."
—Rubeus Hagrid
***
INTRODUCTION:
Knockturn Alley is a shopping area off Diagon Alley in London. It is filled with numerous shops devoted to the Dark Arts, including Borgin and Burkes, which specialises in objects that have curious and strong magical properties. Usually, unusual, dangerous and scary people walk around there. When Tom Riddle left Hogwarts he worked at Borgin and Burkes.
PURCHASABLE ITEMS:
Not only are the wares sold there a bit dodgy, but the wizards hanging around behave fairly suspiciously as well. From the shops and the street vendors one can purchase, among other things, shrunken heads, poisonous candles, human-looking fingernails, and Flesh-Eating Slug Repellent.
ACCESS:
As with Diagon Alley, Knockturn Alley is not directly accessible from the Muggle world. The Leaky Cauldron pub provides one access (via Diagon Alley), while Apparition and Floo powder are other access options. There may be other entrances. In addition, as noted above, a vanishing cabinet located within one of the shops provided direct access to Hogwarts.
KNOWN LOCATIONS:
13B Knockturn Alley - A building where Borgin and Burkes is located.
Borgin and Burkes - An antique shop.
Beard Trimming - A barber shop.
Betting shop - A shop that takes bets on various events.
Chimney Sweep Elf
Cobb & Webb's - A shop that sells items related to Dark Arts.
The Coffin House - A shop that sells Dark Arts materials related to raising the dead.
Dystyl Phaelanges - A shop that sells bones.
E.L.M and Wizards Undertakers & Embalmers
Fledermaus and Tanner Bats & Skins
Markus Scarrs Indelible Tattoos
McHavelock's Wizarding Headgear
Mr Mulpepper's Apothecary - A shop that sold potion ingredients.
Noggin and Bonce - A shop that sells shrunken heads.
Potage's Cauldron Shop - A shop that sells different types of cauldrons.
Tallow and Hemp Toxic Tapers
Trackleshanks Locksmith
Shyverwretch's Venoms and Poisons
The Spiny Serpent
The Starry Prophesier
The White Wyvern - A pub.
Wizarding Supplies
Ye Olde Curiosity Shop - A shop where people can purchase curios related to Dark Arts.
NOTES FROM THE ADMINS:
•The name "Knockturn Alley" is a play on "nocturnally", just as "Diagon Alley" is a play on "diagonally". "Nocturnally" has to do with the night and darkness, hinting at its dark nature.
•The 2-disc DVD edition of the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets includes an interactive tour of Diagon Alley, which includes one of the entrances to Knockturn Alley (in the early films depicted as being directly to the right and behind the Leaky Cauldron access), although the tour does not progress into the alley itself.
•In the movie adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the Shrunken Head in the Knight Bus announces "Next stop, Knockturn Alley!" after the Knight Bus has dropped off Harry at the Leaky Cauldron. This suggests that either there is an entrance to Knockturn Alley that does not lead through the Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley, or that the Knight Bus can actually jump into Knockturn Alley, to a bus stop there. This is not seen (or possible) according to J.K. Rowling's book canon.
YOU ARE READING
Hogsmeade Station 🚂 HP Location Guide
RandomIn which the admins provide information and facts about the various locations present in the Potterverse.
