A magical Harry Potter river cruise is coming to London

There are no shortage of Harry Potter-related activities in London – from exhibitions to a hit West End show. Now, we're reaching peak Pottermania as American cruise company Barge Ladies announce their plans to launch a Harry Potter-themed river cruise in summer 2018.

The boats might not be enchanted, but the cruise itself promises to be magical. Passengers will set sail from the Hogwarts-esque Hampton Court Palace after starting their day with a traditional high tea in the Hotel Stafford. Champagne and a Hogwarts-inspired dinner will be served aboard the Magna Carta, the trusty vessel that will take you on a week-long whirlwind tour of the wizarding world.

The ship can hold up to eight people, so you and seven of your closest friends can charter a ship to spend seven days on the seven seas and see the spellbinding sights.

The cruise will stop at all the Harry Potter hotspots – and we mean all of them. The itinerary is full of filming locations, like the real life Number 4 Privet Drive. Passengers can explore Oxford University, home to Christ Church College, the Great Hall at Hogwarts. The ship will dock at Windsor castle so passengers can explore Virginia Water, the lake where Harry and Buckbeak initially meet and form a lifelong friendship in The Prisoner of Azkaban film. The bewitching boat will also be dropping anchor at Warner Brothers Studios for a behind-the-scenes Harry Potter tour.

The highly-anticipated cruise runs from 19 – 25 August and 16 – 22 September. The itinerary is extensive but the cost is expensive, even if you don't book the whole boat. A single occupant rate starts from $1,650, which is approximately £1,150.

Start saving your sickles, plotting your Gringotts bank heist, or developing your own philosopher's stone to score a coveted seat aboard this magical cruise.