INCREASING numbers of tourists are deciding to visit York from around the world because of its connection with Harry Potter.

With Shambles becoming widely known as an inspiration for Diagon Alley in the much loved films, visitors are travelling to York from as far afield as China, Argentina and Japan for the Harry Potter experience.

Tourists visiting Shambles have told of how they have specifically planned to visit York in order to visit the historic site, which is now home to three Harry Potter-related shops.

The independently owned The Shop That Must Not Be Named, which regularly has a lengthy queue of people waiting to enter the shop, said it has had an extremely busy year.

Hannah Wallace, the shop’s manager, said: “Lots of customers say they add York to their stop list to come and see us.

“Apparently we have been seen on Asian TV channels and we have been approached by Argentinian TV which is amazing. We had one family from Malaysia that showed us a TV episode about York, there was a five minute spot where they had obviously filmed in the shop.

“People are hearing about us before they hear about the Shambles.”

Meanwhile, Monique McPhie, a spokesperson for Gold Brothers, which owns The Boy Wizard and World of Wizardry, said: “People are coming from all over the world to visit the Shambles and the now iconic Harry Potter stores, from China to Germany.”

Tourism chiefs at Visit York say the link between the street and Harry Potter has been perpetuated on social media, with countless pictures posted on Instagram and Twitter.

Paul Whiting, head of Visit York, said: “The Harry Potter phenomenon and the inspirational link between the Shambles and the film depiction of Diagon Alley is something that has cropped up among visitors for years, especially on social media, recently reignited by the opening of magic and wizardry themed shops in this location.

“The fictional air of mystery surrounding the location of Diagon Alley and the chance to discover a real-life inspiration on their own journey through the city is absolutely part of the charm for Potter fans visiting York.”

The organisation said tourists, especially from China, often head into its information centre to ask how to get to the ‘real-life’ Diagon Alley.

One resident told The Press: “I was in a shop when an Asian tourist came up to me and said ‘I’m sorry, but can you tell me where Diagon Alley is?’ I said it’s actually called Shambles, and told her how to get there.”

IT’S a busy August lunchtime and Shambles is thronged with visitors.

Many are photographing the famous street but a large crowd has gathered to photograph the Harry Potter-themed store, The Shop That Must Not Be Named.

Standing in the queue to enter, excited Keiran Taylor, an eight-year-old visiting York from Australia with his parents Hamish and Kirsten, said he is a huge JK Rowling fan.

He said: “My mum started reading Harry Potter to me and I really like it. I thought, why not look at the shops?”

Next in the queue, Neil Dimmock, said he had travelled from Bradford with his wife Michelle and daughters Megan and Holly. He said: “We have come for a day out, my daughter likes Harry Potter. It is quite like Diagon Alley isn’t it?”

Nearby, Malaysian Tilottama Pillaa, who was visiting with her husband and child, said: “We heard this is what inspired Diagon Alley and it looks like it. It’s how we imagine only a bit more crowded.”

Meanwhile, Kelly Tang, from Hong Kong, said she had seen pictures of Shambles online but she said Harry Potter wasn’t the only draw. “I have come to York because it’s beautiful.”