Diagon Alley expansion to feature authentic Cabman Shelter

by · April 23, 2014

It’s no Madam Puddifoot’s, which was just revealed in the Hogsmeade section of Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but Twitter user Alexis (@SaLeM_xo) has pointed out a cool new feature of the Diagon Alley expansion.

Look closely at the photo below (photo credit Twitter user @Mickeyxtreme):

Cabman's Shelter_DA Expansion

To the left of the instantly recognizable Knight Bus is a distinctive green building. To the untrained eye, it may just appear to be a typical theme park structure – a help or refreshment stand – but in actuality has a rich history. The structure is a replica of what is known as a Cabman’s Shelter.

Cabman’s Shelters first started appearing in 1875, when the Earl of Shaftesbury began a charity fund to help out overworked cabmen. The purpose of these shelters was to provide hot meals and drinks at reasonable prices for cabbies who otherwise wouldn’t be able to get a warm meal while at work – they weren’t allowed to leave their vehicles while on duty!

A handful of these shelters can still be seen around London, and they are a distinctive part of the city’s history. Check out one of the real ones below:

Cabman's Shelter_DA Expansion_02

The fact that the team working on Diagon Alley included one as part of their own Muggle London is a testament to their dedication to authenticity. We hope they know how much it’s appreciated!

Isn’t it amazing how far along Muggle London is compared to just a few months ago? We can’t wait to see the finished product!

Jessica J.

I've been making magic at MuggleNet since 2012, when I first joined the staff as a News intern. I've never wavered from the declaration in my childhood journal, circa October 2000: "I LOVE Harry Potter! If I clean my room, my mom says she'll make me a dinner a wizard would love!" Proud Gryffindor; don't hate.