Goodwin's Court is one of London's best-kept secrets — a narrow Georgian alleyway connecting St Martin's Lane to Bedfordbury, just steps from Covent Garden. Built around 1690, the passageway is lined with perfectly preserved bow-fronted shop windows, original gas-style lamps, and dark timber facades that feel like stepping straight into Dickensian London. It's widely believed to have inspired Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter series, though J.K. Rowling has never confirmed this.

The alley is easy to miss even if you're standing right next to it — look for a small gap between the shops on St Martin's Lane, near the Coliseum theatre. Once inside, the contrast with the busy streets outside is striking. The Grade II listed buildings have barely changed in over 300 years, and the narrow passage still has an atmosphere that feels more like a secret than a public right of way.

Goodwin's Court sits at the centre of one of London's richest neighbourhoods for walking and exploring. St Martin's Lane leads south to Trafalgar Square and the National Portrait Gallery. Heading north takes you into the heart of Covent Garden's theatreland, with the London Coliseum, the Noel Coward Theatre, and dozens of independent restaurants and pubs within a few minutes' walk. Cecil Court, another historic alleyway famous for its antiquarian bookshops, runs parallel just a block away.

With Questo, you can uncover hidden passages like Goodwin's Court as part of an interactive adventure through London's streets. Follow clues, solve puzzles, and discover the stories that most visitors never find. It's part scavenger hunt, part walking tour, and entirely self-guided so you can start whenever you like.