Welcome to Ollivanders! Every young witch and wizard's most important step into the magical world is getting their first wand. Their life long (and other times, not so long) tool in helping them become the wonderful and brilliant witch or wizard they are! Since 382 B.C. Ollivanders has helped all kinds of people be matched with the perfect wand, and it is very rare for someone to be sent away empty handed. Although passed down to one shopkeeper after another and no longer owned by the Ollivander's family, the shop itself and quality of wands is still much the same as it was when it first opened, perhaps even better!

The Entrance Way
Entering the shop, you'll notice a cozy little area to the left, filled with a couple of sturdy and actually pleasant looking chairs in front of the rather large window with a rug underfoot. From here you can watch the chaos of children being matched with their first wands and certain wandmakers getting grumpier by the second. Tea and coffee is available for parents while they wait for their children to be matched with their wands, but only if said children behave. There is a display of wands here in a glass case, some of them once owned by famous witches and wizards and labelled as such. Recognize any names? That's fine, but don't touch. They are part of Ira Banner's personal collection and are not for sale. There is also a display of holsters, polishes, and other bits and pieces, and a shelf of books which you may look through, but may not remove from the store. Please mind the signs.

Magical Measuring Area
In need of a wand? You've come to the right place. Prepare yourself as you first enter the shop, for the magical hovering measuring tape is there and ready for anyone to walk into it's path. Lucky for you, you don't have to wait too long, because despite this measuring tape's insistence on measuring every inch of you for the perfect results for that perfect wand suited just for you, it's done in a flash. Patience and stillness is required, but it'll all be worth the wait, right?!

Counter and Wand Fittings
Have you been measured? Getting your first wand? Or second wand? Don't even mention if this is your third wand. You may just get a lecture. Nevertheless, this is where the wandmakers will find you your perfect match. Once you have your wand, be sure to take your turn at the counter, where you can pay up after receiving everything you were looking for. If you are coming in for a new wand, do be sure to bring your old, broken or faulty wand with you, just to be sure that you aren't trying to pull a fast one on the wandmakers. A ministry issued license is required to own more than one wand!

Office and Storage Area
The door to the back room has been replaced by a heavy velvet curtain which almost always hangs closed. If you aren't permitted to go back here then the rope tie that hangs at one side of the curtain will give you a little smack when you attempt it, and if you still persist in trying to stick your nose in where it isn't wanted, the curtain itself will wrap you in its heavy folds and keep you there until one of the Ollivanders employees can rescue you or not. Fair warning, Ira Banner may just let you suffer for a while. This room seems to serve several different purposes. It is an office, a workroom, and a store room all in one. This is where the day-to-day business of running Britain's premiere wand store happens, but it is also where new wands are made.


Done with Ollivanders? Head back to the South End of the Street.