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Hundreds of fans have flocked to King’s Cross station to mark the day Harry Potter’s son Albus leaves for Hogwarts in J.K. Rowling’s fictional wizarding world.

Crowds gathered ahead of the “departure” of the Hogwart's Express from platform 9 ¾ at 11am and cheered as the train would have left the central London station.

The moment takes place in the novel The Deathly Hallows and appears in an epilogue entitled "19 Years Later", at the very end of the best-selling seven-part series.

Enthusiasts, some of them from as far away as Finland and Florida, crowded into the booking hall and the bridge above for the countdown. Many wore costumes as they soaked up an atmosphere fans described as “buzzing”.

Ruby Moon, from Tampa, Florida, came dressed as a Hufflepuff prefect. She said: "It's 19 Years Later and I've been a huge Harry Potter fanatic since the books came out 20 years ago and I had the opportunity to come."

She added: "Everyone has a different opinion on why today is such a big deal for themselves. The story has changed so many people's lives, adults and children alike, so it's just really amazing everyone could come here and join together for such a great fandom.

Chris Kaukonummi, who flew over from Finland with his friends for the day, said: "We came over just for the event. I've been a fan since the late 90s when I was much younger and it's a big event to send Harry Potter's kids to Hogwarts."

Journalism student Holly Gittins, 20, said: “I came up from Bristol to be there - I've promised myself I would be there today from the moment I first read the book ten years ago, so when I realised I was free it seemed silly not to go.”

She added everyone was “physically buzzing” and said: “Everyone counted down the last ten seconds; it was like being at the most exciting New Year party of all time.”

Harry Potter star Warwick Davies, who plays Professor Flitwick in the films, also joined crowds for the landmark date and praised fans of the wizard for giving the books and movies "life beyond the page and screen”.

He said: "It's great to celebrate with the fans. As well as being in the films, I'm a fan of them as well so it's lovely to come down and celebrate. It's become a Mecca, Kings Cross.

"People come and have their robes and their wands and we can do a little bit of a charms class, that is what is great. The fans have given these books and these films life beyond the page and the screen and that is a great thing."