London Store Inspired by “Harry Potter” Launches Walking Tour to Support Mermaids
London is full of magical experiences for fans of the Wizarding World franchise, and one store in the city’s Soho district is partnering with the British charity Mermaids to celebrate the transgender community.
Wands & Wizard Exploratorium, run by the team behind the Cauldron, has launched a walking tour to inform visitors about the history of the trans community in London, reports PinkNews.
And as locals and tourists alike gingerly return to Soho’s stubby streets, the queer-owned Exploratorium has launched a sprawling walking tour that dives into the kaleidoscopic history of trans folk – all while raising cash for the trans children[‘s] charity.
The walking tour is being run in collaboration with House of Spells on Shaftesbury Avenue and gives participants the opportunity to use magic – or some innovative Muggle technology – to interact with window displays and a magical map as they walk along the defined route. Importantly, PinkNews notes, “Each venue that takes part in the tour has pledged to make their business a safe space for the trans community.”
All profits from the £5 walking tour map and souvenir shirts will go to Mermaids, and the map is available for purchase both online and in person at Wands & Wizard Exploratorium.
In a press release quoted by PinkNews, Cauldron cofounder Matthew Cortland explained why the tour was created.
As we create this real-life magical world in the heart of Soho, we also wanted to take the opportunity to focus on issues close to our heart around building a truly inclusive community for trans and gender[-]diverse people and supporting the incredibly important work that Mermaids do.
Additionally, Cortland noted the importance of maintaining safe spaces for those who might not feel comfortable expressing their identities.
As a queer-owned company, it’s extremely important for us to shine a light on the role models in our community who positively promote trans and gender-diverse visibility, and our goal is to create as many safe spaces as possible.
Will you be checking out this magical tour?
