The Secret of Platform 13

By Eva Ibbotson,

Book cover of The Secret of Platform 13

Book description

Under Platform 13 at King's Cross Station there is a secret door that leads to a magical island . . .

It appears only once every nine years. And when it opens, four mysterious figures step into the streets of London. A wizard, an ogre, a fey and a young…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked The Secret of Platform 13 as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Long before Harry Potter came The Secret of Platform 13, and the idea of a railroad station where a magical doorway existed.

I grew up in a town built on the railroad. My grandfather worked as a mechanic at the railyard. My field trips were to train museum or train-related locations, so the idea of hidden portal there made perfect sense to my childhood heart.

Trains take us places, why not a magical world? It simply makes sense to me to find a magical world beyond a train station.

Want books like The Secret of Platform 13?

Our community of 11,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Secret of Platform 13.

Browse books like The Secret of Platform 13

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in fairy tales, London, and wizards?

11,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about fairy tales, London, and wizards.

Fairy Tales Explore 299 books about fairy tales
London Explore 809 books about London
Wizards Explore 95 books about wizards