Ollivanders

Ollivanders is a fictional wandmaker’s shop in the Harry Potter series, located on Diagon Alley in London. The shop was founded in 382 B.C. by John and Alice Ollivander, and the family tradition of wandmaking has continued uninterrupted for more than two millennia. The shop’s signature wandmaker is the current owner, Mr. Ollivander, who is renowned for his meticulous method of matching wands to the owners’ personalities. He evaluates prospective wand‑owners through a series of verbal and behavioral tests before selecting a wand.

Ollivanders gained international prominence when it supplied Harry Potter’s first wand, the 11‑inch wizard’s wand made of holly and phoenix feather. The shop is known for its rare selection of wand cores—including dragon heartstring, phoenix feather, unicorn hair, and elf‑metal—and for strict quality control: if a wand “doesn’t respond” he will return it to the owner for a free replacement. The shop is often visited by students at Hogwarts and other wizarding institutions seeking wand purchase or repair.

The shop’s operations encompass wand production, consultation, trade, and restoration. Ollivanders has a reputation for upholding the core wandmaking traditions, with an emphasis on the intangible bond between wand and wizard. Despite several challenges—such as the disappearance of i.e., some misbegotten wands—the business remains a pillar of the magical community. The shop’s presence underscores the importance of craftsmanship and heritage in the wizarding world.

Available information on Ollivanders is drawn exclusively from the canonical text of the Harry Potter series, including the film adaptations.