Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop

• Type: Shop
• Location: Diagon Alley, London, England
• Owner/Residents: Unnamed
• Key Features: Sells a variety of novelty magical items and prank products for wizards and witches.

Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop is a popular establishment located in Diagon Alley. It is a destination for Hogwarts students and other members of the wizarding world looking to purchase items for amusement and practical jokes. The shop's name itself reflects its merchandise: “gambol” means to run or jump about playfully, and a “jape” is a practical joke. The shop is first mentioned when Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger visit Diagon Alley before their second year. Having just arrived via the Floo Network, they see Gambol and Japes and express a desire to visit it, though they are prevented from doing so at the time by Mrs. Weasley. This brief mention establishes it as an enticing and well-known location for young wizards. While its specific product line is not detailed in the novels, it is implied to be a direct competitor to other joke shops like Zonko's Joke Shop in Hogsmeade and, later, the highly successful Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, which was founded by Fred Weasley and George Weasley.

Gambol and Japes's primary role in the series is to contribute to the world-building of Diagon Alley, showcasing the lighter, more whimsical side of wizarding commerce. It represents the kind of fun and mischief that appeals greatly to students, particularly the Weasley twins, whose passion for pranks eventually leads them to create their own joke shop empire. The shop serves as an early indicator of Fred and George's interests and ambitions. Its existence establishes a market for prank items that the twins would later come to dominate with Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. While never a central location for major plot events, its presence adds depth and realism to the magical high street and serves as a backdrop for Harry's early explorations of the wizarding world.

The interior of Gambol and Japes is never described in the original novels. All mentions of the shop are based on seeing its storefront from the main thoroughfare of Diagon Alley.

• A storefront for “Gambol & Japes Wizarding Joke Shop” is visible in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, solidifying its place within the cinematic depiction of Diagon Alley (film).
• In the video game adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, players can visit Gambol and Japes to purchase items such as Stink Pellets and Dungbombs (video game).