Harry Potter author J K Rowling at Mansion House in London earlier this week, after she received the Freedom of the City of London. Photo: Lewis Whyld/PA Wire

The original manuscript of the first Harry Potter novel has gone on show in London for a new exhibition close to the station where the teenage wizard caught the Hogwart’s Express.

The work, including a scene where the character catches a train from Platform 9 3/4 at King’s Cross Station in London, is part of an exhibition at the nearby British Library.

Also on show at the Writing Britain: Wastelands to Wonderlands exhibition is an original draft of John Lennon’s song In My Life which details a bus journey from his childhood home into Liverpool city centre and appeared on the 1965 Rubber Soul album.

Other exhibits are a 14th-century copy of the poem Sir Gawain And The Green Knight, the original manuscript of The Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson and JRR Tolkien’s artwork for The Hobbit.

The exhibition, which opens today and runs until September 25, examines how English literature is influenced by the UK landscape and includes letters, maps, lyrics and drawings.

Jamie Andrews, head of English and drama at the library, said: “We are very excited to share the wealth of the country’s literature in the summer of 2012 and to explore how writers from William Blake to Angela Carter have helped shaped the nation’s understanding of our landscape and surroundings.

“Writing Britain celebrates the incredible collection of great literary works held at the British Library, spanning more than 1,000 years to the present day. These rare and unique collections will help give a fascinating and new insight into the creative thinking behind iconic British novels, poems, illustrations and more.”