Warner Brother's Harry Potter Studio Tour London

I can't say enough about how fantastic this tour was.  Even if you are not a Harry Potter fan (HH has never read the books and has seen only snippets of the movies), you will enjoy it.  They have every prop, every mask, animated animal/creature and all kinds of rooms and sets full of Harry Potter movie memorabilia.

You must make reservations in advance, especially in the summer as some dates are sold out.  We had a 5:00 appt. and usually they are really strict about your time.  We unfortunately, got stuck in bad, bad, traffic and we were an hour and a half late!!!  We called ahead and they were not busy so we got to go on the complete tour at 6:30.  We were two miles away, stuck in traffic for an hour!  The best way to go is to take the fast train from Euston station and then the special shuttle.  It then takes 45 minutes to arrive from London.  The tour cost GBP 31 and last however long you wish to take to look at all the stuff.  We spent about two hours, but people spend all day there and I can see how you would do that.   I bought our tickets here online and picked them up at the Will Call desk.

You are ushered in and you see two short movies, then you are taken into the Great Hall and given a little speech by a guide and then...you are on your own to wander around.  Get the audio guide, I believe they cost GBP 4.50.

There is a Starbucks, a Cafe, restrooms and an amazing gift shop in the lobby.

While killing time for our tour to begin, the girls tried on the robes and ties to the houses that best describes them.  Should I be wary of the Slytherin in our midst?

Houses of Hogwarts via the Sorting Hat song:

Gryffindor: You might belong in Gryffindor,
                    Where dwell the brave at heart,
                     Their daring, nerve and chivalry
                     Set Gryffindors apart;

Students of Gryffindor are typically brave, daring and chivalrous.  Delaney, Greg and HH are Gryffindor.  I believe Katie is too, based on her personality.  But she is cheeky, so she claims Slytherin. She is Drama, which house is that?

Hufflepuff:  You might belong in Hufflepuff,
                    Where they are just and loyal,
                     Those patient Hufflepuffs are true and unafraid of toil;

Hufflepuff students are friendly, fair-minded, modest and hard working.  I'm a Hufflepuff according to my children.

Ravenclaw:  Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
                     if you've a ready mind,
                     Where those of wit and learning,
                     Will always find their kind;

Ravenclaw student tend to be clever, witty, intelligent and knowledgeable - Alyssa, Miss Snapple Fact herself!

Slytherin:  Or perhaps in Slytherin
                  You'll make your real friends,
                   Those cunning folks use any means
                   To achieve their ends.

Slytherin students are typically cunning and hungry for power - I wouldn't say that is anyone in our family.  Sorry Katie.  Wait, you might even be Hufflepuff...

So on to the tour:

There is all kinds of fascinating info about how they created things and made objects appear bigger, etc.

 Okay, can I say I love this picture.  I didn't know we were doing funny.  Just sitting in the back smiling like a big dummy.

The mirror where you see your most awesome dream come true. 

The Knight Bus

This was such an intricate model of Hogwarts. 

They also have a green screen where you can be filmed riding a broom and in the flying car.  Katie did this but I am having trouble scanning the picture, so not on the post today.  

I know this post was photo heavy, thanks for sticking around.  

It was a fun adventure.