From the moment you walk through the entrance to the sound of the famous Harry Potter theme tune, you know you've arrived somewhere special. The Potter magic oozes from every painstakingly detailed prop & echoes from the studio walls...
After an introductory film that stirs up enough excitement to bring die hard fans to the verge of tears, (us included!) the tour begins at the iconic doors of Hogwarts where you are ushered into the Great Hall.
From here you are left to happily wander through the enchanted sets - the Gryffindor dormitory, Dumbledore's office, Hagrid's Hut and the Ministry of Magic. The impressive open air backlot is home to the very realistic 4 Privet Drive, as well as various photo opportunities in some of the films bewitched transportation.
Highlights definitely had to be guzzling the highly addictive Butterbeer - which tasted like caramel creme soda - and the chance to fly a Nimbus 2000 or the Weasley's car in the green screen room. The audio tour, an ipod loaded with extra footage and narrated by Tom Felton, really gives an insight into what it was like to be on set.
It wouldn't be an authentic train journey to Hogwarts without Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans - that we stocked up on in Dylan's Candy Bar!
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| The Gryffindor common room |
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| Potion class |
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| Diagon Alley |
The tour ends with the breath-taking scale model of Hogwarts castle that was brought to life and assembled over 8 weeks...
We couldn't resist digging out some old t-shirts hoping for Harry Potter chic but possibly look a little more Harry Potter geek!
"The stories we love best do live in us forever, so whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home" - J.K Rowling
