Harry Potter Experience London: Part 2

You didn’t think I’d write just one post about one of the best days out I’ve ever had, did you? Ok, so maybe that’s slightly over-dramatic, but when you’re a fan, you’re a fan.

So, where was I?

Oh yes, geeking out in the History of the Dark Arts classroom.

One of the best parts of the Harry Potter Experience for me was undoubtedly seeing the intricate props and how many of the things you assume in the movies are computerised that are actually handmade, electrical props, like this snake door that opens when Harry speaks to it in Parseltongue. Each one of the snakes was rigged up to move in sequence and then the door opens.

I have immense respect for anyone who can take a concept or idea from a book and create a tangible, working thing like this, which is so clever and well-designed that you imagine it was created by CGI.

I also loved discovering how they made Hagrid look so big in comparison to the other actors, as well as being able to sneak a peek into his house, and The Burrow.

Then there were the big props – things like the Knight Bus, Hagrid’s motorbike, the flying Ford Anglia and Tom Riddle’s grave. We enjoyed photographing these over a glass of Butterbeer (which tastes a lot like butterscotch cream soda with a head of actual cream – it’s very sweet and probably not for those on a diet!)

And then there was Privet Drive – well, two houses of it.

We also got to practice our wand dueling skills, with the video help of one of the film’s co-ordinators. You don’t realise how fast the actors had to move in sequence to carry out those wand battles – it’s like learning a dance routine. It’s pretty difficult to do all the moves quickly while aiming at the right target!

Once we reached the main street in Hogsmeade, my head was ready to explode with the excitement of it all. It was ridiculously cool to be able to peer through the windows of Ollivanders and stand in front of Fred and George’s joke shop.

But the best was still to come. In the final room of the experience, you get to see the full-scale model of Hogwarts Castle, used for several long/aerial shots in the films and which provided the design inspiration for several of the buildings and locations that were then used for on-location filming.

As we were there at Christmas time, they had covered the castle and grounds with snow. So pretty.

If you’re not a Harry Potter fan, I’m sure I’ve bored you silly by now with all these photos and probably lost a couple of readers (oh well, see you later muggle losers). But if you are a fan, then I definitely recommend visiting the Harry Potter Experience London. This isn’t a gimmicky theme park – this is one of the actual studios used in the films, along with a vast collection of the props and costumes. And it’s definitely worth the trip out there, even if the ticket price is slightly higher than you would normally want to pay.