The Magic of the UK
Of course this post was inevitable, because you cannot talk about the UK without referring to Harry Potter. Virtually every major tourist city will boast that a certain location, building or monument inspired J.K. Rowling in creating something related to the wizarding world; and as a tourist, you can bet I've been there. As these locations and places are too numerous to mention, I will just focus on the most memorable aspects for me.
Edinburgh, Scotland
In my opinion, Edinburgh has topped the other cities when it comes to anything 'HP'. It was where the author lived when writing the stories; and also visited later during her success, to finish the series (in the luxury Balmoral Hotel where you can stay in the same room). Funnily enough, the hotel does offer (at an extra cost) you the chance to sleep in the same bedsheets that J.K. Rowling used while she stayed there.
You can also visit the Edinburgh City Chambers, which features a Hollywood-style "walk of fame" for several remarkable people, including the author herself, by immortalizing their handprints in the stone.
Just off the Royal Mile is home to The Elephant House, which shamelessly advertises that it was the "birthplace" of the Harry Potter books. While inaccurate, the author did frequent the cafe to write her books.
A short jaunt from the cafe will see you come to a small cemetery. Why am I talking about a cemetery, and what does it have to do with Harry Potter, you might ask. Well, within Greyfriars Kirkyard cemetery are some famous names that inspired her characters', with Thomas Riddell being the most notorious and visited gravestone.
This next location has been debated by many, and never clarified by Rowling herself, but the colourful twisted streets of Diagon Alley were also visually inspired by Victoria Street in Edinburgh despite other cities claiming that they are home to the real Diagon Alley. I guess this is a matter of personal opinion, but I am on Team Edinburgh myself.
If you've had the opportunity to visit Universal's Islands of Adventure in Florida, then you'd be familiar with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter with its many rides, attractions, shows and everything HP.
The park also allows you to try the famous beverage drunk in Hogsmeade: butterbeer (which is cream soda with butterscotch foam). Well, in Edinburgh, you can visit a pub that actually serves an alcoholic adaptation. The Dog House Pub offers a pint of the light, sweet and buttery beer to patrons.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Taking place 19 years after the end of the series, Rowling has taken the next part of the adventure to the stage with this dazzling 2-part production. The acting, set and theatre tricks are all incredible and well-worth the chunk of change.
I was very fortunate in getting a seat very close to the front of the stage, and watched both parts of the play on the same day (inadvisable if you cannot sit for very long periods of time).
Specific to the London production is The Friday Forty lottery which is an email-based weekly draw offering tickets to both parts for £40 altogether. Of course, you need not travel all the way to London to see the stage spectacle, as there are productions playing in several cities across the world.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour
Originally meant to be a short-term attraction, The Making of Harry Potter studio tour has become a staple landmark for many. Even if you're not an HP fan, film buffs will appreciate the time and attention taken to show the films' sets, costumes, and general movie magic used to create the series.
The location is the actual building used during the production of all 8 films, and it can easily take you a full day to explore every nook and cranny in there. I would strongly advise against hiring an organized bus tour to the studio because of the prices: £99+ ! It's much more affordable to buy a studio ticket at £45; get on the train at Euston Station in London to Watford Junction (using your Oyster card); and use the £3 (round-trip) shuttle.
From entering the building, the excitement abounds as there's a giant model of the Gringott's dragon in the lobby with an amazing coffee shop that sells beautifully composed, HP-inspired treats. You can also explore the gift shop while waiting to enter the tour itself (you have to pick your entry time, but arrive earlier to actually go inside the building).
You're shuffled in like cattle to a room that shows a coordinated video on multiple screens, then you enter a theatre and hear more introductions. The film then stops and you see the double-door entryway of the castle (and the screen rolls up revealing that they are really there).
If you're there on your birthday, you will be the lucky one to open the doors to see the Great Hall where the staff and students ate their meals.
The next part of the tour is set up into sections where you will see signature pieces, like the entrance door to the Chamber of Secrets), and full sets, like the kitchen in The Burrow. Near each part is short trivia and facts related to the item.
Later, you can enter (or choose to bypass), the Forbidden Forest rampant with animatronic giant spiders. Once you leave the forest, you enter a gift shop trap (they have a few of these throughout the tour with "exclusive" items you won't be able to find in other shops on-premises) before moving on to the next area: Platform 9¾.
You are able to go inside the train, which commemorates the evolution of the films in each train car. At this point, you're about halfway through the studio, and headed to a cafeteria where they sell butterbeer (cream soda and butterscotch foam) and butterbeer flavoured ice cream.
The tour continues outside where you see the Dursleys' and Potters' house, the Knight Bus and the iconic Hogwarts crooked bridge.
Taking you back inside the building, the many creatures of the magical world are showcased.
New for 2019, the tour brings you to the Gringotts Bank expansion with a stunning set and surprise finish of a destroyed Gringotts.
The final leg of the experience walks you through Diagon Alley, where you can see all of the shops that every witch and wizard visit.
Lastly, you are guided around the model room with miniature models of the major locations in the film before being greeted by a giant 360-degree model of the entire Hogwarts castle. This is a truly stunning piece, and a great way to end the tour.
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