October 1, 2015

In the words of Hayden…BEST DAY EVER!  We came into London from Gatwick, got checked into our hotel and spent the rest of the day out at the Harry Potter Studios just north of London.  I have to say, it was AMAZING!  We are Harry Potter fans, so we knew we would have a good time, but the place was really incredible.  At the train station, a WB bus pics you up to go to the Studio and from there, it’s full on Harry Potter.

Our tour time was 2:00 pm and we got there right on time.  The tour is mostly self-guided, so we could spend as much time as we wanted.  We stayed there just about 4 hours and had a great time.  They have TONS of props, sets, costumes, models, etc through out the studios.  These are the actual studios where all of the movies were filmed, so it’s all completely original.  Having read the books and seen all of the movies (several times!), we recognized just about everything and loved to look around.  I’m not going to write a lot because I have about a million pictures to post…

Just one thing to add in addition to the pictures;  we got awesome pictures of all of us riding in the flying car and Hayden flying on a broom.  They are only in picture form, so I will have to scan them when we get home to upload them.  (Taking a picture of the picture wasn’t working very well).

On the bus to HP Studios!

We’re here!

“Ron’s” handprints

“Hermionie’s” Hand Prints

Harry’s bedroom under the stairs

Hayden in the Great Hall

Ceiling used to film the “magical” great hall ceiling

Dumbledore’s Podium

Gryffindor Uniforms

Harry and Voldemort Costumes

Ron and Harry’s Beds

Gryffindor Common Room

Various Set Props

Tri Wizard Cup and the Egg that was a clue

The Burrow – the Weasley’s House

Potions Classroom and Snape’s Costume

Scene at the Malfoy’s House

Wand Training

Wand Training

Hogwarts Express

Riding the Hogwarts Express

Riding the Hogwarts Express

Platform 9 3/4

Platform 9 3/4

4 Privet Drive

4 Privet Drive

The Potter’s Cottage

Riding Hagrid’s motorcycle

Driving the Flying Car…Aaahhhhhh

Buckbeak

Holy crap…this is my worst nightmare!!

Hogwarts Full Model

Hogwarts Full Model

“Credits”…everyone that worked on the movie has a wand box with their name on it.

Back at the hotel, we had dinner and are going to bed early so that we can be up and running tomorrow for our first day in London!