Friday, August 23, 2013

Harry Potter Tour.... Oh the Excitement!





So The Harry Potter Studio Tour, as you probably know is in the outskirts of London, so I saw it before I went to Paris but haven't had the chance to post about it (and I also forgot about it too, whoops).

So Iona and I went to the Harry Potter tour on the last full day of my week in London, and can I just say it was INCREDIBLE! 
I am a bit of a Harry Potter Nerd so I was always going to love it but it really was amazing, even if you're not the biggest Fan you have to go it's so fun and interesting.

I was really stressed getting there, because my co-ordination was a little below average, so we were running really late and they had said that if you didn't get there before your time slot (and you were meant to get there half an hour before hand, and we were 15 minutes after when our time slot was). So me being me, I was a little stressed. But when we got to the train station and saw the purple Harry potter double decker bus (mind you it wasn't the Night Bus which really would have been cooler) I was too excited, and of course the people were lovely and didn't mind at all about our poor timing skills, so all good.
It was so fun, the Ford Anglia is above your head as you walk in,and the musics playing and I was jumping around like a baboon with clothes on,it was so exciting. 

Tip for next time, which we didn't know about and wish we had gotten it before we went in, wass this little booklet thing that you get stamped and all this cool stuff inside the "exhibition" (if you can call it that ). 
While we waited in line there was the bedroom under the stairs with the little figurines and a funny guy kept us all entertained by trying to do the best imitations of whatever country we were from,(we got "shrimps on the barbie mate!" Not very original, but what can you do).
I also decided to draw a lightening bolt scar on Iona's forehead as we thought, why don't we go fully out there.
We first went into a video chamber thing and then a little cinema, before the walk around tour started. We saw the great hall, all sorts of costumes, they had all the props and sets from the movies, we saw the burrow and Dumbledore's office, the Gryffindor common room and the boys dormitory! 
They had all the wands and statues (the "Magic is Might" statue was really impressive) as well as all the newspapers and books that they had designed for the film.


Fun Fact: 
 the books in Dumbledore's Office were actually British Yellow Pages, or whatever they call it in the Uk, and they just bound them with new covers that they made old, so if you think about it, if you're from the Uk then your name is probably somewhere in Dumbledore's office! COOL!

Anyway moving swiftly on, we got to learn how to cast spells and fly a broomstick, SUCH FUN, we drank Butterbeer, which is delicious but does need more froth (it made me Burp really loudly in hearing distance of a quite attractive guy who definitely heard me, good job Katie!).
We didn't have enough time, so I suggest going in the morning and staying until you are pooping spells. (sorry)

They have all the set designs and costumes, (Luna's earrings and Hermione's yule Ball gown, which you can actually buy in the shop afterwards for a ridiculous amount of money).
And then to finish it right off, there was Diagon Alley with all the shops and everything, and I was so happy and excited and all Iona and I could say was "AHHHHHH" and jump around a bit in dizzy happiness.
And then they had a full model of Hogwarts and the grounds, and I think Iona and I nearly cried. It was so beautiful and wonderful and amazing and every good word you can think of.(Except maybe sexy, it wasn't really that sexy). 
...I amuse myself.

Moving on again...
They also had all the wands of every character in a room full of boxes and then there was the gift shop. As I mentioned before we had so little time that we had about eight minutes in the gift shop before the last bus left to take us to the station, and Gemma bless her soul had me trying to work out what she would like and how much it would all cost, it was a little hectic to say the least, but it was all good and I got the right things. 
If I had lots of money, the one thing I would buy would be a time turner necklace, they were so beautiful. But I got a wand (as did Gemma, I got Luna's and she got Ginny's) and I got her Bertie Botts Every Flavour Bean and Chocolate frogs and a Marauder's Map and a Hogwarts Badge/crest for your chest, thing. So good job 
No. 1 sister! I.e ME!


The Cupboard under the stairs

The great hall





Do you mind if I Slytherin?...









Ronald's lovely gear, so fancy!
(And horrible)


This was made for the Yule Ball, and is actually made of real chocolate!


I never quite understood why they had all the wigs, cos all those actors have hair, right??


I love the fact that they have extra ears for Matt i.e Neville Longbottom and everyone else gets fake blood and gross teeth.


Bellatrix's Main Bottom (different from her other bottom that she only uses on certain occasions.. I amuse myself)



Luna's amazing costumes, I want them all to wear!






The boys messy bedroom


I think this is Ronald's bed but am not entirely sure


This is an optical illusion, in real life, the chair is tiny and not far away at all, but on camera and film it makes it look real.







I must have been very happy then to see only myself and my camera in the Mirror of Erised


I want a Weasley Jumper, can someone help me knit one?


In the Background on the left there is a portrait of a young lady looking over her shoulder. That is actually Professor McGonagall as a young witch. 





I love how intricately everything was done, to make the films seem even more real or magical, whatever way you want to look at it.


Look at all those memories...


Ahhh the other word for Yellow Pages is Phonebooks... silly Katie








I want it as a necklace so much!!




Ravenclaw's Diadem


Malvolo's Ring


Hufflepuff's Cup


Riddle's Diary


Slytherin's Locket







Hagrid's Hut


The Burrow





"Magic is Might"











"I solemnly swear I am up to no good" 



Knuts, Sickles and Galleons




Love Potion






Umbridge's Office




Quidditch Tactics


A little spell work





"You're a wizard Harry"




The night bus



Iona's not too sure about Butterbeer










Dobby


Diagon Alley













A model of Hogsmead



Dumbledore's Office



I love this painting so much





Bit blurry but I had to put it in...






This one is good, all the actors had to write out "I must not break rules" and then the one they liked best was made into a tattoo for Harry to wear in the fifth movie, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Cool Huh!?! 

And I made a video as usual so here that is





So All in All I had the best time, and I thoroughly suggest you go and see it, cos it's the best!
Ok Thats all for now folks 
Love Katie G


"Mischief Managed."

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