Rarely do my personal interests overlap with my job, the last time was an invite to the press tour of the new Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford. But, today even that was surpassed as I went, with a colleague, to a press preview of the Harry Potter Studio tour or Warner Bros. Studio London: The Making of Harry Potter to use the official title.
It was fabulous. They reckon on allowing 3 hours to make your way around the sets, displays of costumes and props as well as the interactive features and some behind the scenes footage and revelations. We spent over 3 and a half hours and I still feel I only really took in about half of what is there.
Everything on display was genuinely used in the films to the point where I renamed it the "Ohmygod look it's the..." tour as that was the most frequent expression to pass our lips.
It's all very nicely and slickly done. Nothing looks cheap from the loos upwards but then it comes at a price. But hey where else in the UK can you drink Butter Beer while wandering along Privet Drive?
If you are a Harry Potter fan, book your tickets now (you have to book online). It opens officially next weekend but is pretty much sold out until September.
Oh and save up your pennies for the shop at the end. Loads of great stuff but it's pricey, even though, I couldn't resist investing in a collectors edition wand - Professor Snape's as he's my favourite. Foolish wand waving here I come.
Also took loads of pictures, you've been warned.
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