Day 24: A Magical kind of day in the Wizard World

Today the weather gods were not kind to us at all, but while that did worry a whole group of Aussie’s who were staying at our hotel to make the walk up to Lords for the second Ashes test, it did not worry us. Today was the day that Chris had organised for our tour to Warner Brothers studios for the Making of Harry Potter attraction. So off we went, upstairs and down stairs at underground stations in search of the Hammersmith Line. This would take us to Euston Square where we could then make a walk to the Euston Overground station to catch the express train to Watford Junction. Once at Watford Junction, there was to be a studio bus that would whisk us away to Leavesden, where the studios are. Sounds complex but it was remarkably simple... and there we were.

The entry is timed and even though we were only 10 mins early for our window, we were made to wait until our 12.30-1pm time slot clicked around. There was a bit of slow wandering though the timeline of the movies, a queuing room akin to a Disney preshow entertainment and a short compilation film of all 8 of the Harry Potter movies. Then it was onto the sets. We started in the Great Hall at Hogwarts and then moved through all sorts of sets from the dormitories and the common rooms, a wand display, to the potions classes, Dumbldore’s Office, Quidditch games, magical flying stunts and the Ministry of Magic. Chris even attended a flying class, learning to rais his broom from the ground. It was then time to enter the Forbidden Forrest with all of its huge arachnids. Spooky! At the other end of the forest was the Platform 9 and 3/4 and the Hogwarts Express.. it was fabulous. I think I am now officially a card carrying Harry Potter tragic. 

 Fortunately the four of us had made a deal that if we got separated we would meet at the backlot cafe, the halfway point of the tour. And just as well we did, because Enid had become separated from our group and waited for us in the cafe, which was bad for Enid, but great for us because she had managed to secure an excellent spot to lunch. Being we, tables were in high demand. Sandwiches finished, it was time for a look at the backlot props. Because of the rain we were not able to walk over the famous Hogwarts Bridge, but Enid and Martina had a go in the Weasley's flying car. Just as well it wasn't the one that we saw being flattened inside by the Whomping Willow. We then wandered through the creature effect sections, before hitting Gringots Bank which was an amazing set. We were in awe of Diagon Alley and but the final ooohs and ahhhs were reserved for the last room with a huge scale model of the Hogwarts castle. Of course the gift shop, which one had to pass through, was huge... and I am pleased to report that I resisted the temptation, but ohhhh so many things. 

Back to the bus and the reverse trip back to Paddington, although this time the train from Watford was a lot more crowded than it had been in the morning. Walking back to Euston Square underground we paused at the doorway to the Royal College of General Practitioners and took a quick picture of Martina against the sign. What a pity we were a little too late to go inside. 
We decided for our last night as the fearless 4 travel tragics that we would go to a Steak Restaurant in London Street, just around the corner from the hotel. It was a great way to celebrate the finish of our time together as Enid and Martina will leave very early tomorrow morning to fly to Tokyo. 
































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