Europe 2013 Day 17: London, UK

DAY 17: 29 MAY 2013

Our main highlight of the day is the Warner Brothers Studio Tour

which I pre-booked online three months ago.

The ticket itself is kind of pricey, as it costs 29.90 pounds.

Nevertheless, I really wanted to visit the studio and I didn't mind

paying that much for the experience!

From Earl's Court station, we took one stop down the green line to West Brompton,

and then we took the overground to Watford Junction.

The entire train ride took about forty minutes, and it costs a hefty 6.70 pounds!

We knew that transportation in London is really expensive as a train ride in zone 1

already costs 2.15 pounds per ride, but this ride still gave us a huge shock!

Anyways, upon exiting Watford Junction, we boarded the Warner Brothers Studios

shuttle bus just metres away from the station, which costs 2 pounds for a return ticket.

We were really lucky to be in London that week as they were having a

special Animal week at the studios.

This means that we were able to meet the animal casts that appeared in

the Harry Potter films!

Original chess pieces used in the Philosopher's Stone.

Harry Potter's cupboard room under the stairs

The first set everybody will enter is the Great Hall.

Every group of visitors will have a timed-entry in this set.

And so, everyone was busily snapping away before time runs out.

The Great Hall

 

The Yule Ball seen in The Goblet of Fire

Gryffindor Boys Dormitory

Snape's potion room

The Philosopher's Stone

Mrs Norris 

Portraits of the headmasters of Hogwarts

Dumbledore's office 

Memory cabin

The Deathly Hallows

Hagrid's dog, Fang 

Hermoine's cat, Crookshanks

Sirius Black's owl

Ministry of Magic

 

Marauder's map

Butterbeer

We spent about two and the half hours in the first section as there were many

exhibits and props to see.

Upon exiting the first section, there were two stalls selling snacks and drinks.

The prices were ridiculously high, and thankfully we brought a packet

of stroopwaffles to eat just in case we were hungry.

We splurged on a cup of butterbeer which costs about 6.95 pounds as

Michelle wanted to keep it as a souvenir.

There were a few exhibitions near the snack shop, such as the Knight Bus,

Privet Drive and the Hogwarts Bridge.

Knight Bus

Harry Potter's snowy owl, Hedwig

After exploring the open air section, we continued to explore the second indoor

section, which mainly houses the props used in the Harry Potter films.

The Monster Book of Monsters 

Diagon Alley

 

Weasley's Wizard Wheezes

Original Hogwarts Castle model 

Ollivanders wand shop

Chocolate frog

I must say that the gifts sold at the Harry Potter retail shop are really really expensive.

I had the intention to get those vomit jelly beans and chocolate frog before

entering the shop, however, upon seeing that a chocolate frog costs

8 pounds, I have decided to give up on the thought of getting any souvenirs.

Overall, the studio tour is really worth it if you love Harry Potter.

We spent five hours admiring those sets and props, which goes to show

how much we loved the tour!

Right after the tour, we headed for King's Cross to complete our Harry Potter day.

Platform 9 3/4 is indeed an attraction inside the station,

with scarfs and professional photographers standing by just to complete your experience.

That sums up a Harry Potter themed day in London!