Laura and Lars Travel: Harry Potter World and Turning the Quarter Century!

It was a grey and overcast morning, but this cast no shadow on my spirits! It took 2 trains and a bus to get to Leavesden and we knew that there wasn't anything else in the town to offer because we were surrounded by people in Hogwarts robes and circular glasses the whole way there.

As we entered the main doors, a towering Christmas tree greeted us. It was a tree from the Goblet of Fire movie. Everything that is in the buildings is from one of the movies, no replicas. The giant gift store was calling to me "come an buy things" so I obliged. How could I go inside without a Gryffindor scarf?

On your way to the mini cinema room is Harry's room under the stairs, it has been left exactly how it was on the last day that they filmed it, mini horse figures and all. We watched a short film, and the screen rose to display the famous wooden doors of Hogwarts. It feels surreal to walk through the doors to the Great Hall. I walked on the tiles that the whole cast has been; the hat ceremony, magical feasts, fights, balls and that scene with Professor Quirrel running and shouting "troll in the dungeon". They had the costumes of the professors at the front where they would normally sit.

The next room was the main room, and we spent 3 hours in there. Reading and just staring! This is where they have all the sets. The common rooms, Weasley Manor, the Ministry, Umbridges Cat office and any other part that you can imagine. They have any prop that was used in the middle, looking like a real life Room of a Requirement. They show you how the broomsticks work and what they would do to make Quidditch come alive. I would prefer to continue to think that it's real!

In the next room we became Ron and Harry. With the green screen behind us, we were in the Weasleys Ford Anglia flying away from the Hogwarts Express and we were on a broomstick flying through London escaping Deatheaters. Yes, we got a photo and yes it is in our wall.

The next room was the newest edition, Platform 9 and 3/4. There were trollies half way through the wall, there was steam, and there was the real train. The one that was used in all the scenes, and we got to walk in it. In each carriage, they had it set up the same as the characters had used each year. Including all the things from the trolly.

Ahhh Butterbeer. We hadn't heard great things about you. But you exceeded our expectations! Butterscotch goodness in the form of a beverage and ice cream. I am contemplating going back just to drink the sweet nectar of magic!

Outside were all the outside things, the Dursleys House. They originally used a real house, but decided that using a real street was too much hassle, so they made one exactly the same for the last 7 films. The Bus, the car, Hagrid's motorbike, with side car attached, and the Wizard Chess Pieces from The Philosophers Stone.

The next building was the technical part, how they did all the real magic behind the scenes. They had a real moving Buckbeak! They had a Hagrid head. Robbin Coltrane is not half giant, so they had to use a body actor. It was a man who was an ex rugby player for England. But he was not tall enough, so they made a mechanical head for him to wear in all the wide shots. Look closely the next time you watch, which should be soon. We made our way through Diagon Alley. Just so much amazing! The street was so small, but they make it look so big. Oh the trickery of film!

The last and most impressive part was the model of Hogwarts. Because, spoilers, Hogwarts isn't real. So they needed to have something to film the establishing shots. The model was about three times as tall as me. So much detail and precision. I could have looked for days and not found anything wrong with it. They lead us through Olivanders in our way out to the gift shop. Every box had a name of someone who worked on any of the 8 films. So you can imagine how many wand boxes are in that room. Naturally, I had to get a chocolate frog on my way out. Lars decided to enjoy some snot and sausage flavoured jelly beans from Bertty Bits Every Flavoured Beans.

We had watched all of the HP films on the week leading up to my Birthday, so it felt like my birthday had already been a week long. But the real day had arrived and I was 25. I feel absolutely no different. The day started with family face times and presents, I like that part! We went for an explore at the Globe theatre and then across the Milllenium bridge to St Pauls. Then out on the tube to my next mysterious destination. We came to a very fancy building, and were lead to a beautifully laid out table with the most spectacular tea set. High Tea for 2 says my Dearest Lars. Out comes mini sandwiches, cakes, scones with jam and clotted cream, and who could forget the bubbles! We were seated next to a roaring fire, I never wanted to leave! We did some Oxford Street window shopping, then headed to Wagamama for a delightful ramen. My new favourite meal!

It was a special 2 days and I thank my dearest for that. Some of you non Harry Potter lovers may have had no idea what I was talking about. But if you did get any of my HP references, please let me know!