What to say, we arrived on the attended car park, close to the studio and the magic began, after picking up the tickets we were in and on our way. The tour is timed and sold out well in advance which is great as it keeps the number of visitors down. After a pre tour chat its into the theatre for a quick insight into the 10 years the cast spent on set, the curtain rises and the doors to the great hall are behind. There is a fine selection of costumes on set as well as guides and props from the films. You exit into the prop department next and see The Burrow and dorms used in the films, there is the green room where you can fly a car and broom stick. Photos are good quality and cost £12 for 1 £16 for 2 or you can buy the DVD for £20, a bit pricey but well worth it, the children and adults alike love this! There are a number of sets other than those mentioned, all amazing and you can see the magical props doing their thing. Next is the outside picnic area with the Knight bus, Hagrids bike and the Ford Anglia to pose in, 4 Privet drive and the house at Godrics Hollow is also out here. Despite it being February the picnic area is great, there are gas heaters and its under cover, there are 3 food stalls and you can try the famous Butterbeer for £5 (Butterscotch). Before you leave this area you can revisit any section, after this it is strictly one way only. The Props department is next, the attention to detail is incredible and its a real eye opener, after this is the main attraction for me Diagon alley, something I've seen many a time on the films, it really puts you there in the films, surrounded by Muggles of course! Then there is the model rooms and finally the model of Hogwarts, Huge, Impressive and a testament to the artists and model builders who put so much into the films, the lighting changes as you descend around the castle so you have constantly changing views. It is around 20ft tall and as large as a pair of semis. Finally you exit via the shop, a taster of prices for you Robe- £75, Chocolate frog- £7.95, Wand – £25 Its pricey but the quality is there. All in all its a great day out, its ramped, wheelchair friendly and there are good facilities all the way around. There is a find the golden snitch and passport with stamps for children on the way around. Its sold out weeks in advance however this is good as numbers are managed and it keeps the crowds down. Open until 10pm. Pre booked tickets only £30pp / £22p child.
