Harry Potter Studio

                                 

Visited last week with my kids, and their French cousin.

North West of London, it is a great place, and it is amazing to see all the artefacts and the huge amount of time and efforts put into these projects. All is exhibited there: props, sets, half of rooms that have been used for the films, with the main hall of course and even a full scale version of Diagon alley; robotic animals and even 'robotic' versions of some of the characters; all the drawings and small white card models of every single location painfully produced with all details with cardboard and paper to allow camera angle planning; and of course a  fantastic scale model of Hogwarts, used as such for wide angle filming of the castle within the films ('did you know that all doors have proper hinges? And that each torch works and is the size of a needle??...' my niece, her digital guide on the ears, was commenting, enthusiastically)

The staff was very pleasant and the videos interesting (especially liked the ones about the training of all the animals, and the special effects in place for the Quidditch matches sequences). 

My main gripe is the price really, for something which is after all the exhibition of objects and sets already used and created for the films. Like a museum. Nothing new, apart from the videos, has been added here. This is not a theme park. No ride there, not even the possibility of entering the shops in Diagon Alley. And actually my youngest was a bit bored; I wouldn't recommend for any kid younger than 10, unless there're really into the films/books and characters.     

So £101 for a family of 4?? Considering the amount of profit that Warner Bros has already made on the films?? How greedy is that....This is clearly not for all budgets. And this is only the entrance fee, there is no guide during the tour by the way, so we were left to your own devices. Digital guides are available.. for £5 each...
One can have a video of oneself flying on a broom...for a fee..
And a picture of oneself on the Daily Prophet.. starting price of £12....  (£40 if I remember correctly if you want the whole family on it...)

And the shop! Which obviously concludes the visit, and which can't be avoided...  £10 for a pen and a booklet? £25 for a plastic "collector" wand, or for a T-shirt? Really???

The trip was organised by my company's social club, hence free transport and a good discount on the entrance price.
Thanks God for that...