16 Jul Visiting the magical world of Harry Potter
Written by Kim and Siah, Year 7 Young Reporters
On 5th July 2019, as a year-end reward trip, 26 Year 7 students visited Harry Potter World (Warner Bros Studios Tour London). There is some big Harry Potter fans in Year 7, so the excitement had started to build weeks ago!
After the two hour journey to the Warner Bros Studio, we all got off the school mini-buses and stretched our legs. We walked towards the studio entrance, surrounded by the cool breezes of the summer wind and gentle sunlight. We stepped inside and gazed in awe at the place we were about to explore. The massive reception hall was covered from top to bottom, walls, doors and windows included, in pictures and phrases from the books we all know and love. Every detail had been very well thought out, and it felt like we had been transported into the magical world of Harry Potter.
Before we entered the Cinema Hall, we all listened to a quick talk from a very friendly studio staff member. It was a fascinating surprise to hear that…
The day we visited the studio there were 45 other schools joining this magical experience!
After a very recent refurbishment, on peak days the Studio receives around 9000 visitor per day.
Inside the cinema, we gazed in astonishment at a film being played on the massive screen. It was a short video clip featuring J.K Rowling (the creator of Harry Potter books), Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) and Rupert Grint (Ron Wesley). The actors were talking about how they grew up spending their lives making this film series. They went to school close to the studios, slept here, of course worked here and spent 10 years of their life here in fact!
Then the colossal wooden doors were finally opened, leading us to the Great Hall. It was here that Harry and the other witches/wizards had their meals in the films. All the uniforms of the different houses were on display, next to the very long tables with the pots and props on top. We found Hogwart’s Clock dominating one end of the exhibition, and at the other end, was a huge interactive area with large green screens. Here we could sit on a broomstick and pretend we were flying!
Next, as smoke surrounded our feet, we ventured slowly into the ‘Forbidden Forest’. The tunnel had enormous black spiders, lightning strikes, wolf dogs and hippogriffs spreading their wings. Our hearts pounded as we tried to find the exit! We escaped to Platform 9¾, and spent some time studying the Hogwarts Express steam engine. We felt a sense of accomplishment climbing the train’s carriage, and touching the trolleys of luggage whilst getting off.
After a quick lunch at the Backlot café, we were free to wander a while and explore as much as we wanted. We discovered the grand marble-clad banking hall of Gringott’s Wizarding Bank. This was where Harry discovered his parents left him a sizeable amount of money in the books and films. And then…the roar of lions, the scream of a child, a crash of light, a big grey creature comes into sight! Thud, stomp, shake, a shiver ran down our spines, as a monstrous 3-D creature stomped its way towards us. Fire billowed from it’s mouth, and burned down the pillars of the building, as smoke rose from beneath the rubble. We were all victims of a deadly beast attack! The 3-D projection felt so real!
We followed a dark corridor and entered a magical room full of bright lights and calming music. There, in the centre, was a magnificent castle, an exact replica of the real castle used in the movies! It was lit all around with luminescent blue-white lights, and we could have spent hours studying the immaculate details.
To finish the visit, we briefly wandered through the gift shop, and boarded our buses back home. Our Young Reporters will never forget this magical experience. It was truly like visiting a different planet!
“The stories we love best do live in us forever, so whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.” – J.K Rowling