Fans of Harry Potter can get their money’s worth in London. MeinMMO author Paul Kutzner is a big Harry Potter fan and reports what you should definitely see.
Since my childhood, I have been a huge fan of Harry Potter and, in a way, grew up with Harry. While I had to be read the first book, I devoured the 7th part in English beforehand to avoid waiting for the release of the German edition.
It was therefore essential for me to eventually travel to London to see locations from the books and films for myself. Just a few weeks ago, this opportunity finally arose. And some of these places were more than impressive.
Here you can see the trailer for the new “Harry Potter” series:
The Harry Potter Studios
Strictly speaking, the studios are not in London, but 40 km north of London, in Watford. The journey from London to there, however, is just a short hop and a more than worthwhile trip.
In the studios, where a large part of the films was shot, there is now a walk-through exhibition. In addition to many original props and sets that a Potterhead would immediately recognize, there are also many interesting details about the filming itself.
You can walk through the Dursleys’ house on Privet Drive, the Hogwarts Express, or the Forbidden Forest, pull Mandrakes out of the greenhouse, admire the creation process of the countless masks and costumes from Harry Potter, and gather many other impressions.
My personal highlights of the tour were definitely the visit to Gringotts, the walk through Diagon Alley, and especially the Great Hall of Hogwarts. Standing where they stood and strolling through the halls where all the heroes of my childhood and youth were filmed were fantastic moments.
If you plan to visit the Harry Potter Studios, you should think carefully about how to get there. I used a shuttle service (during which the first part of Harry Potter was shown). While it was quite relaxing, it ultimately put me a bit under time pressure.
With this option, you have fixed arrival and departure times. Because of the departure time, I had to limit myself a bit during the tour, meaning I couldn’t take as much time at all the points of the tour as I would have liked. So evaluate beforehand whether you also want to use a shuttle service or would prefer to use public transportation.
Millennium Bridge
Admittedly, the Millennium Bridge does not play the biggest role in the Harry Potter films. It appears only once — at the beginning of the 6th part — and is destroyed by Dementors in broad daylight, crashing into the Thames.
Nevertheless, I wanted to pay the bridge a visit. And I do not regret it. On one hand, there is again a brief “oh how cool, I know that from the movies” moment. On the other hand, the view from the bridge over London is simply a worthwhile trip. Especially at night.
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