Y is for Y Bother? Mistaken or Pointless Trips

Okay, so that's the second time I've cheated.  It's the second last day - I'm doing well!

On the A-Z Tour of Harry Potter Filming Locations, Y is for Y Bother.  This is the list of places I visited by mistake (they weren't really in the films) or places that really weren't worth the detour/journey because either it's so hard to see the link, or they are really boring.  This is the list of "Places to avoid when planning your own Harry Potter tour".  It's also an excuse to show off more of my photos.  Again, we're going to be jumping around the country a bit - hold on tight.

Cape Wrath

Cape Wrath is the most north-western poin of mainland Britiain and accessbilt only by hire-boat-and-bus, or on foot.  It was reported to be the location visited by Dumbledore and Harry in their hunt for the horcruxex, however as we learnt in the M post, this was really the Cliffs of Moher.  Besides which, if you are not into bird-watching, there is nothing to do at Cape Wrath during the hour or so wait for the return but.  Nothing except take a few photos and drink some very bad coffee.

Power Station, High Marnham, Nottinghamshire

The Power Station Cooling Towers in High Manham were used as one of the many hideouts for the trio during their hunt for the horcruxes.  However due to the dark and the very out-of-the-way-and-creepy village, I made do with a distant photo from the roadside, and probably wouldn't recommend anyone try to get too close.  Honestly, it was creepy and about the only time in the two years I was in the UK that I felt unsafe. Maybe I've watched too many episodes of Midsomer Murders...

Australia House

The Exhibition Hall at Australia House stood in for the interior of Gringotts Wizarding Bank.  Security concerns mean visitors aren’t allowed inside, so they only chance you’ll have of seeing the Hall is if you are a diplomat or some other fancy official person invited to a fancy official event.

Green Lanes, Bourne Hill and Park Avenue, Palmers Green, London

The Knight Bus tears along these roads on its way to deliver Harry to the Leaky Cauldron in the Prisoner of Azkaban.  It zooms past the locations so fast it's difficult to work out exactly where the Knight Bus is, unless you live around the area and are familiar with the streets and shops.  It's an ordinary main street, and not really worth the hunt.

Gypsy Lane, Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire

The open field off Gypsy Lane in Abbots Langley, just south of the Leavesden Studio, was used as the home of the Weasley’s Burrow in both The Chamber of Secrets and The Goblet of Fire.  It’s an open field in the middle of nowhere.  There’s not a lot to see, and it’s pretty hard to get to!

Abbotsbury Swannery, Dorset

For The Half-Blood Prince, the Burrow moved from Gypsy Lane to the village of Abbotsbury in Dorset.  The reeds of the Swannery can be seen surrounding the Burrow, both when Dumbledore apparates Harry there and later during the attack by the Death Eaters.  This listing is more of a timing one.  If you visit in the winter when the place is closed and the reeds have all died (like I did), there is nothing to see .  From the pictures on line, when the park is open it's very interactive and you may even get to see cygnets.  So pick your timing better than me! 

Tomorrow is the last day - hurray!  Which means my cross stitch alphabets over at Fangirl Stitches are also almost finished.

Happy travels

Ros

W is for the Warner Bros. Studio Tour

The A to Z of Harry Potter Filming Locations tour has finally brought us to the biggest site of all - the Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden.

Leavesden wasn't the only professional studio used, with some scenes being filmed in ..., however Leavesden was the main studio used throughout the 8 films, and is the one that has been turned into The Warner Bros. Studio Tour - The Making of Harry Potter.

It is incredible.  It is breath-taking.  It is awe-inspiring.  Even my non-Harry-Potter-fan friend loved it - particularly appreciating the behind-the-scenes information and displays: the special effects, prop making, robotics, costume design, etc.

So basically today's post is going to be one big photo-share fest, with a few trip-planning suggestions:

1. BOOK YOUR TICKETS! Tickets are not available at the door, they must be bought in advance.  A lot of the major hotels have tickets available for sale, including on-the-day, but you cannot buy them at the studio. I've heard of people who rock up thinking they can just get straight in.  Don' be those people.

2. The Studio is open all year round.  The first/last tour times vary so check the website for exact details.  The Studio itself doesn't close until 3hours after the last tour time so even if you are in the last group to go in, you will still have plenty of time to explore.  Also, allow time for the gift shop - it's almost like a whole other set.

3. On the gift shop note - the gift shop on the railway platform set sells different things to the main gift shop at the end of the tour.  I didn't realise this - there were a couple of things I though "oh, I'll get that at the end so I don't have to carry it around with me" but couldn't because the shop at the end didn't sell it.

4. It's a self-guided tour.  The tickets and times are used to space people out so you don't have a huge crush of people going through at once.  You can spend as little or as long as you want there - the three times I've been I've stayed at least 3 1/2 hours if not longer.

The tour guides holding my cross stitch figures :)

5. If you are going during the UK term time, remember that local schools do excursions to the Studio.  I didn't take this into account the last time I went.  It was a Monday, school had gone back a week or so earlier, I thought we'd be fine.  We weren't.  There were at least 4 large groups of over-excited 10-14 year olds.  A later session would probably be a good idea, as usually by then school groups have left and local parents are less likely to bring their kids in on a week day afternoon.  Of course, you still have to allow for the tourist kids... I don't think there is a "child-free" time.

6. If you speak English, don't get the audio guide.  There is so much written information available and video clips playing that you won't get a chance to listen to even half of the audio guide so it's not really worth it.

7. Check the website and social media pages - they regularly run different promotions and events, so it's worth keeping an eye out for what's coming up when you're planning your trip.  They do Halloween (Dark Arts), Hogwarts in the Snow, Animal actors (where they have the animal actors at the studio for you to meet), a Hagrid special... the list goes on.

8. Green screen shots - line up and have a go!  You get to sit on green screen sets to drive the flying car, and ride a broom stick.  There's a video portion to each - you can watch yourself on a TV monitor as you have a go so you can actually see yourself flying.  Also, if you know your House, ask for your House robes. 

*sigh* so much fun!

Apparently there are plans afoot to open up other stages with sets and props from other films that have been made at Leavesden, but I've been hearing that for 4 years and so far nothing more has happened (apart from the addition of more Potter sets).

Until tomorrow, happy travels!

Ros

P.S.  Don't forget - I'm also cross stitching for the A-Z challenge, over at Fangirl Stitches.  W today is Weezing and Mary Winchester.

T is for the Thames

The A-Z Tour of Harry Potter Film Locations once again returns to London (what can I say, it's a big city).  This time we are taking a trip down the Thames.

This map shows the various bridges and their locations
to some of London's landmarks.

The River Thames flows from the Thames Head in Gloucestershire, through Oxford,  Windsor and London to the Thames Estuary in Southend-On-Sea, emptying into the North Sea.  A total length of 380km, it is the longest river in England, and the second longest in the United Kingdom.  The twisting section that flows through London is iconic, featuring regularly in souvenirs, television, and company logos.

The London section of the Thames and its bridges appear at various stages of the Potter film franchise.  Scene-setting shots in The Philosopher’s Stone and The Half Blood Prince feature the Thames.  The Order fly under and around various bridges as they head from Privett Drive to Grimmauld Place in The Order of the Phoenix. Mind you, the Order take a crazy route, flying east and then west along the river at different stages.

  However a couple of the Thames bridges get more than just a fleeting glance:

When the Millennium Bridge first opened, it was nicknamed the Wobbley Bridge, after the pedestrians felt is swaying as they walked over it.  It closed two days after it first opened, and was closed for two years as modifications were made to strengthen the bridge and entirely remove the wobble.  As a small nod to the people of London, the Millennium Bridge is wobbled, twisted and destroyed by Death Eaters at the start of The Half-Blood Prince.

The Knight Bus squeezes between two red London buses as it crosses Lambeth Bridge – although in actual life the bridge only has one lane in each direction, meaning the scene couldn’t actually happen.  What – Hollwood doesn’t match real life?!

Don't forget - because I'm crazy I'm busily cross stitching two pieces for the A-Z Challenge at Fangirl Stitches.

Happy travels,

Ros

L is for the Leaky Cauldron

Today on the A to Z Tour of Harry Potter Filming Locations, we're visiting the three places used for the Leaky Cauldron, the all important tavern that leads you into Diagon Alley.

Leadenhall Market

Located in the historic centre of London, the covered Leadenhall Market dates back to the 14th century. Leadenhall Market was one of the first Potter locations I found on my own, after the guided walking tour.  The market is in a beautiful building, with high angled ceilings and gorgeous window trims - the Grade II listed building was designed in 1881.  The shops themselves are fascinating – old pen shops, book shopsand food markets, and other such things.  It’s only open during the week (it’s in a business district) so I only ever got the chance to window shop, which was probably a good thing.

Harry and Hagrid are seen walking through Leadenhall Markets on their way to the Leaky Cauldron in The Philosopher’s Stone. 

The actual entrance to the Leaky Cauldron was the Glass House in Bull’s Passage.  At the time of filming it was an abandoned building; now it’s an optometrist’s office.  

Borough Markets

According to their website, Borough Market is London's most renowned food market.  It is located opposite London Bridge Stateion, with the tracks running right overhead.

Chez Michele, 7 Stoney Street, on the southeast edge of Borough Street Markets, stood in for the Leaky Cauldron in The Prisoner of Azkaban.  The Knight Bus, after tearing through the streets of London, drops Harry out the front.  It wouldn’t surprise me if the reason the Leaky Cauldron changed locations was because the director couldn’t get a bus through Leadenhall Market!

The roof of Borough Market itself can be seen out of the window in Harry's room during his stay at the Leaky Cauldron, as can the train to London Bridge and the tower of Southwark Cathedral. 

Great Newport Street
Adjacent to Charing Cross Road in the West End, Great Newport Street, specifically the alleyway next to Number 12, was used as the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron in The Half-Blood Prince. It’s a random location, with nothing much to recommend it, but if you’re on Charing Cross Road anyway (and there’s a good chance you will be) you may as well stop and go “huh”. 

At the beginning of the film, Death Eaters fly along Great Newport Street, down the alleyway, and burst through a wall into Diagon Alley in order to kidnap Olivander.  

Happy travels

Ros

The A-Z cross stitch marathon continues at Fangirl Stitches where I am working on two different alphabets... because I am mad.

K is for Kings Cross and St Pancras Station

The train theme continues today as the A to Z Tour of Harry Potter Filming Locations takes us back to London and to Kings Cross and St Pancras Stations

Kings Cross and St Pancras train stations together form one of Britain's biggest travel hubs, with national and international trains, and a joint Underground tube station in between the two (Kings Cross St Pancras).  Located on the northern end of Central London, Kings Cross railway station was opened in 1852, with neighbouring St Pancras was opened in 1868.  The exterior of St Pancras is widely recognised for its Victorian Architecture, and is now a Grade 1 listed building.  The design of Kings Cross was based on two large arched train sheds - these high arched roofs tower over the station platforms.  It is no wonder that in the Potter films, platform scenes were shot on location at Kings Cross, with St Pancras standing in for the exterior of the station

Kings Cross

Across the internet there is wide debate about the filming location of platforms 9 and 10 in the Potter film series.  A lot of this debate seems to stem from the fact that platforms 9 and 10 at Kings Cross Station are not connected, and that the bridge seen in The Philosopher’s Stone and The Order of The Phoenix no longer exists – it was torn down in 2009 and replaced with the glass one seen in the background of my photo.  However, my visit to Kings Cross Station set the mind at rest as it is clear that the roof and barriers seen in the films are the same as at the station.  Platforms 4 and 5 stood in for platforms 9 and 10 throughout the film series, with JK Rowling admitting she had been thinking of Euston Station when writing the novels (where 9 and 10 do share a platform).  Platform 5 was also used as Platform 9 ¾.

However, as I write this I realise that these platforms may no longer exist.  Kings Cross went through a major remodel a couple of years ago and I haven’t been back since – I know there was a lot of public outcry that they may be removing the old high ceilings.  I hope not.  The place was stunning in an old worldy kind of way.  Just have a look at the long shot in The Philosopher’s Stone.  Have you been there recently?  I’d love to hear how the station looks now…

When I first visited Kings Cross in 2010, there was a little sign marking the location of Platform 9 ¾.  It was hidden around the corner, out of the way, with a trolley half in the wall.  When I went back in 2012, the sign had been moved due to the initial building works – a little more prominent, but still small and unobtrusive.  Passing through the station at the end of 2013, I noted that the sign and trolley had been moved to the main hall, near the ticket counters and shops.  There was rope for people to line up at in order to take their photos.  Much more there, and a lot easier to find!

St Pancras Station

The exterior of St Pancras Station was used as the exterior of Kings Cross Station, both when Harry and Ron fly the Ford Anglia in The Chamber of Secrets and at the start of the epilogue in The Deathly Hallows, part 2.  I think my black-and-white photo captures the old-world charm of the building quite well, even if I do say so myself!

Happy travels

Ros

The A-Z cross stitching continues over at Fangirl Stitches too.