"Hogwarts"

"Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers."

This is a Christmas present which will take a lot to top! Jayney bought us tickets to the world of Harry Potter studio tour and words cannot describe just how amazing this experience was!

From the moment we opened the doors to the great hall, we started reliving our childhood, those long days in the summer holidays where I'd curl up with Harry and his friends under a tree or under the shade of granny's table parasol, and escape to a magical world, created by J.K.Rowling.

The tour was designed to take about 3hrs but we decided to make the most of it and fully appreciate and take in what we were seeing within the 2 sound studios which were actually used for filming. We took 7hrs!!

From the actual sets, to the costumes worn, from the filming facts and secrets, to the props department, from the cast and crew moving portraits, to Butterbeer, this truly was a childhood world come to life!

Before leaving the tour via Diagon Alley, we entered the model room to find this - a life size scale model of Hogwarts which was used in most scenes involving the exterior of the castle, with the help of a little camera trickery. Standing and looking at it, I couldn't help but become a little emotional! This was by far my highlight of the tour!

I still can't believe this amazing, magical world came from the imagination of just one person on a delayed train journey, and from there a little cafe in Edinburgh, and that today it is still loved by kids and adults alike! If I ever have children, I look forward to introducing them to Hogwarts. The 7 books will sit pride of place on their bookshelf!

"Whether you return by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home..."

Thank you Jayney for such an amazing present!!

# Happy Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - J.K.Rowling #