By Harry Potter studio day!
I almost didn’t go on the studio tour. I did it with Sarah, Frank and the kids back in 2022. I had initially planned to visit a client and some former colleagues…but I changed my mind. For the gang, I re-installed the Addison Lee app and arranged for a mini-van to pick us up and take us directly to the studio. When you divide by four, it wasn’t that bad. So we arrived in style and on our own schedule (vs taking the train or taking a bus). Angela couldn’t find her ticket, so we sent her off to Guest Services to sort that out as we got the Audio guides (Thanks, Ruth) and waited for our timed slot. The only other drama here was that my start time was 3pm, not 2pm, as I was late in purchasing my ticket. The ticket taker was nice and let me join the ladies. As soon as the tour started – Pffft – everyone disappeared. Most of my time was spent texting to see where everyone was (was I behind them, ahead of them). The game plan was to meet my former colleagues for drinks that evening, but when we were at the halfway mark at 5pm, I knew that wasn’t going to happen. So I had to text my regrets, which was disappointing.
If you haven’t gone on the Studio Tour, it is worth it. I’m trying to think how you could break it up better. If you’re an adult, I would think one day is enough, but get there early and plan to stay late. With kids, I imagine a 2 day pass would be easier to manage (presuming they have). The tour is impressive. The guides are good at their job. And of course there is just something magical about the book and movie series. They do manage to change some things up. I did notice a few differences from the last time I was there, so that was good. And the conclusion where you see the Hogwarts covered in snow is breathtaking…
I arranged for Addison Lee to pick us up. I was in a panic because my phone was losing its charge and that was our only way to connect to the driver. He was in a different spot from where we had been dropped off, so there was a little bit of confusion, but he eventually found us. We piled into his car and returned to London.
While we were a bit worn out, we managed to rally for dinner. We ate at Ave Mario, one of Ruth’s favorite London Italian eateries. It was a great way to celebrate the conclusion of the day.
