Where better to spend the festive season than in a world of wands and wizarding fun, asks Kathryn Conway.
The Hogwarts Express, the Sorting Ceremony, the first Quidditch match, the Forbidden Forest…
On 4 November 2001, London’s Odeon Leicester Square screened the premiere of a film that brought J.K. Rowling’s wizarding
world to life on the big screen. Its young cast were instant megastars, Hedwig’s Theme, the title music, became immediately recognisable, and everyone wanted Owl Post to be real. But exactly 25 years to the day since Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone bewitched cinemagoers, the capital is set for more Pottermania.
To the delight of muggles, witches and wizards everywhere, Harry Potter Shop Oxford Street opens on 4 November, becoming the UK’s largest official Harry Potter shop and the place every fan will be spending their gold Galleons this Christmas. Spread across two floors, its design draws on Diagon Alley, the hidden shopping street where Harry goes in search of school supplies with Hagrid on his 11th birthday. Packed with one-of-a-kind products you won’t find anywhere else and immersive themed spaces begging to be photographed, you’ll be as mesmerised as Harry was when Diagon Alley was first revealed to him as a magical retail mecca.
Accio, Christmas Presents!
Remember the Ukrainian Ironbelly Dragon guarding the vaults of Gringotts Wizarding Bank? Inside the Oxford Street flagship, the beast is now the centrepiece of the Gringotts area as it watches over all who enter. There’s also a full-sized recreation of the ‘emergency
transportation for the standard wizard or witch’ – the triple-decker, bright purple Knight Bus – which has finished careering through the streets of London and parked at the rear of the store.
And while there are products galore, including Hogwarts robes in all four house colours, sorting hats and must-have wands, Potterheads will want to pop the exclusive Diagon Alley Wand, the Oxford Street Harry Potter Funko Pop! and Butterbeer Label collection at the top of their lists for Santa. Speaking of Butterbeer, take a seat in The Leaky Cauldron and enjoy Harry Potter’s favourite beverage either hot, cold, frozen or even as ice cream, alongside an irresistible assortment of other Butterbeer inspired treats.
If you can tear yourself away, however, the Hogwarts magic isn’t confined to indoors. Ahead of the launch of the new TV series Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone on HBO Max on 25 December, Oxford Street’s world-famous Christmas lights have received
a Harry Potter-themed glow-up. Look out for the specially created illuminated designs added to the usual twinkling stars (exact date TBC).
Platform 9 ¾ And Beyond
The new Harry Potter Shop Oxford Street maybe the UK’s biggest, but its sister site in King’s Cross has become a pilgrimage for Potter fans. The station is, of course, home to Platform 9 ¾, so join the queue for the obligatory photo with the famous trolley and pretend you’re about to vanish through the wall on your way to Hogwarts.
Next door, Harry Potter Shop King’s Cross stocks exclusive Platform 9 ¾ products that make perfect mementoes or stocking fillers, and there are all manner of items you can personalise. And a Hogwarts acceptance letter that’s addressed to a loved one is sure to make their day.
No trip to the capital for Harry Potter fans is complete without a visit to the studios in Leavesden, near Watford, where all eight Harry Potter films were made. And at this time of year, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter becomes a wintry wizarding world. During Hogwarts in the Snow (14 Nov-17 Jan), sets are dressed for the festive season, with the Great Hall festooned with ‘floating’ candles and towering Christmas trees, and the Hogwarts Castle model blanketed by never-melting snow.
Props, costumes and creatures showcase the craftsmanship of the creative team, and there are even Christmas cards on display made by the crew during filming. New this year, you can discover the secrets of festive sound effects at the Backlot Stage, then enjoy a Butterbeer as the filmmaking snow falls. It’s the closest you can get to feeling like you’re spending Christmas at Hogwarts.
*All characters and elements © &™Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. WB Shield: © &™WBEL Publishing Rights © JKR
