Today started with breakfast at the flat and a tube ride to St. Paul's. We spent several hours at St. Paul's and climbed all the way to the top (were there a million stairs? I think it was about a million...)
Photography is not permitted inside the Cathedral but we got a few good shots from the exterior:
I tried out my panorama skills:
The girls decided to be gargoyles at the top (I don't think St. Paul's actually HAS gargoyles, but that can't stop these girls):
For lunch, we headed around the corner and down a little street to The Blackfriar:
Then to the tube where Eldri, Marit, Sig, Ellie, and I headed toward the Harry Potter film set and Donna and Maggie headed back to the flat. Rumor has it they "rested" but also had tea and went to some shops.
Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden is the home of the Harry Potter Studio Tour. All 8 movies were filmed here (in part) and they have converted it into a tourist experience. Because they make you sign up well in advance for a specific ticketed time and they only allow a certain number of people in at a time, it is not overly crowded (crowded, yes -- OVERLYcrowded, no). For those Harry Potter fans out there, it was SO COOL. For those not interested in Harry Potter, you can probably just stop reading the blog right here for the day.
We saw many many original costumes:
Potions:
Had a small wand handling demonstration:
Saw some death eaters:
Found the train:
Went through the wall to Platform 9 3/4:
Tried butterbeer AND butterbeer ice cream:
Checked out Privet Drive:
Took some cool pictures on the Hogwarts bridge:
Rode in an enchanted car:
AND Hagrid's motorbike:
Checked out the costume/effects department:
And Hogwarts Castle (to scale):
Investigated the art department:
And took in Diagon Alley:
I highly recommend this experience for any Harry Potter fans. You really get to see the sets and costumes up close -- well worth the side trip (about 45 minutes from Euston station in London).
Tomorrow is a day all about royalty... Stay tuned!
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