We awoke with excitement this Thanksgiving morning. While it would not be a day centered on turkey and mashed potatoes, it was a day centered on Harry Potter. And a magnificent day it was! Thanks to some dear friends who happen to be avid travelers, we learned that the Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studio just outside London was a must-do. They were right.
After a hot breakfast, we made our way to Victoria Coach Station and hopped onto a bus headed for the studio. Thanks to London traffic, the trip was close to an hour. We were all anxious with excitement, wondering “are we there yet,” adults and children alike. But, the journey was more than worth it.
What was to follow was a magnificent day exploring the sets of Harry Potter. We were tickled to be in the Great Hall and Gringotts and to climb aboard the Knight Bus. We saw potions class and the house commons rooms. We drank butterbeer, saw oodles of costumes, plucked mandrakes from the greenhouse, and ogled Dumbledore’s office. By the time we were done, some four and a half hours later, we were all ready to turn right around and begin again. If you are an HP fan, this is a magical place. We loved it.
Our ride back to London was beautiful. The sun had set, and the city was aglow with Christmas cheer. We passed Hyde Park and its winter market before making our way back to Victoria. From here, we hopped a tube to Holborn and were ready for a holiday meal. We chose the Holborn Dining Room at the gorgeous Rosewood Hotel. Between game pie, fish n’ chips, and pasta, everyone was happy. It may not have been turkey, but it was delicious and memorable.
We fell into our beds that night with grateful hearts. Thanksgiving, 2023, you were one to remember.
