Hogwarts birthday!

Last weekend was my birthday, and as a super special celebration Big Chimp and I visited the Warner Bros Studio Tour: The Making of Harry Potter. Not only did this make me unspeakably happy, but it also served to remind me what a monumental task it is to create a believable world. I mean, the number of minute details in the sets, things you wouldn't even notice in the films, was mind-boggling. And it all pointed back to JK Rowling's amazing worldbuilding with the seven Harry Potter novels. The wizarding world in which Harry Potter, his friends, and his enemies reside is an entire world, with no vital detail left out—from Gringotts to the Ministry of Magic to the rules for quidditch to the history of Hogwarts. This world is deep, and intricate, and not only believable but also relatable.

The tour itself was very thorough, including a visit to the Great Hall, Harry's dormitory, the Gryffindor Common Room, Dumbledore's Office, the Burrow, and the Ministry of Magic. Between the two sound stages you visit is a coutyard housing the Knight Bus; Hagrid's motorcycle; Number Four, Privet Drive; and the Hogwarts bridge. There's also a little cafe that sells snack and, more importantly, butterbeer (delicious, super sweet, a bit cream-soda-ish with a hint of butterscotch)! The second sound stage focuses on animatronics, masks, and creatures, and the super impressive and detailed Hogwarts model, which I won't talk about too much because I don't want to spoil it for those of you planning on going, but trust me, it's amazing.

We got the audio tour, which costs a little more, but it's narrated by Tom Felton and has lots of cool extra facts and videos. The only trouble was the touch screen, which I kept bumping accidentally and skipping ahead.

I could go on and on and on about the tour, the films, the books, and what a hero Joanne Rowling is to me, but you'd rather look at photos, right? Right.

Waiting in line. Not too long a wait—about 10 minutes. You have to buy tickets in advance, and they give you a time to show up. Ours was 17:30.

Harry's cupboard.

Welcome to Hogwarts.

Dumbledore's office!

Ravenclaw's diadem in the horcrux display case. Note the engraving: Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure!

Potions classroom. Thousands of bottles with different ingredients, all hand labeled.

Hagrid's hut.

Magic is Might

Details, details.

Drinking butterbeer while driving Hagrid's motorcycle: life is good.

"Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much."

Knight Bus!

Eeylops Owl Emporium, Diagon Ally.

Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, Flourish & Blotts, Fortescue's, Ollivanders, Gringotts <3

All in all it was an amazing experience, and I feel so lucky that I got to go!

Question time: have you ever been on a literary/art/music pilgrimage? Who and what and when? Tell me about it in the comments!