London. The city of great history, dreams, and musical theatre. Last August I traveled to this amazing city for another round of West End Stage, and also to get to know it a lot more. Even though it was my third visit, I hadn't seen very much the previous two times.
This time I got to experience the history and beauty of London, trying to do and see as much as possible. Is it the rich history and culture that I find fascinating? Or the way that the West End is lit up at night? Or is it the beautiful architecture that captivates me? Whatever the reason, I love London a lot. My favourite part of the city is the West End (no surprise there) and Covent Garden area. For the obvious reason, musical theatre, but also because there is a certain air there. I can't really describe why I love it so much, I just do. Walking down Shaftesbury Avenue, parading along the streets in Covent Garden, and standing in Picadilly Circus, I was in my own kind of heaven.
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| Kensington Palace |
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| The gardens at Kesington palace. |
We visited countless historic buildings and grounds, including Buckingham Palace, but the one historic place I felt most at home was Kensington Palace. I kept telling my friend that I felt as though I could have lived there once upon a time. It was as if I was in a Jane Austen novel, walking around that palace, exploring the history it had seen. It was beautiful and timeless.I don't know why exactly I felt such a sensation, but I just loved it so much. From the long curtains hanging on the windows, to the exquisite view that could be seen of the garden and park, to the grand staircases, I was in a whole different world, something you read about in books or see in movies.
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| The chess-pieces used in the movies. |
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| The Night Bus. |
Something else that we visited that really made me feel that sense of elated happiness was a place that I had seen over and over again in a certain film series. I had journeyed along with those three very lovable characters, as they threw caution to the wind and went on one too many ever so dangerous, and slightly forbidden, adventures. I had laughed, smiled, and cried so many times. The stories played an important part in my childhood and teen years. I think you have an idea of what I am talking about, and it isn't just any movie franchise, it's Harry Potter!
On the 21st of August 2015, I finally got to see where all the onscreen magic had happened in the making of the films. It was the most amazing and magical experience, and I was so overwhelmed when I was there that I think I'll have to go back to take even more in (and the fact that we had only so much time until the last bus left to bring us back to the train station did rush us a little towards the end). But apart from not getting to spend as much time as I would have liked to and being overwhelmed, it was still the most fantastic experience ever! I got to walk down Diagon Alley, get a peek into the Weasey's home lifestyle, stand get on the back of the Night Bus, and even drink some Butterbeer (which, might I add, was
very overwhelming! But I'll talk about that later). It was overall one of the best experiences ever, and getting to see all the sets and props was a dream come true!
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| On our way to Hogwarts! |
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Just casually knocking on
the Dursley's front door. |
The one thing I will say that was my least favourite (only because it's one of my biggest fears), was the room filled with realistic-looking creatures and characters. I did manage to survive it, somehow, but it was pretty terrifying! I had expected to see Dobby, which, by the way, was a very sad and emotional encounter, but I hadn't realised that there would be realistic wax figures of some of the actual actors (as their respective characters), so it kinda freaked me out. But that was the only thing I didn't like! I loved every other part of the tour. From the magical moving objects, such as knitting or chopping in the Weasley home, to the Hogwarts Express, to the Great Hall, to the actual Hogwarts model used in the films (which is taller than me, but way smaller than it appears on screen). The studios did not fail to entertain and delight me. And maybe even every time I go there, I'll start getting used to the moving creatures and realistic statues (creature or human), who knows. I just know that it is a place of pure happiness, and it definitely did not ruin the magic of the films for me. Maybe it's because I love anything to do with making films, but nonetheless, it is an experience worth spending on. Oh, and back to the butterbeer. It was... interesting. A few sips is okay, but I wouldn't really order it in a café or bar. I drank maybe three quarters of it, then gave it to my friend to finish, as it was very heavy and hard to drink. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't the worst thing I'd ever tasted, like I said, it was interesting, but it certainly was
way too buttery and creamy for my liking! I
did like it in a way, but not enough to have a whole cup if it again. Maybe a sip or two, but not as much as I had last time... it was a little too much! I definitely do not regret it, as it felt kind of like a rite of passage on the tour, tasting the very thing that was fictional before it was real, something so familiar from the movies.
I probably could have written a whole blog post on my experience in the Harry Potter studios, but here I am, after writing a very long passage on it amidst the other adventures I had on my trip to London. There is lots more to talk about, but I think I have gone on long enough at this point to leave it for another time. Maybe I'll write a "part 2" to this blog sometime soon.
Anyway, that's all for now, otherwise I might bore you to a tee!
Until next time,
Sarah xx
