Friday 11th September
Everyone arrived, relaxed with a cup of tea and got to know each other. After unpacking and settling in their room everyone enjoyed their first meal together, it was spaghetti bolognese with garlic bread. There was a rice pudding afterwards for those who were not already full up! We chatted in the lounge and watched the film Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the first in the Harry Potter series of films.
Saturday 12th September
Today we visited Lacock Abbey and village which was used in many of the scenes from the Harry Potter films. We saw the cloisters where the characters had walked through on the film. We also had a nice stroll around the grounds of the beautiful Abbey. After lunch we walked around the village. We saw The Red Lion pub where rooms were used to film Pride and Prejudice. We also saw Horace Slughorn’s house from the Harry Potter and The Half Blood film. We also saw the house used as Harry’s parents’ house, in the films. The St Cynac’s church was used as a backdrop for a market scene in Mell Flanders. Susan had enjoyed having a cup of tea and a flapjack in the café and Dave thought it was pukka seeing all the houses. Chrissie and Zoe really enjoyed the day and thought it was fantastic and a brilliant day! When we got back to our holiday home, we watched the Deathly Hallows part 1 and 2. We recognised some of the places that we had been to today.
Sunday 13th September
We travelled to Cadbury’s Chocolate World today. We enjoyed the 4D chocolate adventure, where the seats moved. We did a tour of the factory where we saw chocolate demonstrations. We also had the opportunity to draw our names in chocolate. We all enjoyed tasting a little pot of chocolate during the tour. The Cadabra Ride was a magical journey full of surprises. We had our photos taken on the green screen, fun photos of us on a chocolate bar, in a chocolate bath, jumping out of an egg and surfing on a chocolate bar! Afterwards we bought souvenirs in the world’s largest chocolate shop. When we got home, we watched the next Harry Potter film in the series. The group had enjoyed their day with one saying it was the best day ever and another saying they enjoyed the 4D cinema best of all.
Monday 14th September
Today we went to Gloucester Cathedral used as a location in the first two Harry Potter films. It was a stunning cathedral and today we had beautiful blue skies for our day trip. We enjoyed a drink in the old café next door to the cathedral in Gloucester. Afterwards we went to the Gloucester Docks nearby and enjoyed lunch in a cafe, sitting outside. The weather was still sunny and beautiful. In the evening we went Ten Pin Bowling which was great fun.
Tuesday 15th September
We took a trip out to Warner Brothers Studios in London today, where they filmed the movies. It was amazing to see all the original sets and costumes used for Harry Potter. Some of the things we saw were the mirror used in the Philosopher’s Stone, the train to take them to Hogwarts and Diagon Alley shops. We also got to see how they applied their make up for the film. Some of us enjoyed a ‘butter beer’ the only place in England where they serve it. There were so many things to see it really was worth a visit! After our studio tour we did lots of souvenir shopping. Susan said she had enjoyed watching the others have their photograph taken on a green screen which made them look like they were flying broomsticks, just like Harry Potter.
Wednesday 16th September
Today we went to Puzzle Wood, this is an ancient woodland site and tourist attraction where they filmed part of The Deathly Hallows part 2. The wood was very green and scenic, it is located in The Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire. Some of the group then went to Coleford for a look around. Later, in the evening we went to The Catherine Wheel pub in the village of Bibury for a lovely meal out.
Thursday 17th September
Today we visited the beautiful city of Oxford, a short trip from our holiday home. We saw the oak tree where Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy fought. We went inside the Divinity School, a beautiful gothic building which was used for the filming of Harry Potter, for the infirmary. After our picnic lunch we visited The Shop of Secrets and bought lots of Harry Potter merchandise. We also had a tour around Christchurch College where they filmed the Great Hall and the famous staircase, in Hogwarts. They were beautiful rooms and buildings. We enjoyed listening to the audio tour guide.
Friday 18th September
At the end of our holiday everyone had enjoyed seeing so many places linked to The Harry Potter films. Zoe said, “I enjoyed the whole holiday, it was great seeing all the locations from the films.” David said, “The best thing I liked was Cadbury World and The Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studios.” Dalar said, “I had a good holiday, I enjoyed it!” It was time for everyone to make their way home full of all the memories from the holiday.