A couple of weeks before we left for England, my “kennel dad” Graham e-mailed me with an idea. Would Erik and I like to go to the Harry Potter studio tour while we were visiting? OF COURSE we would! I had no idea this exhibition was running, but after reading up on it I got VERY excited! The tour would be full of complete sets and countless props from all eight Harry Potter movies – nothing could be a better birthday treat for a complete and utter Harry Potter nerd like me!
Below are just 18 photos from our fabulous day. If you want to see more, I’ve put up another 176 (!) photos in a public Facebook album that you can access by clicking HERE.
I want to thank Graham and Catherine as well for this amazing experience; I had the time of my life, and my inner Harry Potter fangirl was moved to tears several times during the day. :) If you like Harry Potter at all and have the chance to go, don’t hesitate!

Sarah and Erik outside the studios by the giant chess pieces from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Before starting the tour, we had a quick look in the magnificent gift shop.

The first part of the tour – the Great Hall!

Costumes for Professors McGonagall, Dumbledore, and Snape before the teachers’ table.

Onwards on the tour – the Gryffindor boys’ dormitory and Harry Potter’s bed.

The Gryffindor common room!

Professor Dumbledore’s awesome office.

Prop detail – the actual Philosopher’s Stone used in the first movie!

Possibly my favourite set – the Weasley family’s kitchen

Statue from the Ministry of Magic during Voldemort’s reign – inscribed with the words “Magic is Might”.

Cheers! Lunch time, including some refreshing Butterbeers. The studio tour is one of only two places in the world where the official Butterbeer is sold.

Me and Erik outside number 4, Privet Drive. Sorry if we got dog hair on your doorstep, Petunia!

Next up was the special effects exhibition – here’s Luna Lovegood’s roaring lion hat!

Ickle Hungarian Horntail dragon. O.o

Thankfully, the Dementor was only about half of its actual size, so it wasn’t as frightening as it might have been att full size.

Diagon Alley! So many cool details and things to look at!

And the grand finale – a perfect scale model of the entire Hogwarts castle. Photos can’t do it justice, but my mind was completely blown.
The light kept changing to illustrate different times of the day, and all the while the Hogwarts Hymn was playing. So beautiful.

Back at home; Sarah enjoyed her huge, solid chocolate frog. :)