So, the day arrived! I have wanted to visit for so many years as I am a massive fan of Harry Potter.
We were booked into the 3:30pm entry. The timed entry worked very well. Once in, you can wander through at your own pace and it wasn't uncomfortably busy, even though it was the school holidays. We had a 13 year old, 12 year old, 10 year old and 9 month old, complete with pushchair. When some places are busy, it's hard work and tiring getting around them with a pushchair, but didn't find this problem here.
The initial part of the tour was in the great hall following a short introduction film. We were lucky to see the goblet of fire demonstration. After not long in the hall we were told we must leave to start the rest of our tour, which was self led. We didn't get nearly long enough in the hall to see everything properly. However, staff told us we could come back in with the next group a few minutes later. So we waited behind a rope and then re entered. It did seem a little silly and unnecessary that we HAD to leave, given that there were staff still in there the entire time.
The rest of the exhibitions were fantastic. We wandered as slowly as we liked having being told by a friend not to hurry as, once you're through it, you're through.
There was the opportunity to fly, using a green screen and you could purchase the DVD of yourself. We didn't do this as it would have been about £40 for four of us which isn't as expensive as I would have expected to be honest. The queue wasn't too big either as they had several stations working at once.
Towards the end of the attraction, we send the kids off to buy butterbeer; the famous butterbeer! We should have checked the price before shipping them off with a £20 note to buy 4 of them as we only got about £5 change and the kids didn't even like it! We should have bought one or two of them just to try it. I have had butterbeer in universal studios and really liked it. This one however was different and I can't say I particularly enjoyed it either. It had a slight carbonation which just didn't work with it at all.
Then we came to the end of the tour... The gift shop...and as expected... It was so overpriced. Very disappointing. We would have loved to buy souvenirs but it was extortionate (as these places usually are). They had some really nice merchandise in there and if they lowered the prices and put on some offers etc I've no doubt they would double their sales easily. It just seems greedy.
But all in all, a fantastic experience. Was very glad to finally have the opportunity to visit and, although I shan't return in the immediate future, simply as I have now seen it, it was very enjoyable and I would recommend it 100%.
