Harry Potter Sites

In London at King's Cross Station one can wait in line to get their picture taken here, at 9 and 3/4 Platform where Harry Potter caught his train to Hogwarts.   Anika was a little disappointed that she couldn't push the cart through the wall and catch the train for real.

In Oxford at Christ's Church

This dining hall was the inspiration behind the Harry Potter movies dinning hall.  We so wanted to sit down at these tables and pretend we were eating ... but there were signs everywhere telling us that we could sit down (ANYWHERE).  Those darn rules, and those darn rule abiding Layton's'.

Anlwick Castle a.k.a. The Harry Potter Castle

The kids got to learn how to ride a broom stick here!!  In the movie this is where their first broomstick lesson takes place too.  There were these two hilarious guys teaching a group of kids.  It was totally raining but we were too excited to let that stop us.   I love these pictures of the kids - it totally depicts their personalities.  Emi is all serious, Paige is crazy, Evan is Evan, and Anika's broomstick is backwards.  The lesson must have went well because they are all successfully flying!

The Durham's Cathedral

In the 2nd Harry Potter movie Harry is walking here (in the snow) and his owl Hedwig fly's out of his hands and soars between the two tours.  It was on our way to our hotel so it wasn't too out of the way.

I think we could have done without stopping here especially since what happened trying to walk up to the Cathedral.  Anika had to go to the bathroom so bad!!  Every store seemed to be closed too, it must have been a holiday or something.  The first store that we found that was opened I ran her into it, and it just so happened to be a rather nice restaurant.  My little girl was standing on the stairs while I was hurriedly asking the waitress if we could use their restroom and where was it.  As she pointed up the stairs I look down at Anika and she was peeing all over the stairs.  It wasn't a small amount either .... What made it better was that all the guests were watching us ... perfect ... just perfect.  I grabbed some paper towels, apologized over and over and cleaned it up as best I could.  Anika then spent a good 1/2 hour in her wet underwear and pants, which sadly didn't bother her too much.

If that weren't enough we had two very close calls with our other children since we were too embarrassed to go back to the restaurant.  

I think I LOVE courtyards!  Who wouldn't with that green grass, the arched window's and the cathedral towering in the background.

The kids loved this area of the Cathedral, but not the cathedral itself, or the beautiful courtyard.  They loved it because a lady and two gentlemen there were walking around with blue gloves on their hands looking for baby bats.  Yes, bats!  We got to talking with them, and pretty soon we are watching two baby bats in her fancy tupperware container.  One escaped (after it was hydrated) and we watched it fly around the courtyard over and over and over again.  Apparently, these baby bats wont stop flying in circles until they are absolutely exhausted and completely dehydrated.  This lady with her two helpers go around with a flashlight and their fancy box to help save the babies.  My kids were fascinated and as we walked away were determined to grow up to be just like this lady.  My kids are no longer afraid of bats but want to help protect them ... and hydrate them.

In the Scottish Highlands the Harry Potter train is hiding in Ft. Williams.

We knew we weren't going to be in town during its departure or its arrival but we asked the train station if we could still see it.  They told us directions and we actually found it!  These Harry Potter fans were pretty excited to see and TOUCH the train in real life!