It has all ended too soon :-(

The Harry Potter fans at Hogwarts!

Today we woke up early with great anticipation as we were going to enjoy Jeremys present to the Powells today.... a trip to the Harry Potter studios near Watford.  We took the underground to Euston (yes, it was working today!), and then an overland train to Watford Junction where we were met by the shuttle bus to the studios.

It was a great look at the sets and the secrets of the Harry Potter movies.  We spent an amazing 4 hours looking through the studios, looking at the incredible detail and imagination of both the author/creator and the movie makers to bring these stories to life.  Many sets were left as they were used during filming, and so we saw the main banquet hall, the Griffindor boys common room and dormitory, the potions classroom, the Burrow (the Weasleys home), and Hagrids hut.

There was incredible detail in everything from the costumes to the implements used in each scene, whether they be kitchen implements, tapestries on the wall, oil paintings on the walls (there were hundreds of them and all painted specially for the films), individually handwritten parchments and magical items on the sets.  The number and detail was extraordinary.

We also saw outdoors the Knight Bus, number 4 Privet Drive (where Harry lived as a boy) and the wooden bridge at Hogwarts.  Then it was back inside to see some of the effects they used to create Goblins, elves and many of the creatures in the movies - Basilisk, Dragons and Hippogriffs (this will mean nothing to those who have not read the books).

At the end of the tour, there was a room created like a store room of boxes of wands, but each one has an individually written name on it - these were the names of EVERYONE who had worked on the Harry Potter movies.... there were hundreds of them.

Then it was off to the shop, where Jess, Isaac and Tony all had to buy a wand (and some other stuff!) - it was a great day, and something to be enjoyed by Harry Potter fans.

We were joined on the day by Jeremys friends Shannon & Cam, Linda and Julia (from Australia), and a great day was had by all.  To top it off, before the train ride home, we had yet another English pub lunch.

Big Ben over the Houses of Parliament

Our last day in London, and we woke to some typical raining, grey English weather - maybe it was trying to make us feel a little better that we had to leave?  We hopped on the tube for some last sightseeing, and ended up in Pimlico, where we had some breakfast.  Tony and Jess completed their English Culinary Challenge and had some Black Pudding with their breakfast.  The verdict was that it was not quite as bad as Escargots!  The lady who served us was hilarious... she took our order in a very small petit voice, we struggled to hear her - but when the food was ready to collect, she boomed out "EGGS, BACON & SAUSAGE" in a megaphone voice!  It was a really bizarre transformation.

We then set off on foot through the streets of Pimlico to hunt down the last of the Monopoly Challenge spots - the Electric Company.  We had decided to use the old Battersea Power Station for this, it was quite iconic.... it is the largest brick building in Europe, and was designed by the same guy who designed the iconic Red London Phone Booths!  Having done this, we set off via tube and foot to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey for one final look.  Then off to Buckingham Palace (to say good-bye to the Queen!), before going back to St Pauls for drink and then walking across the Millennium Bridge (the one in Harry Potter) as our final farewell to London.

Back home on the tube for the last time to Jeremy's, where we are waiting for our car to the airport for tonight's flight.

It's been a great holiday and experience seeing the sights of London and being able to share Christmas with Jeremy and Ian.  It's just a real shame we have to leave already, as it feels like we've only just settled in!

I hope you've enjoyed reading the blog, and looking at the photos.  We've loved sharing our experiences with you.

See ya!