#hpstudios

[loveyourselffirstyouareenough]

#HarryPotter #HPStudios #Hogwarts #Poudlard (à Hogwarts) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf4hiZiL74n/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[honorsocietyfanforever]

November Book Challenge #hpstudios #bookinstagram bookinstagram #bookgram #bookaddict #bookstagram #bookworm #booknerd #bookgram #bookgeek #booklover #bookinstagram #harrypotternovemberphotochallenge https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp8pj93HqXA/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1bc8dqkn3qswq

[nytastic]

Brb away for my 2nd Year at #HPstudios/Hogwarts @wbtourlondon #harrypotterstudio #harrypotter #warnerbrosstudiotour #hufflepuff

[whitemythra]

Perché una burrobirra dopo le prime 5h di tour mi sembra doveroso (sono solo a metà) #hpstudios (presso Warner Bros. Studio Tour London)

[teadalek]

We live at Hogwarts now #hpstudios

[23km-downtherabbithole]

to countryside train rides x #23kmx #23sgrandtour #23kmxldn - #hpstudiotour #hpstudios #harrypotter #hogwarts #hogwartsexpress (at Platform 9 ¾ - Warner Bros. Studio Tour London)

[otakutraveler]

Ugh. London

ASo being that I came from Edinburgh which I loved to London, my experience is going to be tainted. But in the interest of being somewhat subjective, I’m going to try to keep the negatives down.

First things first. We need to talk about the pound. GBP is more expensive than even the euro, so you really need to be careful with your money outside of the eurozone. This is crucial because in the eurozone at this moment in time, the euro and the dollar are about equal with a difference of about 10-15 cents at any given time. GBP however generally ranges from $1.50-$1.65. This means that you need to be very budget concious when using your debit/credit card and when planning out money.

Transport in London is very similar to Paris in that they have a transport card called the Oyster Card that you can use on all methods of transportation in the city. This is where the similarities end and my headache begins. Unlike your Navigo, you have the option of putting a set price on your card or purchasing a Travelpass for at least 7 days. If you want up to Zone 5 on this card, it will run you about 65 pounds (£65). I topped off my card whenever needed.

Transport via the Underground (London’s famous subway system) runs very quickly and efficently, but uses peak pricing. This means that prices are going to be around £2.50 from around 10-2 and then decrease as the day goes on. If you want to take a look at all the transport information, click these words.

Do keep in mind that nearly everything touristy closes at 5-6 PM in the UK. This means that you are really going to need to budget your time between sites and plan out what you want to do in advance.

If you are looking for ways to save money (which you should because London is one of, if not THE most expensive place I have visited) you might stumble across something called the London Pass. This prepaid pass grants many benefits such as being able to skip the line at many famous attractions and not having to pay for anything. They even give you a book detailing all of the attractions that you can go to along with detailed maps and directions how to get there. This book is worth it’s weight in gold. The pass, however, is not. I purchased a 2 day pass for £76. I was only able to get to 3 places a day because everything closes so quickly and only opens around 9:30 at the earliest. They do however have things such as movie passes and bus and boat tours included as well as reduced prices on shows, so it’s worth a look to see if you can get your hands on someone’s book or see if you would like to purchase one for yourself. I would not do it again, but it did give me a more comprehensive experience than if I did some solo planning.

One highlight of my trip was going to the Harry Potter Studio Tour. If you are a super Potter fan like me, you NEED to go on the tour. They have everything there and I also reccommend getting the deluxe ticket as it allows for an audio guide and also the souvenir book. Which is more precious to me now than life....just kidding.

Soo....in order to get there, you need to go to Euston Train station. Ask one of the friendly people there to help you secure the fastest train to the Studio Tour. Then take the Midline train to Watford Junction. This train trip is £10 round trip. I would reccomend using your Oyster Card to make things less complicated. There you will get off and board the shuttle in front of the station which is £2.50 (and SUPER obvious to spot. You’ll see what I mean.) And then bring tissues. You’ll see why at the end of your tour. Tour is self guided, but I would book VERY early, especially in high season and try to get an earlier tour. You want the time to look around and take all the photos.

And did I mention that they have butterbeer ice cream......

And keeping on theme, if you are a fan, do go to Platform 9 3/4 in King’s Cross, but get there early. The lines get crazy. Bring a friend or make a friend in your hostel if you are traveling alone that would like to go with you. You are allowed to take your own photos. And the photos that the staff takes cost £10. Not. Cool. But do take the Pottermore sorting quiz here before you go (Better to take this one cause Pottermore itself doesn’t ask all the questions and frequently missorts people). You can choose any house scarf you want. And knowing your house makes it even cooler. My friend got sorted into Hufflepuff while we were in line, but came to terms with it in the end. But Hufflepuffs are cool people. Just not as cool as Slytherin Nation...

One thing I would definitely recommend that you go see is Westminster Abbey. This place is the memorial site and burial site of many kings, queens, and important figures. You cannot take pictures however, so drink in the sights while you can. Seeing the tombs and memorials of Elizabeth I, Mary I, Sir Isaac Newton, Darwin, Shakespeare, and many others was awe inspiring and one of the only things.....(well you know the other one) that I would do again in London.

So hostels. This is one of the things that tainted my trip the most. I stayed at Keystone House. This hostel, while close to King’s Cross, was not up to par. Especially after Castle Rock in Edinburgh. It was fairly dirty, had no kitchen, and I saw a rat. Not cute. Thus, I would say this is a cautionary tale and do make sure that you check out all reviews and make sure that that is the place for you.

So since you’re in London, I’m sure you want to see the Changing of the Guard, yeah? Get there EARLY. LIKE REALLY EARLY. It is a madhouse even 45 minutes ahead of time. But if you are cutting it close ( which really means like 30 mins ahead of time) you can hop on the wall to Green Park or the fountain in the middle to get a better view. But like seriously, if you want good pics.....GO EARLY. 

In total, London is somewhere where I wouldn’t go again, but I loved the culture, the people, and the food. Oh, the food. Greasy, glorious, wonder that is fish and chips...But! It is definitely somewhere where you should go once and decide for yourself how you feel.

[xmissdaydreammusic]

Favourite place in the world