In the run up to Christmas I’m doing lots of festive things with the children but when I was invited to join a Warner Bros Studio Tour of ‘Hogwarts In The Snow’ it didn’t even occur to me to take Florence. At nearly four I assumed she’d probably be too little (although she is a fan of Harry Potter) and it was in the evening so instead I took my mega fan friend Sam! Sam’s been on the tour not once but twice before but she’s never seen it in the snow and it didn’t take much arm twisting I can tell you!

We arrived by the free shuttle bus which runs regularly from Watford Junction station and as we drew up to the massive studios it felt very exciting indeed. I like Harry Potter and would happily watch the films over again but I wouldn’t have said I was fanatical about them. Suddenly however, you become a mega fan the instant you walk through the studio door. Maybe it was the giant Christmas tree getting me in the mood but I think it was actually that I could just feel the Potter magic in the air from the off!

The tour starts as you sit in cinema seats watching the stars talk about the tour on the big screen! Daniel Radcliffe, or Harry Potter if you will, invites you to come and see the real world behind the magic and the magic of the film that actually became their real lives! You mustn’t forget that this group of actors literally grew up on set and it really was a family for them. The same people worked on each film and they went to school, made friends and worked their way to adulthood all on the set of Harry Potter! They talk so passionately about it and the reason is that Harry Potter doesn’t seem to be any ordinary film… It needed to go on even when it finished and in the tour it does just that!

When the cinema screen lifted and we stepped inside the Hogwarts world for the first time I felt like I’d actually stepped inside the film! The Potter bug had got me!

From the main hall, where snow is falling outside the window, the magic begins! It’s Christmas at Hogwarts and festive lights and decorations along with the VERY realistic snow make you feel like it’s the big day already. Standing in the Hogwarts Great Hall was surreal! We moved on to the next room where there was just too much to see! I needed about a fortnight to go through the articles, props, costumes, wigs, information… Everything you see is actually from the film! It was so super exciting!

With my friend Sam and Emily from Family Four Fun we got to touch, sit in, on and ride even, our way through the studio! 

I was starting to get the feeling that I was wrong and Florence would have loved it! There’s so many hands on things you can do as well. Have a wand duel and even ride a broomstick! I was just dazzled really and I know she would be too. I would love to come back and bring her with me because I know how much fun she’d have! She might be a little young for some of it but she’d get so much out of lots that I think it would totally be worth it! And for an older child! Wow, out of this world I’d say! Being on the tour kind of felt like being far, far away on holiday somewhere like Hollywood! I can’t believe there is something this amazing down the road! And I haven’t even got on to outside yet!

As we mingled with the celebs, drinking wine and chatting our way round we suddenly found ourselves in the cold outdoors opposite Harry Potter’s house! I mean it’s an actual house! Not only that but snow was falling all around me. I don’t know where it was coming from or how it was getting there as we didn’t have snow, actual snow, last night – except we flipping did! We stood outside looking at the bus, the car, the bridge, the house, drinking butter beer and catching snow in our hair! UNBELIEVABLE!

Emily and I with Samantha Barks who played Eponine in Les Miserables. Even the movie stars and super famous were impressed and they work on films for a living! We saw John Hannah, Amanda Holden and a whole host of other famous faces lit up just as ours were with the excitement – see, I said it’s not just a film didn’t I!

Everything, including the snow just looks and feels so real?! Not like a film or a set but actually real!

We were simply mesmerised and when we walked through the next part of the tour, looking at the mechanics of how they worked characters it was so special. It was here we met Martyn, one of the guides, and he gave us the benefit of his extensive knowledge. Thank you Martyn, you made it come even more alive! Next we walked down Diagon Alley… I’m lost for words… And then the grand finale hit! With a collective gasp and wow we were all bowled over one more time for Hogwarts In The Snow!

You just have to be there. I can’t put it down on paper how thrilling it is to be a part of this film and it really did feel like we were!

Anyone who has ever actually really been a part of one of the films, be it Foley artist, runner or major actor, has a wand box with their name on it in the wand room. Stephen, who works in that room and worked on the films himself even, knew everything about every single name on every single box! He knows where each box resides and everything about the person behind the name, what they did on the film and more. He has a book to look names up but he seemed to just know them off by heart!

Every member of staff seemed to be the same in their approach. They are excited to be there even though it’s their job and passionate about telling you why… It honestly was like something I’ve never experienced before and I just hope I get to go back one day with Florence and Jimmy – now Jimmy really is too little I guess but I still think he’d have fun and Florence’d LOVE it! The snow makes it super magical and I have to thank Warner Bros for inviting me. What an ace night and what a treat! See for yourself in my Hogwarts At Christmas video!

I have not been paid to write this post but I was sent on the tour of Hogwarts at Christmas for the purpose of an honest review.