The Harry Potter Day-tour from Ruddick Tours

RAY RUDDICK's TOURS

'Great Tours of Britain & Ireland'

TOUR 29: The Magical Harry Potter Day Tour 11+ hours

This is a BIG day trip! Our adventure begins in London with a look at the railway station (Platform 4 at Kings Cross) where Harry and his chums boarded the Hogwarts Express for the journey north by train. In the film, the steam train leaves from Platform 9¾ and takes the students to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

We follow up with a drive by London Zoo, on the edge of Regent’s Park, this historic Zoo is home to more than 600 species of rare and beautiful animals. It was in the reptile house here where Harry first learned of his ability to talk to snakes.

Then we're leaving London and heading to Oxford to visit a college where some of the cloister and classroom scenes were shot, and the dining hall which provided the model for Hogwarts School Hall (when open - sometimes it may not be possible to view it internally so we shall see an alternative HP connection).

You'll also enjoy some free time in Oxford to shop and wander the old markets, perhaps buy some Harry Potter or Oxford memorabilia and take a quick early lunch before we leave for the West of England.

A motorway journey will speed us to the City of Gloucester where we'll visit Gloucester Cathedral - a place of worship for more than 1,300 years, famed for its stunning Gothic architecture. The cloisters are rightly regarded as among the architectural treasures of Britain and provided the setting for several scenes in the Harry Potter movies.

Our final destination next, and you have a choice, depending on the time of day! If it's open on the day of our tour we can visit the lovely medieval village of Lacock, now in the charge of the National Trust. It's the location of picturesque 13th-century Lacock Abbey, a historic manor house which still retains its medieval cloisters as well as later Tudor features. It was the home of William Fox-Talbot, one of the inventors of photography. The Abbey was the setting for various interior scenes at Hogwarts School.

Alternatively, if time is running away from us (or if the group prefer), we'll end the day with an hour in the City of Bath, and a last chance for you to enjoy some free time before we take the road home. A couple of hours motorway drive and we're home again. Pure magic!

IMPORTANT! Before booking this tour and paying your deposit please check my availability using my online diary

Last updated: July 19, 2010