I’m
not a massive New Year fan…unless it coincides with a holiday. This year I spent New Year in London with a good friend
I’d not seen for far too long. We stayed
in the Millennium
Copthorne Tara
Hotel just off Kensington
High Street. A very big hotel but with
good services, nice staff and was in a good location.
We
spent a few days before New Year visiting the usual sights including the Dickens Museum,
Kensington Palace,
Liberty’s, Carnaby Street and the Winter Wonderland. We tried to visit the Chockywockydodah shop,
but were just too late and it had already closed. The cakes visible through the
windows look even better in real life than they do on the TV. I was disappointed that the Christmas window
was no longer on display though after watching it being made on TV.
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| Carnaby Street | Neal's Yard |
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| Winter Wonderland |
New Years Eve was brilliant. We started by watching Dirty Dancing, not my favourite musical, but still good. After this we headed down to the Embankment. Unsurprisingly the main fireworks viewing areas we already full so we found a good spot near Big Ben. The atmosphere was brilliant, everyone was very friendly and in such a good mood. Big screens and music kept us entertained until just before midnight. Then 10, 9, 8…..3, 2, 1…Bang. The fireworks were great. It was by far the best New Years Eve ever.
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| New Year Fireworks |
We
also went to the Harry Potter studio tour which is just outside London. It was where all 8 of the films were created
and was simply amazing.
The
tour really starts when you board the bus at Watford Junction station. On the short journey to the studio you are
shown a video of the history of the studio.
Right from the entrance you are
drawn into the magic of Harry Potter.
The flying car is suspended from the entrance ceiling and you can see
the Cupboard under the stairs while waiting for your tour to begin. Apart from the first 2 rooms which take about
30 minuets the tour is self guided so you can take as much time as you want to
take in everything. You see sets,
costumes, filming tricks and secretes, green screen filming and props. You walk through the Grand Hall, down Diagon
Alley, see how all the animatronics works, stand in Privet Drive, see the night bus and can
even try some Butterbeer.
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| The Great Hall | Gryffindor Common Room |
 |
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| The Burrow | Privet Drive |
The
attention to detail in all aspects of the tour is incredible. You see things that you would never see in
the movies. It’s well worth a visit for
anyone.
