We walked all over London, past the place where they had all the prems, to some of the places that inspired Diagon Alley, down to Trafalgar Square, heard all kinds of stories. For example, normally, the top floor of the National Portrait gallery is reserved for the Royal Family, except for when 7.2 came out, then Ron, Harry and Hermione had their portraits hung up there...well the actors did at least!
From there, we wandered down to Old Scotland Yard (oh, also, Gringotts, filmed at Australia House....sweet!!). They shot the scene of them arriving at the Ministry of Magic (MoM) down here cos apparently thats where she described it being in the books (under the old defence building?) and saw where they shot the bit in 7.1 where Harry, Ron and Hermionie turn up to the Ministry to get the horcrux off Umbridge...make sense? Apparently they photoshopped (movie shopped?) that lamppost out and put in the telephone box too, where Harry went to have his hearing in OOTP. Yep. I know all this cool stuff now.
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| Apprantley this is her front door in the films. I don't remember that bit too well. |
Anyhu, while we were at Borough Market, the guy showed us where they shot the leaky cauldron and told us all the amazing tricks that they did, just cos they wanted to and couldn't be bothered actually finding the right kinda place. Silly filmmakers. It was pretty cool.
We then headed down, across some bridge and came to another market place. I can't remember what its called, but it was in the Financial District and it was inside. Its where they shot Diagon Alley. Fun fact - Ant's Dad owns/works in an optometrist down there. Kinda cool.
Then we caught a tube from Bank station to Kings Cross. And then this happened.
After our epic photoshoot at Kings Cross, I nipped off to go meet another friend to watch that epic rugby game between NZ and SA. MY GOD, it was quite full in the place we went, but I had booked a seat for us so we were all good, food and drinks etc. It was a bout half Boks fans, half ABs fans..and VERY LOUD!! What a game though!! When we walked out, it was like getting out of the movies, we had massive headaches and it was so bright.
We headed home, before a massive night out. It was the closing night of the Walkabout in Shepherds Bush. Walkabout is a chain of Aussie (and Kiwi by association) places that show Southern Hemisphere Sports and general Kiwi and Aussie fun! It was PACKED, like super packed. It was sooo sweaty and yuck, we had to go outside every half hour or so just to cool down and get up the courage to go back into the sweat pit. But it was fun, there was a group of about 6 or so Kiwi Au Pairs, and we all get along really well and we had a really good night....I got home at like 2.30am!!
Sunday, I still had to get up really early, cos I was going up to Watford to meet Lilla - who is a friend from Camp last year. Its about an hour away by train, so I made sure I took my book with me!
It was fun catching up with her, we went for lunch and then just wandered around Watford City Centre for a bit. Its a nice enough place, but nothing new there that we don't have here really, just a lot less busy! Its where they have the Harry Potter Studios though, so it was good for me to get my bearings around the place reasonably well so I can get there and back safely.
I must say, I was pretty exhausted Sunday night, so I crashed after Downton and X Factor!
Watching 2 X Factors (UK and USA) is very time consuming haha, but I'm loving it!!!!
Catch yas later xxx
Nooooo ..... muggles's can see you going through there!
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