Witches, wizards, and muggles! One of London’s biggest Harry Potter celebrations returns to King’s Cross this September. ‘Back to Hogwarts’will be back with Butterbeer, LEGO Harry Potter giveaways, giant wand spinner and much more!
‘Back to Hogwarts’
Photo: Urban Adventurer
‘Back to Hogwarts’ is a yearly event held at King’s Cross on the 1st September every year to mark the departure of Hogwarts Express from platform 9 ¾.
The event originally began as a small fan gathering before turning into a huge international celebration. Now, Harry Potter fans travel to London from all over the world – many in costumes – to be part of the fun.
This year, the event runs from 1st – 3rd September, starting with the announcement of the train to Hogsmeade at 11am on 1st September. The countdown is followed by a Harry Potter themed tune, ‘Hedwig’s Theme’, by famous composer, John Williams.
During the three-day celebration, fun activities will keep all witches, wizards and muggles entertained. You can try Butterbeer, play Hogwarts Legacy on PlayStation5 (courtesy of Warner Bros. Games), snap magical photos at photo corners and participate in Harry Potter LEGO giveaways.
And that’s not all!
Spin Bloomsbury’s giant wand spinner to find out whose wand best suites to you and grab some free gifts!
To enhance your experience make sure you show up in your best Harry Potter outfit!
Do You Have Everything You Need for the Celebration?
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Do you have everything you need for the ‘Back to Hogwarts’ celebration? House robe, magic wand, spell book, train ticket, your acceptance letter…
London’s best Harry Potter fandom shop, House of Spells offers 10% OFF EVERYTING with the code ‘URBAN’ both in-store and online!
Whether you’re a brave Gryffindor, an ambitious Slytherin, a loyal Hufflepuff or a highly intelligent Ravenclaw, you’ll definitely find everything you need for your first day at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Harry Potter Movie Marathons
Cinemas will put Harry Potter movies back on big screens. ODEON will present Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on the 1st September weekend, while Everyman King’s Cross cinema will screen all 8 Harry Potter movies and selected Harry Potter movies nationwide.
New bronze statue has joined the iconic A-listers in Leicester Square. A life-size Indiana Jones statue was revealed during the UK premiere of the fifth (and most likely the final) Indiana Jones movie, ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’.
Did you know that there is another hidden gem in Leicester Square related to Harrison Ford?
The Indiana Jones statue is made by Fred Tucker, and it took over three months to finish. The sculptor, who met Harrison Ford during the movie premiere, used reference imaginary provided by the filmmakers to recreate Indy’s iconic pose we all know from the first movie, ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’.
The statue has been placed on the North terrace of Leicester Square and can be seen during this Summer along with other iconic characters as part of the ‘Scenes in the Square’ trail of statues.
‘Scenes in the Square’
Photo: Urban Adventurer
‘Scenes in the Square’ was launched in 2020 in Leicester Square with the aim to celebrate the most-loved iconic characters in the movie history. It showcases a trail of interactive bronze statues all over the square from Batman to Mary Poppins to Bugs Bunny.
By scanning the QR code next to the statues, visitors will be guided through a walking tour narrated by Alex Zane to learn more about each character.
Time Capsule Laid by Harrison Ford
Photo: Urban Adventurer
So, the new Indiana Jones statue is not the only one Harrison Ford related thing in Leicester Square.
Back in 1993, Harrison Ford laid a time capsule right next Vue Cinema to commemorate the completion of the building. The time capsule was laid on the 3rd September in 1993 and it’s not to be reopened until 2093.
The content of the capsule is a secret. What do you think, what’s inside?
Ready for your next adventure? Keen to attend to movie premiers in London but no idea how it all works? Here is a guide to help you based on my own experiences. Hope it helps : )
Extreme bright colours, carefully crafted scenes, and symmetry. This is director Wes Anderson’s unmissable style, and if you loved The Grand Budapest Hotel or The French Dispatch, you’ll definitely want to see Anderson’s new movie, Asteroid City and the related exhibition at 180 Studios.
If you’ve fallen into the Wes Anderson TikTok trend that recently exploded the Internet, here’s an exhibition you don’t want to miss. Wes Anderson: Asteroid City Exhibition opened at 180 Studios on 17th June to celebrate the director’s new star-thudded movie.
Delve into the director’s bright and colourful world and let yourself teleported to a fictional American city in the middle of a desert for a Stargazer/Space Cadet convention in the 1950s and witness world-changing events!
The exhibition is curated and presented by 180 Studios in partnership with Universal Pictures and it leads you through original sets, costumes, props, and artworks from the movie and lots of photo opportunities.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Visitors also get a chance to dine at the Luncheonette, the movie’s iconic 1950s diner.
Limited-edition merch available on site. Among others, you can put your hands on t-shirts, screenplays, vinyl records and more.
Ready for your next adventure? Located next to King’s Cross station, Hokus Pokus Alchemy Lab is a retro-futuristic Victorian-inspired steampunk bar. Taking inspiration from 19th-century quack doctors, Hokus Pokus serve customisable botanical-infused cocktails based on recipes from the past.
Being promoted by such A-listers like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg, Planet Hollywood is a world-famous dining and entertaining spot in the heart of London.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Since located in West-End theatre district, they have a special “Pre-Theatre Menu” available when you book it through an on-line theatre and meal deal.
The Ambiance
A life-sized Terminator statue welcomes you on your arrival.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
The walls are decorated with props and costumes from famous blockbusters such as Star Wars or James Bond.
The venue is airy and comfortable, not overcrowded with too many tables and chairs.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Large screens show interviews and trailers of upcoming movies to keep you entertained while sipping your movie themed cocktail.
Don’t forget to head up the stairs to see the wall of handprints and signatures. Place your hand over the handprints of such legends like Silvester Stallone or George Clooney and have fun with comparing the size of your hands.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Private Hire
There are three themed rooms to be private hired.
Bond Room
Photo: Urban Adventurer
The 007 themed room is decorated with impressive props from famous Bond movies, such as Goldeneye, Live and Let Die and Moonraker.
Union Jack carpet, kaleidoscopic walls with famous hands created exclusively for Planet Hollywood London. The British Room plays tribute to the legends of British cinema, and TV legend memorabilia from Love Actually and Chariots of Fire just to name a few.
Swimming pool design carpet and diving board tables. This is the Cabanas Beach Bar themed room from where you can enjoy perfect view across the entire venue.
The Food
I tried Teriyaki Grilled Salmon with white rice and vegetables. The presentation was beautiful, the salmon was super tasty, and the vegetables were fresh and crunchy.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
My dessert was a White Chocolate Bread Pudding. This dessert was served hot with mouth-watering vanilla ice cream, bourbon sauce and whipped cream. Yummy!
Photo: Urban Adventurer
I couldn’t resist the legendary Chocolate Comet Supernova Shake and regret nothing. It looked just like in those photos on social media and was just as delicious as it looked.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
The waitress who served me was super friendly and the service was quick and efficient.
Had a great time there. Thank you, Planet Hollywood! I’ll be back.
After spending half of the Summer in lockdown, it’s time to hit the city again.
Here are 11 activities after lockdown you don’t want to miss.
The Little Mermaid Cocktail Experience
Source: pexels
Venue: Secret London Venue
When: Various times on Thursdays-Sundays from September (select date during booking)
Age restriction: 18+ with valid ID
Dress code: Casual but costumes and fancy-dresses are very welcome
Duration: Approx. 90 minutes
Theatrical cocktail experience in a secret London venue transformed into a stunning underwater world.
Deep dive into the world of old fairy tales and let yourself immerse into the mystical world of mermaids. Discover the hidden cave with glimmering pearls and uncover secrets and solve mysteries.
When: Various from 5 July to 31 July 2020 (find schedule here)
Age restriction: Please, check the certification of the movie you want to see
Runtime: Approx. 2 hours
Enjoy a contact-free movie magic on a 40-foot screen. Tons of movies to choose from. From Pixar Animation films to superhero movies to heart-warming timeless classics. All from the comfort of your vehicle. Order your food and drink online and enjoy a delivery service straight to your car.
When: Various dates from 20 July to 9 Nov | MONDAYS ONLY
Time: Start from 6pm
Age restriction: 18+
Dress code: Face paint & neon accessories provided
Duration: Approx. 1 hour
UV lights, reactive body paint and various music will help you to get into the groove at Queen of Hoxton disco room on every Monday. Cool face paint and glowing accessories provided. NO EXPERIENCE necessary.
When: Various dates and times from 4 July to 30 Dec
Duration: Approx. 2 hours
Age restriction: 18+ with valid ID
DUO London’s best bartenders will show you step-by-step how to make 5-star 100% Insta-worthy cocktails. You will make 2 Instagrammable cocktails, 2 of DUO shooters, plus you will receive a welcome drink on your arrival.
If it’s not enough, the best mixologist of the day will take home a small prize.
NOTE: Seating is unreserved. You can find a seat on first come first serve basis.
Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great organist Luis Vierne (1870-1937), St Paul’s Cathedral is featuring six symphonies organ recitals under the Dome of the Cathedral.
Go behind the scenes and explore the design and process of the most innovative sneakers from 3D printed to self-lacing to 100% recyclable. Discover brands and style icons that have shaped sneakers scene such as Nike, Puma or Adidas, and meet the newest releases such as MSCHF Studio’s ‘Jesus Shoes’.
The Dumpling Fest is dedicated to Asian delicacy and will bring 8 stations with local food traders, tons of dumpling samples, a world-class pop up bar and top-notch London DJs. Make sure your tray is always full.
Where: Start at Hackney City Farm and end on Brick Lane
When: Play from Tuesdays to Sundays between 11am to 4pm
Duration: 2-4 hours
NOTE: Smartphone with Internet access needed to play the game
13 riddles are waiting to be solved, each of them are local secret or curious story. As you play, colourful hidden gems will be revealed and wonders of Brick Lane will be explored.
Play in group of up to 5 people or solve all the mysteries on your own.
A night to remember the late Amy Winehouse and her legacy. Enjoy Amy’s heart-touching music from her Frank & Back to Black albums performed with a talented live band.
A new virtual James Bond exhibition has been launched by SPYSCAPE and it’s more immersive and fun than ever.
Source: https://spyscape.com/007
Apart from video experiences and rare images, the virtual tour offers 3D animation and mapping, story boards, sketches and original drawings of the famous gadgets used in the James Bond series.
And the best part of it, it’s totally FREE. All you need to do is sign up.
Aston Martin DB5
Source: https://spyscape.com/007
The virtual James Bond exhibition reveals the secrets behind the iconic Aston martin DB5.
Learn more about the machine gun set, discover ahead-of-its-time James Bond radar technology from 1964 and see how ancient Roman and Greek racing chariots influenced Sir Ken Adam to create tyre-slashers.
Source: https://spyscape.com/007
If it’s not enough, see blueprints and 3D animation of the first Aston Martin DB5.
Q’s Lab
Source: https://spyscape.com/007
Take a closer look into Q’s laboratory and learn more about the real man who gave the main inspiration of Q’s character.
The Men Behind the Magic
Watch video about Sir Ken Adam, who worked on 7 of the early James Bond films and was responsible for the most memorable film sets and locations.
Source: https://spyscape.com/007
Watch interviews with the production designer, the art director, the special effects and miniature effects supervisor and visual effect supervisor about challenges they faced during James Bond movies.
Source: https://spyscape.com/007
Do You Have the Skills?
Source: https://spyscape.com/007
To make your James Bond virtual tour more interactive, you can participate in a fun “Spy Skills Evaluation” to find out how much risk you are willing to take, learn more about your personality and test your brain power.
Step in. They’ve been expecting you.
Keen to see the iconic Aston Martin DB5 from the latest James Bond movie in real life? Visit Bond In Motion exhibition in London.
We stuck at home during COVID-19 lockdown. Many of us living alone and running out of things to do at home.
By now we have deep cleaned the whole flat, re-organised our stamp, coin and anime figurine collections and watched a ton of movies.
So, what now?
I collected 12 cool things to keep yourself entertained while self-isolated. All FREE.
1. Participate in Composing Contest
Tarento Productions is running a contest: ‘A Song for Our Time’. Participants have to compose an original song to be recorded by West End stars and a virtual choir.
Anyone can participate with any background.
The winner song will be chosen by Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown.
Although the deadline is a bit tight, why not give it a go?
The Getty Museum in Los Angeles challenge their Twitter followers to choose 3 things at home and recreate a famous artwork using those 3 items only, and share the photos with them on Twitter.
Find an artwork – a Romanian sculpture or a famous painting – recreate it and have fun: http://www.getty.edu/art/
To help creative people inspired and engaged with photography, Nikon has made ALL of their online photography courses for FREE for the entire month of April.
Normally those courses cost between $15-$50. Each class are held by professional photographers to give in-depth knowledge of the best practices from landscape photography to children photography.
8. Take Swing Dance Lessons and Blend Your Own Cocktail
Cahoots is an underground themed bar, bringing their visitors for a time travel to the 1940s. While the bar is closed, they cannot serve you their delicious signature cocktails, like Vera Linn but they still can show you how to prepare the homemade version of them.
Step into Tutankhamun’s tomb and enjoy the London exhibition virtually on YouTube. While the exhibition is closed till the end of April, they created an amazing virtual tour video to showcase the best parts of the exhibition.
Amblin Entertainment has collected more than 100 videos of Oscar Galas from the past five decades. Watch the best moments of Jurassic Park, E.T., Jaws and Gladiator stars winning Oscar.
12. Go for Virtual Tour to NASA, Van Gogh Museum or San Diego Zoo
No need to step outside. Visit the best museums, galleries, zoos and more online. Go for an incredible virtual tour to Van Gogh Museum to Netherlands, take a look into the animals’ everyday lives in the San Diego Zoo or go extra-terrestrial tour and visit NASA.
Celebrating a century of cinema, bronze sculptures of iconic film characters have been displayed at Leicester Square, some of which even come to life after dark.
Snap a Selfie with Your Favourite Film Characters
Crunch a Carrot with Bugs Bunny in the flower bed
Watch Mary Poppins landing on the corner of the square
Pose with the nation’s hapless hero: Mr Bean
Have your lunch with Paddington Bear
Sing along and dance in the rain with Gene Kelly
Oh, and don’t forget to snap a selfie with Leicester Square’s permanent resident: Charlie Chaplin
Heroes Come to Life After Dark
Don’t miss any of the iconic movie characters! Check the map here and discover Batman, Laurel and Hardy and Wonder Woman. They’re there somewhere in the square waiting to be discovered.
Make your experience more immersive by clicking on each character on the map on Leicester Square’s official website, you can play official soundtracks related to each film.
The sculptures are free to visit and are going to stay in Leicester Square until 31st July 2020.
BONUS: Hands Prints and Time Capsule at Leicester Square
Have spotted the handprints at Leicester Square at Vue cinema? How about the time capsule sealed by Harrison Ford?
Denzel Washington’s hand print
Helen Mirren’s hand print
John Hurt’s hand print
Judy Dench’s hand print
Kenneth Branagh’s hand print
Time capsule sealed by Harrison Ford in 1993. To be opened in 2093.
Ready for your next adventure? Here’s a little throwback to unforgettable movie premieres taken place in London.
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