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‘Back to Hogwarts 2023’

‘Back to Hogwarts 2023’ – Harry Potter Fans Gathering at King’s Cross

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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’

 

‘Back to Hogwarts 2023’

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?

 

House of Spells - Harry Potter Fandom Shop

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.

 

Wands up!

‘Alohomora!’ Unlock Your Inner Wizard - House of Spells

‘Alohomora!’ Unlock Your Inner Wizard – House of Spells

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London is full of magical places to visit – just think of filming locations, such as 9 ¾ at Kings Cross Station, Leadenhall Market or London Zoo. However, if you want to take home some muggle memento from your trip, House of Spells is a must-visit for all Harry Potter fans!

 

Urban Adventurer has teamed up with House of Spells and offer a 10% DISCOUNT on ALL products – online and in-store (just whisper the code to the cashier when paying 🤫) – if you use the secret code: ‘URBAN’

 

@urbanadventurerldn

🦉✉️ 🪄 Urban Adventurer has teamed up with @House of Spells to give you 10% off online and in-store | 🎂 Just in time to celebrate Harry’s birthday | #houseofspells #harrypottershop #potterheads #harrypottermerch #wizardworldofharrypotter #urbanadventures #londonadventures

♬ Harry Potter (Trap Remix) – Trap Remix Guys

 

‘Alohomora!’ Open the Gates to the Wizarding World 

69-71 Charing Cross Rd, London WC2H 0NE

 

‘Alohomora!’ Unlock Your Inner Wizard - House of Spells Photos: Urban Adventurer

 

 

House of Spells is London’s best fandom-themed shop with a massive range of Harry Potter related products.

There are separate sections dedicated to each Hogwarts Houses: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff.

The selection of merch, collectables, magic wands, and accessories are insane! No matter which house or character is your favourite or what size your budget is, you’ll definitely find something you want to take home with you.

 

House of Spells London - Hedwig

Photos: Urban Adventurer

 

There are whole sections dedicated to Harry’s owl, Hedwig, our favourite house elf, Doby, and platform 9 ¾!

There is a full range of magic wands of all the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts characters from Harry to Dumbledore to Grindelwald.

 

Happee Birthdae Harry

 

Magic Wands at House of Spells

Photos: Urban Adventurer

  

Harry’s birthday is on the corner (31st July) and it couldn’t be celebrated better than going for a round trip in London, visiting all the iconic filming locations and end the day at London’s most magical shop.

 

To help you make the most out of your day, make sure you use the secret code: ‘URBAN’ when shopping (either online or in-store) to get a 10% DISCOUNT.

 

 

 Is House of Spells for Harry Potter Fans Only?

 

Photos: Urban Adventurer

  

House of Spells is a two-story house of adventure to the magical universe of the greatest franchises. They have sections dedicated to Game of Thrones, Stranger Things, Lord of the Rings, Gothic items, and a huge area revolving around Vikings!

Put your claws on a life-size dragon egg, wield a sword like a Viking or go Upside Down while sipping your fav tea from a Demogorgon mug.

 

Stranger Things Merch at House of Spells

Photos: Urban Adventurer

 

The varieties of goods and merch are endless!

 

Do you have a sweet tooth?

 

Sink your teeth into one of the enchanted Wizards chocolate bars (lots of flavours available), try a chocolate frog (don’t let it hop out of the window!) or sip a magical potion (shake the bottle gently to see the magic).

And they don’t stop there.

 

Anime fans, keep reading!

 

Anime Merch at House of Spells

Photos: Urban Adventurer

 

 

House of Spells now have an amazing range of anime merch from the most popular anime series. Think of Naruto, One Piece, My Hero Academia, Death Note or Attack on Titan.

From water bottles to mugs to figurines and collectables, you’ll surely find something to fall in love with.

 

Oh, and don’t forget to snap some photos for your Insta because House of Spells is truly an Insta heaven. 📸

 

 

 

 

Ready for your next adventure? Just a 5-min walk from House of Spells, ‘Scenes in the Square’ (Leicester Square) features a range of bronze sculptures of the most iconic movie characters from the past 100 years. Mr Bean, Paddington Bear, Wonder Woman and the latest addition, Indiana Jones, just to name a few. Can you find them all?

Where to Celebrate International Harry Potter Day - The Cauldron

Where to Celebrate International Harry Potter Day – The Cauldron

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The 2nd of May is International Harry Potter Day and how could we celebrate it in the most magical way if not with wand in one hand and a glass of magic potion in the other? Inspired by Harry Potter’s wizarding world, The Cauldron is London’s most magical cocktail bar.

 

@urbanadventurerldn

🧙🏼‍♂️ The 2nd May is International Harry Potter Day | Here’s an idea where to celebrate it | 🪄 The Cauldron #internationalharrypotterday #harrypotterday #thecauldron #thecauldronlondon #happyharrypotterday #magicwands #potterheads #wizardingworldofharrypotter

♬ Harry Potter (Trap Remix) – Trap Remix Guys

 

Working Magic Wands

 

The Cauldron - Harry Potter Inspired Bar in London

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

Although, The Cauldron is officially not a Harry Potter themed bar, you can tell it immediately that it is very much inspired by the magical world of Harry Potter.

Upon your arrival you can don a wizard robe and given a working(!) magic wand. That’s right! A working magic wand with which you can manipulate multiply things around you within the bar. You can switch on and off of the lamp and other props on your table or make a unicorn head split mocktail into your glass.

 

Magical Cocktails and Drinkable Potions

 

Magic Potion at The Cauldron

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

You can either just book a table for drinks or go for a potion making class. Either way, you’ll be given a wizard robe and a magic wand to go around the bar and manipulate certain objects around you.

The menu of cocktails, shots & enchantments change every now and then, but certain items remain the same, such as ‘Ectoplasm’ shot or the ‘Bubbling Shot of Death’. You can even pour drink from the maw of a unicorn or from a giant crystal in a crystal cave with a flick of a magic wand.

To help you snap perfect photos of your drinks, there is a magic stand you can put your cocktails on and switch light on and off under the glass or make your drink whirl in its glass.

 

Brew Your Own Drinkable Potions – The Potion Making Class

 

Pour Mocktail from the Maw of a Unicorn at The Cauldron

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

You can book a potion making session to brew your very own potions that build up endless bubbles, sparkle or change colour.

The potion making class includes a welcome drink (cocktail or mocktail) that you pour from the maw of a magical creature with a woosh of your wand; and two drinkable potions (cocktails or mocktails) that you brew using secret recipes with instructions and of course your magic wand.

Although, you brew your potions by yourself, a Potion Master is always on hand in case you need some help and to protect you from dark magic.

 

Other Experiences

 

Harry Potter Inspired Bar - The Cauldron

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

The Cauldron bar is located in Stock Newington, however, they have a sister venue in the heart of Soho, called The Wizard Exploratorium.

The Wizard Exploratorium offers potion making experience as well, along with a couple of more experiences you can’t have at their Stock Newington venue.

 

The Magic Wand Experience

 

The Magic Wand Experience is basically a 20-min interactive experience where you can build your very own magic wand by choosing magic (light, dark or earth), wood, core, handle, shaft, and lux.

Once you’ve built your magic wand, you’ll be guided around the venue and be taught the basics of spell casting that you can put into practice immediately.

 

Wizard Afternoon Tea

 

Wizard Afternoon Tea is an interactive experience where you can brew your tea using molecular gastronomy and technology. You can also control your afternoon tea station with a magic wand.

During the experience you’ll brew two different types of tea. The first one focuses on transfiguration, while the second is designed to encourage experimentation to find your perfect blend.

Scones, sandwiches, and desserts are served on the interactive station with a dragon egg on the top.

 

About International Harry Potter Day

 

Harry Potter Inspired Bar in London - The Cauldron

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

We celebrate International Harry Potter Day since 2012, when Prime Minister David Cameron declared the 2nd May as an official day of honour the novel series written by J. K. Rowling.

The book series has been so successful that the author holds a Guinness World Record as the highest-selling series by a single author. Over a 500 million copies sold all over the world.

But why the 2nd May?

The reason we celebrate it on the 2nd May is because the great Battle of Hogwarts was fought on that very day, and this was the battle where Lord Voldemort was finally defeated.

 

Happy International Harry Potter Day!

 

 

 

Ready for your next adventure? If you’re not just a Harry Potter fan but also love Japanese anime, Uzumaki London is a must-visit for you. It’s the UK’s very first anime-themed restaurant with gorgeous hand-painted anime walls and anime-inspired food and drink. Just think of ‘Naruto Ramen’, ‘Luffy Meat on the Bone’ or Bijuu-themed bubble tea series.

House of MinaLima – The Graphic Duo Behind the Magic of Harry Potter

House of MinaLima – The Graphic Duo Behind the Magic of Harry Potter

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Meet the designers who created the graphic style of the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts movies. Located in the heart of Soho, House of MinaLima is a paradise for HP fans.

 

How It All Started

The graphic design duo, Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima started working together in 2001 to create the graphic universe of the Harry Potter movies. After the Harry Potter series have come to an end, the duo continued their magical work. They imagined and created numerous designs for the Wizarding World.

House of MinaLima - Soho

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

Having spent two years designing graphic elements for Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando Resort, Ms Mina and Mr Lima became heavily involved in the new movie series, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

The design duo has received numerous awards for their designs and marketing materials.

 

House of MinaLima

To celebrate the magic of Harry Potter movies, the Ms Mina and Mr Lima opened House of MinaLima on Wardour Street in 2016.

House of MinaLima - Wardour Street

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

House of MinaLima is a magical shop and gallery revolving around the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts movie series.

The ground floor is functioning as a magical shop, offering all HP related products imaginable from prints to books to stationary. Here you can even put your hand on exclusive limited-edition products signed by Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima.

House of MinaLima - Harry Potter Shop

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

Downstairs is the gallery where visitors can explore the graphic designs, artworks, and publications in an experimental narrative environment.

House of MinaLima - Harry Potter Gallery

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

Here you can explore original props from the movies, graphic designs such as the ‘wanted’ posters from the Harry Potter series, original designs of the wrappings of the magical sweets and much more while literally walking on the Marauder’s Map that has also been designed by the MinaLima duo.

Ready to immerse yourself into the world of magic? Make sure you solemnly swear that you are up to no good before entering. (wink)

 

Harry Potter Original Props

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

DID YOU KNOW?

The Mima Lima duo created props for other blockbusters such as Sweeney Todd, The Golden Compass, and The Imitation Game.

They also illustrated the bestselling MinaLima classic series for Harper Collins.

 

Ready for your next adventure? Why not explore another iconic shop in London. The Rolling Stones opened their first flagship store in Carnaby Street last Autumn. Here’s a report from the grand opening.

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