The Knight Bus: Tom with the bus driver
All the fans’ favourites are here, including Flourish and Blott’s, Madam Malkin’s and Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes. I had the slightly surreal experience of watching Oliver and James Phelps, the actors who play the Weasley twins in the film, walk into their own shop to have a look around, apparently as delighted by the surroundings as the regular muggles walking among them. The brothers were there as part of the media preview in June, joined by fellow stars Warwick Davies, Helena Bonham-Carter and Robbie Coltrane, who officially opened the attraction with a magical flick of his umbrella towards the wall separating Diagon Alley from the rest of London. The rest of London? Oh yes.
Universal has created a mini version of England’s capital, complete with surprisingly detailed versions of King’s Cross and Leicester Square stations,
wizarding vehicle the Knight Bus, and 12 Grimmauld Place, where a glowering Kreacher can be spotted peeking miserably out from behind the curtains.
Back in Diagon Alley, those
who dare can take a turn down Knockturn Alley, the shadier side of the complex, replete with ne’er-do- wells and shops dedicated to the dark arts. I made the mistake of holding a bag with Harry Potter’s face on it, which earned me a swift rebuke from one of the unsavoury character actors roaming the alley – just another touch that immerses you in the magic.
l BANK ON IT The centrepiece of the area is the park’s newest ride, Escape from Gringotts, described by art director Alan Gilmore as using “technology beyond anything done before”. A 60ft stone dragon straddles the building; at sporadic intervals he roars and a huge ball of fire erupts from his mouth, delighting
Cast a spell: Bellatrix Lestrange
42 •
travelweekly.co.uk — 21 August 2014
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