Harry Potter; A History of Magic at the British Library.

[megletthesecond]

Has anyone been yet? Any tips or best parts for Kids?

I'm taking the dc's (11 & 9) at the end of the month. We've not been to the British Library before either, any tips on child friendly sections, cafes and toilets with smallest queues would also be helpful.

Thanks.

[megletthesecond]

Bumping.

[megletthesecond]

Bumping.

If anyone has been, how long did you spend there?

[pinkingshears]

watching. we want to go too.
do you have to book tickets?

[parietal]

Tickets are sold out to about jan so do book if you want to go. There is a cafe & toilets & plenty of other things to do in the area too

[megletthesecond]

pink I booked a couple of weeks ago and the weekends had already sold out. Only got monday tickets because we have an inset day. I think it ends in Feb?

[BikeRunSki]

There is an absolutely amazing Quaker veggie (poss vegan) Cafe across the road from the British Library. It’s pretty much bang in front of Kings Cross.

[megletthesecond]

Oooo, thanks bike. We're hoping to nip into KC to see platform 9 and 3/4 too.

[bruffin]

Its not really for children. A couple of hands on bits ie stir a potion or have your fortune read. Its a lot of reading and ancient books
Saying that Dd 20 and I loved it and spent an hour and half there. There were hardly any children at all and we went on a sunday. The queue was long to get in but went really quick but we were 11am so first entry.

It is set out in lesson ie divination and herbology. There is real cauldron dug up from the thames, and a scroll on how to make gold, mandrake roots. Some original drawings and manuscripts by jk and paintings from the new books.
You could take them to platform 9 3/4 at Kings cross about 5 minutes away.

[bruffin]

Cross posted. Also there is a little shop outside the exhibition as you come out, but much better HP shop on ground floor to the right as you come in.

[ElfrideSwancourt]

It’s really beautiful- not for small children though. We absolutely loved it- some of the books are sooo old and the early drafts of JKR’s writing are v interesting. The shop is beautiful too but VERY expensive- £15 for a cotton bag. We went to the platform 9 3/4 shop which is much more reasonable.
I’ve attached some photos of the Library shop.

[megletthesecond]

I'm going to have to control myself in the gift shop. We're planning to do the studio tour next autumn anyway, maybe the prices will encourage the dc's to save their money .

[PlateOfBiscuits]

Loved it but agree it’s not for small children. We also went to the shop/photo opportunity at Kings Cross, which I recommend leaving plenty of time for.

[megletthesecond]

plate I suspect 9yr old dd will get bored after a while so I'm anticipating a short visit anyway. It's a case of doing it quickly and missing bits or not doing it at all.