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Original poster

Harry Potter studios...

24 replies

Twerking9to5 · 09/02/2021 16:23

I’ve been reading Harry Potter to DS (8) and DD (6) and we all love it. We are about to finish goblet of fire and I thought we might take a break as they get a bit darker. I’d love to take them to HP studios later in the year if allowed but my questions are:

Is it worth it after reading just the first 4?

Are there spoilers for future books?

Thanks!

OP posts:

LIZS · 09/02/2021 16:25

It is more an exhibition of sets, costumes and props than narrative.

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 09/02/2021 16:28

It's more to do with the movies than the books, I'm sure it would make a nice day out for the 8 year old, perhaps not so much for the 6 year old. Perhaps wait untill they've both seen all the films in a few years time.

Hazelnutlatteplease · 09/02/2021 16:29

I haven't read any, not particularly keen on HP at all, and still enjoyed it (school trip). The model of Hogwarts is spectacular.

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6 year olds 8 year olds Children's books Films

boredwiththeoldname · 09/02/2021 16:31

Have they seen the first films? If not, they won't get as much out of it.

StrangerHereMyself · 09/02/2021 16:32

It’s an amazing day out that everyone can enjoy in different ways , but they’d get more out of it if they’d watched the first three movies (the PG ones) first. By the time it’s reopened and you’ve managed to get tickets the 6 year old will probably be 7ish anyway which is definitely old enough as long as you hold their hand in the scary boys.

AdditionalCharacter · 09/02/2021 16:33

The studios are based around the films rather than the books. They won't get much out of the studio if they've not seen them.

Original poster

Twerking9to5 · 09/02/2021 16:36

Thanks all! Should have mention they’ve seen the first three films repeatedly and love them. I’m not sure on showing them the 4th as it’s a 12 and sounds quite a bit darker/vivid. Having read the books first helps I think, but I don’t want to give them nightmares!

OP posts:

Teandsympathy · 09/02/2021 16:36

I would wait until they have read the books, some of the exhibits are huge spoilers. It’s brilliant so worth visiting when you can appreciate the whole exhibit.

Blaggingit123 · 09/02/2021 16:38

It’s a film set/props tour so is more about the films than books. The only spoiler I can think of past book 4 is the rather excellent special effects of the dragon breaking out of gringotts in deathly hallows part 1, though most of the displays on death eaters etc would be unfamiliar. We went with our 6yo early last year (now nearly 8) and she loved it, but we had been watching the films from a young age. She has only read as far as goblet of fire. We will go back with our 5yo as well at some point!

AdditionalCharacter · 09/02/2021 16:44

Oh definitely take them then if they've seen the first three. The giant chess pieces are outside the entrance, everything from there gets better.

AtLastEarwax · 09/02/2021 16:44

Huge potter fan here!

Kids have uncommon names due to the franchise haha!

I'd wait till the end. There is a part I'm thinking of that will only make sense at the end of DH. There's other tidbits around that only make sense in the later books too.

Please don't look at reviews or anything beforehand though to ruin the experience. People I speak to say 'oh I'm really looking forward to...' but it's worth the surprise.

Don't know if it's something you would be interested in but might be worth DC to save some pocket money, gift shop is huge. Just for an idea..
chocolate frogs and such £8.95
Wands are £25
Soft toys start around £9.95
Butterbeer £6

If you spend money on anything though make sure it's photos. £20 for 2 including the HD digital copies.

It's fab, I'd love a job there I really would

Enjoy!

BeyondMyWits · 09/02/2021 16:45

I'd wait til they are a bit older to be honest. It is not really a little kid thing.

Having seen the films makes it much more interesting and less of a museum, more of an exploration.

We took ours when 10ish for the first time, but they got a lot out of it when older than that as they had seen all the films and felt comfortable around the new exhibits (spiders + scary bank sequence)

AliceMcK · 09/02/2021 16:52

Don’t agree about 6yo not enjoying it. My 6yo loves HP she has done for a good 18 months now, probably longer. I have 6, 8 & 3 yo even my 3 yo can answer questions on HP. Do you do the HP quiz on Alexa each day? Mine have seen all the movies, not intentionally, but my then 5yo saw them in our recordings after DH and I had been watching them. I walked in on them watching the first deathly hallows. I agreed to let them watch it if they didn’t get scared, they must if watched all the movies at least 50 times now, hence my 3yo being able to answer HP questions.

We listen to the books on cd in the car, we also have them on audible and also a big HP ultimate quiz book on audible as well as trivial pursuit and a few other games. My oldest DD collects the Lego which my 3yo loves playing with and can line up all the characters and name them.

Yet all 3 of them will get scared at some kids shows and cartoons 🤷🏼‍♀️

I think it fully depends on the child. I will note my 6yo also loves Dr Who as dose my others but the 6yo dosnt get scared like my 8yo. I’m obviously selective on which episode I let them watch. They are also big The Worst Witch fans, so Sci/fi & fantasy are very much their cup of tea.

AtLastEarwax · 09/02/2021 16:58

Oh my...

Alice my 3yr old son is the same, are we bad??!!!!

He first went at 16 months old and when he was 2 and a half

I agree about the scared bit. However he loves chamber of secrets so it's usually that we watch but I would go by that rule of thumb depending on the child of course they are all different

underneaththeash · 09/02/2021 16:59

@AliceMcK - have you taken them to the studios though? Both my boys loved the books and younger films at that age, but the studios completely went over their heads (and was a complete waste of money apart from the butterbeer ice cream). 8 is a better age.

AliceMcK · 09/02/2021 21:07

@AtLastEarwax

Oh my...

Alice my 3yr old son is the same, are we bad??!!!!

He first went at 16 months old and when he was 2 and a half

I agree about the scared bit. However he loves chamber of secrets so it's usually that we watch but I would go by that rule of thumb depending on the child of course they are all different

Haha I was expecting to be flamed. I loved all this stuff as a kid so did my DH.

AliceMcK · 09/02/2021 21:09

@underneaththeash no, unfortunately covid put pay to that last year. The older 2 did go to the Dr Who exhibition in Cardiff when it was on, they were 3 & 5 at the time and loved it. Even the parts the organisers were worried they would get scared at.

Kindlethefourth · 09/02/2021 21:12

They will love it. Just do it. It books up months in advance but their are some cheap hotels nearby as early morning slots tend to go last. I have been 3 times and there is always something new. It's isn't cheap but worth every penny and the gift shop is very good quality.

AtLastEarwax · 09/02/2021 21:13

My twin girls have got hermione outfits and they will be wearing them to the studios when we go hopefully this year when they are 2.

Potter is amazing in my opinion so why not?

And he even has a Harry Potter lunchbox and bag. He even has a charm hanging from the zip haha 😆

AtLastEarwax · 09/02/2021 21:14

@Kindlethefourth

I have to also second that, although the gift shop is pricey it's not tatty stuff. It's worth the money

Original poster

Twerking9to5 · 09/02/2021 22:05

Thanks everyone! I’m not sure I can wait til we’ve read all 7 so I might have to go for it 😁

OP posts:

WhatsTheEffingPoint · 09/02/2021 22:22

Do it....do it.....do it!!

I would say read the book then watch the film and the the studio tour will be the wow experience its meant to be as they will be able to put it all together in their heads.

Also pick up the stamp books, each set has a stamp to mark in a little book, it's just something else to keep the little ones occupied and interested.

Tips...browse the website shop before you go just to get an idea on prices, it isn't cheap. Make sure you have loads of batteries for your camera, don't just rely on your phone, you will do the battery in very quickly. Ask the staff loads of questions they are really knowledgeable.

Most of all enjoy. It's amazing I love it there.

AtLastEarwax · 10/02/2021 09:45

Slightly off topic but related..

In the gift shop, browsing and picked up a beautiful hufflepuff leather purse, as I was looking for the price I realised it was actually someone's real purse. Literally threw it at a member of staff at the wands section and was like I'm not a thief I found it, I found it. Hubby thought I was a total twat as a thief wouldn't hand a purse in 😂😂😂 just don't like touching other peoples stuff

TeenMinusTests · 10/02/2021 10:27

We went with our DDs when DD2, aged 10 or 11 had only read the first 2 books and up to the Night Bus in book 3, and had only seen the same in film.

She enjoyed it, but we did have to whisk her past more gruesome bits (like the scene in Malfoy Manor with the muggle floating above the table) and obviously some scenes / characters went over her head.

If you can afford to go again, then your 6yo may well be fine. If you can't afford to go again for another 10 years I'd maybe wait a bit.

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