Harry Potter or film mad? Want to visit the Warner Bros. Studio Tour on 23 March and report back for MN? NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

We have been asked by the team at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter to find around 75 MNers and their families to attend a special event for MNers at the Studio Tour (near Watford) to experience the attraction (and have a couple of extra treats) and to report back to the rest of MN.

They say "step on to authentic sets, discover the magic behind spellbinding special effects and explore the behind-the-scenes secrets of the Harry Potter™ film series. Tread the original stone floor of the iconic Hogwarts™ Great Hall, encounter animatronic creatures and wander down Diagon Alley™. Located at the Studios where all eight films were produced, the Studio Tour showcases the incredible British talent, imagination and artistry that went into making the impossible a reality on screen. Visitors will relive the magic through the eyes of the filmmakers who brought the Harry Potter film series to life".

We're looking for families to attend a tour of the studios where there will be some special treats for MN families - including a free souvenir guidebook, food during the tour (hot dog/goujons/mac and cheese per person from the Backlot Cafe), glass of wine/beer/soft drink and a Butterbeer taster! There will also be a chance to have a group photo in the flying car .

This is a special event for MNers who love the Harry Potter films or even film making in general.

The tour is aimed at children aged 8+ but if you have younger children they can attend if you wish. It's accessible to all including buggies.

The event will take place
Near Watford North London
On Wednesday 23rd March
Arrival from 4pm (must arrive by 5pm) and the tour lasts around 3 hours. Note there may be some waiting around when you arrive due to being allocated the next available tour.

There is a free on-site car park, which is a short walk away from the entrance to the Studio Tour, with designated disabled parking. For those arriving by train, a shuttle bus runs to and from Watford Junction train station every 20 minutes (£2.50 return).

MNers can attend with their partner and children - please specify your group size on the sign up form.

You will need to make your own way to the event and attendance is strictly by invitation only!

After the event, we'd need you to please give your feedback on a thread on MN - and add a review in the MN days out section (here)

If you'd like to attend please add your details here and we will be in touch with selected MNers asap. NOTE: there will be a strict list of names and party size on the door.

All MNers who share their feedback of the Studio Tour and add a review will be entered into a prize draw where two lucky MNers will win a goody bag containing a Harry Potter wand, Fizzing Whizzbees, Peppermint Toads, Chocolate Frog and a packet of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans (worth £57.75).

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

Toucan - that looks excellent! Have a good journey.
I had nightmares last night about horrendous traffic jams and not being able to get there

IT'S TODAY!!!!

Not only do I get to to Harry Potter.

I get to have the afternoon off work.

double win!

I'll be in my Gryffindor hoodie

We're driving so leaving at 10, our girls are coming over from Newcastle and they think we are leaving at 9 so as not to be late. It's almost half nine now and they still aren't here so you can see why we use these tactics

Can't wait! I'm not wearing anything distinctive today but my DH will be wearing a Thunderbirds bag if anyone wants to say hi :o

DD thinks she wants to wear school uniform to dress as Hermione, with DH's Gryffindor tie.

I'm so excited but also super impatient! I want to be there already. Picking dd1 up from school at lunchtime and then setting off.

I am sorry about the quality of my cut and pasting but the roads are a nightmare around WATFORD area today

It might/hopefully be over by this afternoon but if not please allow extra time for your journey

It might work better to go via M1 to junction 5 and come off go along A4008 to the 1st roundabout go round to the right then right again then up Bushey Mill Lane and make your way up through WATFORD to Warner Bros, that way you avoid the main busy roads

A section of the M25 could be closed until early this afternoon after a crack was discovered on a bridge.
The anti-clockwise carriageway is closed between junction 21a (M1) and junction 20 Kings Langley
Highways England and the company repairing the damage, B S Steels, hope to reopen the road after midday.

A small crack was discovered on the bridge near junction 20 early this morning. It was found on a small section of the structure underneath the anti-clockwise carriageway.
Traffic is gridlocked back to junction 24 (Potters Bar).
A statement from Highways England read: "Safety is Highways England's top priority.
"During a routine inspection yesterday a minor crack was discovered on the Gade Valley viaduct near to the M25 junction 20.
"The closures are in place to allow repairs to be carried out as quickly as possible to stop the crack from growing and maintain safe journeys.
"We would like to thank drivers in advance for their patience and reassure them that we will be working as hard as we can to reopen the M25 as soon as safely possible."
A diversion has been set up and motorists will be diverted onto the A405 and the A41.

Traffic from the southbound M1 heading onto the anti-clockwise M1 will be filtered down into one one and diverted off at the junction 20.
Followw*

BCH Road Policingg* ‎@roadpoliceBCH
Please be aware M25 J21a-20 has been shut due to structural issues and maybe shut for most of today.
2:30 AM - 23 Mar 2016
22 22 Retweets
2 2 likes

The closure has led to huge tailbacks on the M25 and congestion on other roads in south west Hertfordshire.
Share article


A section of the M25 could be closed until early this afternoon after a crack was discovered on a bridge.
The anti-clockwise carriageway is closed between junction 21a (M1) and junction 20 (Kings Langley).

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Highways England and the company repairing the damage, B S Steels, hope to reopen the road after midday.

A small crack was discovered on the bridge near junction 20 early this morning. It was found on a small section of the structure underneath the anti-clockwise carriageway.
Traffic is gridlocked back to junction 24 (Potters Bar).
A statement from Highways England read: "Safety is Highways England's top priority.
"During a routine inspection yesterday a minor crack was discovered on the Gade Valley viaduct near to the M25 junction 20.
"The closures are in place to allow repairs to be carried out as quickly as possible to stop the crack from growing and maintain safe journeys.
"We would like to thank drivers in advance for their patience and reassure them that we will be working as hard as we can to reopen the M25 as soon as safely possible."
A diversion has been set up and motorists will be diverted onto the A405 and the A41.

Traffic from the southbound M1 heading onto the anti-clockwise M1 will be filtered down into one one and diverted off at the junction 20.
Followw*

BCH Road Policingg* ‎@roadpoliceBCH
Please be aware M25 J21a-20 has been shut due to structural issues and maybe shut for most of today.
2:30 AM - 23 Mar 2016
22 22 Retweets
2 2 likes

The closure has led to huge tailbacks on the M25 and congestion on other roads in south west Hertfordshire.
Share article



Oh no! That sucks. We are going by train but I really really hope this doesn't impact people coming by car :(

Oh dear. I don't know the M25 or surrounding areas at all. I'm coming from Norfolk. If I tell my sat nav to avoid motorways, will that help?

Ok to come from Norfolk, when we travel to Norwich we go via Baldock, past the Aircraft museum, Royston then A1M down to Hatfield then the A414 and A405 into North WATFORD

The A414 and A405 is going to be very busy though so willtry to find different route

How about the A1M then go over M25 then down A1 until it meets M1 then go North up M1 up to junction 5 to A4008 then turn right and then right again to Bushey Mill lane, St. Albans road, leavesden road, gammons lane, courtlands Drive, ashfields then you are there

Actually A1 down to A41 then North to junction 4 on M1 then up to junction 5 on M1 to A4008 towards Watford

The A41 is nearly always a busy road you can go all the way up it to the ASDA roundabout which is near Harry Potter but it is nearly always a busy road, so we avoid it if at all possible

Hopefully the bridge will be clear by then

Listen to LBC radio 97.3 for traffic updates around London area

arrrghhhh - we need to do m25 -annemumsnet at the moment sat nav says we will be there for 3pm we are at dartford. howlate can we be?

still excited :)

3pm is early - it's arrival 3.45 til 4.45 ideally - am checking if there's any flexibility....and I also need to go on M25

OK - Just heard from Warner Bros. - they say "we will do all we can to accommodate anyone affected by the traffic if they arrive slightly later than planned. But attendees - please plan your route in advance and check for alternative routes if the traffic warnings are still in place when you leave". GOOD LUCK!

Thanks anne -we always like to be early hoping the sat nav gods willbekind to us xx

Thanks Kanga. Sadly, I've got a Sat nav I've never used before and that's it. I can programme a destination and roads to avoid but not sure how to specify actual roads. We're at Newmarket atm.

Traffic England say it is anticlockwise near WATFORD

Our tiler was over 2 hours late this morning from Enfield cos of the M25

So you could come round pass Heathrow but traffic England also say problems clockwise between 9 - 11 delays up to an hour

We've programmed to avoid all motorways. We're on the A11 atm.

A505 now. No clue if we're about to hit hideous traffic going this way.

SofH ok turn on to A1M that is classed as motorway so satnav might not want you to that way

Then the way we go is come off at HATFIELD which I think is junction 3 for A414

Then A405 to North WATFORD

They will be busy but quite easy to follow I think and hope

We should arrive around 3:30. Dd2 (15 months) has thrown up though so going to need to make use of the facilities to clean up if they let us!

Bottom bit of M25 is now knackered too... Fortunately (?) happened whilst we were stopped for lunch so DH is now navigating us through some posh bits of Surrey and SW London...

I know this is probably too late for the MNetters coming on the train but you can now use Oyster cards on London midland from Euston

I mean all the way to WATFORD Junction

FranksRobot - they have baby changing and loos in the main entrance hall, left hand side just past Starbucks from memory.

We are currently pootling around the M25. I hate this road!