A vacation is a very important element within anyone's realm of "me" time. Whether you are escaping from work, school, or a boring day-to-day routine, a vacation should successfully combine chaos with happy tranquility. If you are someone that likes a themed getaway, Harry Potter (HP) Fan Trips is the perfect package.
Beyond Boundaries Travel offers a variety of themed trips, including Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Da Vinci Code and of course, HP. Whether you are a family hoping to entertain your children, or an adult hoping to relive the "HP" movie experience, people of all ages will enjoy these well thought-out trips.
Of all the HP ensembles available, I chose the Oxford/Scotland trip for adults. The itinerary for this selection included nine days and eight nights of magical exploration through the cloistered, stained glass wonder of Oxford to the dramatic, medieval poetics of a haunting Edinburgh.
The first three days of this tour-guided package revolves around the "city of the dreaming spires," Oxford, England. It is historically famous for playing host to the oldest university in the English-speaking world, Oxford University; however, the city itself packs away a few other gems in and around the heart of the cosmopolitan.
One of the things one must note about this trip is the timing; timing is everything. Travelers will be up at the crack of dawn, loaded onto buses, and then escorted to all of the designated locations. Normally I do not like tour guides. They take away from my opportunity to explore a place's atmosphere unimpeded, but the guide does allow for ample "alone time" in the city during the evening once the daily activities are complete.
While in this modernized, ancient architectural walk-through-history, I found myself constantly stopping just to take it all in (and this got me into a bit of trouble as I constantly fell behind the group). Make sure you take photos. Time goes by quickly within the tour's pace and photos are essential when recapturing the day's events.
Throughout our daily excursions we visited various film locations used in the Harry Potter films, Gloucester Cathedral, Lacock Abbey, Wookey Hole Caves, and Christ Church to name a few. Aside from their obvious relevance to the HP series, these locations are legendary for their beautiful construction and design. Some of these sites are not within Oxford, so a relatively lengthy bus ride may be required to reach a destination. I would advise bringing some entertainment — an MP3 player, a book, or perhaps a Suduko puzzle or ten.
Article comments
1 - Toni
I also want to say what a wonderful magical adventure HP FanTrips is! My family and I have been on the three HP Fan Trips offered so far (2004, 2005, and 2006) and they keep getting better and better every year!
Alnwick Castle is one of my favorite spots - not only is it the location of many filming spots (i.e., first broom lesson), but the castle itself is typical of what you would expect an English castle to look like - grand and magnificent! The gardens and fountains are gorgeous, and the rooms in the castle exquisitely furnished. And the Qudditch games were SO MUCH FUN! The view of the sheep in the field and castle in the background was just stupendous!
I was also on the tour that stopped at the gates of Leavensden Studios -- how exciting to see the studios where much of the filming was done in all the Potter movies!
The tour of London was exciting, especially visiting and standing at Platform 9 - 3/4!
Check out www.hpfantrips.com - they are starting to take reservations now for HP Fan Trips 2007!
2 - Brenda (aka mediterre)
I was on the same trip that Jenna describes and I had the time of my life. I will never forget it as long as I live and might do the tour again after Book 7 and Movie 7. The ride on the Hogwarts express, magical... Edinburgh Castle, like living a dream... The Scottish highlands, like I died and went to heaven...
The guides and the people on the tour were fantastic. Scrape your pennies together and go. It's worth every cent.
3 - Tim Draayer
Looks like great fun. The pictures are absolutely beautiful so if they are an indication of the fun to be had. :)
YTB Travel WorldWide
4 - Sophia
Jenna! *huggles* Awesome article!
And being the insane HP FanTrips enthusiast that I am, I thought it would be in my best interest to comment.
Three Words: Best-uber-awesomtstic-super-amazing trip ever! (And yes the hypens count as one word.)
I was on the original HP FanTrips (2004) and the most recent (2006). It is amazing. The sites are gorgeous - for the time of the trip you feel like your on set (not such a bad dream, eh?) The guides all the staff are super friendly and knowledgable. There are people you never forget - that you still e-mail years later - and there are insane things that go on. For example, can one ever forget when a certain nameless person walked around all of London in a Gryffindor robe? Picturesque moments and a dream never to forget.
And the best part is that the trip gets better every year...
5 - John Kevin Beaver
Well Iem Interrest In Playing A Game Of Muggles Quidditch You Know the All New Gym & Back Yard & Some Park Ot Ball Field Typw Quidditch On The Ground You Know The New Non Flying Around On Booms Typw that You Really Play for Real with some One I Really Would Like try playing with some One for Real Beside Me My Self EH?
Yours Sincerly
Mr. John,Kevin,Beaver Of Carmi ILLINOIS U.S.A.
6 - Leigh Trapp
Many thanks to Jenna for capturing the essense and magic of the HP Fan Trips that we all try to convey to our friends and family. Jenna- thanks for finding a way to condense multiple days of magic into a solid synopsis. The tips for traveling will also help new HP Fan Trip travelers in the future. We've taken two HP Fan Trips. We cannot speak highly enough of these adventures. They've given us memories and experiences of a lifetime.
For any Harry Potter fan, there is no better way to experience and celebrate the world of Harry Potter. Whether you love the books or the movies, the opportunities (ie- riding the train used in the movies or the gala banquet at Edinburgh castle) cannot be matched. The Beyond Boundaries staff keeps perfecting this theme trip...and they just keep getting better and better. Plus, the staff and guides are such a pleasure to deal with. Finally, the wonderful people you meet - and the friendships that you form with co-travelers on these trips are a wonderful additional bonus. These trips are truly magical.
7 - Jay Bermudez
Greetings to all, from the HP Trips and to those that have not gone yet.
Tours are expensive, and most people get very upset that, it was not worth it or not enough time to really enjoy or take a breather. I know of this throughout the tours that I have been too.
"BUT" Finding Beyond Boundaries and reaching out to her tour. I found that there was a special person behind all of this (Jeannie Barresi) that had her Magic Wand and touch, that can make the tour come to life and no matter what age you are. She and Beyond Boundaries can bring out your imagination and wonders as well as your inner childhood in their fabulous tours (there were grandparents in Robes and partaking in Qudditch).
Every day and every moment of the Tour is an HP adventure, (I've been to the HP TRIPS 2004, 2005, and 2006)from riding the Olton Hall Express, to the walking into Oxford's ChristChurch, where the First Years sorting began and the magic days you count in seeing other sites, until the last day, the Banquet, where everyone dresses up in Robes and it seems like the Magic is always there...even when it's all over. HP Trips are worth every Sickle and Galleon. Can't wait for HP Trip 2007.
PS...
They are the only tour group that I have ever known to care more about their guest than the tour itself......But, on the other hand, the tours are a Smashing Success, which makes Beyond Boundaries the Greatest Tour Company around.
Jay Bermudez, New York, NY
8 - Vivi
Guys, i founded a guy that is exately like Daniel Radcliff, like Harry Potter.
His hair, his face! Very very similar!
If any one of u want to see a photo, please, contact me!
Let something here, and then i can create a fotolog, and show u all.
9 - Dena
Jenna, I want to thank you for this review! I'm actually planning to sign up for the London/Oxford/Scotland tour as well as the Hogwarts School. I was a bit nervous about how it will be but your blog eased me a good ammount. I will try to comment on here again after my tour concludes this summer!
10 - Dena
One more thing I'd like to add about Beyond Boundaries...they are really helpful. I must have emailed them about a billion questions and they always reply in a timely manner answering anything I need to know.
11 - Taylor
hey guys. i am looking for a really fun tour for Harry Potter but i am having trouble finding one in my price-range :( if you guys could help me out that would be great!
Thanks