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katiebell · #1 (**permalink**) 02-15-2012, 11:18 PM

Visitors to the National Railway Museum in York, England, this week have the unique opportunity to ride the Hogwarts Express. The train is just one of many attractions available at the venue’s annual Wizard Week celebration, which will run through this Sunday, Feb. 19.

You can read all about the event below from our rep, Lucy Marfell, who attended Wizard Week on behalf of SnitchSeeker.

It's half term and the National Railway Museum in York is yet again playing host to Wizard Week, and I was lucky enough to go along on Sunday with a fellow fully grown adult and friend to partake in the magic.

You can start your day as we did, playing with felt-tip pens and ink pads and making up your own magical moniker in the process of creating your own Wizard ID badge in the Great Hall. These, combined with the new Best Dressed Wizard competition, make it easy to spot fellow Potterheads in the crowd.

For younger fans, the “all-action Wizard Duels” held in the Station Hall at 11am, 1pm and 3pm will be a treat – and you needn't worry about missing out: a voice infused with an enviable enthusiasm booms a reminder across the entire museum several minutes before performances begin. Just a word to the wise: they will ask for volunteers – children and adults alike – and if you've got hydrophobia, stand well back. There's the chatty animatronic Derek the Dragon, who takes half-hour breaks so you can watch the wizarding duels without missing his fiery wit. Plus, throughout the day you may well bump into a wandering wizard performing tricks and contorting balloons for your pleasure.

Real fun for fans of any age, however, comes in the form of a ride on the famous steam train Olton Hall – that's the Hogwarts Express to you and me. Not only is the engine itself on site, but this year, the Railway Museum has managed to get its hands on a carriage that was actually used in the films, giving you the opportunity to sit in the very same seats as your heroes. On Sunday, the steam-powered star of the franchise had a queue longer than its carriages, full of bundled-up fans waiting for their chance to see first-hand the set for so many well-loved shots. Although it's a short ride, it's entirely worth it for lovers of both Potter and rail.

Back inside the museum, and thanks to Falconry UK ltd, there's the chance to meet a wide variety of owls close up, including a haughty Snowy, a sleepy Scops and a super-secret species that has to be seen to be believed (and you'll have your work cut out). If you're lucky, you may get to don the glove and feel the oddly insubstantial weight of these creatures for yourself.

Not only that, but real-time green screen photography experts are on hand and, with just a little bit of magic (and a small charge of £5-7), they'll provide you with photographic evidence of you flying on a broomstick through the skies of northern England.

If you're planning a visit for Friday, you're in luck, because in a special one-off event this Friday only, Roger Highfield, author of The Science of Harry Potter, will be giving a talk on subjects such as the creation of Potter's flying scenes and the real-life potential of invisibility cloaks.

Admittance to the National Railway Museum is free, but there are costs to take part in certain Wizard Week activities. Check out the museum’s website for further information.

More photos from Wizard Week can be found here in our galleries.

Alex_Potter · 02-15-2012, 11:40 PM

This.Looks.EPIC! Wish I was down in England... I've saw the train in Mallaig where it usually is and I found that amazing

But my best moment of seeing the train was when I saw it go around a hill which is in the film (it was weird because i had stopped at the other side of the water for luch and it came by)

This train has been a big part of the films and im glad to say ive saw it upclose

x

wickedcml · 02-15-2012, 11:58 PM

Nice ! I wish I could attend.

MudInMyBlood · 02-16-2012, 12:10 AM

O.M.G. I so wish I could be apart of that. I love all of the wonderful things that you can do, but I would love LOVE to take a ride on the hogwarts express and get my picture taken while "riding" a broom. I am so jealous of everybody that gets to do this. Seriously once in a lifetime kinda thing!