In J. K. Rowling’s words, it is about the worst kept secret on this website that Travel Weekly are huge fans of The Leaky Cauldron, and the time has come for a new era of magic to be revealed with… Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
First mentioned in J. K. Rowling’s first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, this upcoming theatrical prequel purports to be a copy of Harry Potter’s textbook. However, a look inside the REAL cupboard under the stairs this week has revealed that unlike the rest of the Harry Potter series, the action takes place around the secret community of witches and wizards in 1926 New York City.
To know where to find this new magical world and to encourage an enchanted exploration of your own, Booking.com is presenting a list of five fantastical themed properties for us to explore. Accio Potter fans!
The Grove, Chandeler’s Cross, UK
Our first broom-stop is Leavesden Studios in Hertfordshire, England. This studio – where all films in the Harry Potter series, including the most recent film, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, have been filmed – offers its guests the opportunity to relive the magic through the eyes of the filmmakers that first brought the Harry Potter franchise to life. Here, guests can enjoy 300-acres of magical parklands, luxurious spa, 18-hole golf course and two swimming pools at The Grove, a 5-star hotel only a philosopher’s stone’s throw away from the studio’s very own, The Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour.
BridgeStreet Apartments at Liverpool ONE, Liverpool, UK
Our next apparition throws us back in time to the New York City of the 1920s, in Liverpool, England. At a second major filming location, guests embrace the magic BridgeStreet Apartments at Liverpool ONE has to offer, with impressive views of the city centre and modern interiors from a fully furnished kitchen to elegant bathrooms. Not to mention, it is only a 5-minute walk to the centre of Liverpool, including the infamous St. George’s Hall, so broomsticks and other methods of magical transportation can be left at home.
Georgian House Hotel, London, UK
For those muggles wanting to alight at Platform 9 3/4, guests can enjoy a world full of magic and marvel at the Wizard Chamber at the 19th century Georgian House Hotel in the centre of London. Each room features faux castle details – stained glass windows, stone walls, archways, trunks, cauldrons, among an abundance of other interesting artefacts – as the curious guests venture inside the Wizard Chamber, concealed behind a bookcase door.
The St. Regis, New York City, New York, USA
While filming for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them may not have taken place in New York City, the St. Regis is one of the most distinctive 1920s buildings in the heart of NYC, capturing the same charm of the Roaring 20’s American life but with modern amenities. The 5-star hotel is only a short walk from some iconic New York landmarks: the Museum of Modern Art, Carnegie Hall, Grand Central Station, Rockefeller Centre, and the Empire State Building,
The Chatwal, New York City, New York, USA
No magic wands needed for guests staying at this sophisticated New York City landmark. Guests of The Chatwal are met with the charm and glamour of 1920s American life as they take a trip down memory lane at the bar that serves classic cocktails of the roaring 20’s. Thinking of what you need when you need it, the luxurious rooms are each serviced with a personal butler, a 42-inch flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and 400-threw-count linens and down duvets – no tapestries necessary to enter The Room of Requirement!
