Wot? Wot? When viewed as a Muggle might view it, London, England doesn’t seem like much. Wallpapered in posters to new and upcoming films of fantasy and adventure said not to exist and trampled through by people who claim to own the newest, most lavish inventions said to make life easier than it will ever be. The roads ruled by fancy, yet sluggish automobiles they spend their hard-earned money on. And all the while, these Muggles insist on calling themselves intelligent when the main aim of the day is to some how make it through work, rush home, and plop down on the couch positioned perfectly in front of the television, a Muggle box that flashes bright pictures at random that has some sort of entrancing effect on the Muggle viewing it. But this is not our London. The cobblestone streets and alleyways that go unnoticed by the Muggles are actually lined by joke shops Muggles would never understand, pubs that could kill even the heaviest of drinkers, galleries that would baffle the most artiest of them, and Floo huts that would probably cause Muggles to burn up. The entrance to the Wizarding World: Diagon Alley. In Diagon Alley, one may find action, adventure, thrills, and much more. Sounds like the description of a Muggle movie—the ones that don’t exist. Little do they know, because they very much do exist. A new shop that has caught the eyes of many young witches and wizards is Weasley Wizard Wheezes, a joke shop run by twin Weasley brothers, Fred and George. Further down the alley is Madam Malkin’s shop for robes, followed by Mr. Ollivander’s wand shop, and Flourish and Blotts, the best bookstore for budding witches and wizards. With Diagon Alley being the entrance to our world, it is no surprise it has so many shops and wonders especially for the younger witches and wizards—the ones just entering the Wizarding World. With so many things in just one place, imagine how much more an individual will find and want to buy in the rest of London. Taking this into account, a good place to know of is Gringotts Bank. Gringotts is where galleons, sickles, knuts, and all sorts of Wizarding money is held. But besides money, Gringotts can be used to guard your most precious possessions. The bank is run by Goblins. They may look dull, but they are actually quite intelligent and creative in their methods of ensuring the safety of your belongings. The last time a Wizard tried to break into Gringotts, his life got cut short by a guillotine positioned above the door of the vault he had been attempting to rob. As soon as his head had been cut clean, an accurate synopsis of the event could not be made because an eight-headed horntail dragon had been kept in the vault. Needless to say, Gilbert, one of the dragon’s heads, enjoyed his dinner that night. Hungry now? London has an assortment of places to eat foods of all kinds. A favorite of locals and tourists of all kinds is Graaaa!!, which overlooks the battlefield of the first Goblin War from 1218. Reservations are hard to get, so call early, but not too early as this place is also run by goblins and they aren’t morning people. However, if you’re not in the mood for meat, Pez, Please is the number one bistro for seafood. The balcony seats overlook the beautiful Blue Bay Harbor (we don't know how it got there, since geographically, London isn't really close to any harbors) and the numerous cooks catch your meal right before you! A thrilling experience and meal for those who are into seafood. But after dinner, your sweet tooth will want attention, too. This is when you pay a visit to Dr. Love’s Ice Cream Shack. As the name suggests, ice cream is what this place is known for—you can even purchase Muggle ice cream from Dr. Love! Top your ice cream with the wide variety available at Dr. Love’s: chocolate sprinkles, peanuts, caramel, whipped cream, frog lips, cherries, candies (provided by Honeydukes), and much more. Antique churns and milk and butter from rare cows can also be found at Dr. Love’s. Among other popular tourist spots is, of course, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. If you aren’t keen on entering the Muggle world and going through Platform 9¾, then go west of New Hampstir Avenue and fly straight through Long Finger Street. Make sure your broomstick’s twigs have been clipped as Long Finger Street is quite narrow and many witches and wizards get their broomstick twigs caught in random, mysterious, unknown…things on the street. When you arrive on the Platform, board the Hogwarts Express (don’t forget to buy a ticket first!) and you’re ready to go. However, if you would like to get anywhere in a flash without the hassle of buying a ticket, flying to the train station, checking in your luggage, and boarding a train, drop by a Floo hut near you. Some huts require you bring your own Floo Powder, but the powder can usually be purchased at the hut. From the Floo hut, many tourists visit Saint Street (St. St. for short). This is where the Easter bunny, Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, Saint Patrick, Snow White, and the Wizard Pope live—for real. Since so many (and more) famous witches, wizards, and sorcerers, live here, St. St. has its own fireplace, located between the houses of the Sleeping Beauty (the ruckus from the tourists doesn’t bother her, she’s a deep sleeper) and the Easter bunny’s grandmother (she’s hard of hearing). Though the Floo huts will allow you to arrive quickly to any destination with a chimney, some prefer the scenic route when traveling, so Magnolia Valley and Mount Peacockery are gorgeous places to visit. And don’t let the bears eat you. The above locations ought to give any London enthusiast enough to do in a day in London. Until next time, this reporter is signing off from destination: London. |