With spanking new attractions like HyperDrive and Tipsy Unicorn, as well as the upcoming Sky Lantern Festival, Sentosa is sure looking like a riot of fun these days. And now, a touch of the Wizarding World’s magic lights up its Coastal Trail along the Siloso area, with the emergence of the much-anticipated Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience. This is the immersive exhibition’s first Asia-Pacific rendition, after various runs in the USA, UK, and Melbourne.
Though this brooding forest is out of bounds to Hogwarts students – except in certain unfortunate cases of detention – we muggles are now cordially invited to traverse its wooded paths, with realistic interactive elements and surprises along the way.
Before the journey begins, make sure you download the Forbidden Forest Experience App on your smartphone for the best experience (Android here, Apple here). Spot the glowing insignia along the way to unlock special features like fun quizzes, themed selfie filters, and info bites.
As you embark on this mythical adventure, you’ll encounter creatures like Buckbeak the Hippogriff , treasure-hoarding Nifflers, and a couple of…less friendly beasts. Stay alert for ominous Dementors as you explore the illuminated trail, and don’t forget to peek between the trees for a sighting of the elusive sacred unicorn.
You’ll also get a chance to cast spells like a true witch or wizard. We won’t spoil it too much, but we have to say this: conjuring a Patronus is arguably one of the most spellbinding parts of this whole experience.
Wands are provided at certain stations, and at others, you’ll be invited to trigger the special effects with your hands – though it’ll be a lot more fun if you whip out your own prop wand instead of using your digits. Fret not if you don’t own one, as a pen would work just fine and still make for convincing photos in the dark. This writer used a tube of mascara that happened to be lying around in her handbag.
If you get peckish along the way, make a pit stop at the food shack for a swig of treacly Butterbeer ($14). Other sweet treats here include the crumbly Harry Potter Speculoos Cookie ($8) and Hogwarts Letter Cookie ($8), both of which are coated in a layer of soft icing sugar. There’s also a merchandise store up ahead where you can snag exclusive memorabilia.
Do note that this attraction is fully outdoors, so bring along an umbrella or poncho in case of sudden downpours, because the ‘Impervius’ charm doesn’t work in tropical Singapore. Do also don comfortable walking shoes, as the trail will take you around 30 minutes to an hour to complete, depending on your speed and how long you pause to stop at each highlight. Cosplaying, optional.
Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience officially opens in Singapore on February 3, 2024. Tickets start from $44 for adults, and $35 for children. Find out more and book yours here for dates up to April 21.
