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This Christmas is an especially exciting time for Harry Potter fans. On Christmas Day, the new Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone TV show will premiere on HBO, and Potterheads will get to experience the wizarding world in a whole new way. Alongside that, there are Harry Potter themed festive lights coming to London and an enormous official shop is landing on Oxford Street.
Is that still not enough magic for you? Well, if you really want to Potter-max this festive season, then head to the north of England to step inside the Forbidden Forest. Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience is returning to Bolesworth Castle in Cheshire this December.
The Forbidden Forest will come to life as darkness falls. Along the 1.95km woodland trail, you’ll encounter creatures from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts franchises. The Hippogriff, the Niffler, unicorns and more will be brought to life through light and sound installations and projections.
Visitors will also get to cast spells, conjure up their own patronus, step inside Aragog’s cobwebbed lair and take pictures inside the Thestral Carriage (led by those winged skeletal horses). And new this year, watch out for the magical golden egg (from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) and a terrifying death eater.
All in all, the trail will take roughly 90 minutes to complete. Once you’ve made it through the Forbidden Forest, you’ll get to hang out in the themed village, indulge in food and drinks inspired by the Harry Potter universe and browse exclusive merch and souvenirs to take home.
Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience is at Bolesworth Castle from December 10. Tickets go on general sale on Tuesday November 3 with a presale on Friday October 30. Sign up here.
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