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Tour Archive
The 2006 itineraries are available here.

Scotland Budget Itinerary (Bronze)

July 31 - August 7, 2005
8 days/7 nights (airfare not included)
$1749 per person (dbl occupancy)

This itinerary has been specially designed for all Harry Potter fans. It offers an exciting exploration of Oxford, Alnwick (Northumberland) and Edinburgh through the eyes of Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland, ghosts and goblins and legends of this land which have inspired writers for centuries. Our storyteller will thrill you with the legend of Padfoot and the true tale of the Hand of Glory, which grabs Harry in Knockturn Alley (Chamber of Secrets). From the journey on a one-of-a-kind vintage steam train to knock-your-socks-off banquets, you're sure to be enchanted with this "kingdom."

Included:

  • Seven nights accommodations at 3-star hotels
  • Daily services of a Professional Guide
  • Hogwarts-style Banquet
  • Ride on the train used as the Hogwarts Express in the filming of the Harry Potter movies, including a full day of activities
  • Virtual reality flying game
  • Falconry Demonstration
  • Admissions to Alnwick Castle and Alnwick Gardens
  • Presentation on the history of witches
  • Wizarding Games
  • Panoramic tour of Edinburgh
  • Tour of the Edinburgh vaults
  • Coach tour including the Glenfinnan Viaduct and other film locations
  • Breakfast daily, 1 picnic lunch, 3 dinners including "Hogwarts"-style banquet and a special dinner at Alnwick Castle
  • Transfers as noted on itinerary
  • Gratuities for Guide and Driver
  • Limited edition Alivan's magic wand
  • Optional panoramic tour of London ($50.00 per person extra based on group size of 20 persons)

Daily Schedule

Tip: On a budget? Check out the Weekend package. It hits some of the main highlights of HP Fan Trips™ 2005 at an unbeatable price.

July 31 (Day One)

Hogwarts hallway

Arrival in London from overnight flights. Optional: Transfer into the city of London via coach for a ½ day sightseeing tour that includes filming locations from the Harry Potter movies. Flights must be booked to arrive by 8:30 am for a 10:00 am departure to London.

Transfer via coach to Oxford where you will take a city tour. Buses will pick up arriving guests and depart every hour on the hour from 8:00am to 12:00 noon. For Accio conference attendees, we will provide transfers from Reading to Oxford if a minimum of 20 attendees have booked HP Fan Trips™ 2005 tours.

Oxford is the perfect place for a Harry Potter-themed celebration. It is referred to as the City of Dreaming Spires because of its beautiful architecture. The city is the home of England's oldest university and while it is also an industrial city on the Thames, the association with learning and the academic way of life remains paramount. Many scenes from the Harry Potter movies were filmed in Oxford, plus even more in the upcoming Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Take some time to rest from your journey before this evening celebration of a very special birthday dinner, "Hogwarts"-style! You'll truly enjoy the banquet as you sit in an historic Oxford dining hall, renew friendships with HP Fan'ers from 2004 or make new friends. There's always a great deal to talk about when this crowd gets together!

Transfer to hotel 3-star accommodation which may not be centrally located.

August 1 (Day Two)

Continental breakfast (included).

Hogwarts Express

Transfer to the train depot for a 7:00 a.m. departure for the ride of your life! You will be sitting in the very carriages that were used in the filming of the Harry Potter movies. A diesel engine will speed you in these vintage carriages to a changing point where the carriages will be connected to the train used as the Hogwarts Express in the filming of the Harry Potter movies, and continue on a beautiful ride into the Lake District. You will be given some time to shop and eat there at your leisure.

Inside the Hogwarts Express

Throughout the day there will be activities on the train such as games, divination classes, stories and socializing! Just as it took Harry and his classmates all day to travel to their school, you will be treated to an all-day adventure through the gorgeous English countryside. The scenery and activities throughout the day will inspire your own magical memories.

We don't need to tell you how special this is... Let the HP Fan'ers from 2004 tell you. You'll be riding in the actual train compartments that were used in the movies - a truly unique experience, as the train does not come out of the depot except for filming or museum exhibitions!

Transfer to 3-star accommodations.

August 2 (Day Three)

Continental breakfast (included).

Keble Hall

Visit Christ Church College and other locations that were used in the filming of Harry Potter.

Enjoy a virtual reality game called Wizard's Cavern throughout the day. Test your flying skills on a broomstick, with your image superimposed into the VR system in real-time. Feel the sensation of flying by making the broomstick travel with your whole-body movements – catch the golden rings to win!

Option (at no additional cost) to participate in a fascinating presentation by Oxford lecturer Robin Briggs who will discuss the history of witches and wizards based on his studies of witchcraft trials across Europe between the years of 1400 and 1700.

Great literature has come from masters based in Oxford – Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia and J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. You may want to visit the Museum of Oxford to see Alice's clothing and other items, or visit Alice's shop to buy some themed gifts. A visit to Tolkien's grave is an unique pilgrimage to make, where fans have left notes written in Elvish, laid rings as tokens of respect or just spent a quiet few moments paying homage to the creator of the legendary epic.

Enjoy a free evening! Stay at 3-star accommodations.

August 3 (Day Four)

Continental breakfast (included).

Board your coach for a journey to Newcastle, our resting place on the way to Alnwick Castle. Along the way we'll stop for a falconry demonstration and have a picnic lunch.

Falconry

Falconry is an age-old tradition in the UK and you will have the opportunity to witness a wonderful demonstration at the Leeds Royal Armouries Museum. You will also see exhibits of weapons and armour used throughout British History. The Leeds Museum offers five galleries and various demonstrations throughout the day, so there's something for everyone to enjoy!

Dinner will be included this evening. Transfer to 3-star accommodations in Newcastle.

August 4 (Day Five)

Continental breakfast (included).

Transfer to Alnwick where Alnwick Castle and Alnwick Gardens are located. Here you will gaze upon the scenery used for Harry's first flying lesson. You will learn about the deadliest plants in the world at the new Poisonous Garden and take a lesson in herbology! Then enjoy some free time for lunch.

Quidditch for Muggles (photo © Orin and Cristina Bloomberg)

Test your skills at the wizarding game at a nearby park. Sorry - no flying allowed - but our land-based game designed by the National Governing Body for the Olympic sport of Team Handball is great fun! It was a huge hit for HP Fan'ers in 2004.

Alnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited such structure in England after Windsor Castle, and has been home to the Percys, Earls and Dukes of Northumberland since 1309.

A fabulous dinner is planned this evening at the Great Hall of Alnwick Castle. What fun to get together with other HP Fan Trips™ 2005 participants in the castle where so many scenes from the movies were filmed!

Transfer into Edinburgh and stay at 3-star accommodations which may not be centrally located.

August 5 (Day Six)

Continental breakfast (included).

Edinburgh Vaults

Spend the day in Edinburgh and enjoy the internationally famous Edinburgh Festival.

Edinburgh has become known as the "festival city" with over six festivals throughout the year. Perhaps the Edinburgh International Jazz & Blues Festival or the Edinburgh Military Tattoo will be your destination on this day!

The underground vaults in Edinburgh were only discovered in the mid 1980s as they had been abandoned for almost two hundred years. They were originally used as extra space for merchants who had their shops above, but they also have a dark past. The vaults will enlighten you on the history of Edinburgh.

Dinner at leisure. Transfer to 3-star accommodations.

August 6 (Day Seven)

Continental breakfast (included).

Board your coach and take a trip past many locations used in the Harry Potter films. See the highest mountain in Britain (Ben Nevis), pass close by the deepest freshwater loch in Britain (Loch Morar) and also the deepest seawater loch in Europe – Loch Nevis.

Glenfinnan Viaduct

See the world-famous 21-arch Glenfinnan Viaduct which has been used in the Harry Potter movies and offers wonderful views down Loch Shiel. See the country where many scenes from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban were filmed – an unforgettable day.

Return to Edinburgh for a panoramic tour of Edinburgh and then stop at the Edinburgh Castle. Depending upon arrival time, take a walking tour or enjoy some personal shopping time.

Free evening. Stay at 3-star accommodations.

August 7 (Day Eight)

Continental breakfast (included).

Transfer to the airport where your journey ends and you head back home. Or... if you choose to stay longer, enjoy your extended trip!


Harry Potter characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Ent. Harry Potter Publishing Rights J.K.R. These themed tours are not official 'Harry Potter' tours and are not endorsed, sanctioned or in any other way supported, directly or indirectly by Warner Bros. Entertainment, the Harry Potter book publishers and/or J.K.Rowling and her representatives.

Some images courtesy of Visit Britain. Original material copyright © 2003-2008 HP Fan Trips™ and Beyond Boundaries Travel. All rights reserved.