SPELLBINDING FUN FOR POTTER FANS

still hadn’t met Santa yet! The moment, however, had arrived.

We handed over our Magic Tickets, hopped on to a sledge and through the forest we went, over a frozen lake, up and down hills to a log cabin deep in the woods.

A pair of elves ushered us in and there, next to a roaring fire, was Santa himself.

“Hello Layla and Ralph,” he boomed, beckoning our children over to the seats next to him. Their little faces lit up.

As if by magic, he whipped out their hand-written letters that had been “sucked up our chimney” a month before.

“Thanks for our presents, Santa,” they said, together. Mission accomplished.

It’s great to receive gifts at Christmas time, but saying thank you turned out to be the highlight! Fantastic Beasts: Wizarding World Wands is an installation of nine giant wands on the walkway between Millennium Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Standing 15 feet tall, the wands – inspired by those belonging to beloved characters in the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films – are the centrepiece of the new installation supporting the children’s charity Lumos.

See the lights on Peter’s Hill every night at 6.45pm from October 18 to November 12. See fantasticbeasts.co.uk/ wandsready.

VISITORS to Hogwarts In The Snow at Warner Bros Studio Tour London – The Making Of Harry Potter will see iconic sets from the Potter film series transformed for the festive season. The Great Hall will be dressed as it was for the Yule Ball, and trimmings added to the Gryffindor common room, SCOTLAND’S new Storybook Trail features a four-day Harry Potter film and book locations itinerary. Highlights include The Elephant House café in Edinburgh, known as the creative birthplace of Harry Potter,

JK Rowling’s handprints set in stone on the Royal

Mile, Ron

Weasley’s

Ford Anglia at Bo’ness

Motor Museum and the Jacobite

Steam Train across Glenfinnan Viaduct. See VisitScotland.com. The Old Newsagents is an 18th century townhouse in Alnwick, Northumberland, ideal for Alnwick Castle and Gardens which doubled as Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films. The holiday home, sleeping eight, is a short stroll from the attraction. Fans will recognise the quidditch pitch where Harry learned to fly a broomstick. From £639 for seven nights. See sykes cottages.co.uk. Ref 946099.

■ WHISKERS WORLD: The Worralls in Santa’s grotto in the woods ■ PULLING POWER: Reindeer ride in the forest AS excitement builds for the release of the new Wizarding World adventure, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald, in November, try these enchanting attractions… the Weasley burrow and the Hogwarts castle model from November 17 until January 27. Back by popular demand, fans also get the chance to attend Dinner In The Great Hall from December 10 to 12. Book at wbstudiotour.co.uk.