Fresh from their Wizard School party on Friday, students plunged straight into the world of witchcraft and wizardry on Saturday as they made the journey (or pilgrimage, as it was for some), to the Warner Bros. Studios. Here were all eight Harry Potter films made; and students learned that it was a rare thing to have such as treasure trove of production artefacts preserved after filming, but due to the length of the series and the fact that JK Rowling was still writing the books as the films were coming out, almost everything was saved for future use and, now, for avid fans and curious tourists.

Students (and staff, to be sure) had a truly magical time, browsing shop windows along Diagon Alley, stepping inside the Great Hall (modelled on Oxford’s very own Christ Church, lest we forget), riding a broomstick (with the aid of a green screen), and taking the refreshment of a Butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks. The special exhibition of Wizarding Wardrobes was a fascinating delight for students, as they competed at putting characters to particular costumes, with a bonus point for identifying the film in which they appeared.

It was quite a feat to convince students that it was time to go home, and to get them back on the bus, but once back in Oxford they were happy to end the day playing tennis and football in the University Parks.