J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Magic of Best-Sellers
Who hasn’t heard of J.K. Rowling? The British author created Harry Potter, the best-selling book series of all time with more than 500 million copies sold worldwide.
The seven-part fantasy series includes The Philosopher’s Stone, The Chamber of Secrets, The Prisoner of Azkaban, The Goblet of Fire, The Order of the Phoenix, The Half-Blood Prince, and The Deathly Hallows. It has spawned a massive movie franchise, stage adaptations, video games, and theme parks.
J.K. Rowling Travel Tips
Orlando, Florida is home to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park at the Universal Orlando Resort. You can ride the Hogwarts Express train, take a 3D ride through Gringotts Bank, explore Hogwarts School on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, buy a magic wand, and much more. Many of these attractions also exist at Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles and Universal Studios Japan in Osaka.
Book a Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London to discover how the classic Harry Potter movies were made. Explore the sets for Diagon Alley, the Great Hall, and the Forbidden Forest. See animatronic creatures like the giant spider Aragog and Buckbeak the Hippogriff, as well as Quidditch uniforms and jars with magic potions. Tours run about three and a half hours.
Attend a performance of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre in London or the Lyric Theatre in New York. The play explores the adventures of Harry Potter’s son, Albus Severus Potter. Book tickets months in advance for this ultra-popular play.
Head to Platform 9 3/4 at King’s Cross Station in London, where Harry Potter embarks for his train trips to Hogwarts Castle. A magic-themed Harry Potter shop sells colorful board games, mugs, toys, and costumes representing the school houses of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin.
In Edinburgh, Scotland, enjoy breakfast or a cup of coffee at The Elephant House. The cozy cafe where J.K. Rowling worked on her first Harry Potter book in the 1990’s overlooks Edinburgh Castle. The hot chocolate and sticky buns are perennial favorites.