The Harry Potter series is over, but the magic continues forever! (Or at least, until it becomes unprofitable.) There's the spin-off film series Fantastic Beasts, the Cursed Child Broadway play, the Wizarding World theme parks, the augmented reality game Wizards Unite, and the upcoming Ibiza calendar full of 'red hot ginger guys,' which technically has nothing to do with Harry Potter, but will help satisfy your weird crush on Ron Weasley.
Well, now there's another Harry Potter experience to add to your bucket list. The fantasy-themed North Shire Park, which is located near Saltburn in the UK, has opened Groundkeeper's Cottage, a luxurious replica of Hagrid's Cottage. (Yes, "luxurious." Nobody wants to stay in a realistic version of Hagrid's cottage. Fang hair everywhere, stray Skrewts, the stench of wine and poverty, Madame Maxime stopping by for late-night hookups - PASS.)
When visitors step through the lantern-lit wooden door, they enter a spacious living room, which contains a fireplace, kitchen and sofa bed. On the walls hang various Hagrid stuff, like baskets, old ropes, leather bags and a quill and ink. (No word on if they hid an ominous 'dragon egg' anywhere, but that would be a nice touch, wouldn't it?)
The living room opens into a bathroom and a bedroom. The bathroom contains a free-standing copperbath that looks absolutely pristine - probably because that dirty half-giant never used it. No offense meant to Hagrid, just saying, he doesn't strike me as the type of dude that showers every day.)
Credit: North Shire Park / Charlotte GrahamThe bedroom features a double bed, a wooden bunk bed and a mirror that we all know you're going to pretend is the Mirror of Erised, don't even try to deny it.
According to the North Shire Park website, Groundkeeper's Cottage is dog-friendly and can accommodate four adults, but presumably a couple more visitors if they're kids. (And you can always use an invisibility cloak to sneak someone in.) Some media outlets report the price is $250 (£195 ) a night, but the price under "Book Now" currently states £295 $380. (Sorry, Weasleys, you're too poor to visit!)
The owner, Harry Potter fan Carol Cavendish, spent nearly $258,000 (£200,000) to construct the lavish replica. "Books have always been an important part of my life, even after being diagnosed with dyslexia when I taught myself to read," Carol said, per The Daily Mail.
"They've also helped me through challenging times when I would turn to the Harry Potter books and Lord of the Rings for pure escapism," she added. "That's why it is so fantastic to create an environment where others can also leave behind their everyday life and step into their favorite storybook."
The cottage is opening just in time for International Harry Potter Day on May 2. North Shire Park also offers a hobbit hole for Lord of the Rings fans.
Hagrid's cottage in the Harry Potter films
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