It’s a modest-looking child’s wardrobe – which acts as a gateway into the magical world of Harry Potter.
A £1,500 replica of the Potter films’ shopping street Diagon Alley has been conjured up for a thrilled six-year-old called Ella by her father, hidden away behind the wardrobe.
Business analyst Dylan, 42, decided to build the 14ft by 5ft replica of the street in an extension at their terrace house after watching hit movie Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone with Ella at the beginning of lockdown.
In the Potter film series, the wizardly street is accessed by tapping bricks in a certain order behind the Leaky Cauldron pub in central London.
A £1,500 replica of the Potter films’ shopping street Diagon Alley has been conjured up for a thrilled six-year-old called Ella by her father
Ella’s at-home Diagon Alley is hidden away behind a wardrobe which can stand inside
Business analyst Dylan, 42, decided to build the 14ft by 5ft replica of the street in an extension at their terrace house after watching hit movie Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone with Ella at the beginning of lockdown
But Ella can visit by simply opening her wardrobe door. The idea for entering a magical world this way formed part of the Narnia stories, including The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe.
Dylan told the Daily Mail that Ella was overjoyed by the creation at their Berkshire home, adding: ‘Her first words were, “Can this stay here for ever?” ’
He recalled: ‘I was thinking I need to do something for Ella. I had to cancel her holiday and she was home-schooling – working really hard – and we were stuck in the house. She was really missing her schoolfriends back then.
‘We’d been watching Harry Potter – the first film because she’s only six. She really liked it because she sees these kids hanging out in school and it’s all magical. I was staring at this long, thin room wondering what to do with it as I’m halfway through an extension, and the idea popped into my head, “Maybe I could build a little play street for Ella?”
‘It was a bit of a crazy idea but from a lot of different perspectives it made sense.’ After months of planning, Dylan spent three weekends building the magical world, enlisting the help of a friend who works at Pinewood film studios to create shop fronts.
In the Potter film series, the wizardly street is accessed by tapping bricks in a certain order behind the Leaky Cauldron pub in central London (pictured)
Dylan told the Daily Mail that Ella was overjoyed by the creation at their Berkshire home, adding: ‘Her first words were, “Can this stay here for ever?” ’
There is also a version of wand shop Ollivanders. Ella can go window-shopping at Eeylops Owl Emporium or choose a flying broomstick from the Quidditch store
Dylan included plenty of Potter details including an ice cream parlour, based on Florean Fortescue’s shop, a bookstore with hidden stairs leading to a reading nook, and a secret map.
There is also a version of wand shop Ollivanders. Ella can go window-shopping at Eeylops Owl Emporium or choose a flying broomstick from the Quidditch store. And when spring comes around next year she can spend time pressing flowers in the street’s apothecary.
Dylan even dressed up at Hagrid, the ‘keeper of the keys’ at Hogwarts wizard school, as he unveiled his creation for Ella. The mini Diagon Alley was created parallel to the kitchen in the house and leads to the garden.
Dylan included plenty of Potter details including an ice cream parlour, based on Florean Fortescue’s shop, a bookstore with hidden stairs leading to a reading nook, and a secret map
He already has an idea for the next project, inspired by Harry Potter’s best friend Ron Weasley
He said of the cost: ‘It’s a lot but it’s worth it for helping Ella through this time. I’ve always thought it would be cool for a kid to have a mini-world – that’s one reason I built this. I don’t need a massive, huge flashy kitchen I probably can’t afford.
‘I’d rather keep it as a little playroom for her. All the memories we’re forming now – I even dressed up as Hagrid, it was hilarious – all of that means it would be very difficult to let go.’
He already has an idea for the next project, inspired by Harry Potter’s best friend Ron Weasley. He said: ‘I’ve got a little playhouse in the garden – it’s a very small garden. It does look a bit like Ron Weasley’s house…’