This is a must-do activity just outside of London if you're a huge fan. And even if you aren't it is so interesting to see how things were designed, engineered, built, painted, sculpted, sewn, orchestrated, and filmed. Truly inspiring, I think for the kids to see all the behind the scenes of such an undertaking. Who knew that Hogwarts was really just a model, a model that had to change with each new book, as the castle sort of grew larger and larger? Who knew that each brick was hand painted for again and again for each new movie? Who knew that they had a body double for Hagrid with a robotics-type mask for the full shots of him? Who knew that each wand was carefully hand carved/lathed, and that not one has ever been lost.
Truly, it was just fascinating. Such a fun day. Check out the link to see more.
The Great Hall
"Harry had never even imagined such a strange and splendid place. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting [...] The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight [..]Harry looked upward and saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars. He heard Hermione whisper, "It's bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History" It was hard to believe there was a ceiling there at all, and that the Great Hall didn't simply open on to the heavens."—Description of the Great Hall
"While you can still call home the place where your mother's blood dwells, there you cannot be touched or harmed by Voldemort. He shed her blood, but it lives on in you and her sister. Her blood became your refuge. You need return there only once a year, but as long as you can still call it home, there he cannot hurt you. Your aunt knows this. I explained what I had done in the letter I left, with you, on her doorstep. She knows that allowing you houseroom may well have kept you alive for the past fifteen years"--Albus Dumbledore telling Harry Potter about the powerful magical protection Harry has while he calls Privet Drive home[src]
The ACTUAL castle of Hogwarts
J.K. Rowling says she visualises Hogwarts, in its entirety, to be:
A huge, rambling, quite scary-looking castle, with a jumble of towers and battlements.
Diagon Alley
The Weasley Home
Wizard's Chess
Hermione: "That's totally barbaric.
"Ron: "That's Wizard's chess."