5. Brush up on your wizarding lore

If you’re not familiar with some of the old bedtime stories commonly read to young wizard children, you can brush up a bit with the Tale of the Three Brothers. This story is told using stunning puppets and talented actors on the same stage where you’ll find Celestina. The tale is directed so artfully that it’s worth watching even if you do know the Three Brothers’ fates very well.

6. Cast some spells

Both sides of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter have a new interactive element that allows you to practice some magic of your very own. Purchase an interactive wand and you can try out your spells throughout Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. Interactive wands come with a map showing all the spots where you can cast spells, but you can also find them just by looking at the ground. Each area is marked with a clear medallion on the ground, indicating both the wand motion and the word needed to cast the particular spell.

The wand maps have a little something extra on them for wizards and witches who know where to look. Examine the map under a black light (or head to Knockturn Alley) to see hidden messages.

7. Meet the Knight Bus driver

The Knight Bus is the only major nod to the Wizarding World that you’ll find outside of Diagon Alley. This purple double decker bus is parked next to the fountain along the London façade. Stop by and have a chat with the Knight Bus driver on duty and snag a picture. He and his shrunken head are happy to converse with muggle fans who drop by to say hello.

If you’re not up for waiting in long attraction queues, you can still experience a great deal of magic in the Wizarding World with these experiences.