One of my first and favorite indoor activities I\u2019ve done to escape the heat was to tour Warner Bros. Studio, and see the set pieces, costumes and magic behind the \u201cHarry Potter\u201d film franchise.<\/p>\n
The \u201cHarry Potter\u201d books and films sparked my fascination with London at 12 years old, and I\u2019d dreamed of visiting the studio since then to truly come full circle.<\/p>\n
I spent almost five hours meandering through the streets of Diagon Alley, the Forbidden Forest and drinking a cold Butterbeer in the air-conditioned studio.<\/p>\n
There was even a special exhibit celebrating my favorite Potter film, \u201cThe Goblet of Fire,\u201d which had a giant green maze and poor Cedric\u2019s Hufflepuff outfit (rest in peace).<\/p>\n
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Kaitlyn poses during the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, a \u201cHarry Potter\u201d fan\u2019s dream.<\/p>\n
Courtesy of Kaitlyn Murphy<\/p>\n
The Jellycat Store inside Selfridges<\/strong><\/p>\n This was another really special visit for me, as I\u2019ve been wanting to get a Jellycat for so long but have resisted until now.<\/p>\n This Jellycat Store recently went viral for its fish and chips experience, but I opted to browse the shelves to see what spoke to me.<\/p>\n I chose to take home a little green frog that I named Naveen after my favorite Disney prince, and also my former pet African dwarf frog (may he also rest in peace).<\/p>\n Shelves lined with frog and turtle Jellycats in Selfridges.<\/p>\n Courtesy of Kaitlyn Murphy<\/p>\n The cinema<\/strong><\/p>\n Twist my arm, I\u2019ll go to the movie theater.<\/p>\n While the frigid icebox environment of the cinema was welcome in the heat wave, I\u2019ll take any chance I get to see a movie.<\/p>\n I would go so far as to say I\u2019m never more at peace than when I\u2019m in one of those soft seats with a bag of buttered popcorn, box of candy and a half-blue-half-red ICEE in my hand. Luckily, this summer is stacked with blockbuster after blockbuster.<\/p>\n So in the words of The Terminator, \u201cI\u2019ll be back.\u201d<\/p>\n Kaitlyn and her friends at the cinema seeing \u201cF1.\u201d<\/p>\n Courtesy of Kaitlyn Murphy<\/p>\n Foyles and Waterstones bookstores<\/strong><\/p>\n Who needs a Barnes & Noble when Foyles and Waterstones are both massive, fantastic bookstore chains with every genre of book that\u2019s ever been written.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t the smartest place for me to avoid the heat because if I spend too long browsing, I\u2019ll end up needing a whole new suitcase just to fill with books to bring home.<\/p>\n Even so, there\u2019s no shortage of books, magazines, movies, CDs and more to see in these stores on a hot day.<\/p>\n McDonald\u2019s<\/strong><\/p>\n Good old reliable, McDonald\u2019s.<\/p>\n My favorite cure for homesickness across the pond \u2014 a six-piece nugget meal, fries and a flat hamburger.<\/p>\n While the McDonald\u2019s here doesn\u2019t taste exactly the same as home, it offers blasts of air conditioning and sodas with actual ice inside them, which can be a rare find in London.<\/p>\n Sometimes it\u2019s the simplest things that bring us the most comfort.<\/p>\n MORE ABROAD COLUMNS<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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