There are so many cool things you can experience from your living room couch these days, and even though it’s not the same as actually being there, a virtual tour or viewing is better than nothing.
J.K. Rowling has been great about pushing her Harry Potter content out to a wider audience, and many of the people who own a stake in the properties are doing the same.
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The British Library is following her line of thinking and making their Harry Potter: A History of Magic exhibit free online. You can access it through Google Arts and Culture, wandering virtually though features that explore the history of magic across the United Kingdom.
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The exhibit includes a witch’s scrying mirror from The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, illustrations from Jim Kay, and the story of how Harry Potter was conceived and made its way into the collective consciousness.
The online collection is part of the #HarryPotterAtHome effort championed by Rowling and the Wizarding World franchise team, who are working together to promote online access at this time.
The History of Magic exhibits are organized like Hogwarts courses, divided into Potions, Herbology, Charms, Astronomy, Divination, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Care of Magical Creatures, and Alchemy.
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The magical creatures portion should be especially fascinating for fans of the Fantastic Beasts franchise and contains a digitized and annotated collection of medieval bestiaries.
Licensing for the books themselves has also been relaxed, meaning you can nab the first ebook and audiobook for free right now, and teachers are allowed to read them aloud online. Other Harry Potter at Home resources include quizzes, crafts, articles, and tons of fresh content for fans of all ages.
So get your booties online, people – there’s a whole wizarding world out there to explore and there’s no telling how long it’s going to last!