St Edmund's

La La Land – Day 6

….and it’s somehow our last day in LA. So, after a farewell breakfast it’s time to check out and head off to the Warner Brothers Studio for our last tour, where we are taken behind the cameras for a revealing look at the magic of Hollywood. It was a wonder to see the grins and hear the gasps of our wonderful pupils, as our knowledgeable tour guides took us through backlots, streets and sound stages to see the real sets where such shows as Gilmore Girls, Pretty Little Liars, Batman, The Big Bang Theory, the Marvel films and Annie were filmed. We saw workshops where sets were being built, props and costumes from Harry Potter and Game of Thrones, cars from Batman; we became Hobbit-sized at a forced-perspective special effects table, and had photos taken on the couch at Central Perk on the Friends’ set, before each and every one of us were sorted into individual houses by the Sorting Hat. Whatever our viewing preferences, we all felt the thrill of this magical place.

As a treat for being such an incredible group of kids we dropped in for warm, gooey cookies at the infamous (and expensive) ‘Crumbl’ before having a final chance to buy last-minute treats and gifts for ourselves and our loved ones, at the enormous Westfield Culver City mall. 

Then it was time to say farewell to this City of Angels and head for the airport to return home.

It has been an incredible, varied trip full of sunshine and smiles – and Mr Sell, Mrs O’Connor and Mr Sykes would like to thank you all. A combination of terrific parenting and a real dose of St Edmund’s magic has created some of the most warm, considerate, kind, funny, open and loving human beings we’ve been fortunate to have ever taken away on a trip. Heroes, one and all.

Howard Sykes

Assistant Director of Drama