Dylan Saxby 42 wanted to do something interesting while being stuck at home for a long time during the lockdown. His six-year-old daughter Ella was being homeschooled all this while. It had not been an easy road to be confined in one place.

Dylan who lives in Windsor came up with a plan to entertain Ella by creating a place inside that she would love to spend time in.

The six-year-old has been following Harry potter. So her dad decided to transform the space behind her wardrobe into a Diagon Alley. For those who are unaware of its fictional existence it is basically a cobblestoned wizarding passage and shopping area.

This single dad originally from Caernarfon in Wales found this vacant space behind Ella’s wardrobe that served no purpose. Then he thought about all the ways in which he could utilize that empty area. Of course he went with the plan of building a mini version of Diagon Alley for his daughter!

The idea struck him in April and he started working on the project in August. By the end of September around Ella’s birthday the project was complete. He surprised his little girl with the incredible Harry Potter-inspired space. She was over the moon as she saw it.

Dylan works for The John Lewis Partnership as a business analyst at the Waitrose headquarters. He spent a lot of time with his daughter during the lockdown and planned to liven up her days with this surprise.

“Ella was so grateful and kept asking if we can keep it forever and how had I built it! We played all weekend on the first weekend and we are in it a lot when she is here which is half the time” he shared.

Presently his mini version of the shopping street includes Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlor Ollivander’s wand shop Quality Quidditch Supplies and Eeylops Owl Emporium. But this dad has a lot more in store. He wishes to set up more shops in the mini street.

“I haven’t had time to add it up but I spread the cost over the last six months as I bought things for it. It didn’t break the bank as I saved on not commuting or going out and buying a few things here and there and reusing wood I already had” Dylan revealed.

“If I was to guess I would say just over £1000 which is more than any present Ella’s ever got but it’s more than that – it’s to help her and I with work entertainment and learning in the lockdown so totally worth it and all the work!”

This loving dad brought the magical universe of Harry Potter to his daughter in a perfect way. Who doesn’t love a secret room inside the wardrobe? It’s every kid’s dream!

He shared more about the spot that he likes the most. Dylan said “My favourite bit is probably the reading nook as it’s where Ella likes to be most and I can talk to her from the street through the upstairs windows.”

He had to face a few challenges while creating the mini Diagon Alley as every detail needed attention. Sometimes things were too hefty to handle like a ‘massive two metre by 1.4 metre sheet of wood’ that demanded a lot of strength and patience for setting up.

Further Dylan encouraged every person to execute their creative ideas. He said “Keep researching keep talking to others about it. I surprised myself when it turned out so well!!”

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