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HBO Max celebrates UK launch coming this week with London takeover

TV fans go wild as London transforms into a blockbuster playground, with Friends, House of the Dragon, and more taking over the capital for HBO Maxs UK launch.

London was transformed into a cinematic wonderland today, as legendary scenes from Friends illuminated The Venue, Piccadilly Lights. Meanwhile, a colossal House of the Dragon structure will tower over Potters Fields near London Bridge on Thursday as part of a capital-wide takeover.

Crowds are expected to congregate at the HBO Max experience in Piccadilly, forming queues to enter meticulously recreated sets - from The White Lotus reception to Carrie's Sex and the City flat and the Iron Throne itself.

The takeover signals the official launch of HBO Max in the UK on Thursday, with London reimagined to honour the platform's most significant universes, characters and narrative highlights.

[Fans explore the HBO Max Experience, a 6,500 square foot immersive showcase of premium TV, film, and sport in Piccadilly Circus]

HBO Max Experience is a 6,500 square foot immersive showcase in Piccadilly Circus

As part of the broader metropolitan takeover, installations are emerging throughout Piccadilly, Leicester Square and Potters Fields Park near Tower Bridge, offering enthusiasts the opportunity to get nearer than ever to some of HBO's most legendary worlds.

The 6,500 square foot experience beneath the Piccadilly Lights allowed visitors to explore fully realised sets, original costumes and props from titles including House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, Sex and the City and Euphoria. The experience was brought to life with state of the art projection mapping and interactive moments.

Outside the venue, Londoners gathered at the Friends sofa for hourly choreographed performances of the much loved theme tune, while a travelling HBO Max food truck in Leicester Square served themed treats.

[Fans explore the HBO Max Experience, a 6,500 square foot immersive showcase of premium TV, film, and sport in Piccadilly Circus]

Fans can pretend to be hosts of TNT sports as part the experience

They feature Friends-inspired biscuits using Phoebe's grandmother's recipe, White Lotus Tropical Smoothies drawn from Saxon Ratcliffe's blender obsession, elaborate House of the Dragon themed chocolate eggs and Sopranos-style ziti.

Close by, visitors struck poses for photographs alongside the park's Batman and wizarding world Harry Potter statues as the takeover delivered a surge of TV nostalgia to the capital.

At Potters Fields Park on Thursday, enthusiasts will be able to witness the towering Balerion dragon skull and Iron Throne installation up close, stepping forward to "claim the throne" against the backdrop of Tower Bridge.

[Fans explore the HBO Max Experience, a 6,500 square foot immersive showcase of premium TV, film, and sport in Piccadilly Circus.]

Costumes from the House of Dragon are also on display(Image: Will Ireland/PinPep/SWNS)

Alex Lewis from HBO Max said: "We're thrilled to be bringing HBO Max to viewers in the UK and Ireland.

"Our HBO Max pop-up experience and London takeover week of launch will celebrate the ultimate mix of best-in-class series, movies, extraordinary real-life stories and exclusively live sport from TNT Sports available to viewers on the platform.

"UK and Ireland audiences will be able to stream The Pitt, House of the Dragon, Euphoria, Lanterns, Superman, Sinners, One Battle After Another, as well as the eagerly awaited Harry Potter series for the first time all in one place on HBO Max."

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