Warner Bros. Studio Tour: Harry Potter

Potterheads, prepare for the ultimate Harry Potter adventure that has ever existed: The Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London. I have done my fair share of Harry Potter related things, such as midnight premiers for both the books and movies, playing quidditch at my high school, and visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida. Now take all of that excitement and combine it, and you still don't have what I felt for the studio tour in London. 

This is where all eight films were made. Where the actors and over 4,000 people came together to create the magical world of Harry Potter. After ten years of filming the staff left behind the actual sets, costumes and props used throughout the movies; and it's all open for visitors to explore and gawk over. I don't think I've ever geeked out so hard.  

Booking and Getting There

Our adventure started by booking our tickets in advance here, which included picking a date and time. Although we picked 5:30pm, out of excitement and lack of knowledge on the UK transport system we showed up an hour early, and were still allowed to enter once we arrived. 

Transportation throughout London is easy once you actually know what you're doing. We were able to take a 20 minute ride on the overground using our Oyster Card, and we got off at Watford Junction. Once outside the train station we easily found the Harry Potter bus, which was a double decker covered in Harry Potter pictures. We paid 2 pounds each for a roundtrip ticket to get us to the actual studio. The bus ride was a quick one, about 15 minutes, and then we were there! As soon as you step off the bus you can hear the magical notes of the Harry Potter soundtrack escaping from the automatic doors. 

The Tour

The Lobby

The lobby welcomes you with headshot of the actors and a few props such as the Weasley's flying car hanging from the ceiling. We quickly joined the queue and somewhat patiently waited in line until it was our turn to enter. They let around 50 people through at a time in 15 minute increments which keeps the whole tour spaced out so you have a chance to get up close to everything you want to see. We sat in a theater and watched a quick film hosted by Daniel, Emma and Rupert where they explain the significance of the studio which practically brought me to tears, and then... the screen rises, and BOOM. the doors to the great hall are right there! Cue hysterical screams (internally of course, gotta keep it cool). It felt like we were really there! (maybe because we were!?)  

The Great Hall, with actual costumes in the background

Dumbledore's robes

Upon entering the great hall there was an employee who gave us a brief description of what would follow, and then we were on our own to explore the magical studio of Harry Potter! I did my best to only take photos of the best and most important things, but overall I had a couple hundred pictures... Following are what I deem important. Enjoy! 

The Mirror of Erised and The Fat Lady

Robes from the Yule Ball

Gryffindor common room with costumes of Hermione and Harry (?)

Throughout the entire studio there were videos playing both from the movie and of interviews from the actors and behind the scenes crew. For example, near the gryffindor common room there was a video on loop that shows the trio hanging out in the common room during one of the films. 

Dumbledore's office and one of his many costumes

The entrance to Dumbledore's office

Various props used during the films 

In order to make the paintings move, many of the frames were actually just green screens

Various sets from the Ministry of Magic

They had an entire area set up with green screens where you got to ride a broom stick while soaring through the streets of London and over the grounds of Hogwarts. Of course you had to pay about $30 to get the actual video, so we just opted for a few quick pics of us on brooms with the green screen (and a robe!) 

King's Cross Station in London has an entire area dedicated to Platform 9 3/4, so we previously got our pictures running onto the platform. But I couldn't resist another one.

All interior shots of the train scenes were shot on a set with a green screen as the window. However, the majority of the exterior train shots were shot with the actual Hogwarts Express that was built for the movies.

The actual statues that were used in the first film during Wizard's Chess

Privet Drive

 

Props, including Dobby's head! 

Diagon Alley

A Hogwarts model was built to be an exact replica of the castle itself, complete with real landscaping and fibre optic lighting. This was used in most overhead and faraway shots of the castle during the movies. 

I could go on and on, but basically all you need to know is that the Warner Bros. Studio Tour is worth your time if you're in any way a Harry Potter fan. It was surreal to see the actual props and costumes and to learn about the making of the sets. I would definitely recommend this excursion to any Potterhead.