This was the most amazing day of the trip so far, for me anyway. We spent almost the entire day at the London Harry Potter Studio experience. There was so much to see and do and so much visual stimuli that, unlike at the British Museum, I did not have time to think and analyze, or takes notes about what I saw. I was so tired by this evening that I couldn’t even stay awake to write about the day, so this entry may be shorter than it otherwise would have been.
The excursion to the Harry Potter Studio was so much fun! Unlike the day before, where I had needed a cup of afternoon tea and I had noticed how achy my feet were, this day I was so hyped with adrenaline that I hardly noticed my feet and I was wide awake for the whole thing!
Doors to Hogwarts Great HallThe studio tour starts in a room with movie theater style seats where we sat and watched a short film in which the actors who played the 3 main characters Harry, Ron, & Hermione welcomed us to the experience. Finally the screen raised to reveal the doors to Hogwarts’ Great Hall. The audience surged forward out of their seats and we were then allowed to proceed through the doors into the set of the great hall. In the hall were not only the house tables, dressed with place settings, but costumes from each house were displayed along the walls. At the front of the room were the costumes of the professors that sat at the head table. After this room the tour guides left us to continue on at our own pace.
Hogwarts Great HallThe next room we stepped into was a GIANT warehouse space where several interior sets, props, and costumes have been stored and displayed. This one room took us hours to get through. At the back of the room there was an area with 8 green screen rooms where we waited in line to get our pictures taken and photo shopped into the flying car and riding brooms.
Interior sets: Dumbledore’s office, Gryffindor dormitory, Weasly kitchen, Professor Umbridge’s officeFrom there, we entered the new wing, added a couple months ago, where we found ourselves on Platform 9 ¾. Again we queued for photos, this time with scarfs and carts halfway through the brick wall of Platform 9 ¾.
Platform 9 3/4After numerous retakes, we queued to walk through the steam engine with carriage rooms redressed with props from each of the films. Across from the engine was an interior set for carriage seats where we could take photos.
By the time we were finished with the second room it was about 2pm and we happily entered a café that had been thoughtfully placed in the middle of the experience. After Butterbeer, some light sustenance, and resting of feet, we headed out onto the “backlot,” a small yard where we found the Night Bus, #4 Privit Drive, the house at Godrick’s Hollow, the Hogwarts bridge, as well as Hagrid’s motor bike and the flying car we could get in to take photos.
The house at Godrick’s Hollow
The Night BusBack inside, we entered the making of the films area. We walked by hair, makeup, costuming, animatronics, set models and art, blueprints,
Buckbeak, the Hippogriff, a very large animatronicand finally the model of Hogwarts Castle which was much larger than I had expected it to be.
Micah, my Mom & I in front of the model of Hogwarts CastleAn announcement stating the place was closing in an hour had spurred us on at hair and makeup. By the time we hit the final gift shop we had 10 minutes until the last bus left! I found a Gryffindor sweater, which is exactly what I had been wanting to buy on this trip. The sweater’s tag states that this sweater is made of sheep’s wool at the same mill in Scotland that made all the actors and extras’ sweaters. It is so unbelievably warm and practically wind proof. It will be great for work and I can’t wait to wear it with my scarf!
Plan Your Visit
Read the book: Harry Potter, books 1-7, by J. K. Rowling (Purchase via Amazon *affiliate link)
Visit the WB Studio Tour Website
Suggested Related Sites
- Kings Cross Station, London, England
- Harry Potter World, Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida, USA
Let’s Talk!
Have you been to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour? Do you want to go? Are you afraid seeing the props up close and behind the scene techniques will ruin your enjoyment of the films? Let’s discuss in the comments below!
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Lloyd & Yaya says
It’s so bad, we live in London and still haven’t visited the Studios! We must make more of an effort, it looks like you had a swell time!
Itching to go now! 🙂
A Suitcase Full of Books says
You should go! If I lived in London I’d probably try to go to at least one of the holiday events at the studio!
A Suitcase Full of Books says
You should go! If I lived in London I think I’d try to go to one of the studio’s holiday events. It’s certainly worth spending a day there if you like Harry Potter!
Therie says
It must’ve been a magical experience, Elizabeth! Enjoyed this post a lot, thanks for sharing!
A Suitcase Full of Books says
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for reading!