Be a wizard for a day and enter the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!
Attention, Potterheads! For most of us, the wizarding world was our escape from reality when we were kids. It’s a world that’s difficult to fathom, but so exciting to explore. From traveling to Hogwarts whether by train or flying car, to facing the Sorting Hat to find out which house you belong to, and to attending different classes like Potions; Charms; and Defense Against the Dark Arts, the world of Harry Potter was a treat to discover and being able to visit a place that looks just like in the movies is like a dream come true!
The Warner Bros. Studio in London is the perfect destination for all Harry Potter fans who wish to turn their wizarding dreams into reality. There are so many sets and props to see in this Warner Bros. Studio Harry Potter tour, so get on your broomsticks, and get ready to fly to Hogwarts!
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter
If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to be in the world where the iconic trio of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger grew up, then head on over to this tour in Warner Bros. Studio in London where you’ll be taken to the behind-the-scenes of the making of the movies. The production crew of the film series made sure to save actual sets, props, and even costumes so you can feel what it’s like to be in Hogwarts, firsthand!
1. Actual sets to explore
Great Hall: The backdrop to some of the most iconic scenes, the Great Hall was the key set to almost all 8 films. In this tour, you will see two large tables where the students sat and had dinner, the teachers’ table at the top of the room where the Hogwarts professors sat, and some beautiful hand-crafted props like Dumbledore’s lectern and the House Points Counter. You will also find some of the students’ costumes here.
Platform 9¾: Welcome to the legendary Platform 9¾. This is where Harry first met one of his best friends, Ron. The Hogwarts Express, located on Platform 9¾, was the students’ way to get to their wizarding school. Although in the first movies, filming took place at a real train station, later on, they used this studio instead. The very first shot ever captured for the first movie was filmed in Platform 9¾, and so was the last shot for the final movie.
Forbidden Forest: The dark and eerie Forbidden Forest as seen in the films, was a combination of location and studio shooting. It’s in the Forbidden Forest where you can find giant spider Aragog and his lair and also where Harry came face-to-face with Voldemort at some point in the last film. In this tour, the Forbidden Forest is a studio room filled with 19 trees, each with a diameter of over 12 feet.
Diagon Alley: It’s here in Diagon Alley where students and professors alike can shop, dine, or visit the bank. In this alley, they have Gringotts Bank, Flourish and Blotts and Mr. Mulpepper’s Apothecary, Ollivanders wand shop, and more. This is where Harry went shopping with Hagrid to get ready for his first year at Hogwarts. The Diagon Alley set would get tweaked a bit from time to time depending on what’s needed for the movie. During the latter films, we remember how Diagon Alley would slowly get ruined when the Death Eaters started their attacks.
2. Props to marvel at
Potions Classroom: With over 950 potion jars on display in this classroom, you won’t know where to look first. It looks so realistic especially with the added props inside each jar like baked animal bones, dried leaves, herbs, and shrunken heads all made by the props department.
Memory Cabinet: The Memory Cabinet is the keeper of memories that can be found in Dumbledore’s office. Nearly 900 memory vials and labels were created for this Memory Cabinet, with each label being hand-designed by the graphics department. Some vials are labeled with familiar character names like Professor McGonagall and Argus Filch.
Professor Umbridge’s Office: You probably remember this as the only pink office you’ll ever see in all 8 films. This office, filled with moving kittens on plates and everything pink, is owned by Professor Dolores Umbridge. Over 130 plates were created for the office and as for the moving kittens, real kittens with crystal balls, witch hats, and balls of wool were filmed.
Puking Pastilles: You’ve seen the Puking Pastilles dispenser from Fred and George’s store, Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes. It’s all magical and fun but did you know that it actually took 3 months to build the entire store? About 120 different products were created and designed according to Fred and George’s sense of humor. In this studio tour, you will see up close and personal one of the store’s trademarks, the Puking Pastilles dispenser.
3. Some remarkable costumes
Quidditch: The only sport there is in Hogwarts is Quidditch. Quidditch uniforms evolved throughout the film series. They started as thick robes, to lighter robes with the players' names and numbers, and lastly to tracksuit-style clothes with matching elbow pads, knee pads, and helmets.
19 Years Later: The fits for this feature are what the characters wore 19 years later during the final scene of the film series. In this studio tour, you will see the last outfits of the older versions of Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny Weasley-Potter, and Draco Malfoy.
Yule Ball: To celebrate Christmas and the Triwizard Tournament, the Yule Ball was held wherein we saw Hogwarts students in formal party attires for the first time. Over 300 costumes were crafted for the Yule Ball and the toughest one to make was Hermione’s beautiful pink gown made of silk and 12 meters of chiffon.
Beauxbatons: All other school uniforms were colored black, brown, and gray. But, the students of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic stand out with their French blue uniforms. When we talk of the Beauxbatons’ uniform, we simply can’t miss the hat. Their pointed hats were even sent to Paris for a wooden mold to be shaped to exact measurements.
While there are still so many things to see in Hogwarts, London’s Warner Bros. Studio houses the most unforgettable memorabilia. To add more to the excitement, you’ll also see different creatures that were seen in the film series like the Basilisk, Buckbeak, the Goblins, and Aragog.
But wait, there’s more! They sell Butterbeer too so make sure to buy yourself a glass to get the full experience.
Warner Bros. Studio in London opening hours
Before heading out to Warner Bros. Studio for the Harry Potter tour, take note of their opening hours first. They open at 8:30am and close at 10:00pm so make sure to arrive on time.
How to Get to the Warner Bros. Studio in London
If you’re traveling by train, the nearest railway station is Watford Junction. But you can also go from London Euston. However, if you wish to travel by bus, Klook offers bus transfers from Victoria, King’s Cross, or Baker Street to the studio and vice versa.
Address: Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden, WD25 7LR
Safety at the Warner Bros. Studio in London
- Make sure to register your details using the NHS Covid-19 app.
- All visitors, aged 11+, are required to wear a face covering while inside the studio.
- Cashless payments are encouraged. But, if you can only pay by cash, alternative solutions will be available.
- If you or any member of your group feel unwell, do not push through with your visit.
- All visitors of all ages will have their temperature taken upon entering the studio.
- The studio only opens for a limited number of people per day to avoid overcrowding.
Now that you have an idea or two about what to expect and do in London’s Warner Bros. Studio, planning for your trip will be much more exciting! This Harry Potter tour is not just for Potterheads, but for anyone curious about what goes on in the wizarding world.
Klook Tip: Book your tickets in advance to secure a slot in the studio.
