I am that type of person who likes to celebrate their eighteenth birthday with a trip to the Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden- more commonly known as the home of Harry Potter- so that is, of course, exactly what I did. If I haven't made it blindingly clear already, I am a fairly (erm, massive) fan of the J.K Rowling series and subsequently have watched the film adaptations of the novels about 18343823 times. Therefore, the opportunity to see everything that went into the making of the movies wasn't one I was going to miss.
Following the release of the final film adaptation, 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2', in 2011, Warner Bros. opened The Warner Bros. Studio Tour- London. The studio opened four years ago and has racked up an impressive 16681 'excellent' reviews on TripAdvisor since then. As a result, I had very high hopes for the tour. Did my visit fulfil my expectations?
Yes- and then by so much more.
Before the introductory talk and short film that begin the tour had finished, I had already welled up. And that was before I had even seen any of the props used to create the movies (except for the various chess pieces used in 'Philosopher's Stone' which can be found dotted all over the place). The beginning perfectly sets a magical tone for the tour and the anticipation of what lies behind the scenes of one of most successful franchises in history becomes all the more exciting.
Warning: If you plan on visiting the set- and I strongly recommend that you do- and want to avoid any spoilers, I warn you not to scroll down the page for the pictures to follow...
When queueing up to enter this magical kingdom, you have your first glimpse of a movie set, with the stairs that were used to film Harry's infamous bedroom. I may have held up the queue for quite a while as I took it in...
When queueing up to enter this magical kingdom, you have your first glimpse of a movie set, with the stairs that were used to film Harry's infamous bedroom. I may have held up the queue for quite a while as I took it in...
The Great Hall is the first room you get to see- and is extremely impressive. The tour is currently themed around 'Hogwarts at Christmas', which meant the hall was decorated with the props used in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone to capture the essence of a wizard's Christmas.
You may think your Christmas decorations are impressive, but they definitely don't have anything on Hogwarts's.
The Great Hall is also home to the first costumes on show in the tour, with perhaps the most recognisable being featured here. Even Daniel Radcliffe's first robes as Harry Potter are on display at this point!
Recognise this set? Yes, it's the home of everybody's favourite family, the Weasleys. From a self-ironing iron to dancing cake decorations, the Weasley's dining room is probably the most animated of all the sets, and conveys the charm that this family's characters are renowned for.
On the opposite end of the kindness spectrum is the owner of this room. Arguably more hated than even Lord Voldemort, I think it is fair to say that Dolores Umbridge has the most fabulous- and pink- desk known to mankind.
One thing visitors will notice is the remarkable attention to detail that went into the creation of the films. Snape's potions room may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Harry Potter, but the Props Department still exquisitely created pots and pans that make our view of the movies as all the more believable.
Barbarity is what Voldemort is known for, and this scene is one that is not easily forgotten. Does Nagini look petrifying here or what?
Quidditch. The game that every person, fan of the series or not, wants to play.
All that fast-paced action seen on the screen is quite the disappointment when you see how it came to life. Absolutely no flying is involved in the making of Quidditch scenes; only a ride on one of these things:
Not your everyday work office, I'm sure. The set for Dumbledore's office is truly extraordinary, with every book on those shelves having been artistically stylised for the scenes in this room.
The newest attraction at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour is the station where all the madness of the wizard world kicks off- Platform 9 3/4, King's Cross. Every child's wish is to receive the letter that invites them to be at this station on 1st September at 11:00 and seeing the genuine Hogwarts Express made that dream come to life just as much as it ever will, although it pains me to say it. Visitors can walk through one of the carriages on this train and look into the compartments where Harry, Ron and Hermione travelled for the next year's events.
After the whirlwind of emotions had at the Hogwarts Express, there is a restaurant serving ordinary food and drinks to re-energise, as well as Butterbeer. Despite the unappetising title given to the drink (butter mixed with beer, anyone?), I was pleasantly surprised by the concoction. Think cream soda with butterscotch.
Beside the restaurant are some of the exterior sets from the movies, including Privet Drive and that bridge at Hogwarts where a lot seems to happen but nobody seems to know why. These sets are huge.
My favourite animal in the Harry Potter series, Buckbeak the Hippogriff. Sadly not a mammal found in the muggle world, I just had to take a picture of the mechanical prop.
One department that does not get enough credit is Illustrations, where white card models and paintings are created as early visuals of how the films will look. A lot of talented people are behind the series.
Some of the many face masks used in the movies to make some of slightly more fantastical beings become reality. Recognise any of these elves?
Another incredible set on the tour is the road that divulged viewers into the magic of this other kingdom, Diagon Alley. I was taken aback when I turned the corner into this well-known street; Gringotts, Ollivander's Wand Shop and, of course, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. If only every alley were like Diagon Alley.
And now for the pinnacle of Warner Bros. Studio Tour: the place every muggle wants to call home, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Ever wondered how those bird's eye-view shots of the castle are captured? Using one beast of a model.
A beast 50ft wide and lit by 2,500 fibre optic lights, in fact.
86 artists and crew members were required to create the Hogwarts we all know, totalling up to 74 years of time spent. Well, to those 86 workers, that was time well spent.
At the beginning of the tour, the lady introducing us to the site said that our stay would last approximately three hours. That three hours turned out to be very approximate as, six hours later, we had just come to the end of the tour. I had a brilliant time at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour- London and would recommend it to any fans of the series. Despite the slight shock of how quidditch matches was filmed, everything about the tour- costumes, props, sets and scenery- was utterly mesmerising. Without doubt, the most magical way to celebrate your eighteenth birthday.
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