Exploring England #39
It’s been 20 years since we first met the boy wizard Harry Potter and his magical friends in “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”. Six more novels completed the series and eight films brought Harry’s adventures to the big screen.
At Warner Bros. Studios at Leavesden, just outside London, Harry Potter fans can relive all their favourite cinematic moments. The studio where all the films were made has been preserved at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter. This fabulous walking tour takes visitors, at their own pace, through the original sets filled with costumes, props and displays showcasing the films’ amazing special effects.
The tour begins at the grand entrance to the Great Hall, where the sense of anticipation is infectious.
Inside, two long refectory tables are set for dinner and, at the front of the room, the teachers’ table, Professor Dumbledore’s lectern and the mind-reading Sorting Hat are ready for another school year.
Elaborately detailed sets come to life in the two purpose-built sound stages, including Dumbledore’s mysterious office, the Weasley family home and the tiny cupboard under the stairs where Harry’s story begins.
Gryffindor colours feature prominently in their common room and dormitory and bubbling concoctions are brewing in the potions classroom.
On Platform 9¾ the Hogwarts Express, steam billowing from its funnel, is waiting to transport students to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Diagon Alley is lined on both sides by all the familiar shops, their windows full of enchanted wands, wise owls and flying broomsticks. It’s tempting to write a shopping list!
Outside in the backlot, the magical Knight Bus is parked near Number Four Privet Drive, home of the dreadful Dursleys.
The final section of the tour displays the production team’s own technical wizardry. White card models and detailed drawings of sets and locations are evidence of the hundreds of hours of work which went into each film before production began.
The best is left to last – a magnificent scale model of Hogwarts Castle, complete with miniature gardens, turrets and towers.
Of course, the tour ends in the souvenir shop where all that wizarding regalia for sale in Diagon Alley can be purchased. Is anyone in need of a magic wand?
Join Restless Jo for Monday Walks
I love it…
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Thanks Joy. It was a great way to spend a day.
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I remember reading the first Harry Potter book back in 97 just so I could keep up with the furore of excitement coming off my students. I quite enjoyed it, but never got round to reading any more ….. Now so much seems to have seeped into daily culture that comes from the books and films – it has taken on a life of its own it seems. How exciting that you got to see so many of the props, makes it all seem so very possible doesn’t it 🙂
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I read them all and saw all the movies, with my daughter. It was such a thrill to see all these things for real, and it really showed how talented the movie makers were.
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Day or night, there’s always a queue for platform 9¾ at King’s Cross station in London. I had no idea about the studio tour, though. Good information, thank you. 🙂
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We’ve never seen the one at King’s Cross Station. I must go and find it next time. I hope you get to do the tour some time David, especially if you’re a fan.
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Fabulous! This is a natural for my walks. You won’t mind if I share? 🙂 🙂 You’ll laugh because when I saw the title I thought first of the Royal Harry. They’ve been on the news so much lately with the anniversary of his Mum coming up.
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Oh, I didn’t think of it as a walk. Of course you can share it. I’ll add a link too. I would be even more excited to meet that Harry than this one. 😁
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Yes, me too! 🙂 🙂 Thanks a lot, Carol.
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Soooo cool 😊
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Oh, it definitely was. Such a fun day. 🙂
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20 years! My, that surprised me. It only seems like yesterday when my kids were reading the books and telling me how good they were, and so I read them and agreed completely! Did you buy anything from the souvenir shop Carol; maybe that you can use in your class? A good spell to send the kids to sleep for a while, perhaps?
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Now why didn’t I think of that while I was there!! The only thing we bought was a wand. A friend of ours is a diehard devotee and, when her husband saw on Facebook we were there, he messaged me and asked if we could buy Hermione’s wand for her. He gave it to her for Christmas and she was delighted. She has quite a collection.
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Invisibility cloak for me!
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It would be very handy.
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What fun!
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Glenys, it really was fun. Mr ET only saw the first two movies so he’s not really a fan but he enjoyed seeing it all too. The special effects explanations were fascinating.
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Harry Potter is a wonderful series. I remember making my grandkids cloaks and their great Harry Potter Christmas tree. Good memories. 🙂 These days I chuckle sometimes when as a senior I’m being ignored and I remark to myself or to a companion that I must have Harry Potter’s Invisibility Cloak on. 🙂
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We saw the invisibility cloak! I can’t tell you if anyone was wearing it though. 🙂
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OOoh I want to go here one day! I love the world of Harry Potter! 😀
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Lorraine, you would enjoy this tour. There is so much to see. The website says to allow three hours but we took about five.
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Very interesting. Thanks for sharing
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Glad you enjoyed it.
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Two years ago this tour was the highlight of our London visit as my family and I are huge HP fans. What an awesome day we had, great memories, and your post just took me there again. Thanks Carol.
Lorelle 🙂
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Mr ET only ever watched the first two movies and never read any of the books and even he really enjoyed this tour. It’s so well presented. I’m glad you enjoyed it as much as we did.
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This is a definitely awesome way to spend a day. Stunning pictures!
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It was amazing, Agness.
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I was a big fan myself of all of the books & films too! Now, I am very jealous! 🙂 Ha!
Great cool decors & a lovely experience!
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I’ve read all the books and see the films, so I really enjoyed this visit.
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I’ve loved all three of my visits to this place! It is fascinating. My first visit was when it first opened and my most recent visit was two years ago, I think. They keep adding things to it, so there is always more to see, and recently they have opened a section which is The Forbidden Forest, which sounds great.
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I would love to visit on one of their special theme days. I’m sure if I went again I would see things I missed last time.
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Oh yes – a theme day would be excellent.
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I’m not a Harry Potter fan but I’m sure it would be fun to see these amazing sets first-hand. 🙂
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Mr ET isn’t a fan either but he really enjoyed seeing how the movies were made. The craftsmanship and attention to detail are amazing.
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