Warner Brothers Studio Tour: The Making of Harry Potter

On Sunday 2nd June I visited the Harry Potter Studio tour for only the second time, I haven't been for about 4 years. So I've never seen the Forbidden Forest nor the recently opened Gringotts Bank which I was really excited to see.

There have been so many changes since I was last there, including a different place to get the bus, the ticket collection outside and the new inside foyer bit where you go into the tour and the shop, with the addition of the Chocolate Frog cafe which has a much better seating area than it used to. Our tour wasn't until 2pm so we went and go some food from the cafe, I had the tuna and cucumber bloomer with a Diet Coke and it was a nice sandwich I was impressed. I really liked the clock in the queue at the cafe, it reminds me of the Weasley clock, also on the back of the chocolate frog cafe were mirrors shaped like witches and wizards cards. Once we'd eaten we had a mooch around the shop to see if there was anything we fancied buying. I love the shop but it is very easy to get lost around I found myself going in circles a few times. We then had a few photos with the dragon in the foyer which is fab new addition. It's the dragon they escape from Gringotts on and it's full sized and intimidating. 

Luckily we were allowed to go in half an hour early on the tour with a new queue design I think, my favourite bit was the room with all the movie posters from each film from around the world and the different slogans each film had. I'm not going to spoil it but then we had the introduction to the tour and headed into the Great Hall which is always a spectacle and a great start to the tour. Then we are left to our own devices to explore, I love looking at all the bits of sets and the props that were used and how they did all the stunts and how it all seemed to work. The good thing this time around is I didn't feel the need to take too many pictures because I'd done that previously so instead I soaked it all up and took in some of the information that was dotted around. I did take a few pictures of some of my favourites such as the Yule Ball set up, the prefect dormitory taps, the clock tower pendulum and the Tri Wizard Cup. 

Then it was into the Forbidden Forest for the first time ever and it does feel like you are in the Forest, you come across a centaur and then Buckbeak bowing to you, then you enter where the spiders were and I was gone I left the Forest as quick as I can, I am aware that they aren't real but the fact that they kept moving and kept catching the shadows moving out the corner of my eye creeped me out and I hated, I didn't even look at Aragog I just left.

One of my favourite parts of the tour is the Platform 9 3/4 it is so good with the actual smoking train and the fact that you can go into the carriages and they are set up in chronological order from the films. I think my favourites are the Demetors from Year 3 and when Lavender draws a heart with hers and Ron's initials on the window in Year 6. I really like the little shop as well with the Platform 9 3/4 merchandise in, it's something you'd get in a railway station.

We were then at the halfway point where you can order more food from the Backlot cafe as well as Butterbeer, however, disappointingly the Butterbeer ice cream machines had broken down so we could only get the drink. We sat outside in the Courtyard where you have the Knight Bus, the Hogwarts Bridge, the Wesley car, the motorbike and sidecar, Harry Potter's House and Number 4 Privet Drive. Something else I had never done because last time I came it wasn't open was visit Number 4 Privet Drive, it's only short but the room that's open is laid out from when Harry received all his letters in Philosopher's Stone.

Then next is the section with all the creature effects and how they did certain things like make Professor Lupin into a Werewolf, how they created Scabbers, Buckbeak, the Dragons, Theastrals and all sorts. 

Then they have a new section just before Gringotts which is all about how they made the Goblins for the Bank and everything that went into that. Then there are mini models of how they created Gringotts before the actual thing. You then go around the corner and you literally walk into the bank, there's Bogrod at the end waiting for you to present your key. The detail is insane with how it all looks and the chandeliers as well, it was literally a wow moment walking in. Then you walk out and into then showing you various aspects that involves Gringotts such as the carriage that takes them under Gringotts. You can also see the Lestrange vault which is amazing, also it shows you how the Hermione being Bellatrix scene worked. The next room is the most impressive which I won't spoil but it involves a dragon and that has to be another one of my favourite things, it's so cleverly done. 

Then we leave Gringotts and delve into the details surrounding various aspects of the castle and the different artworks that designers came up with. Then we have the grand finale of the actual Hogwarts castle which actually makes me a bit emotional, because it's incredible and took about 6 months to build I think the guide said. Also all the little lights were coming on as well which made it even prettier. Just makes me appreciate all the details that went into these 8 films and how clever some of the stuff was that they did.

Onto the shop I only bought a Hufflepuff cushion and 2 pins, I'm trying to collect all the cushions so one day when I move out I can have them across the sofa, I already had Gryffindor so now all I need is Ravenclaw and Slytherin. 

I really enjoyed my day at the Studios and would recommend going to anybody. I can't wait to see what other ideas they come up with in the future. 

Book tickets here: The Making of Harry Potter

Until next time,

Stacey x