The Making of Harry Potter at Warner Bros. Studio London
- jillaripa
- Dec 9, 2024
- 5 min read
Should you visit Warner Bros. Studio if you are in London? Well…that depends. Are you a fan of Harry Potter? I mean, even the tiniest bit? Then yes! Definitely yes! In my last post, I mentioned that Hector had a momentary thought that maybe we didn’t need to go because we had been to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando several times already. So, maybe we should focus on other London sites. Ummm…nope. The experience in London was completely different. There were no rides or really any long lines. We go to walk through the sets where they actually made the films! This was where it all happened! The actual costumes. The actual sets. The actual everything. I was in tears more than once. So, yes. If you are a Harry Potter fan, you should absolutely make this tour a priority for your London trip.
Did I ever really think I’d be able to walk through the actual Great Hall? No, I didn’t, but there I was walking right through it like I was about to be sorted into my house (Gryffindor, in case you were wondering). I won’t spoil the surprise of how they brought us into the hall because it was simply too perfect. I want you to experience that on your own without any hints from me. I just remember walking in between the house tables trying to take in every single thing, and replaying in my mind all the magic they made there. I almost expected the ceiling to actually be enchanted or the owls to fly in, delivering the mail. I could almost hear Mrs. Weasley’s howler and see Ron’s face as she bellowed across the hall. I kept picturing Snape bursting through the towering windows after Harry yelled, “How dare you stand where he stood!” To be standing right there where they created and filmed those unforgettable moments was almost too much. As a writer, I kept thinking about what it must’ve meant for J.K. Rowling to see her creation come to life in such an incredibly detailed and perfect way!
From there we went through various sets from the films, including the Forbidden Forest! I almost felt like we needed to keep our voices down and sneak, especially when the gigantic spiders descended menacingly on their webs from the enormous trees. They were surrounding us, and I kept hoping the Weasley’s car would come rushing in to save us. We could push buttons that made lightning strike and thunder crash. If you asked me what my favorite spot was, it would be there. Even with the spiders, and if you know me at all, you know that’s a big deal. I don’t do spiders.
And who wouldn't love pushing luggage through Platform 9 3/4 or visiting Harry and Ron on the Hogwarts Express!
Among the other sets were the Gryffindor and Slytherin common rooms, Snape’s potions classroom, the moving staircase, the Mirror of Erised, the Knight Bus, various wigs and costumes, along with so many authentic costumes, props and set dressings.
Rita Skeeter’s green quick quill lay beneath a glass counter, and I could almost see it whipping around as she “took notes” for her reputation-destroying articles. I would love to play such a fun and villainous role!
After meandering around in complete and utter amazement, we headed to an outdoor area to have lunch. As you might suspect, there were several places in that area where we could enjoy a butter beer, which is always fun, and the food wasn’t bad. Outside near our table stood the Hogwarts bridge where so many iconic scenes and meaningful conversations took place. And just past the bridge, we spied #4 Privet Dr right next to a miniature version of the Weasley’s Burrow! I have to admit that I scarfed down my food like a child because I could not wait to go explore these particular sets! We walked across the bridge and stopped to take pictures, and then we walked inside #4 Privet Dr. where they had staged the various rooms with dramatic scenes from the films. What a highlight! After we made our way through the Dursley’s home and took pictures in front of the beloved Burrow, we pulled mandrakes in Professor Sprout's Herbology classroom. Thinking we had discovered all of the outside delights, we headed back inside, but not before we took a spin in the Weasley’s enchanted car and Hagrid’s motorcycle! I didn’t push too many kids out of our way to get pictures there.
I thought we had experienced the best parts of the studio, and I was beaming. And then we rounded the last corner, and there it stood. Gleaming. Hogwarts Castle. I immediately teared up. I mean, it might have been a miniature version, but it sprawled over an enormous room. Harry Potter theme music played, as the warmly lit windows glimmered and glowed. Stunning. I could picture the first year students floating up to the castle for the very first time, gazing up at in wonder, just as I was doing. I could almost feel the wind from Harry's broom as he fought the dragon on the tallest tower in The Goblet of Fire. They really built it, y'all! I could’ve stood there staring at it for hours. But instead, we slowly walked all the way around it, taking pictures as we went. Knowing full well the photos we took would never do it justice. What a fantastic moment and memory!
If you’re a Harry Potter fan, experiencing The Making of Harry Potter in London will be a profound experience just like it was for me. Getting to let go and be childlike can awaken the parts of you that are most important. The ones we spend a lot of time shushing because those parts are loud. Teary. They might laugh too much or get too excited. Those parts don’t always flow with the adults we try so hard to impress. But those parts are the ones who create and take risks. Those are the ones who know what real joy looks like. And freedom. If it isn’t Harry Potter for you, think about what it is, and then go experience it! But if it is Harry Potter and you’re already planning your London trip or you would like to, here a few things we learned that might help:
Buy your tickets early. We were more than six months out from our trip, and many of the tickets were already taken. This is not the thing you want to wait on!
Go during the off season if you can. I know this is not an option for everyone, but if you can, I highly suggest it. We were able to go in October, and it made the experience even more thrilling. We waited in very few lines and had plenty of time to linger and enjoy each area.
We booked our tickets with Golden Tours which allowed us to travel from Kings Cross Station (also a fun Harry Potter-ish location!) and take a charter bus out to the studios. It’s a little bit of a drive from the city, so this gave us relaxing and easy transportation.
If you are departing from Kings Cross Station, make sure you get there early so that you can find the pick-up spot with no stress. It’s not difficult, but it’s unfamiliar and can be a bit daunting.
Plan to visit the gift shop at the studio. I didn’t buy much because I already have several HP souvenirs, but I came home with a beautiful Deathly Hallows scarf that makes me smile every time I see it. And at the time, it came in handy since it was a little chillier than I had planned!
You’ll eat lunch out there, so check out the options beforehand!
Allow yourself to have that childlike wonder with it all and have the best day ever!
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