Harry Potter Studio Tours

Now that the Harry Potter movie series is complete, the studio where all 7 movies were filmed over a 10 year period, has opened it's door to let you really have a true HP experience.  The studio, located northwest of London, barely opened its doors in March.  So as soon as I found out about it, I knew we had to add it to our London itinerary. So glad I did, it was so SO much fun!

Here is where it all started, #4 Privet Drive.  This was on the back lot along with the Knight's Bus, Hogwart's bridge to the school, Tom Riddles's headstone, Haggrid's motorcycle, the chess figures, and the Weasley's car.

We also tried Butter Beer on the back lot.  It tastes a lot like cream soda would if you added butterscotch, then they add this thick creamy foam to the top.  It was a flavor bomb in your mouth!

 We started the tour watching a video interviewing the actors that played Harry, Ron and Hermiony.  They talked about their experience on the set and made us aware of all the different shops such as costume, make-up, creature creation, architecture etc.  After the movie, we entered Hogwarts through the main doors straight into the Great Hall.  Here are the girls in front of Dumbledore's costume.

 After the Great Hall we were released to explore on our own, so we used our eyes and listened with our ears to experience the Harry Potter story on a whole new level.

The Mirror of Erised:

 

Snape's Potions Classroom:

 

The entrance to the Chamber of Secrets:

 Dumbeldore's Army Wand Collection:

 Chocolate Creation from a banquet in the Great Hall:

 Dumbledore's Office:

 Collection of wand props:

 All three of Harry's brooms:

  Shopping on Diagon Alley!

 The replica of Hogwart's took 3 months to build inside it's own sound stage.  All the outside shots of Hogwarts were taken using this replica, then the flying owls and the wizards and witches on broomsticks were digitally added.  It was super impressive and pictures alone cannot describe how detailed it is.

 McKenna in the wand room. A wand box (not sure if an actual wand was inside each one) was made for every person that worked on the movie series.  It. was. a. large. room!

 

 The next day while touring London, we made sure one of our stops on the tube was at King's Cross station.  There we were able to "try" to go to Hogwart's!