Location: Leavesden Studios, Watford, London
The Harry Potter film series has in total grossed $7.7 billion worldwide, with all eight films ranking in the 35 highest grossing films of all time. All films have received critical acclaim, picked up various BAFTAs and received nine Oscar nominations throughout its 10 year run and to celebrate or commemorate the end of the series, Warner Brothers have opened the ‘Studio Tour London’ to put the exquisite sets, costumes, make up and effects on show to the public.
Warner Brothers have, successfully, brought to the public, a great Potter experience. The Studio Tour is a real winner with plenty of ‘wow factor’ with its original sets; on-location (or near enough). The initial feeling of stepping onto the stone floor of the Great Hall is, sorry for the cliché, truly magical. The long tables, cutlery, plates and house colours show the amount of detail put into every aspect of the making of the Potter films with every part of the Hall getting its unique wizarding stamp (there is so much to see!). At the end of the Hall it is fantastic seeing the mannequin’s, representing the teachers, wearing their original clothing along with the House Point Hourglass, which has never featured heavily in the films, which is a shame, because it’s a real statement as you walk towards Dumbledore’s reading stand.
As the tour progresses, you get to see many seasonal-themed
Hogwarts items, including feasts from the Yule Ball from the Goblet of Fire. There
are a number of walk-by sets included too (which only die-hards fans would
remember) including the Hogwarts gates, Leaky Cauldron corridor and cauldron.
The tour should also be praised for being so spacious, whilst smothering the
surroundings with even the smallest of sets and props (the seven Horcruxes,
especially the diadem, are fantastic in the flesh). Dumbledore’s office is
another great set with; the high ceilings covered in paintings of previous
Hogwarts headmasters, the memory cabinet, Pensieve and, if you look carefully,
the sword of Gryffindor all look so real, expensive and, in a good way, old. As
well as the sets, a number of items, which mainly featured in the action
sequences, appear including the Gringotts cart, Hagrid’s motorbike, Knight Bus
and Quidditch broomsticks. All of them are seen in-action on large screens,
along with commentary from the cast and crew with exclusive behind-the-scenes
footage. The famous Butter Beer also features on the tour which, disappointingly,
doesn’t taste as one would hope however it’s an experience that had to be
endured!
In conclusion: The Harry Potter Studio Tour London is
something that every Potter fan must experience at some point in their lives,
the feeling of stepping into the real Great Hall, knowing the famous actors and
actresses have performed their magic there, as well as all the scenes that took
place there is an unmissable treat. As well as the Great Hall, Diagon Alley is
a feature not to be missed too, as you see all the different shops with their
windows stacked high with magic-related items. Not only is this a trip for
Potter fans but for film fans too, as the genius art behind film making in
general is explored. You couldn’t possibly go wrong.
