Warner Brothers Studio Tour - The Making of Harry Potter

This week I visited the Warner Brother Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter (The Harry Potter Studio Tour) for the fifth time. Yep you read that right this week I went for the fifth time, I just cannot stay away from this place, which is why I have decided to tell you all why I love this place so much. I have included lots of pictures in this post (You will find way more on the Instagram page) and I am going to let you into a few of the secrets I have learnt over my visits to the tour.

I am sure by now most of you know I am a huge Harry Potter fan (Books and Films). The magic the Harry Potter films created and the awe I felt whilst watching literally inspired me to study film at university - I wanted to be able to create that level of magic and in the process inspire others. So it probably comes as no surprise that when the Studio Tour first opened in 2012 I jumped at the chance to go and see the sets from my faviourte films and so I went and I had an experience like no other.

I have visited the tour throughout its development, I visited at the very start, then I went to the first Hogwarts in the Snow event, I then when to a Dark Arts event and then I visited after they added the Forbidden Forest walk-though. All of which were great experiences and I always found something new to get excited about. This time I went to my second Hogwarts in the Snow event and honestly all I can say is this place keeps getting better and better. There was fires under caldrons, and in fire places, the sets are decorated with garlands and trees, there was fake snow falling from the sky, the Great Hall is set up with a Christmas Feast with actual on FIRE giant Christmas puddings!! The Hogwarts castle was covered in snow which was something I have never seen before as that had not been done the first time I went to a Christmas event. But the most amazing feature was seeing the end of the Great Hall decorated as it was for the Yule Ball.

So what makes the Harry Potter Studio so great? Well there are a number of factors that contribute to its greatness. The Tour itself is on another level to anything I have ever seen before: first you get to walk though the Great Hall and suddenly you are transported to the magical world. Then you get to explore other sets such as the Potions classroom and the Gryffindor Common room, whilst also taking a look at some of the most iconic costumes and props all of which are so detailed and stunning. In this space you also learn about animal actors, CGI, special affects, hair and makeup and so so much more. You then progress to the Forbidden Forest where you will encounter a number of friendly and not so friendly creatures. And then its on to Platform 9 3/4 where you can board the real Hogwarts Express. Then at the halfway mark you are greeted with the Backlot where you can board the Knight Bus and cross the Hogwarts Bridge before entering the special affects room. The tour ends with you getting to walk down Diagon Alley before you get to see Hogwarts. Now nothing can describe the emotion you will feel when you walk in and see the Hogwarts model it is a feeling I will remember forever. But it is not just the Tour itself that is amazing, the staff are brilliant, if you ask they will show and tell you secrets for example: this week I was shown the inside of a potions book. The staff honestly make the tour a great experience because they love Harry Potter just as much as the visitors do. There are also great interactive moments, you can have a broom fly into your hard, play with perspectives (One person bigger and everyone else tiny), you can fly a broom, dress up and drink butter beer.

So why do I keep going back? Well because there is no place like it, if you want a day where you can go and completely forget the outside world, where you can learn and say Wow every five minutes then this is the place for you. Honestly I have been five times and no two visits have been the same, they always have something new going on, the sets are kept in perfect condition and there are endless photo opportunities. Plus there is so much more they can add to this tour that I cannot wait for!! (It looks like there is going to be a huge 2019 expansion). I highly recommend The Warner Brothers Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter to everyone that loves films, that loves Harry Potter and anyone that enjoys learning new things. It is a great day out and one of the best attractions in the UK. I could not recommend this place more.