Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter

• Type: Tourist Attraction, Museum, Film Studio
• Location: Leavesden, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom
• Owner/Residents: Warner Bros. Discovery
• Key Features: A permanent, public exhibition featuring the authentic sets, props, costumes, and special effects animatronics used in the production of the *Harry Potter* film series. It is situated at the working Leavesden Studios, where all eight films were produced over a decade.

The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter is a walkthrough exhibition and studio tour. Opened to the public on March 31, 2012, it offers visitors a unique behind-the-scenes look into the creation of the *Harry Potter* films. The attraction was conceived after the conclusion of filming on *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2*, when the production team made the decision to preserve and showcase the vast collection of detailed sets, iconic props, and intricate costumes created for the series. Unlike a theme park, the Studio Tour is a self-guided experience through the actual film sets, allowing visitors to see the incredible craftsmanship and artistry that brought J.K. Rowling's wizarding world to the screen. It covers all aspects of filmmaking, from concept art and prop-making to creature effects and set design. The tour is housed in two soundstages, J and K, which are adjacent to the active film studio, and it stands as a testament to the legacy of the British talent that worked on the franchise.

The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London does not exist within the canonical narrative of the *Harry Potter* novels and has no direct role in the story's plot. Its significance is entirely in the real world, serving as a physical monument to the film adaptations of the series. The attraction acts as a bridge between the fictional Wizarding World and the fans who love it. It preserves the tangible legacy of the film series, offering an immersive and educational experience that demonstrates the filmmaking process. For millions of visitors, it provides a unique opportunity to step into the world they saw on screen, viewing the actual items and locations that were part of the production.

The tour features a vast collection of original sets and props, with key areas including:

• The Great Hall: The first major set on the tour, featuring two long tables set for dinner, teacher's table, costumes of students from each Hogwarts house, and the house point counters.
• Interior Sets: A large soundstage containing numerous iconic sets, including Dumbledore's Office, the Potions Classroom, Hagrid's Hut, the Gryffindor Common Room, the boys' dormitory, Professor Umbridge's Office, and a section of the Ministry of Magic.
• Diagon Alley: A full-size, walkable street set featuring the detailed storefronts of Ollivanders, Flourish and Blotts, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, and the exterior of Gringotts Wizarding Bank.
• Platform 9¾: A dedicated section featuring a recreation of the famous platform and the original Hogwarts Express steam engine, the GWR 4900 Class 5972 Olton Hall. Visitors can walk through the train's carriages.
• The Forbidden Forest: An immersive, walkthrough set where visitors can see life-sized models of creatures such as Buckbeak the Hippogriff and Aragog the Acromantula and his family.
• Gringotts Wizarding Bank: A grand recreation of the wizarding bank's main hall, complete with crystal chandeliers and desks for Goblins. The exhibit also includes the Lestrange Vault and a display on the destruction effects.
• Backlot: An outdoor area featuring exterior sets, including 4 Privet Drive, the Potters' cottage from Godric's Hollow, the Hogwarts Bridge, and the triple-decker Knight Bus.
• Creature Effects: A workshop area displaying the complex animatronics and prosthetics used to create magical creatures like Dobby, the Goblins, the Basilisk, and the Mandrake.
• Art and Graphics: Extensive displays of concept art, technical drawings, and the graphic designs created for the films, including the The Daily Prophet, the The Quibbler, and product packaging for Honeydukes.
• Hogwarts Castle Model: The tour's finale is the breathtakingly detailed 1:24 scale model of Hogwarts Castle, which was used for exterior and aerial shots in the films.

• The Studio Tour is distinct from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park attractions at Universal Studios. While the Universal parks feature immersive, ride-based recreations, the London Studio Tour is a museum-style exhibition that showcases the authentic sets, props, and costumes from the film production. (Pottermore)
• In 2010, Warner Bros. purchased Leavesden Studios, the former aircraft factory where the films were made, and announced a £100 million investment to redevelop it into a state-of-the-art European filmmaking hub and create the permanent Harry Potter attraction.
• The tour is continuously expanded. Major additions since its opening include the Hogwarts Express section (2015), the Forbidden Forest (2017), and Gringotts Wizarding Bank (2019). (Official WB Studio Tour Press Releases)