I’m incredibly excited to tell you about the great opportunity that Nick and I received to be invited to the Warner Bros Studio Tour in London near Watford. In celebration of the upcoming 15th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour has now opened the set of number four, Privet Drive for a brief period, from May 27 to June 6.
Nick and I were excited to go to this event because we have talked about visiting the studios for a long time, so it was a dream to be able to attend. The doors to the Dursley’s home (Where Harry Potter first lives with his Uncle and Aunt), at the Warner Bros Studio Tour London, were opened for the first time in May and it will officially be open to the public for this week only. How exciting is that? We were able to see the house where all this amazing adventure started.
We made a sneak peak video showing highlights if our visit which you can see below:
- Arrival at the Lobby
When we arrived we were greeted by the organisers and given some drinks. I was so excited to go around and browse everything. They had a display near the entrance of the Cupboard Under the Stairs in the Dursley’s home where Harry Potter used to sleep. It was very cool!
2. The Great Hall
We were all asked to gather in a cinema room to watch a short movie which gave us an introduction and welcome to the tour. After the movie finished we were immediately transported to the doors of the Great Hall, where so many famous scenes were shot. It was magical to see the Hall as the doors opened! It is massive and we were able to see the dinner tables all set up. There were also mannequins displaying the uniforms of various characters. I loved this Hall!
3. The Big Room
We then moved next door where all the props where on display. This room was huge with lots of little areas showing parts of the various movies, such as the The Yule Ball, The Chocolate Feast, Ron Weasley’s house, The Burrow, the treasures stored in Dumbledore’s office, the Dormitory, the living room, The Science Room, magic props, Hair and Make Up, Hogwart’s Castle Clock Tower, etc.
We also saw for the first time in the Studio Tour the Dursleys’ costumes which proved to be a rich source of inspiration for Costume Designer Judianna Makovsky. She remembers them being the most fun to dress, creating clothes that appeared out of date and pretentious for Mr and Mrs Dursley, as well as hideous jumpers for young Dudley.
They were also showcasing the equipment that was used to shoot Harry’s Hogwarts letters through the letterbox of number four, Privet Drive. The machine, which was specially created for the film by academy aware winning Special Effects Supervisor John Richardson. You can see this part in my video.
We went to the green screen room where you can have a video taken on a broomstick ride. This was really fun. We had to wear a Gryffindor robes and then fly all the way through London. You can see my video of this below:
3. Platform 9 3/4
We then went on to Platform 9¾ to see the Hogwarts Express. It is possible to walk through the train and see all the carriages that were set up like they were shown in the movies. They also had the famous trolley with Harry’s luggage and of course I had to have my picture taken!
4. Dursley’s Home: 4 Privet Drive
We then walked through to a large cafe area which I think is their main cafe but they had it all set up for the event as it is fronted onto the backlot (where the 4 Privet Drive house is located). There were delicious canapes and drinks for us to enjoy. They were also offering Butterbeer and also Butterbeer Ice cream. I was not a fan of the butterbeer (its a non-alcoholic soft drink with cream that is very sweet) but I loved the Butterbeer Ice Cream. It was delicious! We were able to see the huge knight bus, The Dursley’s family home and the Hogwarts Bridge through the glass windows. We were very excited to be able to see it all in person.
We were then introduced to Fiona Shaw, who played Aunt Petunia in the film franchise, who returned to the set and welcomed all of us to her house. It was a magical moment!
Harry Potter fans will remember number 4, Privet Drive as the Muggle home where Harry spent most of his childhood with his Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon and Cousin Dudley. During production, set decorators were tasked with filling the house with quirky pieces of furniture and had lots of fun sourcing the ugliest sofas, worst tiles and most unattractive curtains possible which is on display in the dressed set.
We had the opportunity to walk through the front door and look into the Dursleys’ front room where hundreds of Harry’s Hogwarts letters (created by MinaLima, the graphic designers for all eight Harry Potter film) were suspended in the air as though they’d just flown through the fireplace as they did in the iconic scene from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
The letter that started Harry’s adventure at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and featured so prominently in the film that an astonishing 10,000 of these envelopes were created for the first Harry Potter film and were even printed on extra lightweight paper so the owls could carry them. This was just AMAZING!
5. Special Effects Room and Diagon Alley
After moving on from the magical backlot area we went to the special effects room. This room is fantastic. You really can see how they did all these effects. You don’t realise how much is put into filming a movie like this until you see the work that goes on behind the cameras. There was also some very scary things. We saw a huge spider (Aragog from the Chamber of Secrets) and of course I had a picture with it!
We then went to Diagon Alley. This place was amazing. It looks so real. There were lots of shops but they were closed although the windows looked fantastic!
6. Art Department & Model Room
This was the last part of the tour. The model was massive and really impressive. It was just amazing to be able to see it in front of you.
We were so lucky to be invited to this preview event. It was one of the highlights of my blogging year for sure. We were so excited to be one of the first people to get a look inside Number 4 Privet Drive before it opened to the public.
We loved the studios. It is a must for all Harry Potter fans, but even if you are not a fan (who wouldn’t be really? …not many people lol) it is still an amazing experience for everybody.
To purchase tickets please visit the Studio Tour website. The ticket prices are adults £35, children £27 and Family (2+2) £107. Tickets for a specific date and time slot must be pre-booked by calling the Studio Tour’s Visitor Services Team on 0345 084 0900. Please note that you can’t buy them on the door.
Nick and I would like to say a massive thank you to the Warner Bros. Studios for this amazing experience. We will certainly remember it for a long time. Now Nick and I would love to go back with our girls and show them everything! That would be a lovely experience! 🙂
Have you been to the Warner Bros Studio Tour before? Do you plan to go? What do you think of the Dursley’s Home and the Hogwarts acceptance letters? Please leave me a comment as I would love to know what you think.
*Disclaimer: we were invited to this event but all the opinions are my own.
Thanks for stopping by,
Love you all ❤️
Franca 💋
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Lizzie (firstooth) says
I’ve seen many posts about the Warner Bros studios and I keep nudging my man to take me there. Everytime I read the posts I enjoy hearing about other experiences of it and read enviously about what everyone got up to. It sounds like you had a fab time and it’s an experience as well as a day out. Lovely that you managed to do it as a couple too! Must nudge my man a little harder!! Thanks for hosting #kcacols
Sarah says
My little boy is getting into Harry Potter now, I think a trip to the studios is in order! #KCACOLS
Laura @ Life with Baby Kicks says
I am a major Harry Potter nerd so I have massively green eyes at this. I’d love to walk down Diagon Alley and imagine the scene of the Yule Ball, I’m not sure that I’d be a fan of butterbeer to drink either but the ice cream sounds yummy #KCACOLS
crummy mummy says
This looks absolutely amazing – what fun! #KCACOLS
Michelle G says
Sounds like you had an amazing time and your pictures are, as always, fab. Loving the broomstick ride – that looks like a lot of fun. x #KCACOLS
Jessica Powell (Babi a Fi) says
This just looks so cool! If we ever manage to get away from Wales for the day I really want to go on the tour. I’m a huge Harry Potter fan, so it would just be awesome. 🙂 #KCACOLS
laughing mum says
omg! the preteen is just dying to go here!! I have to take her.. sounds fab! I think I’ve just found 1 thing to do during the 6weeks holiday lol 🙂 #kcacols
Coombe Mill says
Am I allowed to say i just don’t get Harry Potter? I know I’m a little unusual, my kids are all fans. OK now I’ve got that bit out the way I will say the event looks fab and the backdrops and stage scenes very impressive. a real treat to be on this tour. #KCACOLS
Nicole @ The Professional Mom Project says
I’m a huge Harry Potter fan! What a fantastic experience – looks like you had an amazing time and saw some fantastic sets, costumes etc from all of the movies. I’ve always been amazed by how the set designers etc were able to create such a magical world. it must have been awesome to see it in person. Next time we’re in London… #KCACOLS
Jen @Practical, By Default says
Love this! I am not a fan, (don’t egg me!) so I am sure I don’t appreciate this as much as your other readers will. That said, I love the artwork and the photos you took. Great job! #KCACOLS
justsayingmum says
Oh what an absolute treat! I haven’t had the opportunity of going yet but my son went with a friend and loved it. I love the video of you flying – how cool is that? Also, the Dursley’s front room with all the suspended letters – it looks so real amazing. Glad you had such a good day and hopefully one day I’ll get the opportunity to go – there’s something about the wands that intrigue me – as if by magic I’d become a wizard! #KCACOLS
fI - BEAUTYBABYANDME says
We went here last year and it was fantastic!! I’m so glad you had a fun day; you’ve made me want to go again xx #KCACOLS
Sarah- Arthurwears says
I know a few people who would absolutely love this! I never really got into the Harry Potter series myself but I’d still love to go and see this! My friend visited and said making the videos was harder than it looked as she couldn’t stop laughing!! #KCACOLS
Mackenzie Glanville says
I love that broom ride mini movie, how cool is that! Living in Australia I wot get there any time soon so it is great to hear all about it from you1! #Kcacols
Fran back with a bump says
This looks fab and I’m not a Harry Potter fan. I confess I’ve never watched any of the films all the way through! #kcacols
wendy says
I would love to go here! My hubby and I love Harry Potter and have talked about going here lots of times. Looks like you had an amazing day, I love the video of you flying around on the broomstick!!xx #kcacols
Sara Skillington says
Wow – what an amazing experience! I love Harry Potter so would have been thrilled to attend this event! All the photos look incredible and I love the broom ride video! I hope it is a place I manage to visit one day. I have only ever heard good things about it 🙂 #KCACOLS
Fran @ Whinge Whinge Wine says
This looks like FUN! Although I must admit I had no idea what it was about when I clicked it having never read or seen Harry Potter. Maybe the kids will get into it one day… #KCACOLS
Lisa says
It looks like so much fun! I Have wanted to visit for ages now and I will definitely be going next time I’m down 🙂
Great Post!!
Lx
http://workingmumy.blogspot.com
#KCACOLS
Right Royal Mother says
It looks amazing. When my two are older, I definitely want to pay this place a visit – or, perhaps, I’ll just go by myself before they get big enough! #KCACOLS
manstayshome says
Wow! Looks amazing! Definitely soemwhere we’ll be visiting in the future.
Great pictures 🙂 thanks for sharing #KCACOLS
Sam says
Being a massive Harry Potter fan I just loved reading this. Your photos are fab and it looks like an amazing day out. Never been to the Warner bros studios but dying to go even more now! Oh and I’m sure the kids would quite enjoy it too! Ha.
Also just wanted to say thanks for hosting #KCACOLS, I’m very much new to the world of blogging and I’m loving reading all the fab posts on here 🙂 S xx
Amanda says
This looks like a brilliant day out. I love the broom stick ride, that is very cool. My friend’s kids love Harry Potter and went to the London studios for his birthday, they had an amazing time. I would like to try butterbeer the drink and the ice cream, it sounds so nice.
Amanda. #kcacols
The_tale_of_mummyhood says
This looks amazing!! I would love to visit! It looks like you had a great time too 🙂
#KCACOLS
Lucy - MLYB says
Ah, I have a friend who is Harry Potter obsessed who would love this! Great photos 🙂
#KCACOLS