Hogwarts in the Snow – The making of Harry Potter tour, Warner Brother studios, London

Hogwarts in the Snow – The making of Harry Potter tour, Warner Brother studios, London. Stepping inside the actual studios where the movies were made you can be in no doubt that there’s still some special magic in the air.

The Warner Brothers’ studios are at Leavesden and The Making of Harry Potter Tour, near to Watford. It’s an hour’s drive from central London.

This was the home to Harry, Hermione, Ron and the huge entourage which successfully brought the books of the schoolboy wizard to the big screen for over a decade.

The studio doors have now been opened to muggles young and old giving you an amazing glimpse into this world.

What you’ll experience is an utterly immersive experience. Of what it was like to be part of the filming process of the Harry Potter films.

And even if you only have a passing interest in the films you will find an awful lot here to love. As the studios are currently celebrating Hogwarts in the snow, there’s more than a sprinkling of sparkling magic throughout too.

Entering Hogwarts in the Snow – The making of Harry Potter tour, Warner Brother studios, London

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As you approach the huge studio buildings you get a sense of the immensity of the film series.

There’s a real feeling of inspiration throughout the Making Of Harry Potter tour too. As soon as you walk in there are quotes from JK Rowling on the walls.

JK Rowling’s story

And as you enter the main exhibition (and pass the ‘cupboard under the stairs’) you learn how ideas about Harry Potter started popping into Rowling’s head as she sat on a delayed Manchester to London train.

The gems of the boy wizard were coming to life and she wrote reams of notes. Which over hours, days and weeks would be turned into the first novel.

A manuscript which would sit, unpublished for two years.

Rowling’s story is one of determination and defiance and a true belief in the magic of Harry Potter. And it’s impossible not to feel that as you wander around the huge world that her mind created.

I think this is a wonderful place for children to feel inspired by the buzz of Harry Potter, of the actors who brought him to life, the special effects crew, the camera operators, make-up artists, and of course behind it all the author.

It’s important to understand that this is not a theme park experience, but nor is it a museum. It is rather more an immersive experience in the Harry Potter world where you stand inside and alongside the immense sets.

What you can discover at the Warner Brother studios, London

Here you learn the tricks that the film makers used to create the magic on the screen. And even climb onto a broomstick and fly off to Hogwarts – courtesy of the same green screen technology that the actors used.

The visit starts in the most incredible way. Stepping into the infamous Great Hall at Hogwarts which is dressed for Christmas.

There are huge self-lighting puddings, and candles floating in the mid-air.

And you’ll learn how these effects were brought to life on film.

From here it’s off to the bedroom dorms, common room, the potions classroom and past huge sets.

There’s so much to see at these studios that you can easily spend hours exploring the costumes, set designs, prosthetics and electronics to create animated monsters. Including a giant spider which you will find hanging over your head at one point.

It’s great to see that the films embraced real props and incredible models. As well as making use of computer effects. 

There’s plenty of interaction as you move around too. Up close demonstrations of the different snow effects that were used.

And it was even ‘snowing’ as we stepped outside to visit the Dursleys’ home.

There are a few real wow moments at the Making Of Harry Potter tour. The moment you round a corner and find yourself face to face with the Hogwarts Express is utterly wonderful.

As is walking right through the ‘real’ Diagon Alley. You have to pinch yourself for a moment.

The incredible model of Hogwarts used for many of the ‘external’ shots and currently covered in snow will also take your breath away.

I wasn’t really ready for the scale of it, but it really is a magical experience.

Cost

The one thing to bear in mind about the whole experience is that it is not a cheap day out.

Of course, there’s the entrance fee. But you may also want to purchase the excellent photos and videos of you and your little ones flying broomsticks.

There’s also the wizard treats. Bertie Botts every flavour beans really do live up to their reputation. But at £9 a packet these are not cheap jelly beans.

However, the hilarity of experience of trying these out at home (was it going to be the cherry flavour or rotten egg, vomit, or worst of all earthworm) made for such a fun evening that they were more than worth it.

There is a well-stocked restaurant and cafe serving everything from full-on meals to souvenir tankards of Butterbeer.

And then of course you exit through the gift shop where you will have to drag yourself away from beautifully recreated carved wands and talking sorting hats.

There’s no doubt you can spend a lot here, but this really is a one-off experience. And we felt that all the products were of the highest quality.

Seeing the Making Of Harry Potter tour decked out in the snow and all its festive splendour really added to the magic of the experience.

It’s lovely to see that the wonder of the stories which started with a delayed train journey are going to be treasured for many years to come.

You can get your skip-the-line tickets here

Check out the film of our trip to Hogwarts in the Snow here

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