Keeping up with The Royals

It’s official, the studio where Harry Potter and friends spent 10 years of their life making the iconic movies is now open for tours! In fact Will, Kate and Harry (no not Potter, try Prince Harry) officially opened the tour at Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden, Hertfordshire at the end of April.

Unless you’ve been living under a stone for the last decade, we’re assuming you’re familiar with Harry, Hermione and Ron and their amazing adventures at Hogwarts. If not this is the perfect opportunity to take the tour, especially if you’re staying in a fabulous cottage nearby.

What is there to see?

Well fans can get a look at the props, costumes and animatronics featured in the movies. Such as Harry’s Nimbus 2000 in the Wand Room, Hagrid’s motorcycle and his oversized costume. You’ll also learn how the animatronics, life-sized models and green screen effects brought the film’s creatures to life.

Walk in Harry Potter’s shoes

Not literally, but the behind the scenes tour will provide a real eye opener into the secrets of the movies and certain aspects that were never revealed by the camera. You’ll be able to explore the iconic venues of Hogwart’s Great Hall, Professor Dumbledore’s office, Hagrid’s Hut, the Gryffindor common room, Professor Umbridge’s office at the Ministry of Magic, Potions classroom and the boys’ dormitory. We hope there won’t be any smelly socks lying around.

But that’s not all

You can even wander the cobbled streets of Diagon Alley. Unfortunately you won’t be able to enter the shops, but you will be able to see the fronts of Ollivanders wand shop, Eeylops Owl Emporium, Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, Gringotts Wizarding Bank and Flourish and Blotts.

Even more magic

You can even get a good look at the model of Hogwarts Castle that was built for the very first movie, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. It has been modified several times in line with the seven movies that followed. The model was digitally scanned for the CGI scenes and plays a starring role. On the tour you can see its 2,500 fibre optic lights on a day-to-night cycle.

When can we go?

You can visit pretty much any day of the year except Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The tours run throughout the day, with the first starting between 9am and 10am and the last tour between 4pm and 6pm.