This time took my road warrior skills to go again to jolly England with the Le Shuttle train service (see post), and my Ford ; towing along my good boys and wonderful Rex! It was a very nice trip going into the countryside and seeing several towns of wonderul architecture and history (see posts), This one is a must and the main reason we made this trip for my boys, who love it !!! and, we will be back, eventually, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter is located inside Leavesden Studios, near Watford, in southwest Hertfordshire ,about 30 km from London, We came here after visiting High Wycombe (see post), 25 miles (34 km) away, I have a couple of other posts from the first trip but this will individualise on each attraction in the studio, Therefore, let me tell you about the Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour London, the Hogwarts Express !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The Hogwarts Express locomotive transported hundreds of students from Platform 9 ¾ to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Most of the scenes that take place on Platform 9 ¾ were actually shot on location at King’s Cross Station in London, however, during Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, part of the station platform was recreated on a soundstage here at Leavesden, complete with the track and the train.
Platform 9 ¾ and the famous Hogwarts Express. It is truly incredible to see in person. You can even step inside. Each compartment is themed after a movie; for instance, there is one filled with sweets, just like when Harry bought the entire trolley of candy in the first film. And of course, it has its own store for souvenirs which we did again!
In The Philosopher’s Stone is the first time Harry Potter takes the Hogwarts Express, he asks Ron’s mother for directions. This is how he meets Ron; they share a compartment during the journey, marking the beginning of their friendship. Harry learns a great deal about the wizarding world along the way. He meets many important characters during and after this first trip to Hogwarts, such as the Weasley twins, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Neville Longbottom, as well as his enemy Draco Malfoy and his friends Crabbe and Goyle. In The Chamber of Secrets ,the second year gets off to a bad start for Harry and Ron! They are unable to pass through the barrier to Platform 9 ¾ and therefore cannot board the Hogwarts Express. For the first time, they have to travel to Hogwarts by means other than the train, using a flying car (see post). In The Prisoner of Azkaban on this year, Harry travels on the train with his friends and Professor Remus Lupin, the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, who is asleep in their compartment. Unfortunately, they are visited by a Dementor, which causes the atmosphere to turn bitterly cold, gloomy, and filled with despair. In the The Goblet of Fire, Harry relives his parents’ death and faints. That year, Harry takes the train with his friends and the Weasleys. Before leaving, Percy Weasley annoys them by boasting that something important is going to happen at Hogwarts, though he refuses to say what it is. Draco Malfoy does the same on the train. Naturally, they were referring to the Triwizard Tournament. In the The Order of the Phoenix, with Hermione and Ron serving as prefects, Harry finds himself alone with Ginny. They enter a compartment shared with Neville and Luna Lovegood. It is the first time Harry sees Luna, and he quickly understands why others dislike her; she behaves very strangely, as is her custom. Despite this, they eventually become friends. In The Half-Blood Prince, Harry, Neville, and Ginny are summoned to dine in Professor Slughorn’s compartment. Slughorn has invited others primarily because they have famous family members. Afterward, Harry goes to Draco’s compartment to find out whether or not he is a Death Eater. Draco catches him, breaks his nose, Stupefies him, and hides him under the Invisibility Cloak. It is Tonks (Luna Lovegood in the films) who finds him and brings him to Hogwarts. In The Deathly Hallows, Harry, Hermione, and Ron do not attend Hogwarts, so they do not take the train. However, in the epilogue, Harry and Ginny’s children and Ron and Hermione’s daughter board the Hogwarts Express.
According to Pottermore, the Hogwarts Express was introduced during the tenure of Ottaline Gambol, Minister for Magic from 1927 to 1935. It was reportedly stolen from Muggles as part of a special operation. In the films, the locomotive used is the Olton Hall, which entered service in 1930, about 100 years later than the locomotive described in the books. For the new Harry Potter series, the locomotive used will be the Wightwick Hall, which is of the same vintage as the one in the films; naturally, it will be repainted. An interior carriage was also built at the studios for all the scenes that take place inside the train, including the iconic moment where Harry meets Ron and Hermione for the first time. The carriages were built in front of a green or blue screen so that the Visual Effects Team could create moving backdrops like hopping Chocolate Frogs and flying Dementors.
The official Harry Potter studio tour on the Hogwarts Express : https://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/the-experience/explore-the-tour/sets/platform-9-%c2%be/
The official Warner Bros Studios Leavesden: https://www.wbsl.com/
There you go folks , do dare drive in jolly England, it’s an adventure of a lifetime, and you will be back !!! as we have lol! Until another round chasing Sherlock we will be saying elementary my dear Watson to you all. Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour London, the Hogwarts Express !!! as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
