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 castle and al, !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The famous giant model of Hogwarts Castle is a detailed 1:24 scale model was used for all the aerial and exterior views of the castle in the films.The end of the tour drops you into a large room filled with a field of 1/24th miniature sets of Hogwarts Castle. They actually used these to film and then used visual affects for things like Harry running in the snow by Hogwarts. It’s mesmerizing. It’s mind blowing…this is as big as Hogwarts ever gets.
The jewel in the crown of the Art Department is the intricately-detailed model of Hogwarts castle. Built for the first film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the model’s every courtyard, tower and turret were filmed and enhanced with digital effects to create unforgettably realistic views of the magical school. Footage of this meticulously built model was combined with digital effects to create unforgettably realistic views of the exterior of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Starting at the top looking down from a gallery, you walk around the whole of the castle model to exit the tour. The model, built for The Philosopher’s Stone is incredibly detailed to the point of including 300 fibre optic lights and using real gravel and plants for landscaping and trees during filming. The model is an impressive piece of architecture; as you walk round the structure, computer monitors are dotted beside the barrier depicting different stages of the model’s construction.
Dark Arts seasonal event was on the time we were there , the show ran from 16th September to 8th November 2026, Get ready for Halloween during the much-loved Dark Arts feature. Explore iconic sets, props, and costumes from the Harry Potter film series as the lights are dimmed and you discover the dark side of the Wizarding World. Encounters with Death Eaters in Diagon Alley and Defence Against the Dark Arts duelling lessons. Dementors in the Forbidden Forest.etc,
There are one hundred and forty-two staircases at Hogwarts ,The Grand Staircase, aka the Moving Staircase, was a massive stairway in Hogwarts Castle, the structure was mainly used to access each floor of the castle, including the dungeons. The staircases led from platform to platform and went as high as the seventh floor, where they came to an end. The stairs also had a knack for moving around the staircase chamber, usually when a student was walking up one of them. There were also many trick stairs that caused the victim to sink through a step and required another person to pull them out. However, it was second nature to most of the older students to jump them.
It does not house a complete, permanent set of the Hogwarts Grand Staircase, but instead displays set pieces and staircase sections used during production. The tour features parts of the enchanted Hogwarts staircase alongside other props and behind-the-scenes special effects secrets; the actual Grand Staircase from the films was not built as a full-scale, fixed set at Leavesden Studios but relied heavily on green screens, miniatures, and real-world locations, such as Gloucester Cathedral or Christ Church, Oxford for certain moving sequences.
The Knight Bus, not the one in the patio, but another, used to demonstrate the mechanism. A brief presentation shows the bus’s mechanics in action ; how the beds shift, the movement of the chandelier, the scenery passing by the windows, and so on along with some anecdotes about the bus’s transformation. The Knight Bus, that iconic purple double-decker, also features in the exhibition. However, filming with such a tall vehicle was no easy task; in reality, two buses were used for these scenes. The first, which drove through the streets of London, had to be dismantled using a massive crane to fit under bridges: the top section was removed, the bus passed through, and the roof was then put back in place. To shoot the interior scenes, a replica was built in the studio; this version was designed to move and sway, mimicking the sensation of a bus in motion. During production, the filmmakers created this wild ride using some of cinema’s oldest techniques, filming the bus at normal speed while surrounding cars crawled along at a snail’s pace. The footage was then sped up to make it look as though the Knight Bus was hurtling along at breakneck speed.
The Knight Bus is a magical bus ,it is invisible to Muggles. To summon it, one simply has to stand on a sidewalk and wave their wand. It is a purple double-decker bus that travels at 200 km/h (124 mph) through the streets. It has mismatched chairs and armchairs during the day and copper beds at night. As it travels by bouncing from one destination to the next, it is not particularly comfortable. This Knight Bus, carried Harry to the Leaky Cauldron after inflating the sister of Harry’s Uncle Vernon during an argument. Visitors are able to have their photos taken in the entrance to the bus. The inside of the bus, like the films, includes beds used by passengers to sleep during their overnight journeys.
The dragon located in the Transfiguration Courtyard is actually called the Wyvern Fountain. It serves as the second clue in the “Cache in the Castle” side quest given by Arthur Plummly in the Transfiguration Courtyard, located in the Astronomy Wing. You can use the courtyard’s Floo Flame if you have already unlocked it.
The Leaky Cauldron is a famous wizarding pub and inn in the Harry Potter universe, located on Charing Cross Road in London; it serves as a secret gateway between the Muggle world and Dragon Alley, acting as a magical transition point. A small courtyard at the rear provides access to Dragon Alley when specific bricks in the wall are tapped. Founded in the early 16C by Daisy Dodderidge, it is one of London’s oldest pubs. It was granted a special exemption following the enactment of the International Statute of Secrecy, allowing it to continue catering to wizards. It has been managed by figures such as Tom the barman and, later, Hannah Abbott. Harry Potter stayed there for several weeks during his third year, as recounted in The Prisoner of Azkaban in room 11.
The Backlot Café offers a large dining room as well as a terrace that opens onto the outdoor section of the sets. It serves as a transition between the two hangars you visit during your Harry Potter studio tour At the Backlot Café, you can drink Butterbeer, the famous (alcohol-free) drink popular with wizards, and also grab a snack (sandwiches, wraps, salads, a few “American-style” hot dishes, chips, more classic drinks). Located exactly halfway through the studio tour, after the Platform 9 ¾ section. Open all day with free access; no table reservations available (counter service). Indoor and outdoor areas with views of the Knight Bus, the Dursleys’ house at 4 Privet Drive, and the Hogwarts Bridge. A washing station is provided for cleaning souvenir Butterbeer mugs.
The Butterbeer Bar you can take a draught Butterbeer, Butterbeer ice cream and for the first time in Europe, frozen Butterbeer. Witches, wizards and Muggles alike are invited to enjoy a Butterbeer from one of the many options available, whether that be a frothy cup of Butterbeer served in a souvenir tankard, a frozen Butterbeer, a Butterbeer ice cream or a range of Butterbeer inspired treats. We try the butterbeer and the Butterbeer ice cream this time!
The official Harry Potter studio tour on the Hogwarts castle art department: https://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/the-experience/explore-the-tour/art-department/
The official Harry Potter studio tour on the backlog cafe and butterbeer : https://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/the-experience/food-drink/
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 castle and al, !!! as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
