Tickets need to be booked online prior to visiting as no tickets can be purchased at the Studio. On arrival you queue with your email confirmation to receive your tickets and then join the queue for admittance to the Studio Gee was also given her activity passport to find the golden snitches and stamp it at various stamping stations around the experience. On entry there are bag searches and metal detectors which did not cause any problems and we were soon in the Studio entrance.
Gee was so excited to see the big cinema screen lift up to reveal the grand entrance to Hogwarts and was in awe at the sheer size of the Great Hall. The long tables down either side of the Hall were adorned with a Halloween feast and in the background were the costumes of the different houses used in the films.
Since we last visited the Studio the Hogwarts Express has arrived. You can actually walk along the carriage where a lot of the scenes were filmed, each carriage offering a different film set. Can you remember the one with the heart and initials for Ron? Well it is still there.
My favourite part of the whole tour is the walk down Diagon Alley. Look around as you stroll down and you will see Ollivanders Wand shop, Weezley's Wizard Wheezes where the mannequin is puking pastilles and the fabulous Apothecary with its assorted jars and cauldrons.
There is a café where you can purchase butterbeer and butterbeer ice cream but we did not have any. Having tried it previously I think it must be an acquired taste, far to sweet for me.
In the outside area you can visit Godric's Hollow, Privet Drive and Hogwarts Bridge. There are also the flying car, motorcycle and sidecar, the knights bus and the large knights out of the chess game.
The second part of the studio tour is how the creature effects were created. Goblins, Werewolves
and mythical creatures adorn the walls and it is at this point you can see the amount of work that went on behind the scenes to make the films possible. All the detailed drawings of the sets and castle are on display but nothing compares to the actual model of Hogwarts which is simply stunning. I just bet it looks amazing at Christmas when it is covered in snow.
I would definitely recommend the Studio Tour to anyone with a love for Harry Potter, it really is hard to believe all the work that goes on in the background to create the movies. Before you leave make sure you visit the shop, Gee was in heaven, there is so much memorabilia to buy and we couldn't come all this way without Gee having a souvenir to remind her of this great day.
We are now eagerly awaiting the release of Fantastic Beasts as I am sure it will be another winner.
We were given tickets to the Studio free of charge but the views are entirely our own.
I did see your photos on Instagram and they looked really fun! Would love to visit, T has seen a few of the Harry Potter movies, but I think I'd want her to see more before we even plan a visit! x
ReplyDeleteWhat a fab place to visit. Looks like you all had such a fun day.
ReplyDeleteFab photos too x
My son went on this a couple of years ago with his grandparents and he LOVED it! I've never seen harry potter so I think it would be lost on me, but it does look amazing if you're a fan!
ReplyDeleteLove love love it! Would love to go there.
ReplyDeleteI have been wanting to visit these studios too one day and want to do it soon as it brings so many characters back to life
ReplyDeleteI cant wait to be able to go when the little ones are a bit older. We love Harry Potter :)
ReplyDeleteWill love to visit these studios. They look like fun.
ReplyDeleteThat looks stunning! AS a big fan of the movies & books, I'd love to go there. So jealous!
ReplyDeleteIt looks great, definitely on my list of places to visit in the future.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely place to visit. I have never been here before but the kids would love it here :)
ReplyDeleteWe love it here, I am desperate to go and see it at Christmas with the snow
ReplyDeleteI would love to go and experience this tour for myself. It looks great and I'd love to see everything for myself :)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely loved it when I visited. But that was before my daughter was born and the Hogwarts Express wasn't there and you couldn't go in the house in Privet Drive. I definitely want to go back so badly. x
ReplyDeleteThis looks so much fun -my three would just love it (so would I ). Will have to get a trip sorted next year!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up to #theplaceswewillgolinky :O) We are really excited about going here in December!! I can hardly wait :) Looks amazing xx
ReplyDeleteLoved our visit there, even though I was not optimistic as I am not a fan, but really enjoyed it. You have some lovely photos :) #ThePlacesWeWillGoLinky
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