Do you like the world of filming, did you love the Harry Potter movies and would you like to see a little behind the scenes? Then you are in the right place, because in the next article we will introduce you to the Harry Potter Studio tour in London, which, although not cheap, is worth every penny.
We experienced the magic evoked in the movies, we could see the original equipment, clothes, masks, sit in the blue Ford England, ride the Hogwarts Express, and have many, many more experiences in the studio’s 14,000 square meters. Of course, it would be impossible to present all this in one article – but even in five – that’s why I only present the most spectacular locations for me.
A strong start
At first we didn’t know what to expect. Will the whole tour be organized, or can we explore at our own pace? At the beginning, what was needed was organized, but how! We walked into the studio through a long corridor, where there were pictures and statues of the characters, and then we were led into a larger, dark room, where they introduced the place with a sophisticated projection and told us humorously what could and could not be done inside. The experience continued in a movie theater, where the three main actors, Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Glint, told about how they experienced the filming and what it was like to belong to this family. Then we arrived at an iconic location, the real scenery of the school’s “great hall”, where we even got a light and smoke show for the full experience.
After that, we could explore the props and sets on our own. Those who were eavesdropping could get the gifts, such as Harry’s letter from Hogwarts, which poured into the foster parents’ house through the mailbox. In addition, whoever tasted the butterbeer – which had a very bad taste anyway – could take the glass home.
I don’t want to reveal everything, to show you in case someone wants to explore the place themselves, so I have selected some of my personal favorites.
Lots of forbidden
This part is creepy, lifelike, and extremely spectacular. Csikócsór, who has become a favorite of many in the movies, welcomes us at the beginning of Forbidden Plenty, whose movements and appearance make it seem like he is really alive and not just a well-made movie prop. Arriving inside, we can see Aragog, who, needless to say, immediately brought out my spider phobia. The trees, the smoke, the spider webs, the sounds all had such an effect on me that it definitely became one of my favorite places on the whole tour.
Hogwarts
Not many people will know that Hogwarts is not an actual place, but a meticulously, perfectly crafted model. They showed us how they shot cutscenes and interiors with a tiny camera to make it look like it was taking place in a life-sized building. It should be added that everything is as precise as if it were real.
Ukrainian steel-bellied dragon
The surprise that no one expected and that’s why it hit us so unexpectedly. After the perfect setting of Gringotts Bank, we wandered into a dark room where we only heard loud, “Jurassic Park” footsteps. Then it sounded closer and closer, and then we saw the Ukrainian steel-bellied dragon, which – as you will see in the video presented at the end – was very scary. Mainly because we didn’t know how long the canvas would last, or at first how it was projected. Without a doubt, this was my favorite part of the whole tour, as it was here that I could actually “get into” the movie.
In addition to the experience report, you will also get a small video taster, which may be able to convey the atmosphere of the Harry world better than the pictures. There you go!
Ticket prices
The prices are different everywhere, depending on where you request the transfer from, so I will only show the package we bought, which we obtained from a site called GetYourGuide. You have to book well in advance, we chose the package with the transfer starting from the Victoria Coach Station. It cost HUF 53,000 per person, but there are also youth (ages 5-15) and children’s tickets, but their prices vary depending on the date.
