Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Harry Potter Studio Tour, London (part 1)

Haven't been blogging lately, and by lately I mean a couple of years.

Anyway, I believe this is a post worth posting or sharing.

Last month I went a super long holiday to England and a few countries around Europe (Poland-Italy-Spain). One of the highlight of this trip is of course, The Making of Harry Potter at Warner Bros. Studio, London.

I told him that it doesn't really matter what I do or where I go, as long as I get to visit this studio then I am alright. He said yes, he will make it happen and he did.

So we pre-booked our entrance ticket a few weeks earlier because I heard from a friend of mine it sells out very quickly especially the weekend. We went on a Friday and it was already quite full. We took the 12pm slot as that is the earliest one available. They have about 100 tickets available for every half hour slot. Imagine we were trying to book this a few weeks before and yet the first four slots is gone! Madness.

This is how much it cost. We ordered the audio digital guide (for him) as well as a paperback souvenier guide (for me). It includes a book on how they turn the studio into a tour museum. I am a big fan so whatever I can lay my hands on I will get it.


So, on the 19th we woke up at bout 7am and head out to Watford, London. We drove from St Helens to London. It takes us 4 hours to get there. We arrived shortly before 12 and we quickly queue to get our ticket printed from the machine. 

We also need to queue to collect the digital guide and keep our bags and coats in their locker. Its free. You cant bring any food or drinks in and bags are not allowed. We only have a backpack so we just leave it there. 

This is how it looks like at the entrance (Ignore my silly face. This is the only entrance picture I have)

Do you see that queue. That is the 11.30am slot. It takes bout 20mins for them to queue there before entering to the studio. We started queuing at about 12.12pm and by the time we enter to the studio, its already 12.40pm! Ugh 40 mins wasted.

They are smart enough to leave some props at the side of the line to entertain us. Guess what it is? 

Here. 




They have everything in. His boots, his glasses, his toys, his books and everything. Wow. *heavy breathing* I need to constantly remind myself that this is just the tip of the iceberg. Like the teeny tiny tip. If I get this excited now I think I am going to faint when I am actually in. Alol (stands for actually laughing out loud, he came up with it and we cant stop using it! Alol)

Next we were all huddled into this big room where they tell us the dos and donts. They also show some welcoming speech on the wall screen. 

Next, *heavy breathing again* we went into this cinema like room where we have to be seated and watch a 10 mins long film. More welcoming speech and a little bit more about the studio. Its like an introduction to the tour. Like the index to book. 

When its over, we were asked to stand and the staff was being funny and said something like "Alright now folks. The end. Thank you for coming and have a lovely day"and she showed us the exit. I was like what! He laughed because I was actually irritated by that. Alol 

They then rolled up the screen and this is what we see. 

The door of The Great Hall of Hogwarts. Then you can hear the hogwarts theme song playing in the background *heart was beating as hard a Michael Pelp after his 20th lap of butterfly stroke*

A lucky girl was called out to open the door and unfortunately it wasnt me. Well it was her birthday I guess she deserved it. 

When the door open, its like omg. I am in the great hall. Like I am LITERALLY in the Great Hall. It looks exactly like what I see in all the 8 films and what I imagine it would be in all the 7 books!! And the details….is just mind blowing. You thought they would CGI some of the objects but nope. They are all hand crafted, made and tangible. 











Hehe. Me in the empty Great Hall. It is actually bigger than it looks. The floor is actually made from concrete bricks that was used to build the castle! 

Next is the studio. Hair, make up, ceiling deco and many many probs.









Harry's dormitory. By the time they film Order of Phoenix, all the boys have already outgrow their bed!

Ronald Weasley's trunk


 Gryffindor common room





Dumbledore's office. Probably the only principal I dont mind being sent to see. Look at how cool his revolving phoenix door is!







The rest of the props and area











Potion classroom
















Hagrids hut


















The burrow. It looks really cozy =)


Death Eaters mask. Dont like it. Cool but creepy






Ministry of Magic. The green marble wall is really cool. According to him that is his favourite bit. I like the Great Hall still.







 Well well well, isnt she the person we all love to hate.




 The Blacks

This is the end of the part 1 indoor studio. Next is the outdoor bit like the bus and bridge and Privet Drive.

... to be continued.....