After being closed for several months, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London will be reopening on August 20th! Additional health and safety measures are being put in place to ensure all customers have a safe and magical time. Some include a reduced capacity, social distancing and enhanced cleaning.
Starting tomorrow, August 6, at 1pm, fans will be able to book tickets online for visits up to 31st June 2021. Those with tickets prior to August 20th will receive refunds on their tickets automatically.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London is delighted to reopen to visitors from Thursday 20th August, allowing fans to step back into the Wizarding World and discover the behind-the-scenes magic. From tomorrow at 1pm, fans will be able to book tickets online for visits up to 31st June 2021.
To help keep everyone safe, a number of additional measures and changes have been made to the Studio Tour experience. The updates are designed to prioritise social distancing and enhanced cleaning.
Geoff Spooner, SVP & General Manager, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London says: “We’re thrilled to be able to open the doors to the Hogwarts Great Hall to visitors once again. While the Studio Tour experience may differ from previous visits as we introduce additional safety measures , we’re looking forward to welcoming fans back into the world of Harry Potter for a truly magical day out.”
Upon reopening, visitors will experience the Studio Tour’s special feature, A Celebration of Slytherin. For the first time ever, visitors will be able to walk through the Great Hall decorated in Slytherin colours before being the first to see the Slytherin Common Room up close. A 25-ft section of the set complete with authentic props and imposing stone walls will be on display for fans. A Celebration of Slytherin has been extended until 12th November and more details can be found here.
Safety Measures
• Visitors aged 11 and up will be required to wear a face mask or covering for the duration of their visit.
• The Studio Tour will open with a reduced capacity to help encourage social distancing. Additional signage and floor markings will be in place to promote social distancing and allow visitors to navigate the Studio Tour safely.
• Enhanced cleaning will take place throughout the day and hand sanitiser stations will be positioned throughout the Studio Tour.
• Some areas of the Studio Tour may be unavailable to limit contact and maintain social distancing.
• To further limit contact, the Studio Tour’s shops and cafés will only accept cashless or contactless payment options such as credit and debit cards or mobile payments.
• For more information on the Studio Tour’s safety measure, visit the website.
On Tuesday, December 3rd, a special Christmas party was held at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter to celebrate the launch of Wizarding World Gold.
Fans enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime experience with dinner in the authentic Great Hall set and Wizarding games on Platform 9 ¾ with surprise guest host, Warwick Davis. The Wizarding World Gold Christmas Party is the first in a series of exclusive events for Gold Subscribers, with more to be announced in 2020.
Gold subscribers who snapped up the tickets earlier this month through the new Wizarding World app were welcomed with a drinks reception that took place next to an enchanting installation of the re-imagined Sorting hat which floated in front of them, in situ for one night only.
The atmosphere peaked when host for the evening, actor Warwick Davis, who portrayed Professor Flitwick and Griphook in the Harry Potter films, turned up to surprise the guests at the start of the evening, leading fans through to the truly magical Great Hall set, decorated as it was for the iconic Yule Ball in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Guests enjoyed a two-course Christmas feast – which at one point was interrupted by Death Eaters who skulked through the room.
Guests also watched as an artist brought their visions of ‘Christmas in the Wizarding World’ to life on a mural next to the original Hogwarts Express locomotive and played games such as ‘Wizarding Mr & Mrs’ hosted by Warwick Davis himself.
Fans went on to explore the Studio Tour after hours, discovering the filmmaking secrets behind Christmas in the Wizarding World with a tankard of Butterbeer, before dancing the night away on a starlit dancefloor under the gaze of a giant model of a Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon suspended above.
Wizarding World Gold is the spellbinding annual subscription that offers fans the opportunity to enhance their free Official Harry Potter Fan Club experience, offering a host of exciting benefits such as: personalized welcome gifts, exclusive content, access to all 7 Harry Potter eBooks, collectible pin badges, exclusive discounts, early access, priority booking and the chance to enjoy once-in-a-lifetime experiences such as the Wizarding World Gold Christmas party.
We’re almost at the end of the year and Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter has announced their features for 2020! Some fan favorites like Dark Arts and Hogwarts in the Snow will return and new features, like A Celebration of Slytherin will be introduced!
Introducing the Art Department (14th February-24th February)
Original filmmakers demonstrate how they brought the wizarding world to life and visitors will have the opportunity to take a closer look at original props from the film series such as wands, copies of The Daily Prophet and Hogwarts acceptance letters.
A Celebration of Slytherin (3rd April – 6th September)
Dark and sinister forces take centre stage for a brand new feature this year, shining a spotlight on the most cunning and ambitious of all Hogwarts’ houses – Slytherin. All Harry Potter fans are invited to discover the secrets behind iconic Slytherin costumes and props used in the films throughout the tour and for the first time, the Great Hall will be dressed to celebrate a Slytherin victory of the House cup. A grand feast and original hanging banners are just some of the features visitors can expect to see…
Dark Arts (25th September – 8th November)
To mark the return of Halloween, Dark Arts will return to Studio Tour where visitors can feast their eyes on a 100 floating pumpkins and a seasonally-themed feast in the Great Hall. Other additions include live duels to demonstrate how battle scenes were directed, a spookier version of Diagon Alley and mysterious followers of ‘He who must not be named’ roaming around.
Hogwarts in the Snow (14th November – 17th January 2021)
The magical Hogwarts in the Snow returns next year, when fans will be see iconic sets from the film series transformed for the festive season. The Great Hall will receive a sparkling Yule Ball makeover, the Gryffindor common room will be dressed with presents and decorations as well as the Hogwarts castle model covered in a sheet of filmmaking snow.
Tickets for the Studio Tour must be pre-booked at www.wbstudiotour.co.uk or by calling the attraction’s Visitor Services Team on 0345 084 0900. All extra activities are included in the ticket price.
Hogwarts In The Snow will run at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter from Saturday 16th November 2019 – Sunday 26th January 2020. The Dinners in the Great Hall will be taking place on 9th-11th December. Tickets will go on sale on 17th September at 10 am. For more information, please visit: www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/dinner
If you are able to go during this time definitely do! It’s a gorgeous setup and totally worth seeing. Even if you’ve been before you can always find something new!
Harry Potter fans are invited to discover the filmmaking secrets behind Christmas in the Wizarding World as Warner Bros. Studio Tour London undergoes a magical makeover for Hogwarts in the Snow. From Saturday 16th November – Sunday 26th January 2020, visitors will have the opportunity to see the Harry Potter film series’ most iconic sets decorated for festive scenes. The Great Hall will be transformed for the Yule Ball, the Gryffindor common room will be dressed for the season and a blanket of filmmaking snow will be meticulously applied to the majestic Hogwarts castle model.
This festive season also sees the return of the highly anticipated ‘Dinner in the Great Hall’ events at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London. Each night from 9th-11th December, Harry Potter fans can enjoy drinks and canapes before sitting down to a two-course Christmas feast on the truly magical Great Hall set that will be completely transformed for the festive season. Dessert will be served on Platform 9 ¾ next to the original Hogwarts Express locomotive and guests will be free to explore the Studio Tour exclusively after hours.
The festive transformation will begin in the Great Hall, where the stage will again be decorated as it was for the iconic Yule Ball. As seen in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the celebration of the Triwizard Tournament saw every detail of the Great Hall covered in shimmering silver, dripping icicles and sparkling snow. Visitors to the Studio Tour will get a taster of this incredible set dress as the top section of the Great Hall will be transformed with snow-covered Christmas trees, icicles and an orchestra of magical instruments that have been painted by the Prop- Making Department to match the silver of the Yule Ball.
In addition to the Yule Ball decoration, The Great Hall will be lined with Christmas trees and the long dining tables will be dressed as they were for seasonal feasts at Hogwarts with prop versions of roast turkeys, hams studded with cherries and even Christmas puddings surrounded by real flames.
As part of the Hogwarts in the Snow feature, many of the iconic sets housed at the Studio Tour will receive a festive makeover. The Gryffindor Common Room and Boys’ Dormitory will be decorated with the original props including handmade Christmas cards, some of which were created by the cast members during production. Fireplaces throughout the Studio Tour (including those in the Leaky Cauldron and Great Hall) will be ‘lit’ with special effects fire, created by John Richardson and the SFX team using a combination of water vapour and lighting effects.
The Hogwarts castle model will be transformed with a layer of filmmaking snow. During filming, a member of the crew climbed aboard an elevated work platform and sprinkled the ‘snow’ mixture of granulated paper and grains of salt onto the model by hand with a sieve – like dusting sugar onto a cake. The same process takes place at the Studio Tour every festive season. Visitors will even be able to touch samples of the different types of ‘snow’ used during production, each selected for its ability to float like falling snow, crunch under foot or glisten in the light like ice.
Hogwarts in the Snow will run from Saturday 16th November – Sunday 26th January 2020. Tickets must be pre-booked, and all extra features are included in the ticket price. Tickets to Dinner in the Great Hall will go on sale at 10am on 17th September 2019.
First sneak peek of the original Gringotts Wizarding Bank, the biggest expansion to date at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, open 6th April
Warwick Davis commented: “It’s so exciting to be back inside Gringotts Wizarding Bank after so many years. I spent a lot of time here as Griphook and it’s great to see the Studio Tour bring the original set back to life. I know visitors will love discovering the details of the goblin prosthetics and the Lestrange vault for themselves and there are more exciting additions to be revealed.”
The full press release may be read below:
Today Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter has offered a sneak peek at its biggest expansion to date, Gringotts Wizarding Bank.
From the brass leaf details on the columns to polishing the Sword of Gryffindor, finishing touches are currently taking place to ensure that the wizard’s bank is ready for the official opening on 6th April. Entering this impressive set, visitors are invited to step into the grand banking hall, underneath the magnificent ‘crystal’ chandeliers to discover the secrets behind goblin prosthetics, costumes and so much more. From concept art and prop making to set design and prosthetics, visitors will unlock the filmmaking magic behind the famous wizard’s bank.
Lined by towering marble pillars, the grand banking hall will be decorated with three magnificent crystal chandeliers and finished with real brass leaf. Inkwells, quills, ledgers and piles of Galleons, Sickles and Knuts will complete the goblin tellers’ desks as seen on screen. The Prop-making Department, led by Pierre Bohanna, created over 210,000 coins for the final two films alone.
Gringotts Wizarding Bank is famously run by goblins. Walking through the imposing marble columns, visitors will discover the costumes and prosthetics belonging to Bogrod, Griphook and many other goblin bankers. Each prosthetic mask took weeks to create, with every hair individually inserted and veins painstakingly painted by hand. It took four hours to transform actor Warwick Davis into Griphook in the films which included him wearing black contact lenses and dentures with extremely sharp teeth to complete the goblin look.
Once through the banking hall of Gringotts, visitors will enter the depths of the Lestrange Vault used to store the treasures of Bellatrix Lestrange including the Sword of Gryffindor and Helga Hufflepuff’s Cup, one of Voldemort’s many Horcruxes. During filming 38,000 pieces of rubberised treasure were created for the Lestrange vault including 7,014 Hufflepuff Cups. Here, visitors can try out a unique photo opportunity allowing them to step inside the Lestrange vault and surround themselves with treasure.
Officially opening on Saturday 6th April, the 16,500sqft Gringotts Wizarding Bank expansion will be the Studio Tour’s biggest addition to date and has been designed and built by many of the original crew members who worked on the hugely successful magical film series including Oscar® and BAFTA winning Production Designer Stuart Craig, Construction Manager Paul Hayes and Head Propmaker Pierre Bohanna.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter unveils its biggest expansion to date, the original Gringotts Wizarding Bank will be open to the public from Saturday 6th April
Opening officially on Saturday 6th April, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London will unveil its largest ever expansion, allowing visitors to walk through the wizarding bank of Gringotts, the Lestrange vault, a gallery of goblins and much more. Book your tickets here! Photos of a Goblin preparing the area for your visit may be viewed in the gallery!
For the first time ever at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, visitors are invited to enter the set of Gringotts Wizarding Bank as the Studio Tour unveils its biggest expansion to date.
From Harry Potter first discovering Diagon Alley to the famous trio escaping on a Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon in their quest for a Horcrux, Gringotts Wizarding Bank played an important role in the Harry Potter film series. On 6th April, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London will unveil a permanent addition allowing visitors to walk through the wizarding bank of Gringotts, the Lestrange vault, a gallery of goblins and so much more.
Lined by towering marble pillars, the grand banking hall will be decorated with three magnificent crystal chandeliers and finished with real brass leaf. Inkwells, quills, ledgers and piles of Galleons, Sickles and Knuts will complete the goblin tellers’ desks as seen on screen. The Prop-making Department, led by Pierre Bohanna, created over 210,000 coins for the final two films alone.
Gringotts Wizarding Bank is famously run by goblins. Walking through the imposing marble columns, visitors will discover the costumes and prosthetics belonging to Bogrod, Griphook and many other goblin bankers. Each prosthetic mask took weeks to create, with every hair individually inserted and veins painstakingly painted by hand. It took four hours to transform actor Warwick Davis into Griphook in the films which included him wearing black contact lenses and dentures with extremely sharp teeth to complete the goblin look.
Once through the banking hall of Gringotts, visitors will enter the depths of the Lestrange Vault used to store the treasures of Bellatrix Lestrange including the Sword of Gryffindor and Helga Hufflepuff’s Cup, one of Voldemort’s many Horcruxes. During filming 38,000 pieces of rubberised treasure were created the for the Lestrange vault including 7,014 Hufflepuff Cups. Here, visitors can try out a unique photo opportunity allowing them to step inside the Lestrange vault and surround themselves with treasure.
Officially opening on Saturday 6th April, the 16,500sqft Gringotts Wizarding Bank expansion will be the Studio Tour’s biggest addition to date and has been designed and built by many of the original crew members who worked on the hugely successful magical film series including Oscar® and BAFTA winning Production Designer Stuart Craig, Construction Manager Paul Hayes and Head Propmaker Pierre Bohanna.
Entrance to the expansion will be included in general admission ticket price.
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