Hogwarts in the Snow

Last week we visited somewhere I have been desperate to go for a long time – The making of Harry Potter to see Hogwarts in the Snow. I’m a huge fan of both the books and the films and quite frankly think they are both perfect for any time during the year.

From Friday 13^th to January 31^st 2016 the Warner Bro’s Studio Tour is decorated for Christmas using the original props from the Christmas Feasts in the films. The tour begins where it all starts – at the cupboard under the stairs where Harry lives before he discovers he’s a wizard. You slip into the cinema and see the three stars from the film introduce you to the magic which lies ahead.

I’m not too sure who found it more exciting, myself or the children! I could have spent a couple more hours at the tour I have to say but the boys were so excited they darted from prop to prop!

Starting in the amazing Hogwarts Great Hall with 8 Christmas trees decorated with golden baubles and the fabulous miniature witches on broomsticks which circle them as in the film. Savoury food takes up the tables down one side and desserts down the other. Including flaming Christmas puddings!  In the original films real food was used however it is the only part of the hall which doesn’t have original props as by now it would be a bit mouldy!  The hall is divided up by the individual houses. Of course in Griffindor (the best) corner on display are Harrys robes from the Philosophers stone, as is Neville’s amazing cardigan ensemble which he battles at Hogwarts in. Every scene of the set from the potions dungeons to the Weasley kitchen are dressed and decorated as in the films.

In the first area on the inside sets you have the opportunity to fly in the Weasleys car or on broomsticks and have your photo taken against a series of backdrops – for Hogwarts in the Snow events you can choose a special snowy themed background. You can also be taught and fine tune your wand skills. The boys absolutely adored this and spent a lot of time perfecting their sneaky death eater shots.

I loved the props and scenes and could spend ages just staring at them but we also loved reading all the side notes and little facts. For instance the boy’s dormitory remained the same throughout filming including the beds which resulted in the boy’s legs daggling off the ends in the later movies! Some of the sets are quite scary, for example the scenes from the later movies with Nagine on the table of deaths eaters and a witch dangling above them.

And of course now you can visit the famous platform 9 ¾’s and have your photo taken pushing the trolley through! The boys loved exploring the train and carriages and adored the carriages you could sit in and “travel” to Hogwarts in.

After this you have the opportunity to try Butter Beer and have refreshments before you hit the back lots (outside) and move in the designing part of the film. Outside here you can eat a picnic if you bought one along and jump on board the Night bus! The boys were too scared to go and knock on the door of a certain house in Privet Drive! They spent ages running up and down the bridge from the film pretending they were dashing from Hogwarts to Hogsmead!

Inside part two is more focused on the designing and fine tuning such as the costumes warn by the werewolves or mermaids. And of course the ton that is Aragog and it’s just as frightening (at least to me) in real life! We saw the paperwork and designs that were used to make the models and design the fabulous props such as the Goblet of Fire & the Durmstrang ship!

Then you can venture into Diagon Alley which was one of the boy’s favourite sets. They adored reading all the labels in all the windows and peering into the depths to see what else they sold. They would have loved to have gone in the shops and bought dragons liver I suspect! 

The Hogwarts castle model which features in every film has been transformed for Hogwarts in the Snow. The snow is hand sprinkled on the model and is made from a combination of granulated paper and grains of salt – chosen for way it clumps like real snowflakes and catches the light as snow does. In the first part of the tour there are stands where you can see the difference creations for snow depending on what effect they were after. I did invite them to come and decorate my house since it was so lifelike and amazing. At the same stall they show you techniques for their magical flames and even up close you wouldn’t guess!

The final part before you arrive in the shop is the wand store and the boys adored this. Each label has been hand written and features the name of everyone who worked on the films. What a fabulous way to be remembered!

I was worried that the boys would feel the magic had been lost but see the how to’s and sets but if anything they are bigger fans than before! The staff are as geeky as us and as excited by it all as us and are happy to chat nonstop about it all. It was an amazing evening and we can’t wait to go back again however its worth bearing in mind a couple of things:

1,  The tours are released in two hourly blocks throughout the day which as the tour takes on average 3-4 can cause a bust afternoon.  Therefore book early! 

2,  Butter beer is a well not as tasty as we thought. Buy one and share it between you unless you love it!  

3,  Enjoy every moment! It’s amazing, truly!