Harry Potter's Magical World Comes to Life

The entrance to the Great Hall set

There is no doubting the impact J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series has amongst its fans, both children and adults alike. Though the films have now been completed, the magic of Harry’s world still lives on today. Next year, in the spring 2012, Warner Bros Studios in Leavesden, England (where they held the production for the films for the past 10 years) will open its doors to the public. Just think, this time next year you could be walking around the 150,000 square foot premises of the famous Harry Potter films!

The backstage tours will feature the sets of Hogwarts’ Great Hall, Dumbledore’s office, Gryffindor’s common room and Hagrid’s hut. The special effects tour even includes a look into the animatronics used in the Creature Effects workshop, which feature Buckbeak the Hippogriff, Aragog the giant spider, Fawkes the phoenix and the horrifying Basilisk head.

The Daily Mail for the UK got in touch with the Harry Potter actor himself, Daniel Radcliffe, and asked him about the opening of the studio. “It was such a magical place to grow up,” he shares. “People will be amazed to see the incredible environment we’ve worked in all these years.” Rupert Grint (Harry’s best friend Ron Weasley) even gave his thoughts. “The sets all have tiny little details that you may not always notice in the films but when you actually walk through them, you can see all the work that’s gone into it. It’s really amazing.”

The world so many of us believe to be all fantasy finally comes to life with the opening of the Warner Bros studio. Vice President of Warner Bros Studio Tour London says they are “thrilled that fans will soon be able to experience the award-winning artistry and talent that lovingly went into producing the actual sets, props, costumes and special effects of this record-breaking film series.” I don’t know about you, but I am definitely excited! (In fact, I’m still waiting for my Hogwarts acceptance letter.)


Book props


Two Ford Anglias used in the “Harry Potter” films


A worker walks past the exterior of Albus Dumbledore’s office set


The fireplace inside the Great Hall set


A self-scrubbing frying pan


A detail of the Monster Book of Monsters


A Slytherin panel, left, a Ravenclaw panel, center, and a Gryffindor panel from the door of the Great Hall


The dining table in the Great Hall set


A green screen is seen inside the pensieve from Dumbledore’s office, left, and a detail from outside the Great Hall door


A mermaid prop (from Goblet of Fire movie)


A prop depicting Charity Burbage

Photos by Suzanne Plunkett for REUTERS
via [Design You Trust]