I’ve decided to do Throwback Thursday to my favourite spots throughout my travels! First up is the Harry Potter Studio Tour, in Leavesden. I visited in March of 2013; I was living in Dublin, and I met up in London with one of my best friends living in Berlin to go to the tour. For two Harry Potter dorks, it was pretty much a dream come true! There were so many nostalgia moments that it took us several hours to wander through.
You begin in the Great Hall, and along the sides are some of the ghosts from the series. Obviously as a Ravenclaw, I had to spot the Grey Lady! I particularly loved seeing the ghost costuming- because they are so faint in the movie, it was lovely to see all of the details!
How is Ravenclaw in last place?? According to our tour guide, the set decorators cleared out the entire area of crafting beads to fill the house point counters!
The famous, stunning clock!!
The Chamber of Secrets is my least favourite book and movie (I hate spiders, okay?), but it was still very cool to see the door to the Chamber! The detail on the snakes is amazing.
Dolores Umbridge- A truly awful witch who is personified in this sickly sweet, pink office. I totally understand that in the series it was made by magic, but on set, someone most likely had pepto-bismol hands for months after painting this….
This is one bus stop I would love to wait at!
These chess pieces were terrifying- to see these huge and imposing statues made of stone, it really made the trio’s bravery in the first film even more apparent.
I walked around the corner, and this mermaid head gave me a near-heart attack….
Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes was the perfect way to end the tour! I was a little sad that we weren’t actually able to go into any of the shops in Diagon Alley, but there was so much movement in the windows (and coming out) that it looked very exciting.
Have you been to the Harry Potter Studio Tour? If you have, what was your favourite part?
Until tomorrow,
The Historian!
It’s soooo good isn’t it!! Love this place and this has just inspired me to look at going again
I want to go again now- I think that I would notice so many other things!! Even looking through pictures I am seeing things I didn’t see when I was there!
My sister took her kids there but she wasn’t too impressed (I think she thought it’d be more interactive, rather than like a museum)
It looks like a pretty fun place to explore though.
Were the tickets pricy?
Ohhhhh, they sure are haha. At the time I paid roughly £40 (in 2013) and I’m sure it’s closer to £50 now! As an adult paying for myself, I was cool with it (I don’t know that I will go again) but it’s a very expensive outing. While I loved it, I did expect a little more interaction!
Yeah, it’s not so bad as an adult! My sister took three kids, and they all ended up buying some HP merchandise (like £30 wands!)
I think it might have been the priciest day of her holidays!!
To be fair my nephews and niece seemed to LOVE it.
I would love to go on this tour!! Great pics, too!
(… Sounds like another UK trip is in order… just saying….)
YES!! ❤️
Really enjoyed your post and pictures. I went at Christmas a couple of years ago – amazing experience! There was so much to see I would definitely go again.
Did they do anything special for Christmas??
My son would love this!
This looks like a lot of fun. I haven’t been on a Harry Potter tour but my daughters have ans they lives it all. Great!!
I still have to see Green Gables in PEI but I think that this will remain my favourite literary/film experience!!
What a treat! I got a little tear in my eye when I saw Snape’s costume. Looks amazing.
It’s pretty special! I was a little choked up when I got to Dumbledore’s office ?
I went three years ago at christmas time it was lovely to see the great hall decked out in its christmas decor. I love that they put different things out at different times so you can go again and see new things.
The chess pieces weren’t on display when I went they look really neat 🙂
Also I hear there’s a hogwarts train now so I’d love to see that. It is expensive but I agree – totally worth the price for any potter fan
Brilliant photos. I really want to do this tour. It looks so fun.
Thank you! I can’t recommend it enough- yes, it is expensive. However, it is amazing to see everything, and you can really wander for HOURS 🙂
It’s a dream to go there 🙂
Someone told me that we need to book tickets 1-2 months in advance. Is it true?
Great question! I booked about a month ahead, and a few random tours were sold out- I would recommend a month ahead. If you wait, you may only have tours available that don’t suit your schedule! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Such a great tour this is. Really enjoyed it, although I do admit that I’m not a big fan of Harry Potter 🙂
I can see it being a bit long if you aren’t a Potterhead! I’m impressed that you slogged through it 🙂
A museum trip is more easy for me here 🙂