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| Harry Potter, Cupboard under the Stairs, 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey |
In Watford, the Harry Potter Studio Tour allows you a glimpse behind the camera lens. You walk into the large, unassuming beige building and are greeted by people of all ages, couples, friends and families. The one thing that unites us all – we flippin’ love Harry Potter!
The tour begins immediately. Even as you are queuing to show
your admission ticket you are waiting beside the ‘Cupboard under the Stairs’.
Tickets checked you then shuffle into a room with everyone
(I’d say about 40 people, it doesn't feel cramped or crowded) and they play a
short film summarising the journey of the book and how it has become an 8-part
film series and not to mention all of the merchandise that comes with that!
Doors then open and there is a small cinema and you sit down
and watch another short film which basically lets you know how the tour will
work. It is all very simple. You start off as a group in the ‘Great Hall’ and
then you are free to do as you please. However, they don’t encourage going back
into a room after you have left it. Make you sure you check out everything so you don’t feel as though you have missed out.
Now it is photo time!
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| We went just before Christmas and it was decorated really beautifully, although the food was plastic. Damn. |
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| "You're a wizard, Harry." |
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| Tthe original dress robes from the Goblet of Fire. Look how tiny Emma Watson's waist is! |
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| Ron's dress robes... |
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| Get wiggy with it |
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| Illustrations for Sirius Black's tattoos |
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| Dumbledore's wig |
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| The stages of battle. Note the sleeves get more ripped/dirty. |
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| Ron's bed and a tiny bit of Harry's in the background |
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| The Mirror of Erised. Myspace style. |
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| It ain't over until the... |
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| Gryffindor Common Room |
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| Invisibility cloak. What would you do with one? |
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| Acid pops! |
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| The chair was only a metre away from us, but they used 'force perspective' to make it look much further. |
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| Professor Umbridge's office |
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| He Who Shall Not Be Named. Or as I like to call him, Voldy. |
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| Mischief managed. |
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| Drunk on Butter Beer hence the blurry shot. Just kidding. Butter Beer is strange. Imagine an amber coloured cream soda but with a layer of cream on the top. Nice but very sweet! |
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| This section is all outside |
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| They had to rebuild a replica of Privet Drive to be used in the later films. The number 4 sign is the only thing which is not authentic as Rupert Grint has the original! |
Oh dear....
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| Not creepy at all. |
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| Oh Dobby! |
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| Diagon Alley |
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| They finish the tour with a scale replica of Hogwarts |
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Sorry for the huge amount of photos but I couldn't help myself!
Information:
- The whole tour, taken at a leisurely pace, is about 1 and a half hours.
- I didn't use the head phones and there weren't many people who did. However, if members of your party don't speak English fluently then I would recommend them, as the displays are written exclusively in English.
- There is a small place to buy food on the tour. It isn't anything fancy or magical. Just crisps and sandwiches.
- Share a Butter Beer with someone. You may not like it but it is all part of the experience.
- The tour is mainly indoors so only bring a brolly if rain is certain!
- There is a 'photoshoot' area which is really fun. You can sit in the Ford Anglia and pretend to fly over the Hogwarts Express or sit on a broomstick complete with Hogwarts robes. Hilarious but the photos are ermm... not the most flattering so in my room, in a box, they shall stay! For 4 it cost £24 which is pricey but comparative to theme parks I suppose.
I would thoroughly recommend taking a look if you live in the UK or Europe as there are so many original props from the films which you can't find anywhere else! A must have for Harry Potter fans.
Click here for more: Harry Potter Studio Tour
