Oh, sure, when traveling in London you can try to placate your wee Pottermanaics with a quick visit to Platform 9¾ at Kings Cross Station, a Harry Potter walking tour or bus tour, but you know they’ll really want to see the actual Warner Brothers sound stages where much of the film series was filmed. And believe it or not, so do you. Even my non-Potter-obsessive husband loved it.
After a painless tube-and-shuttle bus trip to Leavesden, about 45 minutes from London, you’ll actually visit two adjacent sound stages. When the doors opened into the Great Hall–a huge, spectacular banquet scene so familiar from the films, it’s utterly breathtaking–I may or may not have gotten tears in my eyes. (I admit nothing.) There are big, intricate sets of Dumbledore’s office, the Potions classroom (with a mannequin of Professor Snape in black wig and dour costume–even as a statue he’s strangely attractive), a Gryffindor dorm and common room, and the Weasley family home. I loved evil Dolores Umbridge’s office, with its cloying pink décor and collection of adorable kitten plates. (Never have kittens looked so sinister.) There’s a Quidditch and Ford Anglia photo/video opportunity, and a participatory wand-using class. Don’t check your coat at the cloakroom, because part of the tour is outside: You’ll visit the Night Bus, the Privet Drive set, the cottage where Harry’s parents lived (and died), and more. Then you’ll head into the second sound stage, which holds a model of Diagon Alley, lots of intriguing creature effects (we liked recognizing John Cleese’s disembodied head) and a flabbergasting, 50-foot detailed model of Hogwarts used for overhead shots in all the films.
Tips for visiting: 1) You must buy tickets in advance. 2) Allot three hours there, at least. 3) Wear comfy shoes. 4) Book your timed entry for early in the day–kids are less kvetchy, and if you’re visiting in fall or winter, it gets dark early; you’ll want to take pictures outdoors in natural light. 5) Bring your own food. The café served the worst mac ‘n’ cheese I have had in 48 years, and I’m 47. My kids also said the butterbeer was way better in Orlando. 6) The iPod audio tour is unnecessary. 7) Encourage your spawn to find all the hidden golden snitches and get stamps embossed on their passports. (If they get frustrated, roving staffers can offer clues.) 8) Gift shop pricing is stratospheric, especially after the cost of tickets and family photo packages, so you might want to bring secret souvenirs of your own or set a strict price limit.
Accio, adventure!
To learn more, visit wbstudiotour.co.uk.
Marjorie Ingall is a contributor to Tablet Magazine (the online magazine of Jewish news, ideas, and culture) and an NYC mom of two. She is currently working on a book about how and why Jewish mothers have historically raised self-sufficient, ethical, and accomplished kids.
