But old film studios. “What makes our Studios such a special place is that every set, costume or prop presented there is authentic and was used during the filming of one of the eight films in the Harry Potter saga”, explains thus Sarah Roots, Vice President of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London. An impressive background therefore, highlighted by the scenography of the place:the costumes that were used in the film are thus not just displayed as they are, but staged on mannequins, which all have different positions. Everywhere, many screens project film extracts and interviews with the successive directors of the saga, which put into perspective what we see in front of us and how it was used and then rendered in the films. Bluffing, especially in the part devoted to creatures, makeup and prostheses. We learn, for example, that the make-up artists had to develop a silicone mask made up of 7 distinct pieces to create the face of Greyback, the werewolf, each prosthesis being made from real goat hair applied one by one.
But if you love, it's paradise! The guides are all enthusiasts who know the saga like the back of their hands, and are full of anecdotes about the filming or even about the reaction of the actors when they visited these facilities. We thus learn that it was the members of the film crews who served as models for certain sets. Or that Daniel Radcliffe broke no less than 80 magic wands in 10 years of filming! As if on a pilgrimage, we stroll with emotion in the Great Hall of Hogwarts Castle, whose ceiling is inspired by the vaulted wooden ceiling of the Westminster hall. We contemplate the boys' dormitory, with the beds of Harry, Ron, Seamus, Neville and Dean, which have become too small as the actors have grown, forcing the directors to trick themselves into finding different angles. We marvel at the Weasleys' kitchen with its self-knitting needles, the self-washing frying pan, the iron that slides on the ironing board as if by magic... We dream of shopping in the impressive Chemin de Traverse, home to the Weasley twins' jokes and tricks shop, as well as Ollivanders, the unmissable shop with 17,000 magic wands! And we can only applaud when we discover the model of Hogwarts castle, the highlight of the visit. A colossal work:if we added up all the hours spent by the members of the team who worked on this model, it would exceed 74 years! At the end of the visit, you have the very clear impression of being part of a big family. And if you are not (yet) completely addicted, you have only one desire:to immerse yourself in the entire saga, books or films combined, as soon as you get home.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – Behind the scenes of Harry Potter is 30km northwest of London. By train, the nearest station is Watford Junction. It is not possible to buy tickets on site. Advance booking required on the website www.wbstudiotour.co.uk then collection of tickets at the counters located outside the attraction. Plan to arrive 20 minutes before the time slot assigned by email.
To sleep comfortably in the heart of the English countryside and only 5 minutes by car from the studios, head to the sumptuous The Grove hotel, with indoor swimming pool, spa…
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