If you’ve never had the opportunity to visit the Harry Potter Studio Tour at Leavesden, there’s no better time to make the trip, with the latest expansion opening in April.
I am incredibly fortunate to live just around an hour away from Watford, and the Harry Potter Studio Tour at Warner Brothers’ Leavesden site. So, as the tour has expanded — first with Platform 9¾ and later the Forbidden Forest — and added special events, I’ve had the chance to explore and experience many of them.
That, of course, comes with its own perks and downsides. With having been a guest at the tour into the double digits, there are very few surprises left, though it remains impressive enough that repeat visits are still a must. However, there is no greater joy than taking friends along for their first time visit, and experiencing it through their eyes, especially one huge dramatic reveal towards the end of the tour. The response to that never gets old.
So, when Warner Brothers extended an invitation for me to attend a First Look event for their Gringotts expansion, I barely had to think twice. When I made the trip to Leavesden late in 2018, for Hogwarts in the Snow, there was significant work taking place — both outside the tour itself, and inside. At that time, there was no news on what, exactly, that significant work comprised of, but on January 29 Pottermore announced that the tour was adding a Gringotts Bank section. Having the opportunity to be one of the first to see it in person? It was an incredibly exciting prospect.
On the morning of March 29, I woke up early to make the journey to Watford. I was expecting some surprises from the Studio Tour, but little did I know that the work done was far more significant than just the Gringotts expansion that I was anticipating.
New entrance area
The first thing that hit me, as a repeat visitor, was the complete overhaul of the entrance area. Not only with the outside, which features a whole new fascia, but also the area following the information and audio tour desk.
The previous iteration of the entrance area — which contained the Studio Tour shop, a cafe, and some basic decor — felt almost temporary. There was very little about it that brought the magic of the tour out into the rest of the lot. At Christmas time there was always a tree, and there were some images around the edges, but all-in-all, it was just there.
That might feel like something minor but, depending on when you arrive, you could spend a fair amount of time in this area before heading in for your tour. The new level of immersion was a fantastic addition and gave the whole area a much needed facelift.
Let’s get the major addition out of the way: the Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon overhead as you walk through. Photographs truly can’t capture the sheer scale of the Gringotts dragon. It is huge. With how early I had arrived at the tour, the entrance area was largely deserted, so taking photographs — including a few selfies — was a must.
There’s also now a large carpeted area outside the Studio Tour shop, adorned with wands and magical imagery, and the panelling featuring the characters has been made interactive and includes several Potter Easter eggs. If you’re taking your time before heading into the tour at your allocated time, it can be a fun task to try and spot them all.
The queue area has also been overhauled. Where it was difficult to stop and check out the cupboard under the stairs, it now has more space around it to take a few photographs and really appreciate the set piece. On the walls heading in, there are posters for each of the movies, some interactive, and the “pre-tour” introduction has also had a revamp. We won’t spoil the specifics, but it includes some mischievous members of the Potter cast and celebrates the heart of what makes the tour so special: the community and the fans.
Gringotts Bank
When we were taken into the Gringotts set, I’ll admit that I wasn’t expecting how grand it would be. Like much of the rest of the tour, you should take your time walking through, as there are so many tiny details that need to be appreciated. The “public facing” area of the bank features grand chandeliers and golden details, stunning marble floors and pillars, and models of the different goblins that staff the bank.
Oh, and one delightful addition was the invisibility cloak. It added such a simple detail that really, really worked here. And it is so much more delicate looking in real life.
Once you’re done with the main bank, you then head in to the vaults. This includes Bellatrix Lestrange’s vault, as well as the vault that held the Philosopher’s Stone. There’s so much to take in in this area, so do not rush through. Not even for the new interactive selfie station, which you could spend endless time playing with.
Other than that, the expansion also includes models, costumes, props, and original sketches of the goblin designs. Like much of the rest of the tour, it highlights and showcases how much work and care went into every tiny detail of the movies. Oh, and you can get another stamp for your Studio Tour Passport, so make sure you pick one of those up! They’re free, and you can get them at the start of the tour — just make sure you swing by the information desk.
Chocolate Frog café
As impressive as the rest of the expansion and overhaul was, perhaps my favorite part included the new dining area. The old cafe was something I tended to skip over or ignore — unless I really wanted a Starbucks — because it felt more like a cold, clinical canteen than part of the tour itself.
That has all changed. The main dining area now has some roofing detail with floating candles above. It serves hot food — and the breakfast I had there was very good — with options for a few dietary differences. The tables and chairs are now dark wood, and are less clustered together, in a warm, inviting space.
But the crowning glory is the Chocolate Frog café.
The Chocolate Frog café is modelled after the confectionary box, with tiny chocolate frogs adorning some of their sweet treats, which includes a cupcake and ice cream. You can also get hot chocolate here, and take photos in the Chocolate Frog Card mirrors — which can lead to a few laughs as you try to get the positioning just right.
All in all, the newest parts of the tour, inside and out, make it even more of an event and must-see for any Potter fan who can make their way there. Just make sure you book well ahead of your visit, as it’s undoubtedly going to get even more popular than it already is.
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