Events - Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter: a unique event to mark the 25th anniversary of the first film

By Mulder, 03 march 2026

As summer 2026 approaches, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter is preparing to offer fans around the world a spectacular new immersion into the world of the young wizard created by J.K. Rowling, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the first film in the saga, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Entitled First Year at Hogwarts: Where the Magic Began, this unique experience promises to immerse visitors in Harry Potter's first year at Hogwarts with iconic sets, original props, and several new interactive animations. Since its official opening on March 31, 2012, in Leavesden, near London, the Studio Tour has established itself as a must-see pilgrimage site for fans of the film series produced by Warner Bros. Pictures. This new celebration is part of the site's ongoing commitment to renewing the visitor experience while paying tribute to the behind-the-scenes world of a franchise that has had a profound impact on global popular culture.

The experience will begin as soon as visitors enter the legendary Great Hall of Hogwarts, the iconic setting of the first film, where the Sorting Ceremony that marked the arrival of the first class of students in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone will be recreated. Visitors will be able to relive the moment when Professor Minerva McGonagall places the Sorting Hat on Harry Potter's head, as he fears being sent to Slytherin. To enhance this immersion, Gryffindor banners will fly above the long tables as they did during the final feast in the film, while a ceiling filled with floating hats will recall the scene where the students celebrate their house's victory in the House Cup. This reconstruction highlights the meticulous work of the artistic teams who crafted the original sets at Leavesden Studios, now the heart of the Studio Tour and a place steeped in history for fantasy film fans.

Other highlights of this new installation include a recreation of the Gryffindor common room featuring one of the most memorable moments from the first film, when Hermione Granger casts the Petrificus Totalus spell on Neville Longbottom to prevent him from alerting the teachers as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and herself attempt to leave the common room after curfew. This scene, often cited by fans as a key moment illustrating the trio's dynamic, reminds us how much the early films contributed to building the emotional identity of the saga, blending humor, suspense, and the gradual discovery of the magical world. The installation will also feature some of the original props used during filming, offering a rare opportunity to see up close the objects that helped make this universe believable on screen.

The Studio Tour will also highlight the filming techniques behind the flying scenes and Quidditch matches, essential elements of the first film. A special demonstration will showcase the original device used by the special effects team to simulate flying on broomsticks, revealing the staging tricks that brought these spectacular sequences to life long before the widespread use of today's digital technologies. This educational approach highlights the importance of the combined work of the stunt teams, model makers, and visual effects specialists who shaped the aesthetic of the saga from its inception in the early 2000s.

The Backlot Stage will also host a new experience called Secrets of Sound Effects, dedicated to the art of sound effects, or Foley. This audiovisual show will allow visitors to understand how sound effects are created to bring images to life, whether it's the rustling of a wizard's cape, the clacking of a magic wand, or the roar of a fantastical creature. This spotlight on sound design reminds us that the magic of cinema relies as much on what we hear as on what we see, an aspect that is often overlooked by the general public but essential to immersing viewers in the world of film.

Among the curiosities on display at this event is an item directly linked to one of the most memorable moments in the first film: Fluffy, the three-headed dog guarding the entrance to the Philosopher's Stone. Visitors will be able to see a cast of the creature's paw, recreated by some of the original members of the creature effects team, as well as the enchanted harp used to put it to sleep in the film. This detail refers to an anecdote well known to fans: in the story, Rubeus Hagrid accidentally reveals the secret to neutralizing the creature, a moment that perfectly illustrates the blend of humor and tension that characterizes the narrative of the first film.

The experience will also offer a new photo opportunity inspired by the wizard chess challenge that Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger must face in their quest for the Philosopher's Stone. Visitors will be able to pose among animated chess pieces, including the original Knight piece that Ron Weasley sacrifices in the final scene of the challenge. At the same time, an enhanced Activity Passport will allow visitors to explore Diagon Alley by checking off the supplies needed for a first year at Hogwarts in iconic shops such as Ollivanders and the Magical Menagerie, recreating the experience of young wizards discovering this world for the first time.
To mark the launch, the Studio Tour will also host a special event called First Year at Hogwarts: Opening Night, a preview evening that will allow guests to experience the attraction before it officially opens to the public. The evening will feature testimonials from members of the teams who worked on the first film, recalling how the creation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone represented a major artistic and technical challenge for Warner Bros. Pictures, which was then launching a franchise that would become one of the most important in the history of cinema.

Today, more than 25 years after the publication of J.K. Rowling's first novel, the Harry Potter universe remains one of the most popular cultural franchises in the world. The eight films in the main saga and the three films in the Fantastic Beasts series have generated billions of dollars at the global box office, while the universe has expanded through the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, video games developed under the Portkey Games label, and numerous attractions at Universal theme parks. The 2023 opening of Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo, The Making of Harry Potter has also confirmed the global appeal of going behind the scenes of the saga.

The success of the London Studio Tour is testament to this enduring popularity: according to publicly available data, more than 96% of the approximately 46,000 reviews posted on TripAdvisor rate the experience as “excellent” or “very good,” while Google Reviews has more than 80,000 four- or five-star ratings. This popularity explains why tickets must be booked in advance via the official website, as no purchases can be made on site. With Warner Bros. Discovery currently developing a new HBO Original television series based on J.K. Rowling's novels, this new immersive experience at the Studio Tour reminds us that, even a quarter of a century later, the magic of Harry Potter continues to fascinate several generations of viewers and visitors around the world.

All brands, characters, names, and elements are registered trademarks. © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and © J.K. Rowling.

(Source: press release)