Harry Potter’s ride as cool as upcoming attractions revealed

Snow and ice on the big screen always look so beautiful.

Crisp, clean, charming – and very different from the slush that affects roads and railways in real life, or the slippery surfaces that turn pavements into assault courses.

The Harry Potter Studio Tour opens the door to how the films were made. (Image: Mike Marsland)

So many festive films play heavily on the weather for key parts of their story or exciting subplots, yet one of the famous titles of recent years featured snow and used it to huge effect, but was far from a Christmas film.

If you’ve seen the Harry Potter series, you’ll undoubtedly know what I’m referring to – and if you’re a fan of them, you can currently get up close and personal with some of the famous snowy scenes and images.

Snow function

Visitors to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter in Leavesden can experience the magic of its popular Hogwarts in the Snow feature, which officially opened a few weeks ago and continues into mid-January.

The ride is a wonderful attraction at any time of year, but the annual sprinkling of snow and ice adds another layer that is, fittingly, quite magical.

The magnificent Great Hall is now decorated with festive scenes from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

(Image: Dan Wong Photography)

The tour begins in this famous setting and yet is breathtaking enough when the doors are opened.

But the added details at this time of year really bring it even more to life as guests can get a real understanding of what winter and Christmas at Hogwarts can feel and look like.

For the first time this year, fans can witness a demonstration of Hagrid’s animatronic head used in the Harry Potter film series and experience the charming snowy scene where Hagrid drags an enormous Christmas tree through the Hogwarts grounds.

There is a lot to learn about how Hagrid was made so great for the uninitiated – worth a longer stop on your tour and I certainly won’t spoil it here.

In fact, there is so much detail and information about the Harry Potter tour that it would be easy to get lost in it for hours.

Videos to watch, notes to read, photographs to look at and a team of experts on every tour happy to answer any questions.

New addition this year

Brand new to the tour this year is a frozen Hogwarts fountain – as seen in the Clock Tower Courtyard in the Harry Potter film series.

It certainly grabs attention at the “halfway point” of the tour, which takes you outside from one of the sound stages and into the outdoor Backlot area of ​​the tour.

It is also on the part of the tour where guests have the opportunity to sample a drop of Butterbeer and also take a leisurely stroll through 4 Privet Drive, the house where Harry slept in a cupboard under the stairs while living with his insufferable uncle, aunt and cousin.

Elsewhere, many beloved sets have also been dressed up for the season and given a completely different feel.

The Gryffindor common room is ready for Christmas. (Image: Dan Wong Photography)

The Gryffindor common room is now filled with Christmas decorations, the Forbidden Forest is just as terrifying despite a dusting of snow, and Diagon Alley is even more of a hotspot for selfie lovers now dressed in its festive finery.

Attentive visitors can reveal the hidden location of miniature snowmen and discover the movie secrets behind creating flames that don’t burn and ice that never melts.

Breathtaking finale

The breathtaking finale to the tour is always the Hogwarts castle model, which, as the name of the special feature suggests, is covered in a blanket of filmmakers’ snow.

It’s the perfect backdrop for a photograph, and there’s a huge amount to read and learn about that one prop alone.

Hogwarts in the Snow will run until January 19, 2025, before the much-loved Magical Mischief feature comes to the Studio Tour.

Tickets for Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter, is on sale for both Hogwarts in the Snow and into 2025 and must be booked in advance, with all extras included in the ticket price. All tickets can be purchased from: www.wbstudiotour.co.uk.

The Christmas tree behind the top table in the Great Hall. (Image: Dan Wong Photography)

Coming in 2025

Neville returns to the Magical Mischief feature in 2025, along with Professor Umbridge and the swinging pendulum, floating cake and Harry’s flying acceptance letters.

Fans who have previously attended the Magical Mischief feature will remember the iconic scene with Neville being tormented by the Cornish Pixies.

Visitors will now get to experience this moment in its new movie-accurate home, the Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom.

The filmmakers have worked hard to bring the chaos of this spectacle to life, with visitors able to see Neville move while suspended from the classroom ceiling, a stunt never seen before on the field trip.

Fans will be transported into Gilderoy Lockhart’s lesson, experiencing first-hand the mischievous antics of the goblins.