Background
We recently experienced the Warner Bros Studio Harry Potter Tour near London. The website suggested that the tour takes 3h. It was 8h 15 min. for us, excluding a 35-minute lunch break. This tour is a mandate for fans of the Harry Potter film film series. Check the Tips section to plan your tour.
I was overwhelmed by the scale of efforts and the steadfast dedication of each and every part of the humongous crew that have created this incredible film series.
The Knight Bus
The filming set of the night bus seen in ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban‘. The Dre Head’s Jamaican accent, and delirious laughter stole the show.
For those who prefer to watch videos than reading, the video I recorded might be interesting:
They obtained 3 double decker buses from London to build:
1. Stunt/motorable version: Modified to run on the streets of London to shoot the commute scenes.
2. Set version: Converted into a filming set(rotating on a table) where Harry, Shunpike can be seen interacting.
Stunt(motorable) version
The motorable bus was modified to a triple decker, reaching a height of more than 22 feet. They cut the top part of the bus, added some layers, and put the top back. Two problems still remained:
1. The height of the bus posed a risk of toppling. So they added a more than two ton of weight at the bottom.
2. The original engine wasn’t powerful enough to drive this modified tall, and heavy bus. They then fitted it with an engine which allowed the bus to reach a top speed of 15 miles/hour. The night scenes were shot on actual London locations. A crane was on standby. If at the bus couldn’t clear an overhead bridge, the crane would take off it’s top, let the bus pass, and put it back.
During production, filmmakers created the Knight Bus’s frantic journey using some of cinema’s oldest techniques, shooting the bus travelling at normal speed while cars around it went at a snail’s. pace. The footage was then sped up to create the appearance of the Knight Bus’s magically enhanced momentum. For interior shots, a set was created on a gimbal like you see here so it could be jolted from side to side to mimic the bus weaving through Muggle traffic.
Knight Bus’s magically enhanced momentum. For interior shots, a set was created on a gimbal like you see here so it could be jolted from side to side to mimic the bus weaving through Muggle traffic.
Set version
In the video, the beds slides and the chandelier moves due to electronic actuators but during the original filming, crew members pulled the beds using ropes. The actors had to imagine the scenes and act accordingly.
Special effects for all the Harry Potter films were supervised by the veteran designer John Richardson(James Bond, Bridge too Far fame).
Tips
- Book tickets well in advance(2-3 months). It is hard to get those for the spring and summer season.
- As per their official statement, the tour takes 3h but subject to your enthusiasm, it may take much more time.
- If possible, book a slot no later than 1230. This will ensure that you get at least 4-5h excluding lunch and other breaks.
- It is often overwhelmed by visitors, so it may take much more time and patience than you expect.
- We didn’t hire a car in London, preferred to go everywhere by utilizing the dense public transport network. The following is the most feasible route, even if you have accompanying kids:
- Reach the Victoria Station from your accommodation.
- Take underground towards Walthamstow, and alight at Euston.
- Take train from Euston (operated by West Midlands Railway) towards Milton Keynes Central, and alight Watford Railway Junction.
- The Warner Bros Studio operates shuttle (electric) buses between Watford and the studio. Check the schedule on their official website. This journey is included as part of your entry ticket. Regular shuttle buses operate from Watford Junction to the Studio Tour with a journey time of around 15 minutes. Buses run at least every 30 minutes from 9.20am (with additional services available from 8.15am when the first tour is at 9am). The last return shuttle bus back to Watford Junction will depart the Studio Tour when the Tour closes.
- Reach Watford around 40 minutes prior to your slot. While the shuttle buses operate frequently, there might be long queue for the bus. If you cannot onboard, then you have to wait for the next one, and then you might reach late.
- The queue for ordering lunch/snacks can be quite long, finding seats is even more difficult. Either carry your own lunch to save time or allocate enough buffer to order, sit and eat.
- There is a queue for shuttle bus even while leaving.
- If you have kids, you can spend some pounds for getting a video using the Quidditch broom simulator.
Life is about being kinetic 