The Warner Bros Studio Tour continues to improve on itself, year after year. And this year could be the best so far.
From adding Gringott’s Bank and Privet Drive to the skin-crawling Forbidden Forest, there always seems to be something new and exciting to explore.
This year, just in time for spooky season, the Harry Potter studio tour has just included a whole host of both magically malevolent and terrifically terrifying new additions under the guise of the Dark Arts.
This incredible transformation of the Warner Bros Studio Tour includes a fully decked-out Great Hall, an emphasis on the Slytherin Hogwarts House and Death Eaters roaming around every corner ready to cast a curse on you.
Over the years, I’ve attended the Harry Potter studio tour at the Warner Bros lot a couple of times, but this was the first time it felt like an immersive experience – not just an attraction.
Of course, as wonderful and whimsical as the Harry Potter movie franchise is, there are plenty of haunting elements to it. And the Warner Bros Studio Tour has now solidified just how haunting it can be.
Before that though… there was indeed some excitement to be had. With more than 100 floating pumpkins above your head in the Great Hall, and prop costumes of the film franchise’s favourite ghosts (Nearly-Headless Nick, et al), there really is a lot to see at Hogwarts.
Perhaps even more exciting was receiving wand combat training in order to fight off a Death Eater in real time using skills and techniques from the film’s choreography.
Or, if you’d rather pick the side of evil (like I did), you can design your own Death Eater mask in the art department with help from a friendly member of staff.
Later on, I even made my own troll bogies using extremely sticky resin and colouring.
But, ultimately, my Halloween trip would not have been complete without something actually scary creeping up behind me.
Thankfully, Harry Potter is full of terrifying creatures that, if brought to life, would certainly terrorise innocent bystanders. And what creature is more harrowing than a Dementor?
For the first time ever, Dementors are now present in the Forbidden Forest, waiting to pounce on unsuspecting visitors at a moment’s notice.
While this took place in the middle of the tour, this was by far the highlight of the exceptional event.
And that’s before you even mention the dozen-or-so giant spiders crawling above you in the dark, in the frightening woods.
If you’re a Harry Potter fan, with a penchant for the strange and unusual, the Dark Arts event is the perfect balm for your needs this season.
But act fast, it only runs until November 10.
Buy Harry Potter – Warner Bros Studio Tour London tickets here.