Harry Potter fans can once again experience Christmas in the Wizarding World this festive season and discover how film-makers created fire, ice and snow that never melts as Warner Bros. Studio Tour London undergoes a magical makeover for Hogwarts in the Snow.
From 17 November to 27 January 2019, visitors will have the opportunity to see the Harry Potter film series’ most iconic sets decorated for festive scenes. The Great Hall will be transformed, the Gryffindor common room will be dressed for the season, and a blanket of film-making snow will be meticulously applied to the majestic Hogwarts castle model.
The festive transformation will begin in the Great Hall, where the stage will be decorated as it was for the iconic Yule Ball. As seen in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the celebration of the Triwizard Tournament saw every detail of the Great Hall covered in shimmering silver, dripping icicles and sparkling snow. Visitors to the Studio Tour will get a taster of this incredible set dress as the top section of the Great Hall will be transformed with snow-covered Christmas trees, icicles and an orchestra of magical instruments that have been painted by the Prop-Making Department to match the silver of the Yule Ball.
In addition to the Yule Ball decoration, The Great Hall will be lined with Christmas trees and the long dining tables will be dressed as they were for seasonal feasts at Hogwarts with prop versions of roast turkeys, hams studded with cherries and even Christmas puddings surrounded by real flames.
As part of the Hogwarts in the Snow feature, many of the iconic sets housed at the Studio Tour will receive a festive makeover. The Gryffindor Common Room and Boys’ Dormitory will be decorated with the original props including handmade Christmas cards, some of which were created by the cast members during production. Fireplaces throughout the Studio Tour (including those in the Leaky Cauldron and Great Hall) will be ‘lit’ with special effects fire, created by John Richardson and the SFX team using a combination of water vapour and lighting effects.
The Hogwarts castle model will be transformed with a layer of filmmaking snow – a mix granulated paper and grains of salt. Visitors will even be able to touch samples of the different types of ‘snow’ used during production, each selected for its ability to float like falling snow, crunch under foot or glisten in the light like ice.
The festive season will also see the return of the highly anticipated Dinner in the Great Hall at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London. Every night from 10 – 12 December, Harry Potter fans can enjoy drinks and canapes before sitting down to a two-course Christmas feast in the Great Hall. Dessert will be served on Platform 9¾ next to the original Hogwarts Express locomotive, and guests will be free to explore the Studio Tour exclusively after hours.
Tickets to Dinner in the Great Hall is available to book from 25 September at www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/dinner.
