Whether you're a fan of Harry Potter or not, there's no denying its impact on popular culture.
I still remember seeing the queue to the very first Harry Potter film snake around the building of the little local cinema in my tiny home town in Yorkshire back in 2001. Even stronger still, I remember the pang of jealousy I felt upon seeing the first images released of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson in the coveted roles of Harry, Ron and Hermione.
I'd desperately wanted to be Hermione. When I read the books as a child, I pictured myself in the role - something I occasionally do to this day when reading certain books, despite hanging up my acting hat many moons ago - and Hermione remains one of my favourite characters in film and literature.
READ MORE: Cavern Club named among top 20 landmarks in England
Like millions across the world, I still love the films to this day - they're the perfect blend of intrigue, suspense, magic and drama, with all the relatable nostalgia of growing up and trying to figure yourself out. I watch them every year in the run up to Christmas.
Considering my love of the franchise, I'm surprised it took until my 32nd birthday last week to visit the Harry Potter Studio Tour. The Warner Bros Studio Tour, based in Leavesden in Watford, originally opened in March 2012 and has continued to expand in the decade since.
It's packed with sets, props and behind-the-scenes insight and knowledge. The entrance sets the tone for the rest of the tour, inviting visitors into the famous Great Hall where so many beloved and integral scenes took place.
As it was my birthday (noted courtesy of the birthday badge gifted to me by the lovely Steve from the café), I was invited to open the huge door and let the rest of the visitors through - quite the "pinch me" moment. The Great Hall is set up with two long tables, set for dinner, with costumes from each Hogwarts house dotted around the space.
At the top of the room, there was a huge clock set up for the O.W.L exams the students take in 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix', with an original Dolores Umbridge costume watching over. Staff showcased a stripped back version of the Weasley twins' prank, complete with "magical fireworks" and lights to recreate the scene from the film.
From there, guests leave the Great Hall and can wander at their own pace. There's so much to see, with costumes from the Yule Ball from 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire', wigs, and prosthetics used by the actors throughout the films - including several of the famous lightning bolt scars sported by Daniel Radcliffe - as well as faux food displays, paintings, a "moving" staircase, and so much more.
Sets include the Gryffindor common room, Dumbledore's office - complete with the stunning memory case featuring almost 900 memory vials - the Slytherin common room, the potions classroom with 950 potion jars kitted out with unique props inside them including baked animal bones from a local butcher shop, dried leaves, herbs, and shrunken heads made by the props department, and more.
One of the things that struck me most was the unrelenting commitment to attention to detail. Paintings that may have only been on screen for less than a second were still completed with enormous skill, dedication and precision; hundreds and hundreds of labels on jars, books and more were hand designed; while every single prop I saw looked completely legitimate.
There's iconic items like the Golden Snitch from the very first film, as well as the red philosopher's stone itself, not to mention Dumbledore's famous deluminator, and the 'crystal goblet' he used inside the cave in 'Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince' to drain the basin of emerald potion, where the locket Horcrux was hidden. There's also much, much more.
There's insight into the art department, the creature effects, SFX and VFX demonstrations and information, plus even more sets like 4 Privet Drive, the Forbidden Forest, Diagon Alley, the Ministry of Magic, and Platform 9 and ¾, among others.
When we turned the corner and stepped into Gringotts Bank, my mouth literally dropped open - a staff member spotted my reaction and laughed (in a nice way, they weren't mocking my joy). It's absolutely enormous, imposing, and impossibly grand.
The tour is such an incredibly detailed and immersive experience, I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone. We were there for four hours and by the last hour, we had to rush to try and see everything! My boyfriend was relieved I didn't have too much time in the gift shop - though I did manage to buy a replica of Hermione's wand.
There's just so, so much to see and enjoy - even if you're not a fan of Harry Potter, the level of behind-the-scenes insight into such a successful film franchise is truly awe-inspiring. I'm already planning my next visit.
To book tickets, click here. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London is based at Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden, WD25 7LR.
Get the top stories straight to your inbox by signing up to our what's on newsletter
READ NEXT:
'I paid £31 for lunch at Hooters and it was a bit awkward' - review
Tesco Clubcard users warned it's 'closing' and given April deadline
- Matalan fans praise 'perfect' and 'flattering' £13 jumpsuit
Liverpool man crowned 'chef of the year' at prestigious awards
I tried 'chic' £29 M&S trousers that are a 'gorgeous colour' - a review
