Warner Bros. Studio Tour London to Host Hogwarts in the Snow

by · October 7, 2013

The most magical snowfall of the season will take place at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter this year when the breathtaking Hogwarts Castle model is covered in a blanket of snow. Visitors will get the chance to see the Castle as it has never been seen before, with its iconic festive look recreated for the first time.

The artificial snow used on the Hogwarts Castle model throughout the Harry Potter film series was actually dendritic salt. It was chosen because it clumps like snow and even squeaks when walked on. During filming, a member of the crew would have climbed aboard a cherry picker and put salt on the model by hand with a sieve – like dusting sugar onto a cake. The same process will be used at the Studio Tour this November, and samples of the different types of salt used will also be on display.

Some of the intricately detailed sets showcased at the attraction will be given a festive makeover using the actual decorations and food props seen in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Eight Christmas trees will line the Great Hall, along with festoons of holly, mistletoe, and golden wreaths. Two long dining tables will be dressed as they were for seasonal feasts with prop versions of turkeys, hams, fruit, vegetables, plum puddings, and snow cakes. The food featured in the feasts throughout the early films was real; however, the Set Decoration Department later used artificial food created from powder and resin.

Visitors will see the hand-knitted sweaters that Molly Weasley gave Ron and Harry for Christmas in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Other costumes on display will include the first Christmas present Harry received at Hogwarts – his Invisibility Cloak – and the dress Luna Lovegood wore to the Slug Club Christmas party in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Hogwarts in the Snow will run from Friday, November 15 until Monday, January 6, 2014, and all extra activities are included in the ticket price.

Be sure to order your tickets NOW since all tours must be booked in advance. No tickets are sold at the Studio Tour. Children ages four and under are admitted free of charge but will require a ticket, while visitors aged 5-15 years qualify for a child ticket. Proof of age may be required. Family tickets will admit either two adults with two children or one adult with three children. You can order your tickets by clicking here.