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MuggleNet

First Look: Warner Bros. Studio Tour Opens Number Four, Privet Drive

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The Warner Bros. Studio Tour continues to ramp up its celebrations for the Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone 15th anniversary with its latest offering: the opening of Privet Drive. 

From May 27 to June 6, visitors to the studio will, for “the first time ever,” be able to step over the infamous threshold and get a peek inside the Dursleys’ home. To mark this unique occasion, the Studio Tour hosted a preview event, which MuggleNet’s London Team was kindly invited along to. 

Champagne reception aside, the evening commenced with a tour around the Interior Sets section, albeit with a few new additions.

While most of these extras are part of the film anniversary celebrations, the Privet Drive exhibit has also brought a few additional items out of storage, including the Dursleys’ costumes.

Among the more interactive features is a uniquely created machine from special effects supervisor John Richardson, as used in the first film.

Richardson himself was present at the event, along with MinaLima and Rosie Goodwin, a set decorator on the films, whom MuggleNet took a moment to catch up with.

As we moved further through the tour, it became apparent that this event was a little more than a preview event for bloggers! And sure enough, after a short wait behind the red carpet, a surprise guest made an appearance…

And it was none other than Aunt Petunia herself, Fiona Shaw, ready to kick off the celebrations. After a brief photo op and the obligatory ribbon cut, the door to number four, Privet Drive was opened.

And naturally, caused a bit of congestion. However, after a short wait, we were able to get inside and take a look around.

As seen in the films, the front door opens immediately onto a hallway lined with floral wallpaper and certificates of Dudley’s achievements. On the right are the stairs to what would have been the bedrooms, but thanks to some movie magic, which meant that indoor scenes were mostly shot within the studios, it’s actually just some scaffolding. Back in the hallway, the first door on the left brings you to the Dursleys’ front room.

Just as seen on screen, it was complete with framed pictures of ickle Diddykins and fussy pot plants; the Dursleys’ could have just left the room. Well, almost. For hanging from the ceiling, shooting from the fireplace, and fluttering over the sofas, are hundreds of Hogwarts letters, as designed by MinaLima. Quite a sight to behold!

This new feature is a fitting addition to the anniversary celebrations and especially satisfying for any previous attendees to finally get past that door! It’s shame it won’t become a permanent addition, but changes such as this can only bode well for the future of the tour; even after four years, they continue to update and refresh the experience for the fans. We can only look forward to what they will reveal next!

Privet Drive will be open from May 27 to June 6, 2016, and tickets can be purchased directly from the Studio Tour website.

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