“Key, Please”: Warner Bros. Studio Tour Unlocks the Secret of Its New Addition!

by · January 29, 2019

For a week now, the wizarding world has been abuzz as Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter scattered a trail of bread crumbs leading to the announcement of its first expansion since March 2017. Finally, this morning, the Revelio Charm was cast!

The Studio Tour has announced the addition of Gringotts Wizarding Bank to its permanent exhibit at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden, and judging from the sneak peek in the video posted today, you’ll want to start saving up those Galleons for a spring getaway! Gringotts is scheduled to open to the public April 6, and you can purchase tickets here.

 

 

Excited fans had been keeping a watchful eye on the Tour’s Facebook page since January 22, when its “biggest secret yet” was teased. Riddles began appearing the next day, with the promise that, when the four, one-word answers were pieced together, a significant hint would be revealed. It was confirmed Monday morning that “key,” “enter,” “April,” and “please” were the correct clues, and Potterheads immediately put their mystery-solving skills to work.

Many guessed that when the order of the clues was rearranged, the message “Key, please. Enter April” was formed, referencing the request made to those arriving at their private vaults at Gringotts by their goblin escorts, as well as the month the exhibit would potentially open to the public.

 

 

If you reached that same conclusion, congratulations on a riddle-solving display that would make any Ravenclaw proud, and let us know in the comments what you think of the new addition!

Press Release

STEP INTO GRINGOTTS WIZARDING BANK AT WARNER BROS. STUDIO TOUR LONDON – THE MAKING OF HARRY POTTER

For the first time ever at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, visitors are invited to enter the set of Gringotts Wizarding Bank as the Studio Tour unveils its biggest expansion to date.

From Harry Potter first discovering Diagon Alley to the famous trio escaping on a Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon in their quest for a Horcrux, Gringotts Wizarding Bank played an important role in the Harry Potter film series. On April 6, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London will unveil a permanent addition allowing visitors to walk through the wizarding bank of Gringotts, the Lestrange vault, a gallery of goblins and so much more.

Lined by towering marble pillars, the grand banking hall will be decorated with three magnificent crystal chandeliers and finished with real brass leaf. Inkwells, quills, ledgers, and piles of Galleons, Sickles and Knuts will complete the goblin tellers’ desks as seen on screen. The Prop-making Department, led by Pierre Bohanna, created over 210,000 coins for the final two films alone.

Gringotts Wizarding Bank is famously run by goblins. Walking through the imposing marble columns, visitors will discover the costumes and prosthetics belonging to Bogrod, Griphook, and many other goblin bankers. Each prosthetic mask took weeks to create, with every hair individually inserted and veins painstakingly painted by hand. It took four hours to transform actor Warwick Davis into Griphook in the films which included him wearing black contact lenses and dentures with extremely sharp teeth to complete the goblin look.

Once through the banking hall of Gringotts, visitors will enter the depths of the Lestrange vault used to store the treasures of Bellatrix Lestrange including the Sword of Gryffindor and Helga Hufflepuff’s Cup, one of Voldemort’s many Horcruxes. During filming 38,000 pieces of rubberised treasure were created the for the Lestrange vault including 7,014 Hufflepuff Cups. Here, visitors can try out a unique photo opportunity allowing them to step inside the Lestrange vault and surround themselves with treasure.

Officially opening on Saturday April 6, the 16,500sqft Gringotts Wizarding Bank expansion will be the Studio Tour’s biggest addition to date and has been designed and built by many of the original crew members who worked on the hugely successful magical film series including Oscar® and BAFTA-winning Production Designer Stuart Craig, Construction Manager Paul Hayes and Head Propmaker Pierre Bohanna.

Entrance to the expansion will be included in general admission ticket price.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter opened its doors on March 31, 2012. The unique attraction offers visitors the ultimate chance to get up close to authentic sets, discover the magic behind spellbinding special effects and explore the behind-the-scenes secrets of the Harry Potter film series.

In addition to the Gringotts Wizarding Bank expansion, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London will unveil an all-new 17,000sq ft lobby and café on the April 6. The new café will serve food and drink inspired by the Wizarding World and can seat up to 500 people.

The Studio Tour has been well received with 96% of the 37,000+ reviews on TripAdvisor rating it as ‘Excellent’ or ‘Very Good’.

Highlights include walking through the Great Hall where so many famous scenes were shot, seeing the treasures stored in Dumbledore’s office, strolling down Diagon Alley, venturing into the Forbidden Forest and boarding the original Hogwarts Express locomotive at Platform 9 ¾. Tickets must be pre-booked at www.wbstudiotour.co.uk or by calling the Studio Tour’s Visitor Services Team on 0345 084 0900 and cannot be bought at the attraction.