Prepare to Be Amazed: Hogwarts in the Snow Is Expanding Its Winter Magic This Year

by · October 14, 2020

There’s nothing quite like that feeling you get at the end of the year – the anticipation of the festive season, the sweet nostalgia for a year passed (although it might be slightly less this year), the excitement of seeing friends and family over the holiday season… The best part for Potterheads, however, is probably the anticipation of visiting Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter to experience Hogwarts in the Snow, and even though 2020 has been the year of canceled events, Hogwarts in the Snow is not going anywhere. Let’s all have some firewhisky to that.

Miraculously, the dates that were set for Hogwarts in the Snow at the end of last year have stayed exactly the same, so get ready to feel festive and immerse yourself in a magical winter wonderland from November 14 to January 17, 2021. This year features some brand-new additions, and the traditional Yule Ball theme won’t be making a return. So what can you expect?

Prepare to be surprised by an entirely new theme in the Great Hall as well as an additional set dusted in snow. This year, the Great Hall will be decorated to resemble the seasonal feast that took place in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. It will be decked in all its Christmas glory: Expect trees topped with witches on miniature broomsticks and wreaths and garlands decorating the space. The four House tables will be filled with prop versions of the delicious hams studded with cherries and roast turkeys seen in the film as well as special effects flaming Christmas puddings. You’re bound to be hungry after looking at all the fake delicious food, so make sure you have enough Galleons to buy a meal after.

The biggest surprise of all is that Diagon Alley will also get a magical winter makeover this year. Guests can expect to see the famous set dressed in several layers of filmmaking snow and shopfronts donning Christmas decorations. This will be an entirely new and unique experience since a winter version of Diagon Alley was never seen in the Harry Potter films.

When you’re done wandering the cobblestone streets of Diagon Alley, you can visit the Gryffindor common room and boys’ dormitory, which will feature original props and handmade Christmas cards some of the cast members made during the films’ production. You should also keep a keen eye on the fireplaces found on the Studio Tour – they will be filled with special effects fire, specially created by John Richardson and the special effects team. These magical fires are made from a combination of lighting effects and water vapor and are sure to add to the magical cozy winter feeling one would associate with the wizarding world. One thing that will stay the same as previous years is the Hogwarts Castle model dusted in snow. Since this seems to be a fan favorite, we’re pretty sure this is one part of the tour that’s not likely to change soon.

 

 

 

This year’s Hogwarts in the Snow is definitely an event you do not want to miss. So grab your wizarding gear, buy a ticket, and get ready to have a magical time. Tickets have to be prebooked on the Studio Tour’s website, and make sure to check out the safety measures that are in place while preparing for the trip.

Are you excited for Hogwarts in the Snow this year? What do you think about the Diagon Alley addition? Let us know in the comments.

Press Release

HOGWARTS IN THE SNOW RETURNS TO WARNER BROS. STUDIO TOUR LONDON – WITH EVEN MORE SNOW!

14TH NOVEMBER 2020 – 17TH JANUARY 2021

Fans of the Harry Potter films are invited to get into the festive spirit as Warner Bros. Studio Tour London’s annual Hogwarts in the Snow feature returns! For the very first time, from Saturday 14th November [to] Sunday 17th January 2021, visitors will be able to explore another of their favourite sets in the snow as Diagon Alley undergoes a wintery transformation.

New for 2020, the cobbled stones and magical shop fronts of Diagon Alley will be given a festive makeover, draped in layers of filmmaking snow. During filming, many different types of ‘snow’ were used, each selected for its ability to crunch under foot [sic], float like falling flakes or glisten in the light like ice, but never melt. The same techniques will be used by filmmakers to cover the magical shopping street this year. Though Diagon Alley was not seen in the snow, the same set was used for parts of Hogsmeade during the wintery scenes that see Harry make use of his [I]nvisibility [C]loak to join the school trip without permission.

A popular fan favourite, the Hogwarts [C]astle model will also be transformed with a dusting of snow again this year. During filming, a member of the crew climbed aboard an elevated work platform and sprinkled the mixture of granulated paper and grains of salt onto the model by hand with a sieve – like dusting sugar onto a cake. The same process takes place at the Studio Tour every festive season.

As visitors step foot onto the original stone floor of the Great Hall, they will be welcomed with wreaths, garlands and trees topped with witches on miniature broomsticks. The long dining tables will be dressed as they were for the seasonal feast in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, complete with SFX flaming Christmas puddings and prop versions of the mouth-watering roast turkeys and hams studded with cherries.

In addition, many more of the iconic sets housed at the Studio Tour will receive a festive makeover. The Gryffindor [c]ommon [r]oom and [b]oys’ [d]ormitory 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.

Hogwarts in the Snow will run from Saturday 14th November [to] Sunday 17th January 2021. Tickets must be pre-booked, and all extra features are included in the ticket price.

 

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Marica Laing

Growing up, I was a massive fan of Harry Potter and my love for the stories grew as I got older. It’s no surprise then that I love writing about all things Potter related. When I’m not writing about all the magic, you’ll find me reading (probably something Harry Potter related), listening to music, or writing some songs.