The continual evolution of the many wondrous attractions within the ‘Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter’ in Leavesden means the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is being celebrated this summer.
Brand new for 2024, the Studio Tour is inviting visitors to broaden their minds and cast themselves into the future by exploring the noble art of Divination as, for the first time ever, the Divination classroom set will be on display.
First seen during Harry’s third year at Hogwarts, the Divination classroom plays a key role in the film’s plot, revealing omens of the imminent danger Harry faces.
During Divination classes, Hogwarts’ students are encouraged to take a glimpse into the future and are seen in the film performing Tessomancy, the magical art of reading tea leaves, and looking into crystal balls to divine their futures.
To some eagled-eyed fans, the Defence Against the Dark Arts and Divination classrooms may feel familiar.
During filming Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, filmmakers re-dressed the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom to become the lush, fabric-covered Divination classroom we see on-screen.
When designing the look and feel of the set, filmmakers started with the idea of a traditional tea shop, with students sitting in pairs at round tables surrounded by mismatched teacups stacked high around the set.
From there, the room was draped in rich red fabric and decorated with jewel-toned velvet pouffes, numerous patterned rugs and Arabian-style lanterns, creating a classroom in which eccentric Professor Trelawney – played by Emma Thompson - would feel at home.
For the first time, fans have the chance to discover the set up-close and take in the hidden details, as part of the tour which is housed on the old Leavesden Aerodrome site.
Fans will remember the iconic moment Professor Trelawney discovers the Grim, an omen of death, in Harry’s cup.
That original teacup will be displayed at the Studio Tour and visitors are invited to interpret the tea leaf sign themselves.
Additionally, the grand teacup tower holding over 500 vintage teacups, will be on show as well as original costumes worn by Harry, Ron, Hermione and Professor Trelawney.
Visitors this summer will also find a new section of the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom on display, complete with the Art Nouveau-style Boggart wardrobe and sinister Boggart jack-in-the-box, as seen in the third film.
Also new to the Studio Tour is the opportunity to discover the interior of the Knight Bus as a full cross-section of the set will be displayed.
To create the Knight Bus, filmmakers welded a third deck onto a traditional London bus before painting it the now iconic shade of purple.
Fans will see the Knight Bus in action as the set rattles and the beds move, just as they did when bus driver Ernie made his bumpy ride through London.
Other highlights of Return to Azkaban include stepping foot into the magnificent Great Hall under an enchanted ceiling filled with over 100 floating candles, before being regaled by the Hogwarts Frog Choir and seeing The Monster Book of Monsters go on a rampage in Harry’s room at the Leaky Cauldron.
Return to Azkaban will run until September 4 and all new features are included in the ticket price.
A trip to the Studio Tour is always a great day out for fans of the film series or even those who just want to see behind the scenes of the studios which have now become a landmark on the edge of Watford.
The new attractions are well worth a visit, even if you’ve been before. For more details and to book, visit https://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/.
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