Go behind the scenes with 'Harry Potter'

If, after seven books, eight films and countless commercial product tie-ins, you still haven’t had enough of J.K. Rowling’s world of Harry Potter, then you’re in luck.

Warner Bros. announced this week that in spring 2012 it will begin offering a behind-the-scenes tour of the elaborate studios just outside London where the Potter productions have been filmed for the past 10 years.
Attraction creators expect to welcome up to 5,000 visitors a day and note that Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter is "not a theme park," and will not feature rides. However visitors are promised a look at “the intricate detail that goes into a working set” and the chance to see “what the camera doesn’t show.”

“We are thrilled that fans will soon be able to experience the award-winning artistry and talent that lovingly went into producing the actual sets, props, costumes and special effects of this record-breaking film series,” said Sarah Roots, vice president of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, in a news release.
Those who make their way to the Warner Bros. Studio Leavesden, about 20 miles from London, will have a chance to walk on numerous film sets, including those that served as Dumbledore’s office, the Gryffindor common room, Hagrid’s hut and Hogwarts' Great Hall, a 120-foot long, 40-foot wide space built for the first Harry Potter film ("Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone") and which has a solid stone floor.

In addition, the tour’s Creature Effects workshop will display the animatronic characters from the films series, including Buckbeak the hippogriff, Aragog the giant spider and Fawkes the phoenix.

Tickets for the studio tour go on sale Oct. 13. Fans must pre-book, as no tickets will sold on the site. The cost is £28 for adults and £21 for children – about U.S. $46/$34 at current exchange rates.
Those who can’t make it to London, or who can’t wait until spring 2012 for a fresh Potter fix, can head to movie theaters now to see "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" — the recently released final film in the record-breaking series. There’s also The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando, which features Potter-related rides and Hogwarts castle, and Harry Potter: The Exhibition, a display of authentic props in elaborate film-inspired settings at Discovery Times Square in New York City through Sept. 5.