"Yes, ladies and gentlemen," imparts one of the legions of enthusiastic and spookily Potter-literate guides, "this is the one and only Great Hall of Hogwarts."Īnd so it is. To commune with Harry, though, parents will first have to run the gauntlet of the lobby, with its cafeteria, Starbucks, gift shop and – a thoughtful touch, this – cash machine.Īfter a quick, teasing film in which the series' young stars hint that the secrets of the films will be laid bare – "You'll never look at Quidditch the same way again", promises a cryptic Daniel Radcliffe – the screen shoots up to disclose a pair of enormous wooden doors. From the end of the month, they will be able to stroll down Diagon Alley, peer into Professor Snape's potions class and gaze around Dumbledore's office as the set where the eight films were shot opens to the public for the first time. Look past the vast, expectant car park and ignore the chugging of last-minute trucks, however, and something distinctly unmuggleish is going on deep within the huge, mustard-coloured hangar.ĭespite its location - not to mention the jarring corporate-speak of its official title, Warner Bros Studio Tour London: the making of Harry Potter - the exhibition promises to bring true wizard fans closer to the heroes and villains than ever before. N ot even in his cruellest moments could He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named have conjured up a spot quite as bleak as an industrial estate outside Watford on a grey March morning.