Actor Mark Williams, who plays Arthur
Weasley, poses with the Hogwarts Express
THE WORK AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL TO FAITHFULLY RECREATE THE NEW SECTION OF THE ATTRACTION AS IT’S SEEN IN THE FILMS IS CLEAR FOR ALL TO SEE
BOOKING AND TICKETING The incredibly popular tour must be booked in advance through the Warner Bros Studio Tour website. Visitors are booked in for specifi c times and can then explore the attraction at their own pace. Discounted rates are offered to groups of 10 or more and to school trips. Platform 9¾ and the Hogwarts Express are included in the Studio Tour ticket price.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE Food at the Backlot Café is reasonably priced, starting at about £3.50 ($5.19, €4.75) for soup. A burger costs upwards of £7.50 ($11.12, €10.18). The quality is excellent, and the menu has wide appeal. The attraction offers the franchise’s signature Butterbeer – which seems to be cream soda topped with a marshmallow
WHAT’S THE SCORE?
Toilets 9/10 Staff 10/10 Cleanliness 9/10 Value for Money Overall rating
8/10 8/10
©CYBERTREK 2015 AM 2 2015
foam. The foam creates a Butterbeer moustache and another photo opp for visitors. Defi nitely one for the sweet tooth, the non-alcoholic drink enjoyed by the characters in the book can be purchased with a souvenir cup (£4.95, $7.33, €6.72) or tankard (£6.95, $10.30, €9.44).
STAFF
The staff are very well presented, friendly and extremely knowledgeable about Harry Potter. You can tell from speaking with them that they’re fans, which comes through in their words and actions.
RETAIL The Studio Tour offers two shops. Most of the items are exclusive to the Studio Shop and you pay extra for that privilege. However, the products are very high quality. For collectors, high-end versions of many of the products are on sale, with Harry Potter- themed jewellery, for example, available for several hundred pounds. Merchandise can also be bought via the online store.
DESIGN
The tour feels more like being in a museum than the monster-sized aircraft factory you see on arrival. Thinkwell returned to design
RIGHT TO REPLY Sarah Roots, Vice President Warner Bros Studio Tour London
“We’ve received a fantastic reaction from visitors to the new expan- sion of Warner Bros Studio Tour London, featuring the authen- tic Hogwarts Express train on Platform 9 ¾ and I’m pleased Attractions Management’s mystery shopper enjoyed the experience too.”
the new addition, having also collaborated on the existing Studio Tour.
SUMMARY The arrival of the Hogwarts Express adds to the magic of the Studio Tour. The attention to detail to faithfully recreate the new section as it’s seen in the fi lms is clear for all to see. The attentive staff and special effects only add to the experience, which is world-class. The attraction really has no rival; it’s a unique experience that a Harry Potter fan in particular, or any visitor, would remember for a long time to come. ●
attractionsmanagement.com 81
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