The Academy Award-winning Production Designer who defined the look of all eight Harry Potter films.
Explore the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London Art Department | What to see, highlights & more
Step behind the camera at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London to explore the Harry Potter Art Department. Home to the iconic 1:24 scale Hogwarts Castle model, original concept sketches, and technical blueprints, this creative hub served as the architectural heart of the wizarding world.
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Discover the Harry Potter Art Department
Harry Potter Art Department | What to look out for
The collection is categorised into several distinct disciplines that worked in harmony to create the lived-in feel of the Wizarding World:
Sets and props designed by the Harry Potter Art Department
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Hogwarts Castle model
Built by 86 artists, this scale model was used for Hogwarts’ exterior shots, originally created for Philosopher’s Stone. It includes 2,500 fibre optic lights, real gravel and landscaping, and took thousands of hours of work over several films to complete and update.
When: 2001
The Great Hall blueprints
This fully built set includes hand-carved stone walls, enchanted ceiling elements and custom props like Dumbledore’s lectern and the elaborate House Points Counter. The intricate level of detail included so many Indian glass beads that it reportedly caused a temporary nationwide shortage.
Artist: Stuart Craig
When: 1999
Where: Architectural corridor of the Art Department section
White card Gringotts
With marble pillars, crystal chandeliers and over 210,000 coins crafted for its scenes, Gringotts exemplifies luxurious set-building. Authentic quills, ledgers and inkwells give this set a lived-in, opulent atmosphere that matches its magical narrative.
Artist: Art Department
When: 2011
Where: Model-making display section
Diagon Alley
Lined with wizard shops like Ollivanders and Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, Diagon Alley features 120 uniquely designed products and detailed storefronts. The towering mannequin outside the joke shop took over three months to construct.
Artists: Miraphora Mina & Eduardo Lima
Where: Diagon Alley set
The Hogwarts Express and Platform 9¾
This section includes the train, track and platform where the trolley disappears through the wall. Each carriage and compartment replicates key scenes with high fidelity to the original Art Department design.
Artist: Art Department
Year: 2015 (Studio display)
Where: Platform 9¾ section
Dolores Umbridge’s office
This pastel-toned office at the Ministry includes 130 hand-designed kitten plates. Every decorative item in the set supports Umbridge’s characterisation, showing how set design was used for storytelling.
Artist: Art Department
Year: 2007
Where: The Ministry of Magic sets
The Potions Classroom
Snape’s classroom holds over 950 jars filled with hand-crafted contents. Labels were designed by graphic duo MinaLima and applied to each item by hand to ensure consistency and character-specific detail throughout the set.
Artists: Miraphora Mina & Eduardo Lima
When: 2001
Where: The Potions Classroom set
Dumbledore’s memory cabinet
The cabinet displays around 900 memory vials with unique designs. Each one was individually labelled and stored in intricate arrangements, adding depth to scenes featuring the Pensieve and showcasing the department’s eye for detail.
Artist: Art Department
Year: 2005
Where: Dumbledore’s office set
Death Eater mask etchings
Each mask reflects the wearer’s personality and was etched by hand. These masks are now displayed to highlight the craftsmanship behind one of the series’ most ominous visual elements.
Artist: Sculpture Department
When: 2005
Where: The Dark Arts area
Puking Pastilles dispenser
A standout item from Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, this dispenser balances humour with grotesque charm. It perfectly captures the mischief of Fred and George and adds theatricality to the joke shop’s design.
Artist: Art Department
Year: 2009
Where: Diagon Alley
The Marauder’s Map
An intricate magical map created for Prisoner of Azkaban, with hand-lettered calligraphy on aged parchment, featuring moving footprints and hidden layers that reveal every secret corridor of Hogwarts.
Artist: Graphic Design Team
When: 2004
Ministry of Magic concept art
Atmospheric sketches defining the massive scale of the Ministry, utilising dark, glossy textures and subterranean lighting to establish the oppressive, bureaucratic mood of the wizarding government in the Order of the Phoenix.
Artist: Andrew Williamson
Year: 2007
Where: Conceptual art gallery
What was the Art Department’s role in the Harry Potter films?
Notable figures of the Harry Potter Art Department
Frequently asked questions about the Harry Potter Art Department
Yes, full access to the Art Department gallery, concept art displays, technical blueprints, and the iconic Hogwarts Castle scale model is included with every standard admission ticket.
The collection features a vast array of creative media, including hand-drawn architectural blueprints, atmospheric concept paintings, digital renderings, and white card scale models. It also highlights the intricate graphic design work seen in the films' newspapers and posters.
The department produced thousands of items over ten years. While the Studio Tour displays hundreds of the most iconic pieces, the full archive includes over 588 sets and countless thousands of technical drawings and sketches.
No, the entire archive is too vast for a single building. However, the Studio Tour features a curated selection of the most pivotal drawings, the most impressive models, and the complete 1:24 scale model of Hogwarts Castle.
Most visitors spend between 20 to 30 minutes in the Art Department, spending extra time admiring the intricate details and lighting changes on the 1:24 scale Hogwarts Castle model.
The crown jewel is undoubtedly the Hogwarts Castle model. Other highlights include the original hand-drawn map of Hogwarts grounds and the detailed graphic designs for the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes products by the MinaLima team.
The collection includes iconic pieces like the Daily Prophet newspapers, Wanted Posters for Sirius Black, the Marauder’s Map, and textbook covers like Advanced Potion-Making. These were all created to provide a realistic, magical texture to the sets.
The collection began in 1999 during the pre-production of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. It continued to grow until the final film wrapped production in 2010, spanning over a decade of artistic innovation.
Some of the earliest concept art dates back to 1999, when the first film’s designs were being drafted.
Most are original materials used during production, though some delicate items may be presented as high-quality replicas.
Yes, the tour features many original, hand-annotated blueprints. These documents are strategically placed to show how the Harry Potter Art Department planned the construction of the Great Hall, Hagrid’s hut, and the Ministry of Magic.
Visitors can view planning boards, elevation drawings and models showing how the layout and look of Diagon Alley were established.
Yes, some sketches include handwritten annotations by designers, which offer insight into the creative decision-making process.
Yes, photography and filming for personal use are encouraged throughout the Art Department and around the Hogwarts Castle model area.
Absolutely. The models, drawings and objects on display are visually engaging and offer a behind-the-scenes look suited for all ages.
