Who built and designed Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio?

Thinkwell Group and Warner Bros. along with some crew members of the Harry Potter series designed the Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio.

Can I visit the parts of Leavesden Studios still used for film production?

No, the working studio areas are closed to the public. Only the Studio Tour spaces are accessible, which were designed for visitors.

Are the Studio Tour sets laid out the same way they were during filming?

Not exactly. Many sets were relocated or reconstructed to create a walkable visitor experience while preserving their original design and details.

Were any non-Harry Potter films made at Leavesden after Warner Bros. took over?

Yes. After the 2010 purchase, the studio hosted productions like *Fantastic Beasts*, *Justice League*, *Edge of Tomorrow, The Legend of Tarzan,* parts of *The Batman*, and many more.

Has the Studio Tour changed a lot since it first opened?

Yes. While the original core sets remain, major expansions like Platform 9 3⁄4 and Gringotts Bank have significantly extended the route and experience.

What happened to the unused or damaged sets after filming ended?

Some were archived, some scrapped, but many were restored or rebuilt for the tour using original blueprints and input from the crew.

Warner Bros Studio History & Evolution

The origins of Leavesden Studios before Harry Potter

Warner Bros Studio London tour showcasing Harry Potter film set with Hogwarts Express train.

Before becoming a significant part of Warner Bros. Studio history, the Leavesden site manufactured aircraft including Mosquitos and Halifax bombers. In the 1990s, it transformed into a fully functioning film studio, attracting high-profile projects such as GoldenEye and The Phantom Menace.

Book Harry Potter Studio tours

From London: Harry Potter™ Warner Bros. Studio Tour with Return Transport

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Flexible duration

Guided tour

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From London: Harry Potter™ Warner Bros. Studio Tour with Day Trip to Oxford

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11 hr. 30 min.

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From London: Harry Potter™ Warner Bros. Studio Tour with Coach Transfers

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7 hr.

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From London: Harry Potter™ Warner Bros. Studio Small-Group Guided Tour with Train Transfers

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5 hr.

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The Harry Potter era: 2000-2012

Leavesden was chosen in 2000 for its vast aircraft hangars, offering the scale needed to build and maintain full-sized sets throughout the entire series.
Warner Bros. transformed the space into a complete working studio, gradually establishing Leavesden as the production base for all eight Harry Potter films.
Departments such as costume, creature effects, and props were permanently housed on-site, allowing every element to be developed, stored, and reused over the ten-year timeline.
Unlike rented sets, most structures were built to last, anticipating sequels, making Leavesden a landmark in Warner Bros Studio history.
More than 600 crew worked year-round, turning the site into a bustling creative ecosystem where set design, filming, and post-production happened under one roof.
When filming ended in 2010, Warner Bros. saw value in keeping the sets intact. The studio was purchased and converted into a visitor experience showcasing the craft behind the Harry Potter films.
Years of planning led to the launch of a public studio tour on 31 March, 2012.
Original sets like the Great Hall and Gryffindor Common Room were preserved. Over 4,000 props and costumes were displayed from the start.
The opening day included speeches from cast and crew members, including Tom Felton, Julie Walters, Mark Williams and many more!

Major expansions over the years

Platform 9¾ (2015)

The full Platform 9¾ set was added in 2015, complete with the original Hogwarts Express used in the films. You can board the train and view recreated train carriage interiors from key scenes.

Forbidden Forest (2017)

In 2017, the Forbidden Forest opened as a new permanent expansion. It included around 19 towering trees, moving creatures like Buckbeak and Aragog, and lighting effects that recreated a forest atmosphere on sound stages.

Gringotts and seasonal events (2019 & beyond)

Gringotts Wizarding Bank opened in 2019, featuring marble columns, goblin animatronics, and the Lestrange Vault. Seasonal overlays like Hogwarts in the Snow and Dark Arts bring major set transformations each year.