by Katie Hill

SUBU Trips and Tours are running a trip to the Warner Brothers Studio - The Making of Harry Potter tour in Hertfordshire on the 25th March.

The trip organised by Discover Dorset Tours is for Bournemouth University and Winchester University students. For Bournemouth students the coach will depart at 12pm from Talbot Campus and 12.15pm from Cranborne House and will return at 7pm.

Tickets are £60 and include entrance and return transport.

The Making of Harry Potter Tour allows visitors the experience of stepping onto famous the sets where all eight of the Harry Potter films were made. Visitors have the opportunity to visit the great hall, fly on a broomstick, and walk Diagon Alley.

On March 3rd Mark Williams, the actor who plays Arthur Weasley, was at Leavesdon Studios to unveil a new expansion. The new addition showcased will allow visitors to step onto platform 9 and 3/4 with the original Hogwarts Express present and steaming on its tracks. Special effects Oscar winner, John Richardson, made the artificial steam possible.

Studio goers will be able to board the Hogwarts Express and step inside the carriage where Harry, Ron and Hermione first met.  The train is a real locomotive, the 5972 ‘Olton Hall’, weighing 75 tonnes and was used to transport passengers up and down the country from 1937-1983.

Kayleigh Grey, a second year English student at BU says; “Of course I want to go back. I don’t know why they didn’t have platform 9 3/4 before. It’s a key part of the stories. I’m glad they’ve expanded it.”

The platform at the tour was created by the same crew who designed the set for the film. The windows on the steam train will feature famous scenes aboard the train projected onto them for people to watch. This 20,000 sq ft  expansion at Leavesdon Studio officially opens to the public March 19th 2015, six days before the BU trip.

To book onto the tour click here. For more information or for any questions call Discover Dorset directly on 01202 557007.

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