For anyone who knows me even on the most basic level, it is obvious that I am a huge fan of the Harry Potter series and I will let people know it. From the moment that my mom recommended that I give reading the books a try — I was a Muggle before and thought that I would hate them — I immediately fell in love with the characters, the plot and most importantly, the magic. I will also be the first to admit that deciding to study abroad in London was largely influenced by my love for the series, so when I finally got to go to the studio tour on March 25, it was an absolute dream-come-true. Here are seven parts of the Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour that I loved.

1. The shuttle

When we arrived at the station closest to the studio, there is a shuttle specifically for people going to the tour. It is decked out on the sides with Harry Potter images and resembles the famous Knight Bus that is in the films. Once on it, it also plays video previews of the studio to get you hyped for what you are about to see. Fun fact: I have John William’s, “Hedwig’s Theme” and played the composition, as we got closer.

2. The introduction

When we first entered the screening room, we were shown a brief video highlighting all eight of the Harry Potter films. The video itself included a brief interview from Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) and Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), talking about their time filming and how they spent the better part of a decade in the studio were currently were inside. As the video ended, they entered The Great Hall, and afterwards, the screen lifted to reveal those exact doors that they passed through.

3. The sets

It’s unbelievable seeing the sets that you watched all of the characters grow up on throughout the eight films. While some of them were short-lived because they were built and then destroyed by the end of filming, others were long lasting. My favorite sets were easily The Burrow, The Great Hall, the Gryffindor Common Room and Dumbledore’s office.

4. Interactive features

The studio tour had different interactive activities for visitors to do. One included standing on a motion sensor pad and moving your body in order to make a digital image of Dobby the House Elf move, another included saying “Up!” and a broomstick rising into the air like the characters do in the first film. Even when you were not looking at sets or props, there were plenty of other ways to immerse yourself in the magical world.

5. The Hogwarts Express

It was bizarre to enter the set where they designed King’s Cross station since we live right by the actual station and have gone there prior to visiting the studio. It made us realize that the set was incredibly realistic, though. Additionally, while on the set, we got to see the iconic Hogwarts Express that the characters took to school every year, and also walk through it and see how it was modeled for different scenes.

6. The props

One of my favorite props at the studio tour had to be the Flying Ford Anglia that Harry and Ron use in the second film to get back to Hogwarts when Platform 9 3/4 seals. Let’s be honest, flying a car to school is the kind of idea that Erin and I would justify in a moment of panic.

7. Art design

People rarely get to see the making of films from a fundamental perspective, but the studio tour showed visitors a step-by-step process of how not only how make-up and hair concepts were done, but also the making of sets like Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. It was incredible to see both the small-scale and large-scale models that the studio had on display. It was also unbelievable how much time and effort went into the detail behind the sets, props and costume, especially when it came to labeling props like library books and wands that would not necessarily be shown on camera anyway.

If you have not visited the studio tour yet and you have the opportunity to do so, I absolutely recommend it! You should even go again if you have gone already; it’s well worth it! I’ve experienced a Harry Potter rush ever since!