The Harry Potter book series and film adaptations captured the hearts of millions of people all around the world. The books and films became so widely known and loved that in 2007 Universal Studios announced that they would be bringing the English-based books to life by recreating Hogwarts in a new project (info via The Wizarding World of Harry Potter). Hogwarts and many other iconic sets, including the infamous Diagon Alley, were constructed during two different projects during a span of seven years (info via The Wizarding World of Harry Potter).

Funnily enough even though Harry Potter was based in England and was shot throughout the English countryside and in the Warner Bros studios just outside of London, the recreation of Hogwarts in Universal Studios was the first project that brought the movie to life. However, Warner Bros in London did not disappoint. On March 31, 2012, Warner Bros. Studio Tour opened to the public (info via Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden). While this tour doesn't include any rides it does include something even better: exact sets, costumes and props used in the movies. Universal may offer you the chance to experience what Gringot's Bank is like, but Warner Bros studio tour lets you stand in front of the same Gringot's Bank that so many wizards we love stood outside of.

While Harry Potter isn't everyone's cup of tea (I've seen a handful if the movies but haven't read the books) this studio tour is great for anyone. Sure it contains actual costumes, props and sets used in the movies, but it also gives visitors inside details on how those costumes, props and sets were created and brought to life. They even teach you how they made it possible for the wizards to fly. So take it from a casual Harry Potter fan that visited the tour this summer, here are the top five reasons to visit the Warner Bros. Studio Tour at least once before you die.

1. You Get To See Actual Sets Used in the Films

It's not every day that you can tell someone that you stood in front of Hogwart's front doors, took a stroll through the grand dining hall and had a peek into the Gryffindor dormitories (including Harry and Ron's beds!). But going on this studio tour gives you the opportunity to check all of those things off of your bucket list. As you walk through this mostly self-guided tour you get to see the dining hall, the bridge to get to Hogwarts and even Harry Potter's room under the stairs.

Yep, this is the exact set where we first met the real life Harry Potter, or Daniel Radcliffe if you prefer. You get to see this before you even enter the tour and it only gets better from there.

2. You Get To See The Actual Costumes The Characters Wore

Like I said previously throughout the tour you get to see the actual costumes the characters wore in the movie. In the dining hall, you get to see the Slytherin uniform and robes that Tom Felton aka Draco Malfoy wears in the first film, along with the Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor costumes.

And of course the best part of this is that you get to see the first costume Daniel Radcliffe ever wore as Harry Potter. The robes Harry wears in the first movie are proudly displayed with the Gryiffindor items as they are the first costume ever used to bring Harry Potter to life. Plus seeing the sorting hat in real life is pretty neat.

3. You Get To See Actual Props Used in the Movies

Ever wonder what it would be like to see Voldemort's actual wand up close and in person? Well go on this tour and you will wonder no longer! Yep you get to see the wands used by the actual actors in all the movies plus lots of other cool knicknacky props! There's even a board giving you all the information on every single animal used in the films! Sure at Universal Studios you can pretend to ride a broom, but at Warner Bros you can see the actual brooms they used!

4. You Get To See How They Brought The Magic To Life

I remember watching the movies as a kid and wondering how they were able to make it look like they were flying, or how Hagrid could be so much bigger than everyone else. Surely there wasn't a man that giant walking around the streets on England (at least I hoped not). In this tour along with getting to walk past actual sets and costumes you get to learn the real magic: how they made it all look real.

With the help of a green screen and some CGI magic, all it took to transform the dining hall's ceiling into the magical night sky was some fake candles, some string and a few different mechanisms to make them appear as if they are floating. Of course the whole illusion could have been done in post production, but having the actual "candles" during shooting makes it all the more real.

Ever wonder how it was possible for Hagrid to be so much bigger than everyone else? Well with the help of some clever camera angles and a giant animatronic head, the normally 6 foot something actor who played him was formed into a giant.

Aside from costumes, makeup and "movie magic", the most crucial part of creating the Harry Potter movies was set design. The magical world J.K. Rowling created was unlike anything in the physical world, meaning the only reference set designers had was the books themselves. During this tour, you enter a room that is plastered in concept sketches ranging from Hagrid's hut, to the dormitories and even to Dobby, the loveable house elf. Even if you've never loved the films or books any aspiring set designer, architect or even artist would appreciate this aspect of the tour. So much time was put in to make these movies as good as the books, and this tour proves it.

5. The Giant Replica of Hogwarts

Sure, Universal may have a giant Hogwarts you can go in, but anyone could make that with some bricks, paneling and a whole lot of money. At the end of the tour before you're deposited into the gift shop, you enter a giant room that contains nothing but a giant Hogwarts. It was so big I couldn't fit it all in one photo.

This replica shows you everything, the bridge to get to Hogwarts, Hagrid's hut and even the smattering of trees surrounding the great school. So much intricate detail is carved into it not even the best architects could recreate it in a larger scale. It really is something to see in person, whether you're a fan or not.

Even if you aren't a huge fan of the Harry Potter franchise this tour is definitely something you should set out to do. The sheer amount of details that went into the movies is amazing and it would take me days to describe how detailed and informative the exhibits were.

Not to mention you can the fact that they have a huge gift shop full of every piece of Harry Potter related items you could imagine. And I'm sure your friends will be jealous when they hear you stood outside of Harry Potter's house.

I even took a few selfies of myself in front of it, but we'll save those for another day!