Unlock Gringotts Wizarding Bank
Found on Diagon Alley, Gringotts Wizarding Bank is the safest place for wizards and witches to store their most precious possessions. Seen on-screen when Harry Potter first discovered Diagon Alley and then later when the famous trio escape on a Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon, the set has become a fan-favourite location from the film series.
During the filming of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Gringotts Wizarding Bank was filmed on location at Australia House, London. For Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, however, a studio-created set was later constructed, with original props adapted and embellished. For the final two films alone, the Prop-making Department, led by Pierre Bohanna, created over 210,000 coins!
Decadent Details
Fans can visit the iconic Gringotts Wizarding Bank set at the Studio Tour, complete with towering marble pillars, three crystal chandeliers and real brass leaf details. Each chandelier, measuring 12 feet wide and 16 feet from top to bottom, is constructed with thousands of plastic ‘crystals’. During filming, set designers used computer-generated effects to create the top halves of the chandeliers whilst only the lower halves were constructed physically.
Meanwhile, the illusion of Gringotts’ marble columns and polished floors required layers of construction and paint effects. In fact, the banking hall floor seen in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 was made of paper. Visual designs were first created in the Art Department and huge sheets of paper were placed onto oil paint swirls, floating on the surface of a six-foot vat of water to create a faux-marble effect.
Props, Prosthetics and Costumes
The Gringotts Wizarding Bank set is home to inkwells, quills, ledgers and piles of Galleons, Sickles and Knuts, all of which are kept under the watchful eyes of the Gringotts Goblins. Costumes and prosthetics belonging to recognisable Goblins running the bank can be seen at the Studio Tour, including Bogrod and Griphook. Exploring the Creatures Workshop, visitors can discover how each prosthetic mask was carefully crafted.
Fans can also enter the Lestrange Vault, where there are opportunities for visitors to capture their very own photos with the legendary Sword of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff Cup. Beware of the Gemino Curse placed upon treasures inside of the vault!
Unlock behind-the-scenes secrets from within Gringotts Wizarding Bank and explore the costumes, prosthetics and props used to bring the set to life throughout the Harry Potter film series.
