The 1 Place That Must Be on Any True Harry Potter Fan's Bucket List

You are greeted with these cast posters on the walls when you first walk in, and it will give you goosebumps.

As will the Weasley's flying Ford Anglia.

Then you see the gift shop. Don't even get me started on the gift shop.

I want all the Umbridge cat teacups! (Even as I'm filled with rage.)

No big deal, you just walk past the ACTUAL cupboard under the stairs while you're in line for the tour.

SPOILER ALERT. Your tour starts off in a theater, where you sit down and an employee jokes that you're about to watch a marathon of all the Harry Potter movies — which, come on, would be AWESOME. The intro video features cameos from Ron, Harry, and Hermione (aka Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe, and Emma Watson), and at the end they all walk through the doors into Hogwarts as the screen raises up to reveal . . . the SAME DOORS. Cue goosebumps.

You walk through the doors into the Great Hall and are basically about to pass out.

See, I wasn't excited at all.

Ravenclaws, holla!

Check out Moaning Myrtle's costume. "You're welcome to share my toilet."

Here's one of the room's two fireplaces featuring the crest.

Another shot of the Great Hall, because OMG.

There are costumes displayed throughout the room, including these Gryffindor uniforms.

At the head of the room you can spy some of the most famous professors, including the headmaster himself, Dumbledore, and Snape and Hagrid.

You're soon ushered into the next and biggest area of the studio tour, beginning with part of the set for the Yule Ball like this "ice" sculpture and cool, clear pumpkin juice bottles.

Here's another shot of the Yule Ball tablescape.

And, of course, the Yule Ball costumes.

Awww poor Won-Won and his dress robes that smell like his great aunt Tessie.

I spy some famous wigs!

You may squeal when you spot Luna's outlandishly awesome dresses.

Gah, the real leaky cauldron.

The winged boars on top of the Hogwarts entrance gates are an homage to Greek mythology.

Fun fact: the Gryffindor boys' dormitory was built for the first film, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, so the beds were TINY and definitely didn't fit the actors when they got older and taller.

They added more personal props to the characters' beds as the films progressed.

The Mirror of Erised is just as impressive in real life as in the movies.

But sadly all I saw was my own reflection.

Password?

There's also a cage with some of the most memorable props.

One of my favorite props is the deluminator.

I'd never noticed that there were designs in the golden egg from the Triwizard Tournament before! (Just don't open it above water.)

"Well, what did you expect? Pumpkin juice?!"

"Sherbet lemon."

The Gryffindor common room is just as cozy as it looked in the films.

What I wouldn't give to curl up by the fire and read a book . . . alongside Harry, Ron, and Hermione, of course.

Alas, the invisibility cloak isn't actually invisible, but the lining is green for the purpose of appearing so in front of a green screen.

The Hogwarts pendulum clock is HUGE.

Some costumes from members of the Order of the Phoenix are nearby, including Tonks, Lupin, and Sirius Black.

There's so much to see in the headmaster's office, including Dumbledore's costume, loads of books, paintings, and the Sorting Hat tucked away on one of the bookshelves.

Here's Dumbledore's beautifully intricate memory vial cabinet.

Here's boggart Snape's costume.

One of the most impressive sets is the potions classroom, which grew and changed as the films progressed, depending on who the professor was.

The stirring sticks in the cauldrons were all moving.

"What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

It's seriously so cool and immersive.

There was a wall with several of the Hogwarts portraits, which were actually painted for the films to replicate real, old paintings.

Here's a peek inside Hagrid's hut — and Fang!

Yep, it's the real deal.

The door to the Chamber of Secrets is on display, and the snakes actually all move, but, unfortunately, I was told that there are only two people who know how to work the mechanism — and neither were there when I visited.

There's a green room section with some of the vehicles moving around on displays, including the Gringotts mine cart that was very impressive in real life.

What made the Burrow set so cool is that it is interactive. There are switches you can use to make the knitting needles move, the scrubbing brush clean a pan, and a knife cut food.

Here's another shot of the Weasleys' home.

Snape's costume and wig from behind looks really lifelike.

This set of the Death Eaters meeting at Malfoy Manor — with Charity Burbage hanging above them — is the creepiest of all.

Even Nagini makes a chilling appearance.

There are several ornate, handmade tapestries that were made specifically for the films, including the Black family tapestry.

The Ministry of Magic sets were enormous.

Here are some of the offices from the Ministry of Magic.

Here's another close-up look at the set and some costumes.

*Shudder.* The kittens photographed for Umbridge's office decor were all adopted after the shoot!

Never has pink looked so evil.

Here's a prop from the Room of Requirement when Dumbledore's Army needed to practice their spells.

Once you leave the main area, you see the Hogwarts Express in all its glory.

And you have to pose next to Platform 9 3/4, of course.

"I happen to be his girlfriend." Here's a shot inside the train.

There are several train compartments outside the train for photo and video opps.

"We'll take the lot!"

They have a restaurant at around the halfway point, complete with butterbeer and butterbeer ice cream.

Here's what the inside of the Knight Bus looks like, which is located in the outdoor area.

And here's the Dursleys' house on Privet Drive. The "4," however, isn't the real one used in the films because Rupert Grint took it home as a souvenir.

The Hogwarts Bridge makes a perfect photo opp!

As does the Flying Ford Anglia, one of several props made in varying levels of destruction.

Here's Luna Lovegood's lion headdress on display.

There are also several lifelike figures of some of the characters. Here's Dumbledore. (He's just sleeping, OK!)

Here's Draco.

And Hermione!

These merpeople are not to be messed with.

There are several magical creatures from the film on display, including a thestral and the head of a Norwegian Ridgeback dragon.

"Why spiders? Why couldn't it be 'follow the butterflies?'"

Here's Hagrid's costume on display in Diagon Alley.

Diagon Alley wouldn't be complete without Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.

And Flourish & Blotts.

The tour ends magnificently with a 360-degree miniature replica of Hogwarts that was used for filming. Take a seat in the benches that surround the model to watch the lighting go from day to night and back again.

With the soundtrack playing in the background, it's truly a magical end to the tour.