Universal Leaves Out Wizarding World, but New ‘Harry Potter’ Experience Confirmed
For years, British fans of Harry Potter have watched as Universal theme parks around the world transformed into magical portals to Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. From Florida to Osaka, these richly themed lands have become pilgrimage sites for Potterheads — all while the franchise’s home country remained, conspicuously, without its own full-scale Wizarding World land.
Now, plans for Universal’s first U.K. theme park have surfaced, and with them, an unexpected twist.
Despite housing the cultural roots of J.K. Rowling’s franchise, the upcoming Universal Studios Great Britain has seemingly chosen to exclude Harry Potter entirely. According to early reports, the park — which is still in early development — will instead spotlight franchises like James Bond, Paddington, and The Lord of the Rings. The move stunned fans who assumed the Boy Who Lived would be the crown jewel of any British Universal venture.
Universal Opts Out, But Warner Bros. Steps In
Speculation has mounted over the decision, with many pointing to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter as a likely factor. Located just outside London, the studio tour continues to draw crowds from around the world, offering an immersive look behind the scenes of the original films. It’s possible Universal simply didn’t want to go head-to-head with such a popular existing attraction.
That theory gained traction after a new development came to light this week — and it came not from Universal, but Warner Bros. itself.
Reports have confirmed that a new Harry Potter-themed attraction is underway in Oxford, where the Grade II-listed William Baker House is quietly being transformed. Though Warner Bros. has not yet publicly commented, workers onsite have told local press that the studio’s engineers have been heavily involved in the structural overhaul. The attraction, they said, is expected to open next year.
So far, details are limited. Merchandise is expected to be part of the experience, but whether the site will include interactive exhibits or digital elements remains to be seen. Still, its setting offers a uniquely poetic link to the Wizarding World: Oxford’s historic colleges and libraries were famously used as filming locations in multiple Harry Potter films, including The Chamber of Secrets and The Goblet of Fire. The Divinity School at the Bodleian Library, in particular, stood in for the Hogwarts Hospital Wing.
A Growing ‘Harry Potter’ Retail Empire
The Oxford project is the latest example of Warner Bros. expanding its Harry Potter footprint through retail and small-scale immersive experiences, rather than theme parks.
Earlier this year, the studio opened a dedicated Harry Potter store in Chicago — its second flagship U.S. location after New York. In London, a licensed store continues to operate at King’s Cross Station, home of the fictional Platform 9 ¾ (where you’ll also find an ever-growing line of tourists hoping to take a picture with a trolley heading through the brick barrier), while several unlicensed shops scattered around the capital have drawn criticism from locals for their lack of official ties to the brand.
For now, Oxford’s William Baker House may offer the next best thing for U.K. fans hoping to step inside the Wizarding World. It’s not a theme park, and it’s not Hogsmeade — but it is something new, and it’s arriving just in time for a renewed push behind the franchise. HBO’s Harry Potter reboot is already filming its first season, with a second set to kickstart filming next year, with the series set to reintroduce the wizarding world to a new generation.
And while Universal’s U.K. theme park may be moving in a different direction, one thing is clear: the magic hasn’t gone anywhere.
What’s your favorite Harry Potter attraction?
