Enter the magical world of Harry Potter in this new exhibition where you can experience feeling like you’re inside the books.

By Gianna Liantonio

On Monday February 19, 2024, I went to the new Harry Potter Exhibition in the city. Located in Herald Square, only a block away from the Empire State building, you get to experience the magic of the books and movies firsthand.

It is a self-guided tour where you can go at your own speed and really get to absorb everything it has to offer. You are given a bracelet when you get your tickets scanned and from then on you enter a room where you get the bracelet scanned and enter your information. You then get to pick your house, your wand and your patronus. Picking your house is a vital step to start this experience as throughout the tour, you are able to do certain tasks and earn house points.

The first room you enter is a sort of introduction before you get to go in. The walls have a projection of the Marauders Map on all sides of the walls. There, you can scan your bracelet and see your name pop up on the map. That part was very cool to me. From there, the walls change, and we see Hogwarts go through the seasons until they let us into another room.

About the same size, they showed us an introductory video to welcome us to the tour. We see clips from the movies, seeing our beloved characters say their famous lines. Then, the tour guide will open the doors and from then on, you are your own personal guide, walking through each part.

Walking through each room was a magical experience. They really went into detail and didn’t miss anything. The first room goes into the history of each house, having a sign of their origins. We see these signs throughout the tour about certain characters as well. We get to see props such as the costumes they wore, wands, and much more!

You can be in the potions lab, make a potion and earn house points if you brew it correctly! In the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, you can face your own boggart, and even go to Herbology and pull out a mandrake. Walking through each
room felt like I was truly at Hogwarts, especially with the interactive things you can do. You get to see the Great Hall, see the Quidditch Pitch and can even visit Hagrid’s hut and sit in his chair!

This exhibition is definitely worth the money and was one of the best things I have gone to. It did not disappoint and exceeded my expectations. I had a vague idea of what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised at everything it had to offer. You get to even sit in the cupboard under the stairs and get the full Harry Potter experience.

I would definitely go again, and I suggest anyone who loves Harry Potter to go as well. They went all out and did not miss a single detail.