Experience the wizarding world in the heart of Midtown—no Floo powder or portkey needed. At Harry Potter: The Exhibition, movie magic comes to life through a set of interactive galleries and displays that follow the path of our heroes (and villains and everyone in between) from the Harry Potter films, the Fantastic Beasts universe and The Cursed Child on Broadway.
While great for devotees—you’ll learn behind-the-scenes facts and see costumes and props from the actual films—this traveling exhibition has appeal for anyone with a passing knowledge of Hogwarts, immersing you in its fictional world through recreations of sets like Hagrid’s Hut and the Forbidden Forest and activities such as divination, potion making and the classic “Boggart in the Wardrobe” lesson. You can even try your hand at (landed) Quidditch by trying to get the Quaffle through the hoops, or head to the Great Hall diorama to feel like a first-year marveling at the floating candles.
Once you enter the experience, you’ll get to choose your Hogwarts house and have the chance to win points throughout the tour for your house. Whether you’re a bold member of Gryffindor, a cunning inductee of Slytherin, a wise affiliate of Ravenclaw or fiercely loyal representative of Hufflepuff, there is something for you to enjoy at Harry Potter: The Exhibition.
Below, we sorted some of the coolest activities according to the Hogwarts houses; read on so you can get the most of your experience.
Slytherin
The cunning and ambitious
House colors: green and silver
House animal: serpent
If you feel your heart racing at the prospect of your house winning all the glory and points at Harry Potter: The Exhibition, you might be an ambitious Slytherin. Known for having “the most dangerous wizards of all time,” the Slytherin house comes alive in a vignette in the Hogwarts Houses gallery, featuring the costumes of characters like Bellatrix Lestrange and Draco Malfoy, as well as props like their wands or books used in their scenes.
Head on over to the potions room, the subject that Hogwarts’ most infamous headmaster, Severus Snape, once taught. Brew your own elixir and pay homage to his time teaching students how to “bottle fame, [and] brew glory.” Win points for your house and then take a look at the character’s robes from the film, worn by late actor Alan Rickman and on display in the same room. One of the final galleries in the exhibition would intrigue any Slytherin, as you get to browse through the items magicked as Horcruxes—from Ravenclaw’s diadem to Salazar Slytherin’s Locket.
Courtesy, Harry Potter: The Exhibition
Gryffindor
The bold and brave
House colors: red and gold
House animal: lion
Home to Hogwarts’ main characters, Gryffindor has introduced the world to famous wizards like Harry Potter, Albus Dumbledore and, of course, a few urban legends like the Marauders. The first leg of the immersive experience invites you to find your name on the Maurauder’s Map, created by the mysterious Padfoot, Moony, Wormtail and Prongs, all rumored Gryffindors. Head over to the Quidditch Pitch—taking inspiration from Harry, Gryffindor’s most famous member and star player—to try your hand at getting the Quaffle through the hoop. It might not be a 150-point Golden Snitch, but that’s 10 points for Gryffindor if you can manage it. To feel even more immersed in the Wizarding World experience, move on to your next challenge: defense against the dark arts. Practice your patronus on the boggart in the wardrobe, and walk through the Forbidden Forest to test your bravery.
Courtesy, Harry Potter: The Exhibition
Ravenclaw
The wise and witty
House colors: blue and bronze
House animal: eagle
With a common room only accessible by solving a riddle, Ravenclaw house makes clear why it’s known for smarts (and excellent grades). In the gallery, look at the intricate details of Luna Lovegood’s costume, complete with a copy of The Quibbler and her Spectrespecs glasses. You can see (infamous) Ravenclaw Gilderoy Lockhart—played in Chamber of Secrets by Kenneth Branagh—and his periwinkle blue robes from the film in the Defense Against the Dark Arts room, bedecked in his house colors before he was revealed to be a fraud (he also accidentally turning Harry’s bones into jelly). One could argue that the entirety of Harry Potter: The Exhibition is outfitted to benefit a Ravenclaw’s sensibilities, from detailed context for each display, complete with quotes from costume designers, to set production interspersed with lore from the Wizarding World.
Courtesy, Harry Potter: The Exhibition
Hufflepuff
The loyal and dedicated
House colors: yellow and black
House animal: badger
Known for being cheery and kind—and for frequently sneaking into the Hogwarts kitchens—the students of Hufflepuff house will find themselves well-represented in this exhibition. While Harry and company were regulars when it came to visiting Hagrid’s hut, its rustic sensibilities and general coziness makes it a nice set piece to visit for any Hufflepuff. Enter the room which houses the glowing Triwizard Tournament Cup, and marvel at the tournament uniform of Hufflepuff Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson), Harry’s rival in Goblet of Fire, and try your hand at Herbology, specialty of Hufflepuff Professor Pomona Sprout, by potting screaming mandrakes. Capture a photo with the Fantastic Beasts in Newt Scamander’s suitcase, and be sure to find the right combo of yellow and black in the gift shop, along with sweets like Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans and chocolate frogs, of course.
Courtesy, Harry Potter: The Exhibition
