Detailed look at Diagon Alley and London concept art for Universal’s Wizarding World expansion

Universal Orlando has officially announced The Wizarding World of Harry Potter expansion will open next year at Universal Studios and will include recreations of Diagon Alley and London from the Harry Potter films. (Click Here to read more) Universal has said the new area will be just as expansive, immersive and authentic as the existing themed environment. So far, they’ve only released one piece of concept art. Let’s zoom in and take a look:

In the top left of the artwork you can see the current Wizarding World of Harry Potter area in Universal’s Islands of Adventure. You can also see the Hogwarts Express train taking guests between the parks, through the U.K. countryside. Will Dementors attack the train? Notice the train runs to the left of the current Wizarding World entrance. This fits with the current construction going on next to the Dragon Challenge ride.

Here’s a closer look at the train station on the London/Universal Studios side. You can already see the outline of those archways in the current construction at the park. (Video below)

Gringotts Bank will be the centerpiece of the new area and it looks like it will be awesome. How cool would it be if that dragon is animatronic and really breaths fire? This is where guests will enter the as of yet unannounced Gringotts Bank indoor roller coaster ride.

This will be Universal’s recreation of Diagon Alley. You can see the shops on either side of the alley look to be as detailed as the current Wizarding World. I expect the alley will be a bit larger than it appears in the films. Notice the large hand holding a hat at the bottom. It’s Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes magic shop.

The unfinished London waterfront is currently open to guests at the park as they walk past all the construction walls. Will all of these entrances lead to Diagon Alley or will there only be one entrance and these will be shops? Let’s take a closer look at that bus …

It looks like the Knight Bus that transports wizards around the U.K. will be parked on the London waterfront.

We’re not sure what this area, to the right of the main alley, will feature. It looks like it could be an area to rest out of the sun, like the Owl Post is in the current Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Here’s a construction from today. You may recognize some of the buildings starting to take shape:

Stay tuned for more information and concept art as it’s released.