HARRY Potter fans are desperate to get their hands on tickets to a new £36million UK tourist attraction – set to open in a former jail.
Inverness Castle, situated in the atmospheric hills of the Scottish Highlands, is set to undergo a major £36million re-vamp and transform into a one-of-a-kind spectacle.
And, Harry Potter/art lovers will be thrilled to hear doors are scheduled to open by summer 2025, with construction due to finish by the end of this year.
Fiona Hampton, director of Inverness Castle and Events for High Life Highland, told the Press and Journal: “We’re at the stage where we’re taking it from concept to reality.
“The audio-visual material that will be in each room is now being created. The text that goes with the exhibits is being written.
“And it’s been a conscious decision to ensure all the scriptwriters are from the Highlands.”
The majestic castle is predicted to draw in a whopping 500,000 visitors a year to undergo the Inverness Castle Experience.
“We’ve been talking about the concepts, stories and ideas for years now,” added Fiona.
The upcoming attraction has been designed by Mather & Co, and the company vowed ticket holders will “laugh, cry and think”.
Mather & Co have been instrumental in Downton Abbey: The Experience and the R&A World Golf Museum at St Andrews.
Chief executive Chris Mather dubbed Inverness Castle a combo of the Harry Potter wizarding attractions some of the world’s poshest art galleries.
He hailed the “unique” experience and boasted it will “spearhead” Highland tourism.
“It’s not just one thing. It’s food and drink, entertainment, education learning, tours, the natural landscape and sustainability,” he said.
“It’s been fantastic to be involved. I’m falling in love with Inverness, it’s got so much to offer.”
Harry Potter fans may be excited to learn the Workhaus Projects have also been involved in the construction.
The company is recognised for working on the Harry Potter Wizarding World attraction in New York and the V&A in Dundee.
Director Jim Ibbetson said: “This is massive for us. We’ve been going for nearly 25 years and this is up there with other projects.
“It’s such an incredibly exciting job to be involved in.”
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The castle experience will see visitors guided by a storyteller, or seanchaidh, and learn about the Highlands’ rich history.
Inspiration has been taken from the culture and legends, with around 600 tales sent in by local communities.
Matthew Zajac, Dogstar’s artistic director, and an Inverness-born actor is crafting script material.
“We’ve never done anything quite like the castle experience before”, he said.
The original castle on site dated back to the 11th century and saw the likes of Robert the Bruce, Mary Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie.
However, this was lost over time and the building visitors will see today was actually a 19th century courthouse and jail.
It transformed again when it became a hub for Inverness-shire County Council and Inverness-shire Constabulary but court hearings still took place there until 2020.
Matthew added: “In a way, this project could be a way for the people of Inverness to reclaim the castle.”
This comes as a huge new theme park opening in 2025 has revealed a fifth land based on Harry Potter – with wizard battle rides and magic shows.
