Hoddesdon hosts 1980s set as HBO’s Harry Potter series shoots in Hertfordshire, triggering disruption and compensation

Hoddesdon, a leafy Hertfordshire commuter town, played host this week to a production unit for HBO's new adaptation of JK Rowling's Harry Potter novels. To accommodate filming, authorities shut part of the town for about 24 hours, diverting buses and closing streets as camera crews moved in. Local businesses were invited to convert their premises into a 1980s backdrop, in exchange for compensation for the day.

Several shops and businesses were closed for the day, with the area around the town's clock tower given a retro makeover and traffic controls implemented to keep the set secure. The project is part of HBO's high-budget adaptation, reportedly a $1.2 billion investment across ten years, with each episode costing around £75 million. Those who agreed to participate were told they would be paid for losing a day's trade, with compensation varying by shop size and footfall; larger premises typically received more. Officials have not disclosed exact sums, but local accounts describe a sliding scale depending on impact.

Filming took place around Hoddesdon's clock tower to evoke 1981, the setting used to evoke the prologue of the first Harry Potter book. While Hoddesdon was the chosen location for visuals, producers have said the actual setting for the series is Guildford in Surrey, about 63 miles away, with Hoddesdon selected for a more authentic feel and the town's layout matching the period mood. The production team transformed shop fronts and lined streets with vintage cars and period signage to transport audiences back to the era depicted in the opening scenes.

Among the premises used was a newsagents run by Bala Kumar, who told the Daily Mail that it was an honor for his shop to be part of the production and that compensation for the day reflected the scale of the business and the lost trade. Kumar would not disclose the exact sum, but said it was meaningful for a Tuesday. Peter Sampson, who owns Hertfordshire Zoo, said the studios parked trucks on his land and paid several thousand pounds in exchange for access, calling the cast and crew 'good as gold.' Hairdresser Dino Savva, who runs George's salon, said the crew altered the storefront briefly and restored it the next day, noting the day’s compensation helped offset the temporary loss of customers.

Not everyone welcomed the disruption. A local resident told the Daily Mail that the town’s high street lay quiet while roads were shut and pedestrians diverted, making tasks such as visiting an optician difficult. Broxbourne Council has not confirmed the exact amount paid to Hoddesdon; officials said the council cannot comment on the project due to a non-disclosure agreement and cautioned that speculation about sums is not reliable. They added that businesses and residents were informed in advance of road closures and reduced pedestrian access.

The filming arrives as HBO reportedly invests heavily in the adaptation of JK Rowling’s novels for television, with early whispers of a budget around $1.2 billion over ten years and episodes costing roughly £75 million each. The show is slated to air in 2027, a reminder of the enduring pull of the Potter universe for global audiences and the willingness of small towns to participate in major productions when compensation and careful planning align with local authorities.

The Hoddesdon shoot is one example of how streaming-era productions fuse high-end financing with local disruption, offering jobs and funds for some businesses while drawing complaints from others over traffic, closures, and the unavailability of certain services for a day.