The Hobbiton Movie Set Has Opened Its Hobbit Holes to the Public So You Can Step Inside Bagshot Row
For the past two decades, Hobbiton's hobbit holes have only existed as an external facade — but not anymore.
They're taking the humans inside Hobbiton. They're no longer saying "you shall not pass" to anyone wanting to do more than look at the external facades of hobbit holes on the movie set tour's Bagshot Row, too. After two decades of operation, the famous New Zealand attraction has finally added something that every The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit fan has wanted more than second breakfast: letting visitors step inside its cosy abodes.
Standing outside Hobbiton's hobbit hole doors has been one of the venue's top experiences ever since opening on the 1250-acre Alexander family farm. Now, seeing what it's like to live like Bilbo and Frodo Baggins and their pals is on the agenda as well. The Bagshot Row hillside, which boasts three hobbit hole facades, has been excavated since March 2023 to include rooms behind the entryways. So, get ready to walk through a hall, a couple of bedrooms, and a kitchen and dining area — complete with a pantry capable of catering for seven daily meals — as well as a parlour with a fireplace, and a bathroom.
Unsurprisingly, cosiness abounds. So do nods to generations of hobbits that would've inhabited the holes. Accordingly, visitors will see plenty of wooden surfaces and warm colours, as well as heirlooms and trinkets. Carvings grace the walls, hand-painted details are everywhere and the linens have been stitched by hand as well.
One big piece of advice: watch your head when entering. The latest addition to Hobbiton is indeed hobbit sized at 83-percent scale, reflecting their shorter stature. The hobbit holes open for visitors on Friday, December 1, and are now part of all Hobbiton tours.
"For two decades, we've welcomed millions of passionate visitors to Hobbiton Movie Set, but never before has anyone ventured beyond the door of a hobbit hole like this," said Hobbiton Movie Set's Chief Executive Officer Russell Alexander.
"This extraordinary addition will fulfil a long-held dream for Hobbiton Movie Set and visitors alike, promising to immerse fans into the humble home of a hobbit for the first time."
The hobbit hole doors on Bagshot Row are just three of Hobbiton's 44 in total; however, only Bagshot Row now lets tourists step inside while they're visiting The Shire.
Attendees are encouraged to look for Easter eggs on their visit to Middle-earth's new must-see, with the hobbit holes brought to fruition by illustrators and concept designers John Howe and Alan Lee, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Art Director and Hobbiton Movie Set Project Manager Brian Massey, and Production Designer Ra Vincent.
Before now, an Airbnb trip in March 2023 was the only chance that folks had of getting a true hobbit experience in Aotearoa's Waikato region, allowing the lucky people who scored the one-off booking to slumber like one of Middle-earth's shortest residents on the very property. Don't go packing your suitcase now, though, as overnight stays are not part of the new addition to Bagshot Row.
Find Hobbiton Movie Set at 501 Buckland Road, Hinuera, Matamata, New Zealand, with venturing into the hobbit holes available from Friday, December 1, 2023 — head to the site's website for tickets and further details.
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