Description:

Since 2002, visitors to Hobbiton Movie Set have been given the opportunity to immerse themselves in the sights, smells, sounds and tastes of The Shire, the home of the Hobbits, as featured in The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies in Matamata. Visitors have been able to see the 12 acre iconic movie set in its full glory, from wandering the rambling paths of The Shire to seeing the submerged Hobbit holes that are nestled into the rolling hillsides.

Guests love the experience. However the most common piece of constructive feedback that Hobbiton received from guests was that they would love to ‘venture beyond the door’ and see inside an authentic Hobbit House.

As for all tourism businesses, the COVID pandemic was a very challenging time but it also provided Hobbiton with an opportunity to reevaluate their product offering. Since 2014, Sir Peter Jackson and Russell Alexander had been talking about giving visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the home of a Hobbit. However, it wasn’t until September 2022, the Hobbiton Board agreed that there was a window to rejuvenate Hobbiton post-COVID and complete the Hobbiton visitor experience. And so the Bagshot Row project began.

Bagshot Row was designed and crafted by the renowned creative teams behind The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies. The project saw a hillside of the current Bagshot Row shared by three existing hobbit hole facades excavated and transformed into a series of themed rooms, cosy enough for a family of Hobbits. The concept design features two parallel Hobbit Hole interior experiences built side by side so a tour group can be split in half to have a more intimate experience. The Hobbit Holes offer an authentic glimpse into the charming dwellings of Hobbits going about their daily lives in the Shire. Guests must mind their heads as they wander and weave through the maze of rooms and hallways, all constructed with a Hobbit’s stature in mind. Hints of the inhabitants’ family lineage is seeded throughout, with heirlooms and trinkets from generations of Hobbits from yesteryear, a well-stocked pantry with all the fixings to cater for their seven daily meals, and a crackling fire all give a peek into the lives of these halflings. The Bagshot Row experience is designed to be fully immersive, so guests are welcome to make themselves at home and touch any of the props and theming while they explore the house. However, visitors must take care as the Hobbit family will be back shortly…

Since Bagshot Row opened on 1 December 2023, Hobbiton has received resoundingly positive feedback with many saying that Bagshot Row is the highlight of their 2.5 hour hosted experience. Its addition has elevated the Hobbiton experience to ‘the best it can be’ and ensures that Hobbiton continues to provide visitors with an authentic and informative visitor experience of the highest quality.