As the hectic festive season fast approaches, Pottermore Publishing has a real treat to keep you calm and cosy…

Harry Potter Audioscapes™ are a new ambient listening experience, bringing together narration from the books, soothing sound design and magical music to make you feel as relaxed as a curled-up Crookshanks on his favourite lap. Each one will transport you to an iconic wizarding world location, complete with moments and characters that make you feel profoundly peaceful.

The first in the series will invite you to climb through the portrait hole into the comfortingly familiar Gryffindor Common Room: the golden trio’s refuge whenever they needed a moment to reflect or relax. Get ready to settle into a new term as the narrative gently unfolds through the seasons from autumn to summer, using carefully selected excerpts from the Harry Potter books that follow the rhythms of the school year. We recommend making a hot cup of cocoa, closing your eyes and pretending you’re a Hogwarts student sat in a squashy armchair by the fire while you listen… the dream.

Moments at Hogwarts: The Gryffindor Common Room will be available to stream or purchase on audio platforms in English across the world on 17th November, at £7.99/$11.99/€9.99. If you can’t get enough of the enthralling experience, two more titles will follow, exploring the Hogwarts Classes and Hogwarts Grounds: their publication dates will be announced in 2027.

Interested in how the meditative magic happens? Here are the soothing sound layers that will make you feel like you’re within the castle walls:

• Specially recorded narration using ASMR techniques, guiding you through Hogwarts with detail and warmth

• A bespoke musical score featuring a live ensemble and carefully designed frequences for a calm, immersive experience

• Expertly crafted Foley: from distant thunder through to gentle crackling fires, the sounds bring the richly detailed atmosphere of the wizarding world to life

Andreina Gomez Casanova, sound designer for the Audioscapes series, illustrates the peaceful atmosphere they aimed to create:

“It’s not just about hearing a story; it’s about the story becoming a part of you, leaving you with a sense of peace… By using immersive sound design with Dolby Atmos, we aimed to gently guide the listener into a state of relaxation. The Audioscapes are about creating an escape and refuge where sound helps you unwind, relax, and stay present.”

Jennie McCann, Managing Director of Pottermore Publishing, explains how this new format builds on the audio expertise they developed with the Full-Cast Editions of the books, but with a new aim:

“Here our focus is on immersive listening and relaxation rather than dynamic storytelling. … Unlike the energetic deliveries of our full audiobook editions, this narration of extracts from the original books takes a deliberately calmer, more soothing approach – perfect for those moments of much-needed relaxation.”

Check back here on 17th November for more details on how to access the Audioscapes when they are released, and save us a seat by the fire… We’ve got some serious unwinding to do.

Harry Potter Audioscapes are published by Pottermore Publishing, the global digital audiobook and eBook publisher of J.K. Rowling’s multi-million bestselling Harry Potter series and associated titles.