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Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter

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Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

A Magical Guide to the Warner Bros Studio Tour in London: Everything You Need to Know

Last Updated: February 16, 2022

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Fact: In my entire life, I’ve only cried once at a tourist attraction.

And judge me all you want, but this cryfest happened at a Harry Potter studio tour.

… Allow me to explain myself.

Like most children born in the 90s, much of my youth was spent daydreaming about the arrival of my Hogwart’s acceptance letter. As this dream dwindled with the hardships of adulting, I instead took comfort in carbs and magical movie marathons.

But, it didn’t take much for these childhood dreams to resurface. A trip to London was all it took to re-open the floodgates (literally).

Let me tell you: for a Harry Potter fan, there is no attraction on this Earth more overwhelming and amazing than the  Warner Bros Studio Tour London, (AKA London’s Harry Potter set tour), which brings you through the filming site for all 8 movies in the Harry Potter franchise.

In addition to sets, you’re also shown countless props, the best gift shop in the world, and even a chance to taste butter beer for yourself. Come on now, is it at all a surprise that I bawled when I got to the end?

Read onwards for important info to know about the tour, some tips to keep in mind and of course, a recap of the experience (with plenty of photos!) Be careful for this section, as spoilers are abound!

PS: Check out my full list of Harry Potter themed attractions and experiences in London for more nerdy goodness.

Basic information to know about the Harry Potter Set Tour

If you’re interested in booking the epic Warner Bros Studio Tour in London for yourself, then here are some basic must-knows.

Harry Potter Studio Tour Tickets Info:

I first visited this attraction in 2014 and it was a hot mess then, and has only grown in popularity in the past few years.

If this Harry Potter set tour is a must-do for you, then make sure you book your tickets WELL in advance or you risk not being able to go!

Luckily, even when tickets are sold out on the main site, there are tours you can book online that will have tickets available for sold out dates.

Sometimes, booking with a tour is worthwhile because you not only guarantee your tickets, you also get the convenience of private transport there, which is nice and much less stressful than using public transport yourself.

Here is a breakdown of different Harry Potter Studio tour options that include transport. For your convenience, I also lay out their costs and what they have to offer:

Tickets can also be purchased online from the studio itself  here.

How to Get to the Warner Bros Studio Tour in London:

Despite its name, the Warner Bros Studio London is actually located in Leavesden, which is northwest of London.

While booking a tour/private transport is the easiest and most convenient way to get there, it is still quite painless to reach via public transit, as a shuttle bus runs from Watford Junction railway station.

To get to the Watford Junction station, you need to make use of London’s overground system.

Not sure about the best route to get there? Check out this handy trip planner .  The tour’s website recommends that you arrive at Watford Junction 45 minutes prior to your tour time.  

Remember to bring change, as the cost for the shuttle bus is 2 pounds each way.

NOTE : Leave a lot of leeway for you to get there. We definitely got lost a few times due to the transfers, and were stressed to the max! For a more stress-free experience, consider prebooking a tour that comes with transport. Here’s one for under $100USD.

Tips for Doing the Harry Potter Set Tour Like a Pro

Having addressed the basics, here are some tips you should keep in mind when planning your visit:

1. Check on the Warner Bros Studio Tour website for special events

The studio tour often has special weeks during which there are specialized displays or demonstrations.

If you have quite some time in London, I suggest looking up when special events are happening and to plan accordingly.

I was luckily around for the beginning of Wand Week, so I got to see wandmakers do their thing and I even got to pose with some Death Eaters. Super cool!

2. Allow extra time for travel

Especially if you are new to London, trying to navigate the transit there can take time, so give yourself plenty of time to arrive at the studio.

That being said, do not hyperventilate if your ticketed time is fast approaching. While the reservation system does assign you a time, they won’t turn you away if you are a bit late.

3. Don’t forget to print your Warner Bros Studio Tour ticket

This will make the whole process smoother.

One girl that came with us didn’t print hers and upon arrival, she realized that her order never actually went through.

Luckily, even though they claim there is no box office at the attraction, she was able to purchase a ticket there, but do book in advance to save yourself the trouble.

4. Set yourself a budget for magical souvenirs

Trust me, when you enter the Harry Potter Studio Tour Shop for the first time, you will lose all sense of self control.

You will suddenly want all these things that you would never need.

Legit wizard robe? Okay!

Replica wand? Yes please.

There are so many amazingly crafted souvenirs for sale that you will easily empty your wallet.

For budget-conscious backpackers (like me) or large families with crying children, setting a budget beforehand is a must.

5. Grab yourself a free Warner Bros Studio Tour London passport

At some point during the tour, you might notice children getting awesome embossed stamps on a Harry Potter passport.

Uh, yeah, those are actually not just for kids!

I shamelessly (and sweetly) asked a staff member for one, and they kindly obliged.

Getting the stamps is fun and having a Harry Potter passport is pretty much the best souvenir ever.

6. Be sure to check out other Harry Potter filming locations around the UK too

If you’ve made it all the way to Leavesden, you’re actually pretty close to a variety of other Harry Potter filming locations!

While this set tour is of course incredible, there are dozens of other real-life filming locations scattered around the UK that you can visit for yourself. Click here for a full list.

Harry Potter Set Tour Recap with Photos

With those tips out of the way, I’d love to show you some photos and a brief overview of the experience from my visit in 2014. Note that they have added a lot since then, but still…

WARNING: spoilers, spoilers, spoilers. 

Some would say that the best way to experience this tour is by seeing everything first hand, but if you are curious to see photos and more, feel free to scroll further.

Your magical experience begins as soon as you walk into the building. All around the lobby are canvases with various Harry Potter characters, as well as props and other cool artifacts hanging off the walls.

Even the task of waiting in line (typically the most mundane thing ever) is a joy for this tour.

The queue moves very quickly and there is plenty for you to nerd out about as you wait.

Most notably, Harry’s  cupboard under the stairs , is right next to the queuing area, ensuring that you get a perfect view of this iconic set.

You’ll notice that groups are taken in based on their spot in line, rather than their timed reservation.

This is why there is some flexibility when it comes to your arrival time.

If you’re a few minutes late, no worries, just hop in the queue and you will make it in all-the-same.  

The tour begins with a brief video introduction to the franchise, followed by a preshow featuring Rupert, Daniel and Emma themselves.

As this preshow concludes, the screen reveals the doors to the  Great Hall!  During my tour, they invited any birthday kids to come up and help open the doors.

After  seriously  wishing it was my birthday, I bitterly watched two ecstatic kids live out their childhood dreams, revealing the first stop of the tour, the amazing…

1. Great Hall!

This is the the only part of the tour where your time will be limited, as they let tour groups in every few minutes.

As such, if you want photos, be sure to snap them  quickly !

Being in this room is an unreal feeling. In addition to the long tables, cutlery and elaborate set pieces, you also get to view costumes from students in each house, and important Hogwarts faculty as well!

2. The Big Room

After your time in the Great Hall, you are brought into the  Big Room , which houses a variety of sets, props and costumes.

Here, you are given free reign to explore for yourself and gawk at all the amazing pieces the room contains!

Highlights for me were definitely the  Potions classroom  (complete with a Snape costume on display),  the Gryffindor Common Room  and  the Weasley House .

Many of the sets also have interactive buttons where you can make objects move by pressing them.

This was especially cool in the Weasley kitchen, where the touch of a button could make an iron move on its own, make vegetables chop themselves, etc. Super neat!

For those seeking a sweet photo opp, there are several green screen opportunities to ride a broom as a Quidditch player and more! I didn’t wait in line for this bit, but it definitely looked like a lot of fun! Here are some photos from the Big Room:

3. The Backlot

After perusing the Big Room, you are brought outside to the  Backlot , home to a variety of sets including Harry’s  Privet Drive home , the  Hogwarts Bridge , the  Knight Bus  and of course,  the concession stands!  

It’s at this point in the tour that you can live out your childhood fantasy of sipping a nice, cold  butterbeer.  

Be sure to explore the bridge before you purchase a butterbeer, as no food or drink is allowed on that set. 

Now, while public opinion seems to be split on the taste of butterbeer, I have to say that  I. loved. every. single. sip.  

It’s very possible that I was blinded by the magic of my surroundings, but I would argue that it’s worth a try regardless!

NOTE: If you want to purchase a souvenir cup, remember to bring a bag or something to wrap it in, as that stuff can get mighty sticky. Here’s a sample of the cool things you’ll see in the backlot!

4. Art Department, Creature Effects and Diagon Alley

When you’re ready to go back inside, countless wonders from the  creature effects & art department  await you. Here, you really get to appreciate the depth of work put into creating a whole magical world.

I was really wowed by everything.

In this area, you will see masks, wigs, models and more of your favourite magical creatures.

In this second half of the tour as well, you get to walk through Diagon Alley. The details and work in the set will absolutely blow you away. The shops look so real, you’ll be tempted to go knocking on their doors.

5. Hogwarts Castle Model

And lastly, the grand finale of the Harry Potter set tour… The model of Hogwarts!

This one here is a real showstopper.

A walkway surrounding the model allows you to view it from all angles, taking in the fine details of this wonderful school.

For many Harry Potter fans, seeing the castle like this is a dream come true. Now, if only it were real!

At the end of the tour, just before the entrance of the Harry Potter Studio Tour Shop, you will see this wonderfully beautiful quote appear on the screen:

It was at this point that  I began to bawl.  I couldn’t help it!

Everything that I loved about the series had been shown to me in the past few hours, and for that short period of time, I got to live out my dream of seeing the magical world that made my childhood.

Messy and gross, I walked into the gift shop, which was a massive treasure trove of things you never knew you wanted or needed. Wands for every character? I’ll take 100.

And there you have it,  the most magical experience ever . One day, I  will   visit the Wonderful Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but until then, I think this tour has given me enough happy & geeky memories to last. …. At least for the next little while.

Any more questions about visiting the Warner Bros Studio Tour in London?

 Over to you – have you ever been to the Warner Bros Studio Tour in London? IF NOT, THEN WTF ARE YOU WAITING FOR? No jk, uh I meant to ask, which part would you most look forward to?!

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🏨 Booking.com: For searching hotels

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✈️ Google Flights : For finding flight deals

🌎 WorldNomads: For travel insurance

🎉 GetYourGuide: For booking activities

7 thoughts on “A Magical Guide to the Warner Bros Studio Tour in London: Everything You Need to Know”

Enjoyed every bit of your blog article.Much thanks again. Really Cool.

Thanks for reading! 🙂

bookmarked!!, I like your blog!

thanks Jane!! 😀

Hi Christina! I’m going to be traveling alone to London this week, would the Harry Potter tour be fun for a solo traveler? Also, I was considering buying a groupon for a night tour, but the picture of you holding the butter beer appears to be outside? I guess we would be missing this part of the tour if I went at night then eh?

hi Lisa, I hope this comment isn’t too late! but YES YES YES the tour would 100% still be fun as a solo traveler (provided that you like Harry Potter haha). I didn’t realize they had a special night tour, but the butterbeer was outside in a special lot where they had lots of big props and set pieces (it’s part of the tour) so I can’t imagine they would leave it out for any reason. I have my fingers crossed for you!

Thank you for this article and the pics. I always need to take a peek of the atmosphere beforehand since I’m going solo. I hope they will let me use my selfie stick inside.

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Finding the Universe

Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

Taking a Harry Potter Studio Tour in London: Everything You Need to Know

Last updated: December 23, 2023 . Written by Laurence Norah - 24 Comments

If you’re a Harry Potter fan visiting the UK, the chances are high that you want to take the Harry Potter Studio Tour near London. This tour, of the Warner Bros. Studio where the majority of the films were shot, is a fascinating experience, and well worth doing even if you’re not a Harry Potter fan.

You can visit places like the Great Hall, the railway station, various filming locations from inside Hogwarts, the Forbidden Forest, and even Diagon Alley.

As well as visiting the film sets, you will also learn all about how the films were made, see many of the props from the movies, get to participate in some green screen magic, have the opportunity to try Butterbeer, and of course, buy all the Harry Potter merchandise you can imagine!

In this guide we’re going to go through everything you need to know to visit the Harry Potter Studios, including how to get there, how to get tickets, information for making the most of your day, and lots more! Let’s get started by answering some questions you may have.

Where Was Harry Potter Filmed?

Harry Potter was filmed all across the UK, at real world locations such as Glenfinnan Viaduct, Alnwick Castle, Glencoe in Scotland and Leadenhall Market in London . See our full guide to Harry Potter filming locations in the UK for more.

The interior sets and the majority of the rest of the films were shot at the Warner Bros. Studio in Leavesden, just outside London.

Where is the Harry Potter Studio Tour?

The Harry Potter Studio Tour takes place in the Warner Bros. Studio, which is found in Leavesden, England. This is around 20 miles northwest of London.

The Warner Bros. Studio is a fully working film studio, one of the largest in the UK, and many films have been shot here, including the whole Harry Potter franchise as well as some of the Star Wars,   Batman , and Mission: Impossible films.

Harry Potter Studio Opening Times

You will definitely want to check the website for up-to-date opening times, but generally throughout the year the studio is open from 8.30am through to 10pm. More specifically:

• Doors open at 8.30am
• First tour starts at 9am
• Final tour starts at 6.30pm
• Studio closes at 10pm

These times do vary by day. In terms of dates, the Studio is open every day of the week. There are some exceptions, it is closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day (25th and 26th of December).

How Much Does the Harry Potter Studio Tour Cost?

Prices for the standard tour are as follows (correct as of May 2023).

• Adult: £51.50
• Child aged 5-15: £40
• Childer Under 4: Free
• Family: £160
• Carer: Free

For a family, this can be either 2 adults and 2 children, or 1 adult and 3 children.

You can also purchase more expensive tour packages, but these are the basic prices. Note that these are just entry prices, and don’t include any transport.

Is the Harry Potter Studio Tour Accessible?

The Harry Potter Studio Tour is accessible, and visitors can bring one carer free of charge with proof of entitlement.

For the studio itself, the majority of it is level and accessible for wheelchair users. There are some exceptions, such as the Hogwarts Bridge and the Knights Bus. Diagon Alley also includes an incline and cobbled streets.

Wheelchairs and mobility scooters are permitted but mobility scooters cannot be wider than 86cm.

Visitors with assistance dogs are welcome and water bowls can be provided. There’s also a dedicated toilet area for assistance dogs.

For visitors with a hearing impairment, induction loops can be provided. A portable iPad is also available (this must be booked in advance), which can provide a subtitled version of some of the films. It’s also possible to book a BSL tour in advance.

For more information on accessibility and any other needs you have, please visit the accessibility section of the official website.

How to Get to the Harry Potter Studio Tour

You have two major options for getting to the Harry Potter Studio Tour – you can take a tour which includes your transport, or you can make your own way there using either public transport or a car.

We’ll go through both of these options so you can make the right decision as to which is going to be best for you.

Certainly, the easiest option for getting to the Harry Potter Studios is to take a tour which includes your return transport.

These tours leave from various locations around London (and other parts of the UK), and included in the price of your tour will be pre-booked timed entry to the Studio Tour and return transport to and from a pick-up point.

Note that most tours do not include a guide inside the experience as it is largely self-guided. However, you can book a tour, such as this one , which does include a guide for the time inside the studio as well.

Some options include:

• This tour  which departs from the Victoria Coach Station in London
• Another tour with departure from Victoria Coach Station in London
• A slightly longer tour giving you 4 hours at the studio, with departure from Kings Cross Station, London
• This is a fully guided tour which includes return transport and a guide throughout the experience.
• This tour of the Harry Potter studios , which includes return transport from central London hotels
• If you want to do more on your day, this tour includes a tour of Oxford as well as the Studios , with departures from Great Portland Street, London
• This tour , with one of our favorite walking tour companies Take Walks includes a tour of Harry Potter filming locations in London , followed by round trip transport to the studio and entry to the Studio Tour

As you can see, there are lots of options! We’ve got more on all of these in the section below on how to buy your tickets for the Studio Tour.

By Public Transport

From central London, it’s fairly easy to get to the Harry Potter Studios by public transport. You will take the train from Euston Station to Watford Junction.

Then you need to take a dedicated shuttle bus operated by the Studio Tour that runs from just outside Watford Junction Station (it is well sign posted), that takes you directly to the studios.

For the train, you can either buy your tickets in advance here , or you can pay on the day using a contactless or Oyster card. This will require you to tap in and tap out using the yellow card readers. Note that Oyster cards and contactless cards do not work beyond Watford Junction, so don’t go any further than this.

See our  guide to buying and using the Oyster card in London , and our  guide to paying for public transport in London  for more information on using these forms of payment for travel in and around London.

For the shuttle bus, this is included in the price of your entry ticket. To board the bus you will need to have a valid pre-purchased ticket to the Harry Potter Studios, or proof of a ticket booking confirmation (printed or on your phone).

Getting to the Harry Potter Studios by car is relatively easy. Depending on the time of day, exact departure location and traffic, the drive from central London takes around an hour to ninety minutes.

From Oxford it’s around an hour, and it’s around two hours from Birmingham. Visitors with valid pre-purchased Studio tickets can take advantage of free parking on site. Note you cannot enter the parking area without a valid ticket or booking confirmation for that day.

Where to Buy Harry Potter Studio Tour Tickets

If you are making your own way to the Harry Potter studios, you have to buy your ticket in advance from the official website . You cannot turn up without a ticket, and tickets are not for sale on site.

Tickets go on sale well in advance, but despite the site having capacity for up to 6,000 people a day, they tend to sell out far in advance, so you will want to plan as far ahead as possible.

The summer months, weekends, and school holidays are the busiest days of the year for the Studio so we recommend that you book as far in advance as you can if you are visiting over those periods.

Weekdays often have better availability, so if you are flexible, look at different days of the week to maximise your chances of getting a ticket.

Tickets are for timed entry, which helps the studios manage visitor numbers throughout the day. Whilst there is no limit to how long you can stay after you enter, you do need to enter the attraction at the time you book. There is a little bit of flexibility in this, but it’s best not to show up hours later than your time to avoid disappointment.

The WB Studios Tour folks recommend you arrive at the site at least 20 minutes before your ticket time so you can go through the security checks.

If you can’t buy a ticket from the official site, don’t worry, you still have lots of options.

First, you can opt to take a tour with a tour company, as these have a different ticket allocation system. Whilst this will be slightly more expensive, at least you will still be able to go, and it will include transport as well. See here for some of the tour options available, and here for even more !

Another option is to book a Deluxe Tour, which includes a two-hour guided tour of the studios, a photo package, a hot meal, butterbeer, souvenir guidebook and special designated parking. Following the guided tour, you are free to explore yourself. As Deluxe Tours are more expensive, they tend to have better availability.

Deluxe Tours can be booked directly with the Studios, subject to availability, on the official site here .

How Long Does the Harry Potter Studio Tour take?

The regular tour itself is self-guided, other than an introduction at the beginning, so you can take as long as you like to wander the studios.

The average length of a visit is around three and a half hours, and that is what the studio estimates most people will take and forecast their capacity around.

This is also about the amount of time that most tour companies will give you, although some offer a bit more time on site, so if you think you will need more time, be sure to pick a tour company that offers more time.

Where to Stay Near the Harry Potter Studios

The majority of visitors to the Harry Potter Studios visit from London as a day trip, and choose a hotel in London. If you go down this route, you might want to consider a hotel that makes it easier to get to the studios, be that by public transport or on one of the tours.

We’ve suggested some options below, as well as some hotels near the Studios themselves if you want to be really close.

Note that hotels in London are relatively expensive, especially those located near major attractions, and rooms aren’t always huge. However, we’ve picked what we think are a good choice for you.

We also recommend reading our guide to where to stay in London for some suggested options across all budgets.

Hotels near London Victoria train station (where most bus tours depart)

• Comfort Inn Buckingham Palace Road – great value 3* property just 5 minutes walk from London Victoria train station
• The Resident Hotel – well reviewed 4* property, five minutes from London Victoria.
• Lime Tree Hotel – A well reviewed boutique hotel, around nine minutes walk from London Victoria
• Walrus Bar and Hostel – it’s not too close to London Victoria (15-20 minutes by public transport, or a 35 minute walk), but it’s very central and is a great budget option for London in general

Hotels near Euston train station (for the train)

• YHA London St. Pancras – a good value budget option a short walk from both Euston and Kings Cross stations. Offers both private and dormitory style rooms
• Comfort Inn and Suites King Cross – a great mid-range option, with all rooms coming with a kitchenette
• Point A Hotels – comfortable, cosy rooms, part of the well rated budget-friendly Point A hotel chain
• Radisson Blu Edwardian – luxury, boutique accommodation, a short walk from Euston station

Hotels near the Harry Potter Studios

• Mercure London – one of the closest hotels to the actual studios, this would be a good option if you are driving and want to be as close as possible
• Holiday Inn Express London – right next to Watford Junction, this mid-range and well reviewed property is convenient for both trains to London, and for the studio shuttle
• Jurys Inn London Watford – another great mid-range option, just a short walk from Watford Junction train station

Our Harry Potter Studio Tour Review and Experience

Now for the fun stuff! Although, if you want your visit to be a surprise, you might want to skip this section, as you now have everything you need to know in order to visit.

Still, if you want an idea of what to expect from your visit, read on, and we’ll share our own experiences of visiting the Harry Potter Studios!

We visited from London, taking the train to Watford Junction and the Shuttle Bus to the studio. When we visited there was a fee for the shuttle bus, but this is now included in the price of the ticket. The train was easy, and the shuttle bus departure point was well marked just outside the train station.

We pre-booked our tickets on the official website, so with our email booking confirmation we picked up our tickets from the kiosks. They have both staffed ticket windows and automatic kiosks – both work!

Once we had our ticket, which had our entry time on it, we went through security and joined the line for entry.

As entries for the Harry Potter Studio Tour are timed, you have to wait in line, as they let each group in all together. Still, waiting in line is made fun, as the line has the cupboard under the stairs set right next to it, meaning you can start getting exciting about your upcoming adventure straight away (and start taking pictures!).

At the time of our entry, we were all ushered into a large waiting room with a massive giant wooden door before us. Here, a guide ran us through what to expect from our day, and gave us an overview of the studio.

The Great Hall and Beyond

After our introduction, the massive wooden doors we were standing in front of opened, and the Great Hall was revealed. I have to say, this was pretty amazing, to be able to step into the world of Harry Potter. The Great Hall set was used as the Great Hall for six of the films, with many scenes shot here.

It certainly felt like the most complete of the sets we visited, as it was totally immersive and all around us, and was quite an experience.

From the Great Hall we were essentially allowed to continue on our own into the first half of the tour building. This had so much to see that I won’t go into it all here.

To give you an idea though, you can do everything from practice your wand waving through to seeing the Womping Willow in action through to visiting the potions laboratory, meeting Buckbeak, hanging out on Platform 9 3/4, and wandering around the Forbidden Forest!

Food and Butterbeer

Around half way through the tour, you come to the Backlot Cafe. This serves hot and cold food, as well as that famous drink – Butterbeer! This is a non-alcoholic beverage that tastes sort of like a mix of marshmallows and popcorn. It is definitely a must-try when visiting!

You don’t have to eat here, as there are other dining options on site, including the Studio Cafe. However, if you want to try Butterbeer, the Backlot Cafe is the place to do it.

Privet Drive and the Night Bus

Once you’ve finished your butterbeer experience, it’s time to head outside to Privet Drive! Here you can see the house where Harry grew up, as well as a number of other fairly large props and sets, including the Knight Bus and the bridge that led across the ravine outside Hogwarts.

This is the only outside part of the tour, and it isn’t a huge area, although if the weather isn’t great you might want a waterproof jacket to enjoy this part of the tour.

Diagon Alley and the Last of the Tour

After seeing the exterior part of the tour, you enter the final part of the tour. Don’t worry though, you’re only really half way though – there’s loads to see still! From here you’re going to see a lot of the props and costumes, as well as detailed information on how these were created, and the work that went into them.

You’re also going to have the opportunity to walk right down Diagon Alley, and see such locations as Ollivanders Wand Shop!

Finally, and perhaps most impressively, you come to the 1:24 scale model of Hogwarts itself. This is a massive construction that fills a whole room, and is truly spectacular. You can also watch videos to see how the model was used and digitally merged into the final films, which is very impressive.

Once you’re done with all the above, you pop out into the shop, where you can buy pretty much any Harry Potter merchandise you can imagine!

Tips for Visiting the Harry Potter Studio

Based on our experiences visiting the Harry Potter Studio in London, we’ve put together the following tips to help you plan your visit and maximise your time.

Decide how you want to visit

As described earlier in detail, you have a number of options for visiting the Harry Potter Studios, although depending on ticket availability, you might not always have every option. However, the main options are:

• Book a standard tour and plan your own transport, either by train/shuttle or car
• Book a deluxe tour and plan your own transport, either by train/shuttle or car
• Book a tour that includes transport and entry like this

Whichever you choose to go for, you will definitely have a great time!

Book your tickets in advance

We can’t emphasise this enough – tickets are not available on site – you have to book in advance . If you’re travelling independently, you can do that through the official site .

If tickets are not available through the official site for the time you want to visit, or you’d rather let someone else handle your transport, here is a good selection of tours to choose from , and here are some more options .

Plan your time

The average visit time is three and a half hours, so make sure you give yourself at least this much time on site. Don’t forget there’s food on-site as well as a massive gift shop, so you’ll want to factor time in for these activities too. Some fans can easily spend 4 or 5 hours here.

Whilst the majority of tours that include transport give you at least three hours on site, some allow for longer visits, so make sure to book the right tour for you. There is a lot to do and see on site, so more time can definitely be put to good use and you don’t want to feel rushed!

One of the best parts of visiting the Harry Potter Studios is just how interactive the experience can be. Whilst it’s certainly not a theme park, there’s a lot to do, from practicing your wand skills through to pushing your own trolley through the wall at platform 9 3/4 through to summoning your own broomstick!

Some of these experiences will have a short queue, but due to the timed system for entry, these will never be too long.

Many visitors also come in full Harry Potter outfits, so don’t be afraid to dress up and get into the swing of things. You won’t be alone, and it adds to the experience for many people!

Further Reading

And that’s it for our guide to the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London. We hope you found it useful – we certainly had a lot of fun taking the tour and putting this post together!

As well as this post, we’ve also got a lot more content that we think you’ll find useful, both Harry Potter related, and other content to help you plan your time in London and the UK.

• Whilst this is one of the best places for Harry Potter fans to visit in the UK, it’s by no means the only Harry Potter location or activity you can take part in. Check out our guides to finding Harry Potter in London, Harry Potter in Edinburgh and Harry Potter in Scotland for more inspiration.
• We also have a complete guide to Harry Potter filming locations in the UK
• A  Two Day London Itinerary  to help you see all the highlights of London. There’s also a  1 day version  if you’re short on time, and both a  3 day  and a  six day itinerary  if you’re here for longer
• Our detailed  packing list for London , to help you prepare for your trip
• Our  guide to buying and using the London Oyster Card , and our  guide to public transport in London  to help you get around without spending too much money
• My tips for finding the  best Photography Locations in London
• Our full  review of the London Pass  to help you decide if this attractions pass can save you money on your visit to London
• The best Things to Do in Kensington , London, in case you wanted to focus more on a specific region of the city
• A review of a  one day walking tour in London , should you want a guided tour of all of London’s highlights
• Our  detailed itinerary for  two weeks in the UK , should you want to have London as the start of a bigger adventure. We also have a  one week UK itinerary  for a slightly shorter visit.
• Thoughts on taking a  day trip from London, taking in Stonehenge, Bath and the Cotswolds , our  guide to visiting Oxford for a day, and our guide to things to do in Cambridge .
• The  Eyewitness Travel Guide to London , which has all sorts of information within, including more itineraries and ideas for your trip. We also recommend the  Rick Steve’s London 2019  guide, the #1 bestseller on Amazon for UK travel guides, and always an excellent source of relevant information

And that’s it! Are you a Harry Potter wanting to take the Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour? Have any questions about a visit? Let us know your thoughts or questions in the comments below!

Enjoyed this post? Why not share it!

There are 24 comments on this post

Please scroll to the end to leave a comment

15th August 2023 at 8:43 am

what an amazing detailed blog. really helped me understand and plan the trip. I am booked for 1st October 5:30 as didn’t get any other day or time slot on the website,, do you think I should look at going through a tour agent to get more time in the day time or evening is fine? hoping there will be no issues in taking public transport while coming back. we will be staying in Westminster.

Laurence Norah says

15th August 2023 at 9:08 am

Thanks very much! So I think you will be fine. On the 1st October it looks like the studio tour doesn’t close until 10pm, and I would say that 4.5 hours should be more than enough. The last bus to the station leaves at 10pm, so just be sure to be on that. In terms of trains, looking at the West Midlands train timetables, the last train on a Sunday back to central London is at quarter to 1 in the morning, so I think you will be fine.

Enjoy your visit!

George says

3rd May 2023 at 7:47 am

I just finished reading your post about taking a Harry Potter studio tour and I have to say it was incredibly informative and enjoyable to read! You provided a lot of helpful information for anyone planning on taking a tour, from practical tips on transportation and timing to advice on how to make the most out of the experience.

One of the things I really appreciated about your post was how you made it clear that the tour is not just for die-hard Harry Potter fans. Even for those who have only seen the movies, the tour can be a fascinating and immersive experience. I also liked how you emphasized the importance of taking your time and really exploring each exhibit and set, rather than rushing through them.

Your post was also full of helpful details, from what to expect on the tour to how to save money on tickets. I particularly appreciated your recommendation to book tickets in advance to avoid disappointment, as well as your advice to avoid peak times if possible.

Overall, I thought your post was a fantastic resource for anyone planning on taking a Harry Potter studio tour. You provided a wealth of information and tips that will undoubtedly make the experience more enjoyable for anyone who reads your post. Thanks for sharing your insights and expertise with us!

4th May 2023 at 5:30 pm

Thanks very much George, I appreciate your feedback!

3rd April 2023 at 10:58 am

Hi there! I just read your blog post about taking a Harry Potter Studio Tour and I have to say, it’s an incredibly informative and detailed guide. I’ve been to the Studio Tour myself and I can attest to the accuracy of your tips and advice.

I particularly appreciate the way you organized your post into different sections, making it easy for readers to find the information they need. Your advice about booking tickets in advance and arriving early is spot on – it’s definitely worth taking those extra steps to avoid long lines and ensure the best possible experience.

Your photos are also amazing and really bring the tour to life. It’s wonderful to see all the different sets and props up close and your photos do a great job of capturing the intricate details that went into creating them.

Overall, I think this post is a fantastic resource for anyone planning a visit to the Harry Potter Studio Tour. You’ve covered everything from transportation to food to the best photo opportunities, making it a comprehensive guide for anyone looking to make the most of their visit. Thanks for sharing your expertise with us!

Highly Recommended to all.

3rd April 2023 at 11:27 am

Thanks very much, I’m glad to hear you found the post useful and you enjoyed your Harry Potter Studio Tour 🙂

Jean searle says

25th October 2021 at 11:18 pm

My family live on the wirral it would take us about 3 1/ 2 hrs to get there with the price of fuel costly then the stay overnight in the hotel with bed and breakfast. Your outstanding entry price for an adult £48 Kids price extortionate my granddaughter is 8yrs old obsessed with Harry Potter reads the books loves the films she is desperate to come on the studio tour but can’t justify you outrageous prices. And then we have to pay for fuel to travel back. I am registered disabled but not in a wheelchair. My husband is my carer we are also pensioners do you honestly expect a disabled person to pay £48 to get in while OK my carer is free surely you should have compensation for the disabled person. As it stands we have to keep letting the 8yr old down as we can’t afford your prices. Then the added extras for the bus etc. I would ask you to see if you could establish a different rate for children under 10 and the disabled pensioner please as we would bring her but out of our pension we cannot afford your cost. Hope you take into account what I have said. Underprivileged children should be catered for I know.you have to make your money but at the cost of a child. Shame on you. My granddaughter may never get to see it now.xc

26th October 2021 at 10:13 am

Thanks for your message! So to be clear, this website is not associated with the Warner Bros Studio or Harry Potter tour. It’s just a guide to visiting. If you want to reach out to them directly, you’ll need to do so via their website. Their contact information can be found here: https://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/contact-us/

All the best,

Dave Gaudie says

23rd July 2021 at 6:54 pm

Can I take photos throughout the tour ?

23rd July 2021 at 7:02 pm

Yep photography is permitted pretty much everywhere in the Harry Potter studio tour. There are a few exceptions – you can’t do photography in the pre-show cinema, or in the green screen areas. You also can’t use a tripod.

Have a great visit, and let me know if you have any more questions!

13th October 2019 at 4:38 am

Hello! I am so excited to have found your blog. I plan to read the entire london portion. I booked tickets to the studio for 1/1. I thought it would be a fun way to start the new year. Now I am wondering if it will be a problem to get to the studio. TfL site states train will be running on a sunday schedule. How much extra travel time should we think about? Our tix are for 1230p. We are staying by the waterloo station. Thank you for your amazing insights!

13th October 2019 at 3:25 pm

Thanks very much, I’m sure you’ll have an amazing time.

For the trains, all you’d have to do is check the timetables for a Sunday and this should give you an idea of how much time you will need 🙂 You shouldn’t have to worry too much I don’t think, 1230 should give you plenty of time to get there! Have a wonderful time!

Nurika Abdullah says

27th September 2019 at 12:33 am

Hi thank you for this it is so useful especially for first timers like me. My concern is on the age, in the studios website it says below 16 must be accompanied by adults. I am thinking of sending my 15 and 13 yr old kids on their own. Would this be possible if I take a guided tour instead? Many thanks Nurika

27th September 2019 at 7:02 pm

Unfortunately the policy is that all children must be accompanied by an adult, even on the guided tours

26th September 2019 at 7:33 am

Thank you for you site and sharing some great information!! It is just awesome!!

Would you happen to know the difference between the Studio’s VIP tour and the Fully-Guided Making of Harry Potter Tour. Looks like the Fully-Guided might have a couple more stops?

26th September 2019 at 10:49 pm

So the VIP tour (I guess you mean the Deluxe tour?) includes a few extras like butterbeer, souvenir photo, meal and guidebook. So quite a few extras. The fully guided tour includes the tour, but I believe it’s the same actual tour as the Deluxe tour, just without the extras. Of course, it also include round trip transport from London as well.

So it’s more about if you want the extras or not, or if you prefer the transport.

Have an amazing time, whichever you go for!

Dr. Abraham K. George says

2nd May 2019 at 10:15 pm

Wow! What lovely immersive writing, and lots of fine fine details. A pleasure to read. I’m so glad I stumbled on to this blog. My search is over. Have bookmarked it. Going to follow it faithfully for our first-time holiday to London + Scotland this month. The fully guided tour seems to be the best of the lot as it probably gives you the maximum time possible to spend at the studio (I hope). By the way, tickets are sold out on the official site. Thank you so much, Abraham

3rd May 2019 at 4:39 pm

Hi Abraham – my pleasure, and I hope you have a wonderful tour. For sure, the tours are very popular so they sell out far in advance on the official website, but there are a number of other ways to get a trip, so I hope you are able to visit still 🙂

27th March 2019 at 7:48 pm

Hi can i ask the extra activities you mentioned are they free or do I need to account for extra spending money Regard emma

27th March 2019 at 7:59 pm

So the activities like the wand workshop, broomstick summoning and other interactive things like that are included. The only thing you would need money for is the giftshop, or if you want to eat or try butter beer. For the green screen broomstick flying experience, where you are filmed on a broomstick against a green screen, that is an extra price as you get the experience as photos or a DVD. There are also some other opportunities to buy photos through the tour, but these are of course optional 🙂

Have a wonderful time!

Robert says

13th March 2019 at 4:51 pm

Excellent information! I’ve been to the WB Harry Potter Studios twice (2015, 2017), and you really covered everything in accurate detail.

One tiny error though it probably won’t confuse anyone: You wrote “Then you need to take a dedicated shuttle bus operated by the Studio Tour that runs from just outside Euston Station (it is well sign posted), that takes you directly to the studios.” I believe you meant “Watford Junction Station” instead of “Euston Station” in that sentence.

Thanks for your terrific work on the entire site. A colleague of mine sent me a link to it knowing I have led student/parent groups to London. I’ve enjoyed digging into it!

13th March 2019 at 5:00 pm

Thanks so much for your comment! We loved visiting and writing this post was a real pleasure 🙂 Thanks also for spotting that error – I’ve fixed it now 🙂

Thanks again!

Roslia santamaria says

28th November 2018 at 7:02 am

Thank you so much..This is very useful!!

28th November 2018 at 11:21 am

My pleasure Roslia 🙂

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A Complete Harry Potter Studio Tour London Review (+8 Top Tips)

When you have a Harry Potter fan in your family, one of the best experiences you can give them is a Harry Potter Studio Tour.

Before booking our Harry Potter Studio Tour, we had so many questions.

We thought it would be helpful to write a Harry Potter Studio Tour review to help other families get the most out of their visit.

As well as giving all our top tips for a successful visit to the Harry Potter Studios, we’ve answered a few FAQs at the end.

If you want to know what to expect, when to go and how to get tickets if WB Studios have sold out on the date you want… read on…

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one and book or buy something, we may earn a small commission, but this is at no extra cost to you.

These are our top tips for making the most of your Warner Bros Studio Tour.

1. Do some research on the WB Studio Tour

This may sound like a strange tip. If you like Harry Potter, you’ll love the Warner Bros Studio Tour right?

Probably, yes. But maybe not.

It is a good idea to find out a little about the tour before you go. Thinking of the Harry Potter Studios as a museum is a good start.

Once you are in that mindset, your tour of the Harry Potter Studios will make more sense.

It is somewhere you can go to explore the magic of the Harry Potter films. You get to see real costumes, sets and props used in the movies and as the tour progresses, you get to see how the films were made.

The ‘tour’ is mostly self-guided, except for a little intro at the start.

We didn’t really have any idea what to expect. Our youngest (8) was expecting a theme park!

We obviously didn’t manage his expectations very well because he wasn’t really all that enthusiastic about it. But then, he wasn’t really a Harry Potter fan either.

Once you have decided that it is most definitely for you, snap up your tickets!

2. Buy your Harry Potter Studio Tour tickets in advance

If there’s only one thing we can tell you to make your trip to the WB Studios successful, it is to buy your tickets in advance.

The WB Studios Tour is hugely popular. People come from all over the world to visit and it is busy all year round.

It is absolutely essential that you buy your Harry Potter Studio Tour London tickets well in advance.

We booked our tickets 3 months in advance. It was a Monday during school term time in November and even then, there were barely any tickets left for the day we wanted.

Tickets are around £51 per person. You can buy them on the WB Studio website here . Children Under 4 are FREE and this is very telling. It is not really suitable for children under 4.

Top Tip : If you find that tickets are sold out on the day that you want, you can check a tour company as they should have more availability.

They are more expensive but may be your only option if you can’t be flexible on dates. GetYourGuide is a good place to look.

See here to book the best rated WB Studio tour (including transportation from London).

See here to book Harry Potter Studio Tour and a private transfer

See here for a family package tour from London (2 Adults & 2 Kids).

3. Do all the free things on the Harry Potter tour

You’ve spent a lot of money on your tickets so be sure to make the most of any freebies along the tour!

• Grab a free Activity Passport which includes a fun Golden Snitch hunt, puzzles and Harry Potter trivia. The passport also includes space for souvenir stamps that can be collected at key points throughout the tour such as Platform 9 ¾ and Gringotts Bank. You can collect the Passports from a staff member at any point during the Studio Tour.
• You don’t need to pay for an audio guide when you have staff members on hand to dish all the fascinating facts. They are hugely knowledgeable and love to talk about everything Harry Potter!
• The kids will be sure to love the free wand-duelling class next to the Forbidden Forest.
• Do the extra things like attempting to pick up the broomstick while muttering ‘Wingardium Leviosa’.

4. Grab your Harry Potter merchandise before your tour

If you want to keep the costs down during your visit to the Harry Potter Studios, you should consider buying any Harry Potter merch beforehand.

Items in the store at the studios are more expensive and if you’re visiting with kids, sometimes it can be hard to say no. Buying in advance gets around this issue.

Another thing to consider if you are going to by a gift is that buying it beforehand will mean that you will have it in your photos. You obviously can’t have your wand in your photos if you wait until the end of the tour to visit the store.

There is plenty of official merchandise on Amazon which you can browse here .

If you want other gift ideas for Harry Potter fans, take a look at this post on Harry Potter themed gifts for kids .

Having just said all this….just bear in mind that some of stuff in the shop is exclusive to the Harry Potter tour and you won’t be able to get it once you leave.

A final note on this, you can also visit the Harry Potter store at Platform 9 3/4 at London’s Kings Cross Station if you are staying in London. There you will find the trolley that passes through the wall and you can have your photo taken.

It is one of the best free things to do in London with kids (who are Harry Potter fans).

5. Buying professional photos at Harry Potter Studios

If you do want to buy the professional photos, wait until the end of the tour to do so.

You can collect the tickets as you go and then buy all together once you have seen them all. This will also save you time.

Just a word of warning here. The professional photos are very expensive (£14 for a photo).

You can sometimes take your own pictures but in some places (the train ride next to the Hogwarts Express) – it seemed to be strictly monitored.

In fact, I got told off for taking a photo before the experience had even started.

6. Take your time

You have to book a timeslot when you buy your Harry Potter tickets, but once you are in, you can take as long as you like.

Actually, once you are past The Great Hall, you can take as long as you like. Up until this point, you are on a guided tour and you need to stick with your group.

After this point, you are free to wander as you please.

Spend some time chatting to the staff. This guy in the photo below was great. He pretended to be a Goblin in Gringotts Bank and fooled a few people who were rushing by. They are so knowledgeable and interesting.

People tend to rush through to try to get ahead of the pack but if you hang back, you can often get better photos without loads of people in them.

Consider buying tickets towards the end of the day so that you are one of the last to leave.

You can, of course, be the first ones in but then there will be a steady stream of visitors all day. To be in with a chance of having the place almost to yourself, it is best to go later.

Last admission is 6.30pm and by about 8pm it starts to get quieter. The Studios close at 10pm.

7. The best bits of the tour at WB Studios

People ask what the best bits about the Harry Potter Studio tour were.

This is quite subjective because everyone’s opinions will differ. These are just our favourite bits of the Harry Potter Studios Tour:

• The dragon encounter in the vault under Gringotts Bank was pretty spectacular. We won’t spoil it but it is a little scary, especially for little ones.
• Pulling a potted Mandrake in Professor Sprout’s Greenhouse (in the outside area just after the Backlot Café).
• Wandering through the Forbidden Forest – watch out for those pesky spiders!
• Making Dobby dance.
• Taking a ride on the Hogwarts Express.

Tip for Diagon Alley at Harry Potter Studio Tour London

People come in waves so if this is your favourite part, hang around and see if you can get a photo without people in it.

This was the view just a few minutes later.

8. Consider taking food with you to save time

We would recommend taking your own food. Not only does it help keep costs down but it will also save time if you are in a rush. The queues can be quite long in the cafés and you won’t want to spend a long time waiting for food.

If you prefer to buy food at the Studios, here is some information on the restaurants at Harry Potter Studios.

There are a few places to eat at the Harry Potter Studios and they are reasonably priced. You can read more about the eateries here .

• Chocolate Frog Café  – in the main lobby serves a selection of hot and cold drinks and sweet treats.
• The Food Hall – in the main lobby serves a fairly comprehensive breakfast and lunch menu.
• The Backlot Café – at the half way point of the tour serves breakfast and lunch and, of course, Butterbeer.
• The Hub Café – in the main lobby serves hot and cold drinks and baked goods.

If you are having lunch there, the kids will love the Harry Potter bus shaped sandwich boxes.

If you want to try the Butterbeer, you probably only want to get one per family. You can ONLY buy the Butterbeer at the Backlot Café which is around the half way point (after seeing the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 3/4).

Note – Butterbeer does not taste good! Children will probably prefer the Butterbeer Ice Cream.

Here are some FAQs about visiting the Harry Potter Studio Tour London

We are often asked about our Harry Potter Studio Tour.

Understandably, when you’re spending a lot of money on something, you want to make sure it is worth it. And once you’ve made the decision to go, you want to make sure you get the most out of your visit.

Here are some of the questions we get asked about the Harry Potter Studio Tour.

Where are the Warner Bros Studios?

We thought we would start with this for anyone unaware that the Warner Bros Studios are actually NOT IN LONDON.

It is easy to get to the Harry Potter studios from London though.

Note that the Warner Bros Studio Tour is right next door to the Warner Bros Studios.

The address for WB Studios is :

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London Studio Tour Drive Leavesden WD25 7LR.

The easiest way to reach the WB Studios from London is by train.

The closest train station to Harry Potter Studios is Watford Junction . Trains depart from London Euston and take around 20 minutes.

You can get a WB Studios shuttle bus from Watford Junction. The journey is included in your ticket price.

You can also arrange guided tours from London if you don’t want to take the train. We recommend this one.

We live very close to the studios so we drove. There is an enormous car park and parking is free.

There are also hotels nearby if you prefer to stay in the area. Here is a list of hotels near the Warner Bros Studios for families .

See here for our recommendations for hotels in London for families .

If you are staying in London with kids, there are loads of fun Harry Potter experiences in London . We also have a whole section on the blog for visiting London with kids .

Do you need to be a Harry Potter fan to enjoy the Harry Potter studio tour?

One of the most frequently asked questions about the Harry Potter Studio tour is whether or not you need to like Harry Potter.

Based on our experience with one child who loves Harry Potter and the other who doesn’t, I would say it really does help to be a Harry Potter fan.

I love the Harry Potter films. Admittedly, I haven’t read the books and am told by my son that the books are better.

Either way, I would class myself as a Harry Potter fan (although not fanatical) and I enjoyed the tour.

It is an interesting experience and unless you actually dislike Harry Potter, I can’t think that you wouldn’t enjoy the tour.

How long does the Harry Potter tour take?

The Harry Potter tour lasts as long as you want it to really. You could be the first one in and the last one out.

There are parts that you cannot go back to and do again though (like the Hogwarts Dining Hall) so make sure you have completed each area fully before you move on.

Ideally you should allow at least 3 – 4 hours to do the Harry Potter Studio Tour.

Is Harry Potter Studio Tour all inside?

We thought that the tour was all inside but actually, around 10% of the WB Studio tour is outside.

This is something you need to consider if you are visiting in the winter or when it is raining.

When you arrive, you have the option of storing your coats in the cloakroom but you might not want to store your coats if you think you will get cold easily.

Having said that, you will only spend around 10-15 minutes outside so weigh up the need to carry your coat around the rest of the tour.

We kept our coats but they were just lightweight puffer jackets by Mountain Warehouse . They were easy to fold down into our Osprey day bag .

What age is best for the Harry Potter Studio tour?

There is no age restriction at the Harry Potter Studio tour.

We mentioned briefly above, however, that children under 4 are free because the tour isn’t really suited to young children.

Firstly, it is best if they have a slight concept at least of Harry Potter. Secondly, there is a lot of walking involved.

If you are thinking about taking kids on the WB Studio tour, we would recommend waiting until they have seen the films or read the books before taking them.

Having said that, children aged 6+ will get something out of the visit. But then you need to think whether it is worth paying that money for them to potentially not enjoy it.

When is the best time to visit Harry Potter World London?

If at all possible, go on a weekday during term time. Easier said than done when you have school aged kids. If you have an inset day, maybe consider using it to visit the Studios.

We visited on a Monday and booked one of the last tickets of the day.

Don’t be fooled when you arrive and there is no queue for the ‘Tour Entrance’.

From here, you pass through into a holding area and it will fill up. We got so excited when we saw there was no queue (photo below).

We also visited during Hogwarts in the Snow. It is one of the things we recommend for kids to do at Christmas in London . It was so pretty seeing the sets covered in snow. You even get to see how they make the snow at the end of the tour.

If you can, time your visit to coincide with one of the special events. The best are the Dark Arts which is a great Halloween event for kids . See other places to visit at Halloween in London with kids . Hogwarts in the Snow (around Christmas) is also great.

And finally – is the Harry Potter Studio Tour London worth it?

We thought we would leave this to the end so that you have enough information to make up your own mind.

For so  many, the London Harry Potter Studio Tour is one of the best Harry Potter experiences in the UK .

Personally, we have mixed opinions.

For Harry Potter fans, yes it is worth it. For younger children, no it probably isn’t.

It is a lot of money but you can spend an entire day there if you want which makes it seem more reasonable.

We hope you found our review of the Harry Potter Studio Tour helpful. If you have any questions that we haven’t covered, please drop us a line and we’d be happy to help.

If you’re thinking of visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort, don’t miss our recommendations for family-friendly hotels near Universal Orlando .

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Warner Bros Studio London Harry Potter™ Tour

From London: Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tickets

• Explore the wonders of Harry Potter™ at Warner Bros. Studio with round-trip transfers from London – a perfect day trip for Potterheads of all ages!
• Choose your pick-up point and spend a magical 4 hours exploring the behind-the-scenes secrets of the Harry Potter™ film series.
• While wandering Diagon Alley™, you'll spot famed shopfronts! Fancy a wand from Ollivanders or a peek into Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes?
• Step into Gringotts Bank, and keep a sharp eye out; goblins are known to be a tad protective of their treasures!
• All aboard the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 ¾™! Pose with the luggage trolley and relive that iconic moment, a scene shot at these studios.
• 4-hour tour of The Making of Harry Potter™ at Warner Bros. Studio
• Entry to The Making of Harry Potter™ at Warner Bros. Studio
• Round-trip transfers from Victoria, Baker’s Street, King’s Cross, or Russell Square
• Guided tour
• Tip: Don't pass up the Backlot Cafe without trying Butterbeer. For a twist, try the Butterbeer ice cream too!
• Guests under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by an adult.
• This experience is accessible for wheelchair users who can board the coach.
• The Kings Cross pick-up location may not be accessible for wheelchair users.
• The experience, including round-trip transfers from London, lasts approximately 7 hours. Inside the Studio, you will spend up to 4 hours.
• During booking, choose your preferred pick-up time from four locations in London. This will determine your departure time for the studio tour.
• These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

Warner Bros. Studio: Expert Guided Small Group Tour with Transfers

• You can cancel these tickets up to 48 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
• Explore the enchanting world of The Making of Harry Potter with a fully-guided tour. Discover film secrets with an expert!
• Enjoy round-trip transfers from Central London and explore the world of wizardry in an intimate group of 8 or fewer.
• Walk the storied cobblestones of Diagon Alley, step onto Platform 9¾, and brave the Forbidden Forest with its cinematic wonders.
• From the cozy Gryffindor common room to Dumbledore's office, here is your chance to explore it all with an expert English-speaking guide.
• Plan your trip for Halloween to delve deep into the Dark Arts, or bask in the Yule Ball's festive shimmer during Christmas.
• Guided tour of The Making of Harry Potter at Warner Bros. Studios
• Train transfers to/from the meeting point
• Expert English-speaking guide
• Small group of 8 people or fewer

Euston War Memorial outside of Euston Station

• Tip: Make sure to grab your free Activity Passport for a Golden Snitch hunt, puzzles, and trivia during your visit.
• Note: Expect 4 hours inside the Studio. Travel to/from London takes 1-1.5 hours one way. Plan roughly 7 hours for the entire tour experience.
• This experience is wheelchair accessible.

Harry Potter Studio Tour with London Film Locations Walking Tour

• You can cancel these tickets up to 72 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
• Step into Harry Potter's magic-filled universe with this day-long tour of filming spots and Warner Bros Studio.
• This experience is a mix of London's real-life filming locations and behind-the-scenes studio tour.
• Worry less, explore more with round-trip transfers to the studio aboard a luxury AC bus with an expert guide leading the way.
• Unveil movie secrets with access to real sets, costumes, and special effects, and a visit to the famed Platform 9¾.
• Walking tour of Harry Potter filming locations
• Round-trip transfers to Warner Bros Studio
• Entry to Warner Bros Studio
• Tip: Don't forget to try Butterbeer at the Warner Bros Studio, it's a must-have for any Harry Potter fan.
• Facilities: Pram/Stroller Accessibility.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Tickets

• Step into J.K. Rowling's magical world and witness Harry Potter's story continue on stage in 'Harry Potter and The Cursed Child'.
• Harry is all grown up and a Ministry of Magic employee, yet past and future collide as his son, Albus, faces legacy-laden struggles.
• Be a part of this immersive theatre experience at the historic Palace Theatre where top talent from Broadway and West End conjures a spellbinding performance.
• Muggles are welcome too! Even if you're not a Potterhead, the enchanting spectacle of this 9-time Olivier Award winner, hailed as a 'game-changer', will dazzle you.
• This is your chance to revisit Hogwarts in a way you never have before. The twists, turns, and magic are simply too irresistible to miss.

Entry to 2 part performance of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

• Tip: Wearing your house colors might not get you extra points, but it sure does add to the excitement. Don your Gryffindor red or Slytherin green and show some house pride!
• The play is recommended for individuals older than 10 years.
• A parent or legal guardian has to be present with any customers under the age of 15.
• Infants are not permitted in the auditorium.
• Tickets are non-refundable, exchanges can be requested up until 48 hours in advance of the production.

The Making of Harry Potter Tickets with Timed Entry & Escorted Train Transfers

• You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
• Unleash your inner wizard with this self-guided tour of Warner Bros. Studio – The Making of Harry Potter!
• With escorted round-trip train transfers from Central London, your journey will be as smooth as a dementor-free Hogwarts Express ride.
• Admire the leatherbound books and astrology charts at Dumbledore's office, and stroll down Diagon Alley, home to the beloved Ollivanders. Fancy a wand?
• Get a peek into the Gryffindor™ common room, and snap a photo at the magical Platform 9¾, where the Hogwarts Express awaits the next batch of wizards.
• Timed entry to Warner Bros Studios
• Round-trip train transfers from Central London
• Guide during transfers
• Guide in the studio
• Tip: Don’t miss spotting the Sorting Hat and the Sword of Gryffindor at Dumbledore's office!
• This experience is not suitable for wheelchair users.

Top things to do in London

Warner Bros Harry Potter™ Studio tours: Your Hogwarts letter has arrived!

"It's not Hogwarts if it doesn't move," said Fred Weasley. Well, prepare to be spellbound, because at the Harry Potter™ Studio tours, everything does! Explore iconic sets meticulously recreated from the films, including the amazing Great Hall, the cosy Gryffindor common room , and the bustling Diagon Alley . "Honestly, I think I could spend the rest of my life exploring Diagon Alley," remarked Miss Granger, and you might just agree!

As Dumbledore reminds us, "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live," so grab your wand, book your ticket, and "Accio, adventure!" Your Hogwarts awaits.

Things to know before booking your tickets to the Warner Bros Harry Potter Studio tour

• Book Early: Tickets for Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter sell fast, especially in peak season. Secure yours in advance online for cheaper rates and skip the box office queue.
• Special Effects : The tour employs haze and lighting effects, creating immersive features resembling clouds. If unsure or wish to avoid these areas, notify staff upon arrival.
• Guided Tours: The 3.5-hour Studio Tour can be overwhelming; opt for guided tours for a deeper Harry Potter film experience.
• Height Restrictions : Children under 10 require adult supervision, and some attractions have height restrictions.
• Accessibility: The tour is wheelchair accessible, with wheelchairs available for rent.
• Luggage Restrictions: Luggage and personal checks may be conducted for safety and tour preservation. Photography is strictly prohibited in this area.

Harry Potter™ Studio Tours map

Plan and navigate Warner Bros. Harry Potter™ Studio Tour London using this map.

Which Warner Bros Harry Potter™ tour is best for you?

Tour with transfers

Go for: If you are a Potterhead Duration: 6-7 hours Transfer available: Yes

• Witness the magic of filmmaking with this Harry Potter tour that includes transfers from London.
• Walk through iconic locations and get a chance to see actual props and costumes from all the Harry Potter films.
• Travel to central London on a Warner Bros. Studio Tour London branded bus with the opportunity to watch Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone during your journey.

Flexible Cancellation Policy : You can cancel these tickets up to 72 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Recommended tours

Warner Bros. Studio Harry Potter Tour with Transfers from London

The Making of Harry Potter Timed Entry Tickets with Escorted Train Transfers

Small Group Expert Guided Warner Bros. Studio Tour with Transfers

Walking tours

Go for: If you are short on time

Duration: 2-3 Hours

• There’s no better way to explore the wizarding world than by opting for a guided walking tour.
• Your Harry Potter Studio tour includes a visit to the costume, art, and prop departments, along with sets of all eight films , including the Great Hall, Diagon Alley, Platform 9 ¾™ , and Dumbledore’s Office among many others.
• Your professional tour guide will accompany you along the way, enlightening you with interesting trivia about the film-making process.

Flexible Cancellation Policy : You can cancel these tickets up to 48 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Recommended Tours:

Harry Potter Studios Tour with Walking Tour of London Film Locations

Behind the scenes at Warner Bros Harry Potter™ Studios in London

• Sets: Step INSIDE the movies! Walk the Great Hall, tiptoe into the forbidden forest, shop Diagon Alley – it's all REAL (well, almost)! Can you spot the hidden stair that leads to Dumbledore's office?
• Props : Hold the real deal! Grab Harry's wand, peek at the Marauder's Map, and even stir potions in Snape's classroom (minus the sass, hopefully). Every detail is insane, from wands to Hogwarts letters
• Costumes : Yule Ball, Quidditch, and Beauxtons are some of the many costumes you'll witness during your tour. Check out costumes for everyone– robes, Time-Turner dress, even Voldemort's creepy getup.
• Special Effects : See how spells were cast, Quidditch came alive, and dragons took flight. Green screens, animatronics, CGI – it's absolutely 'stupefying'! Wanna ride a broomstick or hop on the Hogwarts Express? You're in the right place!
• Creature Effects : Buckbeak the hippogriff, the giant Basilisk, even our beloved Dobby – they're all there! Discover how they were brought to life with puppets and prosthetics.
• Art Department : See sketches, storyboards, and set designs that brought the Wizarding World to life. See how imagination transformed into the iconic sets you know and love.

Explore Warner Bros Harry Potter™ Studios in London

King's Cross Station

• Although it's not a fully recreated version of London's King's Cross Station, the set captures the essence of the magical gateway with a hidden entrance through a brick wall, a luggage trolley disappearing, and the Hogwarts Express steam engine waiting to whisk you away.

The Great Hall

• The Great Hall at Hogwarts is a pivotal location for Harry and friends; their first sorting ceremonies, the Yule Ball, essential conversations over meals, O.W.L examinations and of course, the battle of Hogwarts took place here.
• Walk the same steps as your favorite witches and wizards and soak in the fine details of the location design and props in the Great Hall.

The Forbidden Forest

• The Harry Potter Studios have created a remarkable version of the Forbidden Forest; walk around and examine the imposing trees that have been designed to represent an eerie atmosphere.
• Meet Buckbeak and Aragog, and take photographs with a life-size Hagrid costume who would be waiting to welcome you in.

Diagon Alley™

• Dotted with shops selling books, potions ingredients, robes and of course wands, it’s a one-stop location for all essentials a witch or wizard needs.
• The Diagon Alley set was redone to shoot scenes at Hogsmeade Village for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban film.   

Platform 9 ¾

• For filming, most scenes were shot at King’s Cross Station in London, while remaining parts were recreated at the Harry Potter Studios to shoot the famous scene between Harry and Dumbledore at the end of The Deathly Hallows Part II.
• You would get to see the actual Hogwarts Express and picture gliding dementors, or Trevor the Frog hopping about.

Warner Bros Harry Potter Studios experiences

On a Harry Potter Studios tour, visitors can further indulge in the wizarding world by engaging in specifically curated seasonal experiences.

Hogwarts Express

Warner Bros. Studios launched a 20,000 sq. ft. addition in March 2015, which included a replica of Platform 9¾ and the original Hogwarts Express steam engine. You may hop onboard the train carriage and pose with a baggage trolley as it vanishes through the station wall in the new, permanent exhibit, which shows how some of the movie' most famous moments were made.

Stroll through the wizarding street of the movies- Diagon Alley to admire the beautiful shops and the carefully crafted props on their windows. Step inside the iconic shops that played a key role in the series like the Ollivanders wand shop, Quality Quidditch Supplies, Madame Malkin’s shop, and more.

Magcial Mischief

At Magical Mischief, get to know how they filmed some of the famous mischievous moments shown in the movie. Find out about the camera trickery behind the disappearing scene with the invisibility cloak, and much more.

Ongoing . Dates : 20TH JANUARY – 16TH APRIL 2024

Harry Potter Studio Tour London's Dark Arts feature is the perfect way to get into the Halloween spirit. As they lower the lights and prepare the stage for Hallowe'en, you'll be whisked away to the haunted replicas of the famous settings from the Harry Potter films, a darker Platform 9 ¾, and a spookier Diagon Alley and Great Hall.

Follow the Dark Mark trail and try your wand combat moves as you engage in duels against Death Eaters.

Dates : 13TH SEPTEMBER – 10TH NOVEMBER 2024

Hogwarts in the Snow

The Studio Tour hosts Hogwarts in the Snow, a spectacular event where the famous Harry Potter sets are adorned with a layer of cinematic snow for the holiday season. It's sure to be a "Harry Christmas" experience for everybody.

Conclude your year with Yule Ball for Hogwarts in the Snow and enjoy the moment as you live the iconic Yule Ball scene.

Note: This attraction takes place during the holiday season only.

Dates: 16TH NOVEMBER – 19TH JANUARY 2025

Plan your visit to the Warner Bros Harry Potter™ Studio

Timings: 8:30 AM to 10 PM (Till September) 9:30 AM to 8 PM (October onwards) Harry Potter™ studio tour durations: Typically, a Warner Bros Harry Potter Studio Tour takes about 3-7 hours Best time to visit: Owing to its popularity, a Harry Potter Studios tour is always bustling with fans. However, since their intake capacity is limited, you would be able to comfortably explore. Comparatively lesser crowds can be found outside of the summer season (June to September). A highly recommended experience is visiting during Christmas, owing to the magical decoration and atmosphere.

Address: Harry Potter Studios , Studio Tour Dr, Leavesden, Watford WD25 7LR, UK Find on Map

• Shuttle Bus : Eco-friendly ride included in entry ticket, departing Watford Junction every 30 mins from 9:20 am. Convenient 15-min journey.
• Airport Access: Short distances from major London airports: 17 mi from Luton, 23 mi from Heathrow, 47 mi from Stansted, and 58 mi from Gatwick. Smooth road and rail connections ensure convenience.
• Train Travel: Watford Junction, just 20 mins from London Euston, is the closest station. Other non-direct services from Euston available, Oyster cards accepted.

• Cloakroom: Safely store your belongings for free in the cloakroom, including coats, bags, and suitcases. Please leave buggies and prams if possible, and note that items are left at your own risk.
• Cash Machine: Need cash? The lobby features a free-to-use cash point for your convenience.
• Toilets: Find well-equipped toilet facilities in the lobby, including baby changing stations. Accessible toilets with space for disabled individuals and up to two carers are also available.
• Parent and Baby Room: A private space next to the Backlot Café provides parents with a comfortable area to feed, equipped with a nursing chair and changing tables. Hot water is available in the Backlot Café for bottle heating.

• There is one entrance to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter. All visitors must arrive at their designated time slot and enter through the main entrance.
• The entrance is located at Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden, Watford, WD25 8LS, United Kingdom.
• Once you have arrived at the entrance, you will need to check in and have your tickets scanned. You will then be directed to the cloakroom, where you can leave your bags and coats.
• After you have left your bags, you will be able to enter the studio tour.
• Please note that e-scooters are not permitted on the shuttle bus or on-site at the Studio Tour.

• The Great Hall is the busiest area of the studio tour: If you want to avoid the crowds, try to visit the Great Hall later in the day.
• Try the Butterbeer: No trip to the studios is complete without trying the Butterbeer! You can get it hot, cold, or frozen, and there are even non-alcoholic versions available.
• Dress up: It's not mandatory, but many people enjoy dressing up in their Hogwarts robes or other Harry Potter-themed attire. It's a fun way to get into the spirit of things!
• There is a gift shop at the end of the studio tour:  Be sure to save some time to browse the gift shop and purchase any souvenirs you want.

Budget: The Kings Lodge Hotel , Travelodge Watford Central , Southern Cross

Mid-range: Holiday Inn Express Hemel Hempstead, an IHG Hotel , Premier Inn Watford North hotel , Village Hotel Watford

Luxury: Hunton Park , Hilton London Watford , Leonardo Hotel London Watford - Formerly Jurys Inn

• Whippendell Woods: Immerse yourself in nature with a visit to Whippendell Woods, located near the studios. This serene woodland offers picturesque walking trails, providing a peaceful retreat from the bustle of city life.
• Cassiobury Park: Just a short drive away, Cassiobury Park is a vast public park with beautiful green spaces, a canal, and woodland areas. Ideal for a leisurely stroll, picnics, or even a boat ride along the Grand Union Canal.
• Watford Museum: Delve into local history at Watford Museum, situated close to the studios. The museum showcases the town's cultural heritage through engaging exhibits, artefacts, and interactive displays.

• The Chocolate Frog Café :  This café is based on the iconic magical sweets in the shape of frogs. It offers a selection of sweets and treats, including specialty hot chocolate, ice cream, and a variety of pastries.
• The Hub Café :  This café is located under the Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon at the Studio Tour Hub. It serves hot and cold Starbucks drinks, sandwiches to go, and bakery items all day long.
• The Food Hall:  This restaurant is located in the Studio Tour Hub and serves breakfasts, hot and cold dishes, sandwiches, and a selection of drinks, including a bakery.
• The Backlot Café:  This café is located in the middle of the Studio Tour and offers hot meals, sandwiches, and snacks. It also has indoor and outdoor seating so you can enjoy your food while taking in the views of the popular exterior sets and props, such as the Knight Bus, Privet Drive, and Hogwarts Bridge.

Beyond Warner Bros Harry Potter™ Studio Tours

Imagine soaring 443 feet above the River Thames in a giant Ferris wheel pod, the wind whipping through your hair as you take in 360-degree views of London. That's the magic of the London Eye! From Buckingham Palace to Big Ben, the city sprawls out beneath you like a miniature kingdom, waiting to be explored.

Step back in time to a world of kings, queens, and executions at the Tower of London. This historic fortress whispers tales of intrigue and imprisonment, from the Crown Jewels sparkling in the dim light to the chilling stories of Anne Boleyn's ghost. Be sure to peek into the Bloody Tower and explore the armory, where suits of shining armor might just make you feel like a knight on a quest.

Ever dreamed of rubbing shoulders with royalty (or maybe your favorite pop star)? Well, at Madame Tussauds, you can! Get up close and personal with incredibly lifelike wax figures of everyone from the Queen herself to Hollywood A-listers and sporting legends. Strike a pose with Beyoncé, have tea with Kate Middleton, or even face your fears with life-size dinosaurs.

Frequently asked questions about Warner Bros Harry Potter London Studio tours

Guests can visit sets created for all eight Harry Potter films, including, but not limited to the Great Hall, the Forbidden Forest, Diagon Alley, and Platform 9 ¾ among others.

Not all Harry Potter Studio tours include a guided tour. You would have to purchase tickets that specifically include guided tours.

Most Harry Potter Studio tours include return transfers. Ensure that you check before purchasing your tickets. 

No. Owing to the limited number of visitors at the studio at any given time, pre-booking your tickets is mandatory.

Located about an hour’s drive from the London city center, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour offers several bus tours operating that offer hourly return transfers from central London and Birmingham directly to the studio tour.

A Harry Potter Studio tour books several months in advance so to maximize your chances of getting tickets, we recommend going on a weekday for better availability of slots.

From Diagon Alley to Platform 9 ¾, The Great Hall and the Forbidden Forest, the Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio is brimming with exciting experiences and attractions. Here are all the attractions on the tour.

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• Contacts UK 020-7713-1311 US 1-800-815-4003

The journey from Victoria Coach Station to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter takes between 1 - 1½ hours, depending on traffic. Inside the Studio Tour we spend up to 4 hours, followed by a return journey to London of approx 1 - 1½ hours. Therefore we advise passengers to factor in about 7 hours for the whole experience. Itinerary including finishing point is subject to change.

Although Warner Bros. Studio Tour London is wheelchair accessible, the transport coach to get there is not, therefore we can only accommodate wheelchair users who are able to board and alight the coach on foot and who have a folding wheelchair.

TRIP ITINERARY

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter provides an amazing opportunity to explore the magic of the Harry Potter™ films – the most successful film series of all time. Enjoy previously unheard anecdotes from the expert guides before taking a unique walking tour that takes you behind-the-scenes and showcases a huge array of beautiful sets, costumes and props. It also reveals some closely guarded secrets, including facts about the special effects and animatronics that made these films so hugely popular all over the world.

Here are just some of the things you can expect to see and do:

• Step inside and discover the great hall. Listen to previously unheard anecdotes
• Explore Professor Dumbledore’s™ office and discover never-before-seen treasures.
• Step onto the famous cobbles of Diagon Alley™, featuring the shop fronts of Ollivanders wand shop, Flourish and Blotts, the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, Gringotts Wizarding Bank and Eeylops Owl Emporium
• Head to Platform 9 ¾™ and ride the Hogwarts Express™
• Step into Gringotts Bank™
• See iconic props from the films, including Harry’s Nimbus 2000 and Hagrid’s™ motorcycle.
• Rediscover other memorable sets from the film series, including the Gryffindor™ common room, the boys’ dormitory, Hagrid’s™ hut, Potion’s classroom and Professor Umbridge’s office at the Ministry of Magic

MAGICAL MISCHIEF: 20th January – 16th April 2024

Magical Mischief returns to the Studio Tour for the third year to celebrate the filmmaking trickery needed to pull off the magical pranks and wizarding mishaps seen on-screen in the Harry Potter film series.

Visits will begin in the Great Hall where fans will walk into the iconic set dressed for the O.W.L examinations under the watchful eye of Professor Umbridge, complete with the swinging pendulum and exam desks, a fan favourite scene from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Discover how filmmakers created pandemonium when the Weasley twins disrupted the quiet exams. Both Fred and George will be suspended from the ceiling with bags filled with their latest product, Weasleys’ Wildfire Whiz-bangs - ready to fill the Great Hall with a burst of colour. More of their products will be on display outside their shop Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes on Diagon Alley.

Inclusions:

• Entrance to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
• Return transportation on a luxury air-conditioned coach
• Services of a professional representative at the Studios

Exclusions:

• Food and beverages

Please note:

• You will be given approximately 4 hours for the visit inside the Studio Tour.
• Tour includes return transportation, guaranteed entry to the Studio Tour and the services of a professional guide.
• 40 GBP applies for children aged 3 to 4 for transportation only as they require a seat on the vehicle
• Infants 2 years and under are free of charge however still require a ticket so we do need to be notified
• No refund is given once booking is confirmed.
• Youth and Child must be accompanied by at least one Adult.

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VIP Deluxe Tour of Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio London

Join our Harry Potter deluxe tour of the Warner Bros Studio London and learn about The Making of Harry Potter. Our VIP tour package includes private transfer from your Central London hotel in a premium vehicle. Upon arrival avoid the crowds with priority access and be greeted by intereactor staff. Enjoy an exclusive talk about how the Harry Potter books became movies before stepping into The Great Hall. Enjoy a glass of champagne or soft drink on this semi private visit in The Great Hall with a maximum of 50 people.  From here follow the studio tour at your leisure with a self-guided visit passing some of the most iconic sets.

Our Harry Potter deluxe tour of Warner Bros Studio is available every Friday. Given this limited availability, it’s recommended to book in advance since tickets are likely to sell out.

• Our VIP deluxe tour experience begins with pickup from your London hotel. Travel in a luxury vehicle to Warner Bros Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter
• On arrival be greeted by interactor staff who will escort you to receive your deluxe tour tickets
• Get the full VIP treatment! Wait for this magical Harry Potter experience to begin
• Enjoy a talk about the how the Harry Potter books were transformed into movies
• Step into The Great Hall for an exclusive visit.  This includes a glass of champagne or a soft drink as you enjoy extra time in The Great Hall
• Enjoy an executive visit with a maximum of 50 guests
• Start your self-guided tour revealing behind-the-scenes secrets of the making of Harry Potter as you explore all areas of the Warner Bros Studio. This includes The Forbidden Forest, Dumbledore’s office and Platform 9¾. You’ll even get to hop onboard the original Hogwarts Express!
• Continue with a walk inside Gringotts Wizarding Bank and a stroll down Diagon Alley. Take time to admire the extraordinary scale model of Hogwarts Castle
• At the end of your deluxe Studio Tour, we will drive you back to your London hotel.

What’s Included?

The Great Hall

• Traval in a private executive vehicle with pickup and dropoff at your Central London hotel
• On arrival you will be greeted by an interactor staff member
• Avoid the crowds with priority entrance
• Enjoy a talk about how the Harry Potter books were turned into films
• Step into The Great Hall and enjoy a glass of champagne or a soft drink
• Enjoy semi-private time in The Great Hall with a maximum of just 50 guests
• From The Great Hall continue with a self-guided visit
• 5.00pm: Depart from your hotel in Central London
• 6.50pm: Arrive at the Studio tour
• 10.15pm: Depart from the Studio tour
• 11.00pm: Arrive back in Central London, with drop-off at your Central London hotel

MORE INFORMATION:

• All timings are approximate and are based on traffic conditions which can vary
• After booking you will be contacted by one of our staff to confirm the exact departure time from your Central London hotel
• If your hotel or airbnb is not located in Central London please contact us with the full hotel or aribnb address to find out if we can pick-up from this location
• On selected dates the tour will operate earlier starting at 3.15pm from your hotel and arriving back at your hotel at approximately 9.00pm

terms and conditions

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I review the ‘VIP’ Harry Potter tour in the UK – it’s crowd-free and comes with free champagne

• Hope Brotherton , Travel Reporter
• Published : 15:33, 8 Apr 2024
• Updated : 19:53, 8 Apr 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

EVER since the Warner Bros. Studio Tour opened in 2012, fans of the boy wizard have been flocking from all over the world to see the sets and the props.

The tour's popularity is both a blessing and a curse - with lengthy queues and large crowds becoming part of the experience.

However, one new tour offers to give Harry Potter fans the time and the space to freely explore the attraction.

Earlier this year, tour operator International Friends launched their Semi-private evening experience at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter .

The tours operate every Friday evening, with guests arriving at the attraction at 6.15pm.

Tour groups are capped to a maximum of 50 people, giving guests the space to explore the Leavesden studio without the crowds.

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While guests are provided with a private coach transfer from London , I drove to the tour simply because it was easier for me - and my parking was hassle-free to organise with International Friends too.

Once I'd met up with my group, just outside the towering chess pieces, we moved into the entrance where we were greeted by a member of Warner Bros staff.

As the last tour group to enter into the attraction, we avoided all of the queues, which can keep visitors awaiting for at least 30 minutes at peak times.

Our small group was then given a private welcome talk before we were led into the Great Hall .

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Inside the Great Hall, I was given a glass of champagne (non-alcoholic options were also available) and made to feel like a VIP.

As I moved through the room, which was far less crowded than my previous visits, I was easily able to take photos next to some of my favourite sets from the film series.

After enjoying an extended amount of time in the Great Hall, we went on to explore other parts of the behind-the-scenes experience, including the Gryffindor Common Room , Snape's Potions Classroom, Dumbledore's Office and many, many, more.

My niece and I had plenty of time - and more importantly space - to look at the sets and take photos alongside our favourite ones.

There were no lengthy queues for the green screens either, so my niece and I were able to live out our dreams of riding a quidditch broom - all without spending too much time waiting around.

As our visit coincided with the Magical Mischief event , we were even able to make Howlers (the terrifying letters with enchanted messages) too.

From posing for snaps next to the Hogwarts Express to creating a souvenir video battling a dementor on one of the train's carriages, our three-hour visit moved seamlessly thanks to the lack of crowds.

At points, we practically had the space to ourselves.

Even our pitstop for Butterbeer, the syrupy butterscotch juice, topped with liquid marshmallow, was devoid of all crowds.

I would say we caught up with other visitors, who weren't part of the semi-private tour, as we posed for photos on Hagrid's flying motorcycle.

That being said, this was the only time we queued to take photos, so it wasn't a frustrating wait in the slightest.

Because the Warner Bros. Studio tour closes at 10pm, you'll start to hear announcements that the attraction will be closing from around 9pm.

Make sure you leave enough time to get through the entirety of the tour, without having to rush, and leave plenty of cash for souvenirs in the gift shop.

If you're travelling with young children, encourage them to save up their pocket money - as they'll definitely want to buy a sweet treat from Honeydukes.

Semi-private evening experience tickets cost £199 for a full-paying adult and £195 for a child aged between 5 to 15, with infants going free.

Tickets include entry into the tour, return coach transfers to London and a glass of champagne in the Great Hall.

While tickets don't come cheap, it's a magical experience for Harry Potter fans who want a crowd-free time at the ever-popular tour.

Tickets can be booked on the International Friends website, here .

Other visitors on the semi-private tour have also praised their experience.

In an online review , one person wrote: "I can’t recommend this semi-private tour enough. As we came in after the last daytime tour, we practically had the place to ourselves."

Another added: "The semi-private tour of the Harry Potter studios was a fantastic experience.

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Three other harry potter attractions to visit in the uk.

Harry Potter fans are spoilt for choice in the UK, with plenty of different attractions to visit across the UK.

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was filmed at Freshwater West Beach in Pembrokeshire in Wales. While the film sets were dismantled years ago, Dobby's Grave can be found on a sand dune on the beach.
• Both Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets were Alnwick Castle . Set in Northumberland, entry tickets cost £20.50.
• Glenfinnan Viaduct is well-known for being part of the journey on the Hogwarts Express. While the magical train ride has been indefinitely paused over safety concerns, fans can still visit the famous viaduct.

"With a much smaller group size than normal, we could explore the sets, props, and costumes at our own pace without feeling rushed or crowded."

Meanwhile, here are the top 10 Harry Potter filming locations you can visit in the UK.

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I review the ‘VIP’ Harry Potter tour in the UK – it’s crowd-free and comes with free champagne

• Hope Brotherton , Travel Reporter
• Published : 10:33 ET, Apr 8 2024
• Updated : 14:54 ET, Apr 8 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

EVER since the Warner Bros. Studio Tour opened in 2012, fans of the boy wizard have been flocking from all over the world to see the sets and the props.

The tour's popularity is both a blessing and a curse - with lengthy queues and large crowds becoming part of the experience.

However, one new tour offers to give Harry Potter fans the time and the space to freely explore the attraction.

Earlier this year, tour operator International Friends launched their Semi-private evening experience at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter .

The tours operate every Friday evening, with guests arriving at the attraction at 6.15pm.

Tour groups are capped to a maximum of 50 people, giving guests the space to explore the Leavesden studio without the crowds.

While guests are provided with a private coach transfer from London , I drove to the tour simply because it was easier for me - and my parking was hassle-free to organise with International Friends too.

Once I'd met up with my group, just outside the towering chess pieces, we moved into the entrance where we were greeted by a member of Warner Bros staff.

As the last tour group to enter into the attraction, we avoided all of the queues, which can keep visitors awaiting for at least 30 minutes at peak times.

Our small group was then given a private welcome talk before we were led into the Great Hall.

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Inside the Great Hall, I was given a glass of champagne (non-alcoholic options were also available) and made to feel like a VIP.

As I moved through the room, which was far less crowded than my previous visits, I was easily able to take photos next to some of my favourite sets from the film series.

After enjoying an extended amount of time in the Great Hall, we went on to explore other parts of the behind-the-scenes experience, including the Gryffindor Common Room , Snape's Potions Classroom, Dumbledore's Office and many, many, more.

My niece and I had plenty of time - and more importantly space - to look at the sets and take photos alongside our favourite ones.

There were no lengthy queues for the green screens either, so my niece and I were able to live out our dreams of riding a quidditch broom - all without spending too much time waiting around.

As our visit coincided with the Magical Mischief event , we were even able to make Howlers (the terrifying letters with enchanted messages) too.

From posing for snaps next to the Hogwarts Express to creating a souvenir video battling a dementor on one of the train's carriages, our three-hour visit moved seamlessly thanks to the lack of crowds.

At points, we practically had the space to ourselves.

Even our pitstop for Butterbeer, the syrupy butterscotch juice, topped with liquid marshmallow, was devoid of all crowds.

I would say we caught up with other visitors, who weren't part of the semi-private tour, as we posed for photos on Hagrid's flying motorcycle.

That being said, this was the only time we queued to take photos, so it wasn't a frustrating wait in the slightest.

Because the Warner Bros. Studio tour closes at 10pm, you'll start to hear announcements that the attraction will be closing from around 9pm.

Make sure you leave enough time to get through the entirety of the tour, without having to rush, and leave plenty of cash for souvenirs in the gift shop.

If you're travelling with young children, encourage them to save up their pocket money - as they'll definitely want to buy a sweet treat from Honeydukes.

Semi-private evening experience tickets cost £199 for a full-paying adult and £195 for a child aged between 5 to 15, with infants going free.

Tickets include entry into the tour, return coach transfers to London and a glass of champagne in the Great Hall.

While tickets don't come cheap, it's a magical experience for Harry Potter fans who want a crowd-free time at the ever-popular tour.

Tickets can be booked on the International Friends website, here .

Other visitors on the semi-private tour have also praised their experience.

In an online review , one person wrote: "I can’t recommend this semi-private tour enough. As we came in after the last daytime tour, we practically had the place to ourselves."

Another added: "The semi-private tour of the Harry Potter studios was a fantastic experience.

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Three other harry potter attractions to visit in the uk.

Harry Potter fans are spoilt for choice in the UK, with plenty of different attractions to visit across the UK.

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was filmed at Freshwater West Beach in Pembrokeshire in Wales. While the film sets were dismantled years ago, Dobby's Grave can be found on a sand dune on the beach.
• Both Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets were Alnwick Castle . Set in Northumberland, entry tickets cost £20.50.
• Glenfinnan Viaduct is well-known for being part of the journey on the Hogwarts Express. While the magical train ride has been indefinitely paused over safety concerns, fans can still visit the famous viaduct.

"With a much smaller group size than normal, we could explore the sets, props, and costumes at our own pace without feeling rushed or crowded."

Meanwhile, here are the top 10 Harry Potter filming locations you can visit in the UK.

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