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Harry Potter Studios, London: Full Review Of The Warner Bros Studio Tour

  • Post date January 12, 2020
  • Post categories In Cultural Travel , Destinations , England , Europe , London

Harry Potter Studio Tour London

The Harry Potter Studio Tour takes you behind the scenes to see the real film sets, original costumes, Platform 9 ¾, Hogwarts Castle and so much more. And it’s not just for Harry Potter fans.

When I booked my last trip to London , my sister suggested she’d join me and we’d go to the Harry Potter Studios together, to do a tour of the sets where the Harry Potter movies were made.

Having visited the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in LA, which was a brilliant experience, I got curious and Googled it.

I found that The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: The Making Of Harry Potter (that’s the full name of it…) had some really amazing reviews online and it looked like a truly exciting day trip from London.

But it wasn’t until we got inside the studios that I could fully appreciate what an impressive, immersive, spectacular and fun experience it was!

The whole experience is designed so beautifully and with so much attention to detail that it really left us stunned.

Hogwarts Castle model at the Harry Potter Studio London

Visiting the Harry Potter Studios takes a good few hours and it does take a bit of planning in advance.

In this post, I’ve gathered all the tips and advice that will help you plan your visit efficiently and added some extra tips that will help you make the most of it.

By the way, the Warner Brothers Studio Tour isn’t only for avid fans of the J.K. Rowling books or of the Harry Potter movies. Even if you only watched some of the movies or read some of the books, you will definitely have a great time at the studios.

How to get tickets to the harry potter studio

Tickets to harry potter studio may sell out for your dates, because it is such a popular attraction, so you have to buy your tickets online in advance as soon as you can.

here are your harry potter studio ticket options:

Your main options are: Just the entry ticket; ticket + transport; or ticket + transport + a guided tour.

1.  Book a ticket that includes transport to and from the studios: I think this is the most practical option, as you won’t have to plan the journey by yourself (it’s outside of London). This option doesn’t include a live guide, but you can buy an audio guide when you get to the studios.

2.  Book a fully guided tour : This option includes transport, entry tickets and a dedicated guide who will take you around the studios.

3. Get tickets for the studios without transport. You can get them from the studio tour website and I suggest you also check for current discount codes on Klook .

Tips on booking tickets to the harry potter studio

If you don’t take a guided tour, I recommend adding the audio-visual guide to your order.

Tickets to the Warner Brothers Studios are for specific time slots. That means you have to pick your time of entry when you book the ticket.

However, you can stay in the Harry Potter Studios as long as you like (that would be several hours, normally).

Demand is high in summer and during weekends. If you visit in the summer months, try to book for a weekday rather than Saturday or Sunday.

That way, you’ll stand a better chance of finding tickets at the time slots that are convenient for you.

You want to arrive about 20 minutes before your time of entry, as there might be a line and there are some security checks.

There are several other ticket packages available, I’ll give you more details about them later in this post.

Where is the harry potter studio tour?

Though the official name of the tour is The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, it is actually not in London itself, but very close to it in Leavesden (Hertfordshire, England).

It doesn’t take very long to get there from central London, and can easily make for a nice day trip from London.

How to get to the warner bros harry potter studios

The easy way to get to the Warner Brothers Studios is by joining a tour that includes transport to the studios from London and back.

The other option is to plan how to get there yourself using public transport (a train and then a shuttle bus) or by car.

If you don’t want to worry about transport, there are different options to choose from.

Tours including transport & tickets from london

Tours from London leave from central locations in the city that are easy to get to: Victoria Station or Baker Street.

Check availability here or use the calendar below.

WB studio guided tours, transport included

  • Book a fully guided tour : This tour includes transport from London and back, an entry ticket and a dedicated guide who’ll take you through the studios.
  • A guided tour combining film locations and the WB Studios : This guided tour takes you on a walking tour around Harry Potter film locations in London and then continues with a tour of the Warner Bros. Studios.

Tours to the harry potter studio combining other uk destinations

  • With a tour in Oxford : This full-day trip includes a visit to the studios followed by a guided tour in Oxford. The Great Hall at Christ Church College in Oxford was the inspiration for the Hogwarts Great Hall.
  • Dover to London & Heathrow Transfer via Warner Bros Studios : This option will help you make the most of your time in England. This tour takes you by bus directly from Dover to the Warner Bros Studios and then takes you back to your London or Heathrow hotel. The price also includes the entrance ticket to the studios.
  • From York : This tour departs from York train station early in the morning and takes you to London and to the Harry Potter studio. The price includes all transportation and admission to the studio.

Getting to the WB studios by public transport

If you want to plan your own journey to the Harry Potter studios, you’ll have to take a train from London and then a bus to the studios.

When you plan the journey, you want to allow more time in case the train is delayed or the bus gets full quickly and you have to wait for the next one.

First, take a train from Euston Station in central London and get off at Watford Junction.

You can use your Oyster or contactless card for this train ride, or buy train tickets in advance here by searching for London-Watford Junction trains.

Outside the station, you’ll see the bus stop for the Harry Potter Studio Tour shuttle bus, that goes from the train station to the studios.

Prepare some cash in advance, as there’s a small charge for the bus. Also have your ticket booking confirmation ready (you can show them the email confirmation on your phone).

The train ride from London should take about 20 minutes with the express train, but if you board a local train it takes about an hour.

If you’re not sure which train to board, ask the staff at London Euston station for advice.

The shuttle bus ride should take around 15 minutes.

How to get to the harry potter studios by car

You can use postcode WD25 7LR in your satnav system to reach the studios.

The studios provide free parking (you’ll have to show your booking confirmation).

Check the official website for detailed routes from London and other parts of the UK.

What to do when you arrive at the warner bros studios

The entrance to the Harry Potter Studios

When you arrive, collect your ticket from the ticket desk. It will have your entry time printed on it.

When you collect your ticket, they’ll give you a beautifully illustrated Harry Potter passport , full of puzzles, trivia and a Golden Snitch hunt to play during the tour.

If you didn’t get a passport with your ticket, you can ask a staff member to get you one during the tour.

Then you’ll have to go through a security check and probably stand in line to get in.

I recommend you book an audio-visual guide with your ticket (unless you’re taking a guided tour of course). Pick it up at the Digital Guide desk. It’s available in 10 different languages.

If you forgot to pre-book it, you can still hire one when you arrive.

There’s a cloakroom at the Warner Bros Studios that you can use to store your bags or coats for free.

You can also have a hot chocolate at the Chocolate Frog Café 🙂

It all goes quite quickly and you’ll soon find yourself inside with a large group of people and a guide who’ll give you a short briefing.

Inside the harry potter studios

The Studio Tour starts with a short film about the making of Harry Potter. It’s a little appetizer before you actually go into the studios.

After the film, the door to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is revealed and that’s where the spectacular Harry Potter experience really starts!

The Hogwarts  Great Hall

Once the door opens, you’ll find yourself in the Great Hall.

It’s a magnificent surprise and I can’t think of a better way to start a tour like this.

You’ll want to take pictures of the great costumes and the Sorting Hat, but there will be lots of people around… I waited till they were all ushered into the next room so I could take some photos 😉

You can basically stay until the staff ask you to move on, because another group is about to enter The Great Hall.

However, during the rest of the tour you’ll be completely free to explore everything at your own pace.

Highlights from the harry potter studio tour

There is  a lot  to see in the studios. You can easily spend 3-4 hours there, or even more.

Everything is presented in a way that really draws you in.

The audiovisual guide has video interviews, behind the scenes photos and much more. It is well worth getting.

I’ll give you a quick description of the highlight, without revealing too much, because you really want to experience it yourself 🙂

After The Great Hall, you’re introduced to the people behind the movies, from the costume designers to the soundtrack composers.

There are many costumes and wigs on display, as well as models and parts of the set, including the marble staircase, the boys’ dormitory, the Gryffindor common room and Dumbledore’s office.

The Gryffindor Common Room film set

The sets are full of fascinating details to spot.

Original props from the different movies are displayed in the middle of the room, like the golden egg and the Triwizard Cup.

The potion classroom is super entertaining, as is the Weasley family house, full of mechanical tricks.

Potions Classroom at the Harry Potter Studio Tour

The special effects and visual effects part of the tour is really exciting and you’ll get to try the green screen yourself.

Walking into the forbidden forest is a truly immersive experience!

A full-size Hogwarts Express train awaits you in the next room, next to Platform 9 3/4 in a recreation of King’s Cross station in London.

You can board the train and walk inside the carriages.

When you exit the train station, there are even more movie sets to discover, like the 4 Privet Drive house, the Knight Bus and the bridge to Hogwarts.

We felt like we’d seen so much! But there was still a lot more to see.

This tour keeps surprising you. It feels like at every stage there should be a “Wait! There’s More!” sign 😉

In the next rooms, we learnt about the set design and special effects, the various creatures from the movies and how they were made and lots of behind the scenes secrets.

Towards the end of the tour, expect some more beautiful highlights:

A very impressive model of Hogwarts Castle occupies an entire room and as you walk around it you can see how it was shot from different angles.

The Diagon Alley set is as wonderful as you’d expect, colourful and full of cool details.

Diagon Alley at the Warner Bros Harry Potter Studios

And… there’s more, but I don’t want to reveal everything.

The harry potter studio tour shops

There are several shops in the Warner Bros Studios with plenty of gifts and souvenirs for both adults and kids.

The Studio Shop is the main shop. It’s the one you reach at the end of the tour and it is simply huge.

It offers all the official merchandise you can imagine, collectables, wants, costumes and clothing items (a Gryffindor Scarf or a Deathly Hallows scarf? tough choice), homeware, art and more.

They also have Harry Potter sweets like the irresistible Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans and Peppermint Toads.

There are smaller souvenir shops you’ll go through during the tour:

One is the Forbidden Forest Shop and the other is the Railway Shop , next to Platform 9¾.

Hotels near the harry potter studios

If you want to stay close to the Warner Brothers Studios for easy access, here are some good hotels in the area:

holiday inn london watford junction

This hotel has great reviews and is located only a 5 minute walk from Watford Junction railway station, where you can take the 15 minute shuttle bus to the Harry Potter Studios. If you arrive by car, it’s a quick ride.

travelodge watford central

A budget-friendly option, about 15 minutes walk from Watford Junction and about 10 minutes by car from the studios.

jurys inn london watford

Another convenient option, a very short walk to Watford Junction and a short drive to the WB Studios.

mercure london north watford hunton park

This hotel is close to the studios, but there is no direct access on foot, so it’s a good place to stay if you arrive by car or if you want to take a taxi.

My tips on the harry potter studio tour

Visiting the Harry Potter Studios is an experience that you want to prepare for. There is so much to see you might be overwhelmed!

Here are some tips I want to share after visiting myself that will help you make the most of your visit:

Book your tickets way in advance, preferably on a weekday to avoid the crowds. Check availability here:

Watch at some of the Harry Potter movies or read some of the books shortly before you go. You don’t have to read or watch the entire series to enjoy the tour, but it will make your experience much more meaningful.

When you select the time of entry , make it as early as you can, so that you have as much time as you like inside.

Allow at least 3 hours for a self-guided tour, or even four. Then, if you’re a big fan, you’ll want to spend some time in the gift shop.

You’ll want to take a lot of pictures and videos, so make sure your phone is fully charged and bring a power bank with you just in case.

On selected dates, there are special events in the Warner Bros Studios. Have a look at the official website to see if any of those coincide with the dates of your visit. These include events like Valentine’s Dinner in the Great Hall or the Christmas event Hogwarts in the Snow.

You can bring some food with you or eat at the Backlot Café. It’s about halfway through the tour. If you bring snacks with you, you can eat them at the cafe.

If you’re an avid fan, you can come in a Harry Potter outfit. I saw quite a few fans who dressed up for the tour.

save this harry potter studio tour guide on pinterest

Harry Potter Studio Tour London

Faq – harry potter studio tour london

The Harry Potter tour takes 3-4 hours on average.

Definitely! It’s an amazing experience, beautifully designed and very entertaining.

You can buy tickets on the official site or join a tour that includes tickets and transport.

The Harry Potter Studios are in Leavesden, Hertfordshire, north of London.

The nearest train station is Watford Junction.

Take a train from Euston Station to Watford Junction and then a shuttle bus to the Warner Brothers Studios.

No, it’s a tour around the film sets of the Harry Potter movies.

The studios opened in March 2012.

  • Tags Culture , Entertainment

Thanks for sharing, I was supposed to visit earlier this year but I’ll have to get back another time, now I will be even better prepared!

I live in London and have been curious about this tour. Yes, I find it so expensive. Thanks for putting together this post with a lot of useful info.

I know the price can be an issue… Still, it’s such a great experience, it’s worth it 🙂

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Hogwarts Castle Model - Warner Bros Studio Tour

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.

Harry Potter Studio Tour - Common Room

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.

Dumbledores office

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.

Hagrid Hut interior

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.

Bus to Warner Bros Studio Tour

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.

Buckbeak

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.

Broomstick training

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.

Dumbledores office

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.

Warner Bros Studio Tour Entrance

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.

Cupboard under the stairs

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.

Great Hall Hogwarts

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!

Platform 9 3/4 Warner Bros Studio Tour

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!

Butterbeer

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.

Knight Bus

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.

Diagon Alley

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!

Harry Potter Studio Tour Props

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!

warner bros studio tour london review

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!

Wand training

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!

A detailed guide to taking a Harry Potter Studio tour, including how to get tickets, how to get to the Harry Potter studios from London, tour options, and tips!

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There are 24 comments on this post

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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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warner bros studio tour london review

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Days Out , Days Out and Attractions/Events , Reviews · July 14, 2022

Warner Bros Studios Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter Review

Disclosure: We were invited on this day out for the purpose of this post however all opinions are my own.

At the weekend we were invited to the Warner Bros Studios Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter to celebrate the launch of their new Mandrakes and Magical Creatures exhibition. We hadn’t been since 2016 and the children were so excited to visit – especially as they are now massive Harry Potter fans.

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

How to get to Warner Bros Studios Tour London?

We drove to the Warner Bros Studios Tour and there’s plenty of free parking on site. It’s really well signposted from the M25 and M1 and it’s only 20 miles from London. If you need to use public transport, you can get a free shuttle bus from Watford Junction station. This is included in the cost of your ticket and takes just 15 minutes with buses running every half an hour.

There are also bus transfers available from London Victoria and London Kings Cross stations. These are at an extra cost and organised by Golden Tours. You can find out more on the Warner Bros Studios Tour website.

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

Arriving at Warner Bros Studios Tour

Tickets suggest that you should arrive about twenty minutes before your tour starts but you can arrive even earlier if you want to as there are plenty of places to grab some food or a drink with the Warner Bros Studios Tour complex before the tour starts and also so much to see and do.

When we arrived we joined a queue outside where a friendly member of staff scanned our tickets before we went inside and went through airport style security. This is always really reassuring and it was a quick and efficient experience.

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

After security there were toilets, a cloakroom that you can use free of charge and a couple of customer service desks to pick up audio tours or book afternoon tea. We didn’t need anything so walked through into the big central hall dominated by the Gringotts Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon hanging above us.

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

In the hall we got to see costumes from the Fantastic Beasts movies, see a little glimpse of the Mandrakes and Magical Creatures exhibition and have a drink or snack if we wanted in the Chocolate Frog Cafe or the Hub Cafe at opposite ends of this vast entrance hall.

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

The Warner Bros Studios Tour experience

When it was just before our tour time we joined the entrance queue. This took us on a little journey through the movie franchise, past Harry Potter’s room under the stairs and into a big holding room with walls covered in movie posters from each movie. When the room was full a film-like sequence started, telling us about the tour and what to expect.

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

We then went into a cinema room where we watched a film taking a look back at the Harry Potter movies, how they were made and all the work went into them. I found this quite emotional as Harry Potter has been such a big part of our lives – with it being 25 years since the first book was published – and it’s quite surreal to think of life without Harry Potter in it.

Before we knew it the movie had finished and it was time to walk through the doors into the Great Hall. This is a part of the Warner Bros Studios experience that I will never tire of doing. The minute you walk through those doors and see the hall you are just blown away. It may not have that magical ceiling but it is still a room full of magic. It’s an amazing space.

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

We took time looking at the costumes and props around the room, getting our first glimpse of Hogwarts along with the students and professors we knew so well. It was then time to head into the main exhibition.

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

The Great Hall is the only part of the Warner Bros Studios Tour where you have a set amount of time. Once you’re through into the exhibition halls you can take as long as you like and move freely around. It’s a place where you could easily spend all day.

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

The Warner Bros Studios Tour takes you through the Harry Potter movies, seeing the costumes, props, hair and makeup used in the movies. We saw costumes from so many different scenes in the movies and saw how each character’s hair was stored – including eyebrows, beards and stick on moles!

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

One of our favourite parts of the experience was seeing the Gryffindor dorm rooms and the Gryffindor and Slytherin common rooms. Being so close to sets we knew so well was amazing – and walking into Dumbledore’s office was something else. It was just incredible.

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

The children loved seeing Professor Snape’s potions class alongside Hagrid’s Hut, with Fang standing proudly at the entrance. We all learnt about the animals used in the movies – and the fact that Fang and Crookshanks were actually a few different animals all playing the same part. We’ve never noticed!

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

We got to make a broomstick rise up to our hand and the children really liked riding on a broomstick with a green screen in the background. Great fun where you can buy the photos as souvenirs afterwards if you want to.

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

I loved seeing inside The Burrow – the Weasley’s house – and there were so many interactive parts where we could pres buttons and see things come to life like the washing up cleaning itself or vegetables being chopped.

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

We learnt about the vehicles used in the movies, saw the Death Eater’s table with Nagini the snake slithering along it. There were glimpses of the Ministry of Magic and a look into Dolores Umbridge’s office with so many costumes and props in between.

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

The Warner Bros Studio Forbidden Forest

We found ourselves in the Forbidden Forest next. As you can imagine, this is dark and eerie, full of artificial smoke and with so many spooky noises. It was so different to the rest of the tour experience. We got to meet Buckbeak, see all the spiders moving in the darkness and find out how the Forbidden Forest had been created, It was fantastic.

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

The Warner Bros Studio Hogwarts Express

We came out of the forest, turned a corner and came face to face with the Hogwarts Express, something that will always make everyone wow. We were able to push trolleys of suitcases through the wall on the station platform and even climb aboard the Hogwarts Express to see how the props changed with the movies. There was even a little green screen experience where you felt you were travelling along on the real Hogwarts Express.

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

The Warner Bros Studio Backlot

After leaving the Hogwarts Express we found ourselves in the studio backlot, an outside space with more sets and vehicles to see. This was the first real break within the tour as well – with places to buy food and drinks or stop and enjoy a picnic. There are places to sit throughout the tour but this is the first real refreshment break.

The backlot is also home to the Backlot Cafe where you can buy food and drinks or Butterbeer – and even Butterbeer flavoured ice cream. Butterbeer was hit and miss with the children – with one saying it was the best thing she had ever tasted and Little Man said he just didn’t really like it. Us grown ups thought it tasted quite like cream soda – and the froth on the top was delicious!

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

You’re able to take food and drinks into the Warner Bros Tour with you and we found a seat and enjoyed our packed lunch out in the main backlot although there is seating inside too. As you can imagine, the Backlot Cafe does get very busy and there queues are long at lunch time but it’s really well managed and the food looked and smelt pretty good.

After our lunch we explored the backlot, loving seeing The Burrow in all its glory. We really got to appreciate all its quirks and angles, making us all love the Weasley’s home even more than we did before.

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

We also got to walk through 4 Privet Drive, seeing the lounge full of letters flying around and Aunt Petunia blown up like a balloon. It was amazing to walk through such an iconic part of movie history.

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

Outside we made our way into Professor Sprout’s Greenhouse for a Herbology class. We were greeted by so many Mandrakes ready to be pulled from the ground, screaming as they moved! There were also the herbology class costumes and the whole set looked just like it did in the movies. It’s an absolutely beautiful space.

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

Back outside, we took some photos with the Weasley’s car and Hagrid’s motorbike, climbing aboard the Knight Bus and walked along the Hogwarts bridge. There’s so much to see in the backlot and it’s definitely one of the children’s favourite parts of our tour.

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

It was then time to head back inside for the last part of the tour. here we learnt about all the special effects used in the movies, all the creature effects and so much more about costumes and makeup. The amount of detail was incredible.

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

Warner Bros Studio Tour Gringotts Bank

Our biggest wow moment came when we turned a corner and found ourselves in Gringotts Bank. It was beautiful. We were blown away. With marble columns, the big wooden counters and goblin cashiers, it couldn’t have felt more real.

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

We got to see inside the Gringotts vaults, with so many photo opportunities, and learnt how the marble was made. Spoiler alert: It’s not real marble! It looked so realistic.

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

Just before we left the bank we got to experience the Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon escape for ourselves. Complete with smoke, fire and pretty much utter devastation, it was a real taste of movie magic. So much so that we watched it a few times, each time loving it as much as the last.

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

Warner Bros Studio Tour Diagon Alley

Stepping out of Gringotts, we found ourselves in Diagon Alley and spent time looking in the windows of all the shops and appreciating all the detail in every single thing. It’s really like walking through the world of Harry Potter and we absolutely loved it.

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

It was then time to finish our tour, seeing artwork from the movies before coming face to face with a huge model of Hogwarts, all lit up and twinkling as we walked around it. It’s a fantastic end to such a great day out.

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

We walked through Ollivander’s wand shop, with each member of cast and crew having a wand box with their name on, and then found ourselves in the Warner Bros Studio Tour shop, ready to make any vital purchases and head on home.

How long does the Harry Potter Studio Tour take?

The Warner Bros Studios Tour is somewhere you can spend as long or as little time as you like. You really go at your own pace. We spent about six hours at Warner Bros Studios, with a packed lunch in the middle, and it was a good amount of time for us, leaving us satisfied that we’d done and seen everything we wanted to.

We had such a great day at the Warner Bros Studio Tour and the children already can’t wait to go back. Each time you visit there’s something new to see and the children loved that we went during the Madrakes & Magical Creatures exhibition. It’s on until 12th September if you want to see it too.

You can find out more about the Warner Bros Studio Tour: The Making of Harry Potter and book tickets over on their website . For reference the address is: Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden, Watford WD25 7LR

You can see a little Reel of our trip on Instagram here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Donna – What the Redhead Said (@genuineplacebo84)

Warner Bros Studios Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Review

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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.

Family standing outside the Warner Bros Studio Tour London.

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!

Family of four standing in front of Hogwarts in the Snow at the WB Studio Tour.

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).

Eticket for the Harry Potter Studio Tour London.

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’.

Woman standing looking down at a broomstick at Harry Potter Studio Tour in London.

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).

Boy wearing a Hogwarts tshirt looking at a large selection of wands at the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London.

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.

Family experiencing one of the green screen experiences at the Warner Bros Studio Tour.

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.

Member of staff at the Harry Potter Studio Tour London pretending to be a Goblin in Gringotts Bank.

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.

Collection of photos from the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London with the dragon under Gringotts Bank, a lday making Dobby dance and 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.

Diagon Alley at the Harry Potter Studio Tour London full of people.

This was the view just a few minutes later.

Photo of Diagon Alley at the Warner Bros Studio Tour London with no people in it.

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.

Sign pointing to Butterbeer and Butterbeer Ice Cream at the Backlot Cafe at the Warner Bros Studio Tour.

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 .

Warner Bros Studio Tour London shuttle bus.

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 .

Family visiting the outdoor sets at the WB Studio Tour in London.

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.

Empty queue outside the Harry Potter Studios Tour entrance.

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 .

We participate in various affiliate marketing programs. Flashpacking Family is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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  • Mar 24, 2023

Harry Potter Studio Tour Review

Thinking about going to Warner Bros. studio London for The Making of Harry Potter tour, but not sure if it's worth the rather expensive price or what to expect? Having visited there myself, I can tell you with certainty that the studio is an absolute must-see for every Harry Potter fan. And as for what to expect... Read my Harry Potter studio tour review for lots of useful tips, from booking your tickets to getting there and making the most of your experience. It's everything I wish I had known before going!

Harry Potter studio tour London review

Buying tickets to Warner Bros. studio tour

In order to visit the Harry Potter studio tour, you must book your tickets in advance. Having a ticket is a prerequisite for being allowed on site, so you can't just show up and hope to be admitted. The tickets are timed, and visitors are grouped according to their timeslot and let inside at regular intervals.

When it comes to booking tickets, you have two options:

Buying tickets from the Warner Bros. website and making your own way to the studio. The pro here is flexibility - you can spend as much or as little time visiting the Harry Potter studio tour and leave whenever you feel ready. I have read very varying accounts of how much time people have ended up spending at the studio, so it's tricky to know in advance just how long you will want to stay for. However, with this option, it might not always be possible to get a ticket for the date you want, especially if booking at relatively short notice (and when I say short notice, I mean the next month or two).

Going through a tour company and getting a package of entrance tickets + bus transfer from Central London . The pro here is not having to worry about train + shuttle bus times, as you know exactly what time the bus leaves that gets you to your booked entrance slot. I also found availability of the package tickets to be a lot better than the tickets on the WB website. Picking this option does make it more expensive though, plus you are less flexible with your time at the Harry Potter studio tour.

Tip: If you decide to book on the Warner Bros website, but can't see any availability for your dates of visit, don't feel forced to book the bus package straight away. When I was booking our tickets, I discovered that availability changed every day and suddenly dates became bookable that had previously shown as full. So I kept checking, and, eventually, a slot opened up that worked for us. Of course, there's no guarantee that this will happen, but it's worth a try anyway.

Travelling to Warner Bros. studio from London

Warner Bros. Studio is located in Leavesden, which is quite a long way away from Central London. The best train station is Watford Junction, as there's a free shuttle bus from here arranged by the studio that ferries the guests back and forth at regular intervals.

If you decided to opt for a package of ticket + bus transfer, then not much to plan for you, as you will be driven straight to the studio. The tour company will give you the details of where the pickup point in Central London is. From what I've seen, the majority of pick ups are in the area of Victoria station, but there are a few other possible pickup locations, like King's Cross or Baker Street. All you have to do is find your way there, and also be at the collection point at Warner Bros Studio at the right time after completing the tour.

I chose to make my own way to the studios. The first part of the journey was taking the train from Euston station to Watford Junction. You can use an Oyster card or contactless for this journey, as Watford Junction is inside the London transport network. The trains are quite frequent and the journey time is around 15-20 minutes, and you can check the schedule in advance for your travel date.

The trickiest bit for me was figuring how to time arrival at Watford Junction, so that the wait for the shuttle bus would be minimal. The Warner Bros. website doesn't have a fixed timetable, instead saying that the buses run "at least every 30 minutes from 9.20am". Now, I don't know if they run more frequently, but I planned my timings based on 30 minute intervals, and there was indeed a bus there at that time.

The bus station is right next to the train station and it's easy to identify which stop the shuttle bus leaves from. You have to show your Harry Potter tour ticket to be able to board. Once you're on the bus, it will take another 15 minutes or so to get to the Warner Bros. Studio, during which you get shown a short intro video.

Harry Potter studio tour London shuttle bus

Tip: If you are travelling to Watford Junction using an Oyster card or contactless, make sure you keep your eyes open for where to tap in at Euston station. Usually, there are gates to pass through, where you use your card or ticket to open them, but the platform that we were assigned didn't have these gates in operation on entrance. There was a single tapping point pretty high up, which we completely missed, as it was hidden by the crowd of people streaming onto the train. So then we had to ask staff where to tap in, run all the way back up to do it and run back down to get on the train, which we almost missed as a result.

On the way back to London, there is a screen in the cloakroom area of the WB studio that counts down the time until the next shuttle bus. That's where it all went a bit wrong for us. We exited when it said the shuttle bus would be leaving in five minutes and queued up at the collection point. However, the only shuttle bus that came dropped off the passengers from Watford, and then went and parked up at the charging point instead of picking us up. So we waited and waited, and the queue got longer and longer. There were only a few seats towards the very front of the queue under the small bus shelter, whereas everyone else had to stand the whole time. Plus, there is no screen at the bus shelter that tells you when to expect the next bus. I don't even know how long we stood there for, it certainly felt like an eternity, but when a shuttle bus finally arrived for the trip to the station, there were so many people waiting that not everyone managed to fit onto the bus, even though they allowed people to stand on the top deck, which is normally prohibited. I really hope the people who had to remain behind didn't have to wait 30 minutes for the next shuttle...

Arrival at Harry Potter studio tour

Whether you come on a tour bus or the shuttle bus from Watford Junction, you get dropped off in the parking lot of the Leavesden studio, from where you walk a short way through a wand alley towards the building entrance.

Harry Potter studio tour entrance

At the entrance, there are bag searches in operation, so be prepared for a short wait as the security men go through everyone's bags. After completing that, you end up in a very large lobby, with the digital guide station and cloakroom right by the entrance, plus as you walk further in, there are several cafes, toilets, the studio souvenir shop, as well as the queueing point for starting the tour.

Harry Potter studio tour lobby

Cloakrooms are free to use and will take bags and coats. If your visit is during the colder time of the year and you come wearing a coat, be aware that though most of the tour is indoor, some of the sets are outside, so the cloakroom attendant recommended keeping our coats on.

If you arrive with time to kill before your entrance timeslot, you could do your Harry Potter souvenir shop straight away and then leave the shopping bags in the cloakroom, so as not to carry them around. The souvenir shop is very large and has lots of different categories to choose from:

My tip: definitely get the souvenir guidebook! You can pre-buy it when booking the tickets at the Warner Bros. website, in which case you will get a voucher to show to the cashier. You will still have to pick the book up in the shop and queue up with the rest of the shoppers, so there is no advantage of pre-booking vs. just buying it when you get there. The book is a lovely memory and is put together in a great way, with lots of photos and interesting bits and bobs to know about each set. I love mine!

I opted for pre-booking digital guides as well, so we picked those up on arrival. You don't have to pre-book and can also decide to just pay for one on arrival, and it's the same queue for both. To be honest, my tip for you is to skip them. I thought the digital guide experience wasn't very cohesive with the exhibition. There is TONS of extra information on the guide, with many videos and photos, so you end up having to spend a lot of time standing around looking at a tiny screen rather than the exhibits. I found it rather overwhelming and time-consuming. There were a few extra bits on the digital guides we found interesting, like the talk about how the child actors were schooled during the filming, but by and large, we felt the actual sets and the information displays at the exhibition were more than enough to have a great experience. Plus, about halfway through the tour, my guide decided to give up the ghost. By that time, we'd given up on using them anyway, so it wasn't a big deal.

Food and drink at Harry Potter studio tour

For our visit, I booked the Warner Bros. studio afternoon tea in the Food Hall before starting the tour, and I can highly recommend it. The Food Hall is in the lobby area, so you can visit here either before or after the studio tour.

I'll be honest with you, I wasn't expecting much in terms of taste and quality as it's such a popular tourist destination, but the food was really excellent and the service very friendly. There were sandwiches, savoury pastries, sweet pastries and scones. The visual highlight was the golden snitch choux, which I stupidly forgot to take a close-up photo of... Not only was everything delicious, but, compared to what you pay for afternoon tea in Central London, I felt it was great value for money as well (£70 for 2 people when we visited in February 2023).

Afternoon tea at Harry Potter studio tour

We went for a traditional afternoon tea, but there are also vegan and gluten-free options on offer. The portion size is generous and it's very filling, but if you can't finish everything there and then, the staff can put the leftovers in a doggy bag and even store it for you until the end of your tour.

During our session, there were quite a few tables still free and there was a sign inviting visitors to ask about the afternoon tea, so it might be possible to be spontaneous and get a spot on arrival, but booking in advance is of course a more certain way to guarantee access.

I was also really looking forward to a break in the Backlot Café, which is located about midway through the tour. By that time, we were ready for a small rest after walking around for so long. The coolest thing about the Backlot Café is of course the famous butterbeer. Unfortunately, the queue was out the door and there weren't any free tables to sit at either, so we had to pass. That means I still don't know what butterbeer tastes like... *sigh* Therefore, my tip for you - if having a taste of butterbeer is a non-optional activity during your Harry Potter studio tour, be prepared for waiting, and you might have to drink it while standing too.

Harry Potter Studio Tour Backlot café queue

There are actually two queues in the photo above, one is for food + butterbeer, and the other one, on the right hand side, is for just butterbeer. Both queues were long and only got longer.

There are more cafés in the lobby that you can visit before or after the tour, but I didn't use them, so nothing to report here.

What happens during the Harry Potter studio tour?

The first (short) part of the Harry Potter studio tour is led by staff. After everyone has gathered for the current timeslot, you are ushered through the first few rooms as a group, with some staff announcements plus a video during those. The last staff-led room is the Great Hall. Here, you are given some time to take photos, after which you have to leave the room, as the next group will be coming along shortly. You can't come back to that first part of the tour afterwards.

Staff intro at the gates to the Great Hall, Harry Potter studio tour London

After the Great Hall, you are no longer linked to your timeslot group and can explore the exhibition at your own pace, however quickly or slowly you want to do it. You can also double back if you want to see something again. There are members of staff around in case you have questions about any of the sets, but there's no guide assigned to your group. If you do want a guided tour of the Harry Potter studio, you might want to look into their deluxe tickets .

Most of the sets are visible to everyone. What I mean by that is that you are naturally walking through them (Forbidden Forest, Gringotts, Diagon Alley) or by them (Gryffindor and Slytherin common rooms, Dumbledore's office etc.) as you go through the studio tour. And my oh my is there a lot of awesome stuff to see and learn. The amount of detail that goes into making each of these sets is absolutely incredible! I don't want to give too much away, but here are a few photos to whet your appetite:

As you go through, you learn both things specific to the Harry Potter film franchise and also more generic things about film making. One of my favourite parts was discovering how the goblin masks were made - a truly fascinating and intricate process that is shown through a really well-made video.

Some sets have to be entered to be seen. These are the sets like the inside of Hogwarts Express, Privet Drive and the greenhouse. Because they can only take so many people at once, that results in queues to get in, which means we skipped those. Here's the queue to get on board Hogwarts Express, for example:

Queue to enter Hogwarts Express

Also, the majority of the sets are of the 'you can look, but you can't touch' variety, but there are some very cool free photo ops where you interact with the set, like Hagrid's motorbike, Mr. Weasley's car and Bellatrix Lestrange's vault. There was hardly any queuing needed for those, and the photos turned out awesome. And speaking of which, photography during the Warner Bros. studio tour is not only allowed but also actively encouraged, so do bring along a camera to make sure you have plenty of memories to take home with you.

On top of that, in the green-screen experience areas, you can get transplanted into the Harry Potter world, flying a broom or riding the Hogwarts Express. There is no filming or photography allowed here, except for what is done by the staff. After filming, you can purchase photos or videos, but those come at an additional cost and are yet another thing we decided to pass on. If you do want to take part, there were hardly any people queuing, so you will be able to get your turn quickly.

Another fun part of the Harry Potter studio tour for me was the Activity Passport. The staff will tell you where to pick one up at the beginning of the tour, and then you can collect stamps at various points as well as answer trivia questions. The passport made for a really cool souvenir!

Harry Potter studio tour Activity Passport

So how much time did all of the above take? I mentioned in the beginning of the post that it seems to be very individual, so I am not sure you can use my visit as a guideline for yours. For us, just the actual tour, excluding afternoon tea, browsing the souvenir shop and things like that, so just walking through the exhibition, took 3.5 hours. And that was skipping all the places with queues and the green screen experiences. There is a lot to take in and time sure does fly when you're having fun!

I hope you found this post useful and that it answered any questions you might have ahead of your visit. I thought that Harry Potter studio tour was absolutely amazing and hopefully you feel that way as well after you see it all for yourself! Feel free to also check out my other London posts to make your stay in the capital even more fun.

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A Complete Guide to London’s Harry Potter Studio Tour

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We wanted to know whether the Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter was really worth the hype and the expensive ticket, so we sent Anneliese, a member of our content team, to find out for herself! Read her review before you visit to get all the insider tips.

Here’s a disclaimer: I first picked up a Harry Potter book when I was 8 years old and I’ve been a superfan of both the books and the films ever since – I even managed to see the play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, all the way back in 2016 when it was the hottest ticket in London’s West End. So when you read this review, remember that I LOVE all things Potter!

The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter is probably the biggest pilgrimage site for Harry Potter fans in the UK. It opened to the public in 2012 and this April I was finally lucky enough to visit. Side-note: we’ve recently discovered that the attraction is one of the most expensive basic tickets in the world, so there were a few questions I wanted to answer on my trip:

  • Is the exhibition really as awesome as the reviews make it sound?
  • Is the trip good value for money?
  • Are there any ways that a savvy traveler can make the most of their time at the site?

First of all, try not to judge a book by its cover. The Studio Tour is a tour of soundstages on the Warner Bros. lot in Leavesden. The building looks like a large anonymous box because that’s what it is – the magic happens on the inside. It’s also not a theme park, unlike the Wizarding World of Harry Potter World at Universal Orlando, so don’t expect rides or shows.

The Making of Harry Potter - the magic happens on the inside

The first step for most visitors is taking the train from London to Watford Junction. For us, this took slightly longer than usual because engineering works disrupted the regular rail service (which is something that often happens in London, especially on public holidays – so watch out!). From Watford Junction it’s easy to find the shuttle bus to the Studio Tour site – they’re Harry Potter-branded and have their own bus stop and signage. The bus costs £2.50 per person , but the ticket is also valid for your return trip, so keep it safe during the day. The journey takes about 15 minutes, and you’ll get to watch a short introductory video while zipping through the suburbs. If you decide to book tickets that include a transfer from Central London then you won’t have to worry about the train or shuttle bus!

When you arrive at the Studios there’s a short bag search, and you’ll also be scanned with a metal detector. If you arrive more than 5 minutes before the time on your ticket, you’ll have some time to explore the main store, hang out underneath the huge model of a dragon, or get a cup of coffee at a cunningly disguised Starbucks. Then, when it’s time to go in, just follow the signs for the Studio Tour. Even the queue to the start of the tour is pretty interesting, taking you past Harry’s cupboard under the stairs and through a hall which discusses the changes in movie poster design over the years – it doesn’t feel like you’re waiting in line!

The queue to the start of the tour is pretty interesting, taking you past Harry’s cupboard under the stairs … it doesn’t feel like you’re waiting in line!

The tour gets going with a video intro, where you’ll be told all about what you’re going to see, plus any house rules you need to follow, and you’ll hear a special message from JK Rowling (author of the Harry Potter books). Next, you’ll move into a cinema area where you’ll watch some short clips that will get you in the mood for the exhibits ahead. The cinema screen zooms away to reveal the door to the Great Hall, and any birthday children will be given the chance to push them open. That’s when the experience really kicks off.

Harry's Room

We found ourselves pretty much raced through the Great Hall, which is the first set you’ll visit. Because more tour groups are coming up behind you, you only get about 5 minutes to explore , and a guide will stay with you to make sure you don’t linger too long. I’d been warned about this before I arrived, so I was ready with my camera to snap pictures of all the incredible details – the house symbols on the fireplace, the original uniform worn by Daniel Radcliffe on the first day of filming, Hagrid’s bodysuit and costume, and the colorful hourglasses tracking house points on the wall by the high table.

Once you’re through the Great Hall, the pace slows down considerably and you’re left to your own devices. Other people we’d entered with had rented multimedia guides, and a few even had a personal tour guide, but we decided we knew enough about the books and the films to explore by ourselves. We didn’t regret that decision at any point – most of the things you’ll see are self-explanatory or have signage that explains what you’re looking at. Each set also has a display board which points out a couple of tiny details which you might not notice by yourself.

I’m not going to tell you about everything I saw, because it’s a lot more fun if you don’t know what’s coming , but my favorite moments were in the Forbidden Forest (which includes a spooky soundtrack, eerie mist, and plenty of spiders) and the newly opened Gringotts Banks. Gringotts is a truly special addition – you’ll get to see it looking its best (and you won’t believe it’s not made of real marble), plus you’ll see it destroyed by a dragon (a work of movie magic which proved to be a bit much for some of the younger visitors!).

Gringotts Banks

We stopped for a bite to eat at the Backlot Café , which is slightly more than halfway through the tour, but other groups had brought snacks with them, so that’s always an option if you’re on a tight budget. Our meals were £9 for a burger with chips, so it’s not the cheapest lunch, but the quality was good enough that you didn’t mind the price. We also tried the Butterbeer, which was… unusual. If you’re desperate to taste it then I’d recommend splitting one cup between friends, as it’s not to everyone’s taste and it costs about £3.50 per cup.

Outside the Backlot Café is a small area with some larger props. There’s the Hogwarts bridge (a great photo opportunity), the Knight Bus, a walkthrough of 4 Privet Drive, and copies of Hagrid’s motorbike and the Weasleys’ blue Ford Anglia. You can sit on the bike and inside the Ford Anglia – two more great spots for photos!

warner bros studio tour london review

The final area of the tour takes you through the animatronics lab, then into the magical Diagon Alley and around the huge model of Hogwarts, leading you out through the gift shop.

The good: There are so many tiny details which will thrill any fans of the films. From the hand-labeled vials of memories in Dumbledore’s office to the animatronic hippogriffs which bow to visitors, you’ll bounce from one delightful surprise to the next. You’ll also get to see videos of your favorite actors from the series discussing what it was like to grow up on set, in clips which will really take you behind the scenes. It does take at least 3 and a half hours to see everything on the tour, but it will feel like it was over in a flash.

The bad: The Backlot Café was very busy, with not-quite-enough seating and a poor queuing system. That might have been because the timing of our visit brought us to the café at lunchtime, so more people were stopping than during the rest of the day, it might have been less busy in the late afternoon.

There’s also something which everyone, but maybe especially parents visiting with younger children should be aware of – there are a handful of times where photo opportunities are going to cost you money if you want to take the pictures home with you. The green screen broomstick ride, the wanted poster (in robes), and the photos that are taken in a carriage of the Hogwarts Express all have a cost attached. After each encounter with a staff photographer, you’ll be given a ticket with a code on it, and my tip is to collect the tickets together and wait until the Hogwarts Express stop before going to the counter and looking through the images. If you decide to buy more than one picture then there’s a discount, and if you’re in a larger group then it might make sense to buy a USB with all your files. It’s easier to make that decision once you’ve done everything and can look through all the pictures at one time. For every hard copy of a picture you buy, you’ll be given a code to get a digital download, so it might make sense to split the cost of one photo between a group and then share the digital version later.

Hogwarts Express

Overall I think the tour does a good job of not trying to sell you too many things – sure, there are two small gift shops which you’ll see as you go around (at the Forbidden Forest and the Hogwarts Express), but you’re not made to walk through them, and they’re designed to blend in with the sets. That being said, you can easily lose yourself in the gift shop at the end, and most things inside aren’t cheap.

So, back to the questions which I wanted to answer.

Is the tour as great as the reviews say, and does it provide good value for money?

For Harry Potter fans, it’s going to be an absolutely brilliant experience, and it also has a lot that will be of interest for fans of film-making more generally. I was blown away by the scale of the 10-year, 8-movie project that was the Harry Potter series, and by the skill and creativity of the people who designed the props, sets, costumes, and hair and make-up. It was informative without ever being dull, and knowing how the on-screen magic works has only given me a new appreciation for the movies. Having said that, now that I’ve been once I don’t feel like I need to go back any time soon. If the tour adds another couple of major sets then I might be tempted, but I’ve satisfied my curiosity for now and the ticket price is too high for me to make it a regular trip when I’m in London.

Harry Potter Studios Costumes

For people who aren’t Potterheads or particularly interested in movie-making, it might not be so fascinating to visit, and the ticket price and hassle of getting out of Central London might also be off-putting. In that case, I’d suggest skipping it or splitting your party up for half a day. Part of the fun of visiting was knowing that most people were as interested and excited as I was, and I don’t think that this attraction is ever going to be a must-see London attraction in the way that Tower Bridge or Big Ben are.

Now, for the money-saving tips

As I mentioned above, hang onto your professional photo tickets until you get to the Hogwarts Express tills, so that you can get all your shots included in a deal if you decide you want more than one picture. Book your trains to Watford Junction in advance if you can, and make sure to use your railcard if you’re a UK resident and aged 16-25 or over 60. Bring lunch with you to eat in the Backlot Café, and share a Butterbeer if you decide you want to try it. Do your best not to wander into the merchandise stores along the way, and save your shopping for the very end when you’ll know what’s available and how much money you have left!

Above all, go with the flow and remember how you felt the first time you encountered the magical world of Harry Potter – I’m sure you’ll have as great a time as I did!

warner bros studio tour london review

If you’ve been inspired by our review, why not check out the available deals for Warner Bros. Studios – The Making of Harry Potter at TicketLens.com?

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

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Harry Potter World, London

I purchased tickets for Harry Portter World in London for my daughters 11th Birthday treat. I left it a little late to book the tickets online so the only tours available, on the date we wanted, were 6pm or 6:30pm. However, as they stay open until 10pm we thought this would probably be enought time to see everything. Form the moment we collected the tickets at 6pm to the time we left 10pm we have the most fantastic time, all the staff were all so polite and helpful, nothting was too much trouble and as for the actual displays etc. they were amazing, you have no idea how much detail goes into all the costumns, props, rooms etc. Well worth every penny. Four hours was just about right as the girls were getting a bit tired, but if you are a real Harry Potter fan and want to read all the display info, search for all the passport clues and watch all the videos on the making of the films etc. you may wish to book an earlier tour, as you can easily spend all day there going back and forth.

Take the tube to Watford Gap and hop on the Harry potter marked buses. Really enjoyed the trip - all of the sets are great and the staff really helpful. Gift shop insanely expensive but overall if you love the films you will love the tour!

We visited with our kids age 7, 10 and 12. I think 7 is about the minimum age to get the most out of the experience - our youngest had seen some of the films but has not read the books. Our older two have read the books and were thoroughly up on all things Potter (and were able to help me out with questions during the self-guided parts of the visit). Good things about this attraction: the design of the tour, particularly in the large studio space with the internal sets, is fantastic. It's incredible to see the actual sets and marvel at the attention to detail put into designing and furnishing the sets, costumes, masks and make up, and the tiny details that were included that were not visible on screen but which added to the richness of the look of the films. The love and care that the crew put into making the films shone through, and made you realise the work and skilled craftsmanship that go into making a film. There were plenty of interactive elements which kids (particularly younger ones) loved playing with, but lots for adults to enjoy too. The studio space was big enough that it didn't feel crowded, and you were able to wander around looking at things in any order you liked for as long as you wanted. The set of Diagon Alley was fantastic too. The guides were all friendly and helpful and some of them seemed to be enthusiastic Potter fans themselves. Less good things: as other reviewers have commented, on top of paying a lot for tickets (£106 for a family of five in our case) no opportunity to extract more money from you is let slip, with cunning calculation of the effect of pester power. Although our kids really enjoyed riding on the broomsticks and in the car we were loath to pay £12 for one measly print of their doing so, or even more for a video. As others have said, how much would it cost to email you a photo? Would leave a better taste in the mouth than this rampant money-grubbing. This was also apparent in the outside area where there is not much to distract you from the cafes selling butterbeer at £2.95 for a small plastic cup of the stuff. Having read reviews here before we visited I did not buy any, but even so, a hot drink for us all and a packet of crisps came to over £12. I think it would be nice if a cup of butterbeer were included in the admission price, which is steeper than other attractions we've visited. When we reached the shop at the end of the tour, we were taken aback by the prices - £8.95 for a small packet of jelly beans! We had meant to buy a small memento of our visit but this was about the cheapest thing on sale. If I were Warner Bros I would have a rethink of the design of the experience, as at present the first half of the tour is much better than the second, in which you are channeled through some narrow, brightly-lit rooms with a one-way system that feels quite crowded, before coming out in Diagon Alley and then a room with a scale model of Hogwarts, both of which stunning, but even so, the second half of the tour feels a bit of an anti-climax after the wonders of the first half. I would also do something about the crappy food and drink offerings half way round, and have a word with the staff there who seemed bored and not up to the quality of the other staff. I don't think we'll visit again unless new exhibits are added, but we all really enjoyed the day and I would definitely recommend the tour to Potter fans of all ages. My top tip: take your own snacks and cold drinks.

Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback about your recent visit. We are very glad to hear you enjoyed yourselves and that the staff you encountered were helpful and enthusiastic. We are disappointed to hear that you felt that the prices in the green screen experience, Studio Shop and catering areas do not represent good value. Our partner company Picsolve are able to provide a unique experience with new technology in HD quality, which I’m sure you can appreciate can have higher associated costs. Our Retail Team have selected a wide range of products, from pocket money items, to memorabilia for collectors at the high end of the market. At least 10% of our products are priced below £5 and 25% below £10; we are constantly reviewing our range and adding products at all price points to increase the selection available to all our visitors. Thank you once again for your feedback. We have passed your comments on to our Visitor Service Manager for their review.

It was amazing to see the actual sets and get a close look at some of the details that went into the movies. The tour was organized so that it wasn't crowded. Fun for all ages.

warner bros studio tour london review

Our family (2 parents and 3 kids aged 13, 8 and 7) had an awesome day out at the HP studio. It was well worth the cost and the trip from London(we went from West Brompton station) was really easy. It was amazing to walk into the GReat Hall and along Diagon Alley; to see all the sets and costumes etc on display and to have our photo in the flying car. I had read before we went about how expensive it is to eat there so we avoided that, except for the "beer" which was yummy. The photos and DVDs are amazingly expensive and the gift shop at the end was also expensive for the smaller items (keyrings, lollies etc) but an amazing selection. It was one of the highlights of our trip from Australia to Paris and London. I would recommend it to all Harry Potter fans.

The sets are amazing, you get to walk through the great hall & take lots of photos+they have butter beer. Be weary of the train there, if you get on the wrong one it can take an hour not 20 mins from London Euston.

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  • By Anna Tobin
  • February 3, 2020

We’d been holding off on visiting the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London (a favorite London day trip ) until all seven Harry Potter books had been read and all eight films watched. Our older daughter was 7 at the start of this process, so it had been a long wait. The younger one hadn’t started yet, but we weren’t going to hang about any longer — she got dragged along. So here is our full W arner Brothers tour review for those considering visiting the Harry Potter Studio.

Now, I have two pieces of advice for anyone considering going on the tour: Only go once you’ve consumed all the tomes and sat through all the movies; and don’t promise to buy your kids a wand from the souvenir store at the end of the tour. You need to know all the books and all the films inside out to get the most out of the experience; I wouldn’t bother taking anyone under 8 along. There were far more adults on our tour than children, because it is a fascinating insight into the world of modern-day filmmaking and the J.K. Rowling series.

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My youngest wasn’t scared by anything we saw there and she enjoyed the interactive parts of it, but the rest went over her head. We need to go back once she’s Pottered out — when she can marvel like her sister at being in the real Great Hall, at being able to knock on the door of 4 Privet Drive and at ambling up Diagon Alley.

Tips for the Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour London with Kids

What to expect.

This is not a theme park experience. You get to go on the sets, see the costumes and the props, try out the animatronics and understand the fine attention to detail that went into taking the story off the page and onto the screen.

It’s a dream come true for Potter fanatics. You can also see green screen technology in action and have yourself filmed flying over Hogwarts or playing Quidditch. Then out on the back lot you can peek into the Knight Bus, sample butterbeer and get behind the wheel of Hagrid’s motorbike.

It’s a fun half-day trip, from which you emerge amazed and smiling and almost believing in magic. Until you hit the store and discover that those wands you promised to buy are actually intricately carved specimens that cost £32 (around $42) each. I’ve yet to hear the end of that one. Suffice to say my kids are still improvising with chopsticks.

Getting There

Though it’s billed as The Harry Potter Studio Tour London, it’s not in London. It just under an hour’s drive from central London during peak time. There is ample free parking, however, and a shuttle bus to the studios operates from Watford Junction station, which is a 20-minute ride from London Euston.

Even better, why not combine the tour with a stay at The Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire? Just a 10-minute drive away, this luxurious hotel gives you a real taste of rural England. If your home base is London, a stay at the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel will really take the Potter magic over the top.

Editor’s Note: Ciao Bambino was provided with complimentary access to review the tour. As always, our opinions are our own. Photos by Anna Tobin.

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‘Harry Potter: Magical Mischief’ REVIEW

in Harry Potter

Dobby snapping his fingers in 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'

For the third year in a row, The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London — The Making of Harry Potter has been given an extra sprinkling of magic to celebrate all things mischievous from the Harry Potter films , from the Weasley twins’ many pranks and antics — particularly in their efforts to thwart the wicked headmistress Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) — to mischief of the more “managed” kind, with Harry Potter’s Invisibility Cloak revealing its magical secrets to guests. And nothing says mischief more than Cornish Pixies, which can be found all over the studios as their cage has been left wide open (thanks, Gilderoy Lockhart!).

After enjoying a coffee or some delicious afternoon tea in the Lobby Area (whose walls are adorned with moving graphics from the films and where a giant Hungarian Horntail dragon is suspended from the ceiling), your tour begins with a peek inside Harry Potter’s bedroom under the stairs, before a celebratory look at the history of the film series and its impact on pop culture, with commentary from JK Rowling .

Neville Longbottom being attacked by a Cornish Pixie at The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London -- The Making of Harry Potter

Related: New ‘Harry Potter’ “Return to Azkaban” Project Coming This Year

Then it’s onto the theater room, where you’re prepared by none other than Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson (on the screen, of course) to enter the Great Hall — which is literally on the other side of the screen (one of the most impressive effects on the tour).

The Great Hall is as magical as ever — countless props adorn the two tables on either side that run the length of the hall while Fred and George Weasley hover on their brooms. On the stage is a costume/mannequin of Umbridge, who’s facilitating the O.W.L examinations.

Dolores Umbridge facilitating the O.W.L examinations in the Great Hall at The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London -- The Making of Harry Potter

Related: ‘Harry Potter’ Series Reportedly Borrowing More Than the Film’s Iconic Score

Before leaving, guests are treated to a magical pyrotechnics display as Fred and George release their Weasley’s Wildfire Whiz-bangs, creating a magical menagerie of color and anarchy, as seen in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007).

Then it’s out into the vast atrium, the Interior Sets, where you won’t know where to start. Costumes, common rooms, the Weasley’s living room from the Burrows, Hagrid’s Hut, the Room of Requirement, Albus Dumbledore ‘s office, photo opportunities with flying brooms and the flying car as seen in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), and so much more. So much, in fact, it’s quite riddikulus !

The Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezies at The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London -- The Making of Harry Potter

Related:  ‘Harry Potter’: The Wizarding World’s Santa Claus Explained

Perhaps the most impressive area here is the Ministry of Magic area, where you can re-live the horrors of watching Tom Riddle/Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters torture Professor Charity Burbage as seen in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010), and marvel at the intimidating “Magic is Might” centerpiece. But if you need a bit of color to balance out all that dark magic, check out Umbridge’s sickeningly pink office.

As for the magical mischief, the Interior Sets also include the secrets behind Harry’s Invisibility Cloak and his flying acceptance letters. Costumes/mannequins of the four Marauders, Moony ( Remus Lupin ), Wormtail (Peter Pettigrew), Padfoot (Sirius Black), and Prongs (James Potter), are also on display.

The four Marauders, Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs at The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London -- The Making of Harry Potter

Related:  ‘Harry Potter’ Reboot Gets Surprising Cast Update

Then, you’ll head “outside” into the dark and foggy Forbidden Forest (sorry, but you really have no choice). You’ll encounter Centaurs, Hippogriffs, and the deadly Acromantulas before arriving at something a bit lighter in the form of Platform 9¾, where the Hogwarts Express awaits.

Take a ride on a simulator-version of the train and watch as Dementors come terrifyingly close to the window, or, to continue with the mischief, try your hand at making a Howler — Ron’s punishment from his mother for stealing his father’s car in Chamber of Secrets !

Aragog in the Forbidden Forest at The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London -- The Making of Harry Potter

Related: ‘Harry Potter’ Reboot May Be Canon With the Film Series After All

At this point, you’re halfway through the tour, so grab a Butterbeer in the Backlot Café (unless you also happen to think they’re pretty disgusting) before heading out into the courtyard to take photos of the Knight Bus or to browse inside the Dursley’s home in Little Whinging and the Herbology Garden at Hogwarts.

Magical Mischief takes a bit of a break as you enjoy the Creature Workshop, Gringotts Bank, and The Vaults (watch out for that fire-breathing dragon), but you’ll soon be stepping onto the cobblestoned street of Diagon Alley, home to the Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes, the wonderful, whimsical, and wacky sweetshop where magical mischief knows no bounds.

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

Related:  Weasleys May Be Portrayed by Actors of Color in ‘Harry Potter’ Reboot

After passing through the wildly impressive art gallery, you’ll suddenly find yourself in the Model Room, home to a truly remarkable scaled-down replica of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and its surrounding grounds and waters. Sadly, this marks the end of the tour, but, just like in the Great Hall, be sure to stick around for some pyrotechnic fun, courtesy of the Weasley twins, of course.

Once you exit, you’ll find yourself in the studios’ store outlet, so you’d better get your Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts ready!

The Hogwarts castle replica at The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London -- The Making of Harry Potter

This summer, The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London — The Making of Harry Potter celebrates the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) with “Return to Hogwarts.” Check out the official website for further information.

Warner Bros. is planning to develop a new shared universe based around the upcoming Harry Potter reboot on Max, and sequels to the hit game Hogwarts Legacy (2023). A video game titled Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions (TBA) is currently in development, and another  Harry Potter -themed land, the Ministry of Magic , is set to open at Universal Studios’ Epic Universe in Orlando.

Have you ever visited The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London — The Making of Harry Potter? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!

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Totally amazing

As soon as you walk in, you wow from the start.. Having never watched a Harry Potter film, I'm so looking forward to watching them all in a day or two when I'm off work. My niece Ruby who's 10 loves and knows all about Harry Potter said I am very lucky to go.. I now know what she means. I went with a friend who needed help looking after two grandchildren 9 n 10. What a great time we had.Totally amazing work throughout the studio. Just one word of warning food and souvenirs are truly expensive. Not pocket money friendly at all for some. Take your own food and buy a postcard to keep.

Date of experience : 14 February 2024

amazing amazing amazing

I've been about 4 times, most recently just last week and it has always been, and will always be, an AMAZING experience from start to finish. All the staff are extremely nice and knowledgeable, but the place itself?? Beyond any dreams!! It has everything, or at least most of the things any fan would want to see and the graphics, design and technology involved is astonishingly well done. I'm so proud for Harry Potter to be a British creation and so proud we have the studios, with a lot of original items, here. And the shop at the end!? Absolute heaven, can spend a good few hours there even though it's so pricey

Date of experience : 15 August 2023

Wonderful experience at the studio

I had a wonderful time at the studio both enjoying foods, drinks and if course experiencing the sets, probs special effects and so on. And the staff were soo awesome and helpful. I was visiting with my husband and 1,5 year old and it we are definitely going back next time we are in London.

Date of experience : 17 October 2023

Tickets not arrived! No Christmas present to give now!!

I ordered 2 x adult and 1 x infant gift souvenir tickets on the 5th November and the money has gone out of my account. Got an email to say the tickets were dispatched on the 28th November but now almost a month later they have not arrived and I do not have a Christmas present to give my partner. I have tried emailing 4 times but no reply. Messaging on social media but no reply. Live chat never has any agents available. Whenever I call it says the wait time is over an hour so I don’t have the time so wait since that’s longer than my lunch breaks at work! If I want to speak to someone I will have to book a day off work to account for the wait time! Emails all go to junk and can’t find an email with a booking reference either. So feel like all hope is lost with these tickets. I’ve been to the tour twice previously but can’t help but feel like I’ve now been scammed and no way to get my tickets. Now have no present to give my other half. So angry and disappointed.

Date of experience : 19 December 2023

Absolutely fantastic day out

Absolutely fantastic day out. Your eyes really couldn't take it all in. Interactive displays and with staff so interesting. Yes they want to upsell with photos and videos but you suit your own budget. Eating in the food court wasn't overly expensive and it was very tasty. The Butter Butterbeer was delicious and a must try. Worth every penny!

Date of experience : 26 March 2023

Magically... they changed the dates

We went to the Warner website to buy the tickets. Our goal was to buy them for 28 December 2023. We waited 15 minutes in the queue to access the website and when we were released, we chose the date and the number of tickets, in our case, 2 adults and 2 young people. We followed the step-by-step instructions to pay and we did so. Strangely enough, when we went to check the tickets, the date of the visit "magically" changed to 28 September 2023. We've already sent three forms and no-one has replied. We've called and we simply can't understand what's being said on the phone. We urgently need to change the date to 28 December, otherwise we'll lose the money we've paid.

Date of experience : 24 September 2023

Security at entrance is unbeliveably…

Security at entrance is unbeliveably rude. Put up a sign with instructions to tell visitors what to do when entering instead of yelling at them…we have paid ridicoulous money to visit!! Show some respect and common courtesy!! First and last visit

Date of experience : 02 October 2022

Awesome place for Harry Potter Fans!

We went to warner bros harry potter studio, it was amazing! Really kind staff who gave you lots of details about everything, even though the tickets were pricey it was totally worth it. My daughter had an awesome time, there was lots to see! you can even interact with stuff around the place, in the greenhouse, the train, and lots more! we were able to get my daughter a minister for magic I.D card with her picture on and information all about her hair colour, her eyes, and more. You can buy different candies, and even meet some death eaters, learn some wand skills, shop whilst your touring, and take photos with them! you can have a go on the broomstick green screen experience which my daughter loved, and get a video of you flying across the street, over the thames river, past different hogwarts places and lots more! Really really recommend it!

Date of experience : 16 September 2023

dreadful customer service- Still not…

dreadful customer service- Still not received confirmation email even tho money has been taken from my account- Emails, Phone NOT answered. Shameful service . NO way to get in contact -- Case Number WB-0416293 - Can PLEASE CONTACT ME.

Date of experience : 13 January 2022

very bad phone line been waiting for…

very bad phone line been waiting for more than 1hr no one answer how we can redeem the unsed ticket if no web site that can booked it or any customer service to answer the phone call.are they cant afford to pay someone to answer phone call even the ticket is not cheap.

Date of experience : 05 January 2022

Thank you to the wonderful staff

We travelled to the studio for the second time on 19th of July 2023. During the tour my daughter became unwell and the assistance we received was amazing. Firstly the staff then the medic at the studio. I want to thank you all so much for your care and attention. Fortunately the medic was happy for us to continue and my two kids and my wife and myself had a wonderful time. I can honestly say I was so impressed with the staff and the full experience. Thank you all again

Date of experience : 19 July 2023

Watford is not London

Watford is not London. Having a customer service line is useless if you never answer it. Don't tell people maximum 3 weeks delivery if that's not the maximum but instead the average. Losers. God I wish my Mrs wasn't into HP so I didn't have to deal with these jesters.

Date of experience : 12 February 2022

AMAZING Dinner in the Great Hall event!

Absolutely amazing experience! We attended the Dinner in the Great Hall event in December so it was also Hogwarts in the Snow. It was absolutely amazing from start to finish! Great food, amazing service and friendly staff. I cannot recommend it enough. The special event costs more than a usual ticket but you get so much included in the price and there were barely any people there so it made all the exhibits really easy to see and get photos with etc! Genuinely loved every minute!

Date of experience : 15 December 2022

Absolutely terrible customer service

Absolutely terrible customer service. These jokers cancel an experience one month in advance which may seem fair enough, but when it’s for your sons birthday and all they will do is refund your tickets and give you free tickets too come again is awful. They forget people save and prepay for travel and accommodation just to visit themselves. Their replies are typical corporate greed with no thought for whose really visiting. I wouldn’t recommend these jokers too anyone, the service would be better from a death eater than these lot

Date of experience : 21 October 2021

A fantastic place

A fantastic place. There were five of us including one adult in a wheelchair and we had no issues at all. Staff were polite and welcoming and we all had a fantastic day out. The food was good. The only recommendation we would make would be to slightly widen the queuing area at the gift shop as it was a bit narrow with the wheelchair

Date of experience : 10 August 2023

Absolutely brilliant

Absolutely brilliant. The staff are amazing. They really do go the extra mile for visitors. The sets are amazing. A must see for Potter fans. The addition of Gringotts is fantastic! My only complaint is the cost of food, but it isn’t any worse than other attractions throughout the U.K. I’d definitely go for a 3rd visit

Date of experience : 13 October 2021

I cannot recommend the tour

I cannot recommend the tour. At the beginning, they chase you from place to place, everything is so fast that you can't even breathe. He speaks fast, so if you are not a native speaker, you don't even know what is going on. Some staff are very rude and arrogant. Overall, the staff ruined the whole experience (which I was looking forward to for half a year) for me. I see no reason for the staff to yell at someone for being sick and I just want to sit down (in the designated seat). I threw money for plane tickets, train tickets and entrance fees out the window. It's probably a coincidence that I ran into a moron, but I'm judging based on my experience, and it was very bad. Don't be fooled by the photos and check the quality, when I opened the photos at home I found out why they only show it at speed - my hand was completely square!

We loved it

We loved it. A family of 5! Great experience & totally worth it. We booked a Saturday evening tour at 5.30pm. It was busy but less crowded. No long ques & easy to take photos. Staff were welcoming & friendly. Special thanks to the lady member of staff who came to our rescue when my 2year old boy decided to have a screaming meltdown half an hour round. She was excellent & took us to the sensory room for some time out, offering us water. Would definitely recommend & go back.

Date of experience : 22 May 2022

Gift tickets are a scam

Gift tickets are a scam: don't buy. Impossible to redeem on their site, which does everything possible to make sure it doesn't recognise the details. Basically they get your money for ages, then you can't get a ticket or redeem a voucher. Avoid!

Date of experience : 23 August 2022

A Must for Harry Potter Fans!

I've visited the tour three times now over around the last 5 years and I still love it each time I visit! There's so much to see and I usually spend around 2-3 hours there. My favourite parts of the tour are the Hogwarts Castle replica as well as the Diagon Alley set. It's great that new things get added to the tour and that there are different themes (such as Christmas and dark arts) so that the visits vary each time.

Date of experience : 15 December 2021

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Create new list with Junior Product Designer - Warner Bros. Studio Tour London (WBSTL) - The Making Of Harry Potter

  • Level Junior
  • Professions Product Designer, Art Director, Graphic Designer
  • Type Full Time
  • Location London, United Kingdom

Like this job?   Notify me with jobs that are similar

Description

  • Understanding of project briefing requirements and concepts
  • Producing final design solutions (logos, banners, interfaces)
  • Be able to present creative ideas confidently
  • Collaborating with other business units and team members to launch projects
  • Work alongside designers in team to improve knowledge
  • Previous experience as a Junior or Graphic Designer
  • Proficient in Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Acrobat with general knowledge using Word, Power point and Excel
  • Understanding of visual elements like layout, type and fonts

Skills Required

  • Product Design
  • Communication Skills
  • Project Management

People who have worked with Warner Bros.

amy angold

  • Amplify , Amy Angold Studio , The Sunshine Company , studio boo , mark lawson bell studio , JAM DESIGN

Esai Asiaw

  • Dazed Media , Studio QI-NI , Eye-D Creative , Warner Bros.

Simon Bird

  • Creative Director

Alexandra Dorian

Alexandra Dorian

  • Film & Creative Development Professional
  • Self Employed , Entertainment One , The Walt Disney Company , Sony Pictures Entertainment , Universal Pictures , Paramount Pictures , 20th Century Fox , Warner Bros. , Chapter 27 , Delirious , The Hoax

warner bros studio tour london review

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Reviews 3.3.

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Totally amazing

As soon as you walk in, you wow from the start.. Having never watched a Harry Potter film, I'm so looking forward to watching them all in a day or two when I'm off work. My niece Ruby who's 10 loves and knows all about Harry Potter said I am very lucky to go.. I now know what she means. I went with a friend who needed help looking after two grandchildren 9 n 10. What a great time we had.Totally amazing work throughout the studio. Just one word of warning food and souvenirs are truly expensive. Not pocket money friendly at all for some. Take your own food and buy a postcard to keep.

Date of experience : February 14, 2024

amazing amazing amazing

I've been about 4 times, most recently just last week and it has always been, and will always be, an AMAZING experience from start to finish. All the staff are extremely nice and knowledgeable, but the place itself?? Beyond any dreams!! It has everything, or at least most of the things any fan would want to see and the graphics, design and technology involved is astonishingly well done. I'm so proud for Harry Potter to be a British creation and so proud we have the studios, with a lot of original items, here. And the shop at the end!? Absolute heaven, can spend a good few hours there even though it's so pricey

Date of experience : August 15, 2023

Wonderful experience at the studio

I had a wonderful time at the studio both enjoying foods, drinks and if course experiencing the sets, probs special effects and so on. And the staff were soo awesome and helpful. I was visiting with my husband and 1,5 year old and it we are definitely going back next time we are in London.

Date of experience : October 17, 2023

Tickets not arrived! No Christmas present to give now!!

I ordered 2 x adult and 1 x infant gift souvenir tickets on the 5th November and the money has gone out of my account. Got an email to say the tickets were dispatched on the 28th November but now almost a month later they have not arrived and I do not have a Christmas present to give my partner. I have tried emailing 4 times but no reply. Messaging on social media but no reply. Live chat never has any agents available. Whenever I call it says the wait time is over an hour so I don’t have the time so wait since that’s longer than my lunch breaks at work! If I want to speak to someone I will have to book a day off work to account for the wait time! Emails all go to junk and can’t find an email with a booking reference either. So feel like all hope is lost with these tickets. I’ve been to the tour twice previously but can’t help but feel like I’ve now been scammed and no way to get my tickets. Now have no present to give my other half. So angry and disappointed.

Date of experience : December 19, 2023

Absolutely fantastic day out

Absolutely fantastic day out. Your eyes really couldn't take it all in. Interactive displays and with staff so interesting. Yes they want to upsell with photos and videos but you suit your own budget. Eating in the food court wasn't overly expensive and it was very tasty. The Butter Butterbeer was delicious and a must try. Worth every penny!

Date of experience : March 26, 2023

Magically... they changed the dates

We went to the Warner website to buy the tickets. Our goal was to buy them for 28 December 2023. We waited 15 minutes in the queue to access the website and when we were released, we chose the date and the number of tickets, in our case, 2 adults and 2 young people. We followed the step-by-step instructions to pay and we did so. Strangely enough, when we went to check the tickets, the date of the visit "magically" changed to 28 September 2023. We've already sent three forms and no-one has replied. We've called and we simply can't understand what's being said on the phone. We urgently need to change the date to 28 December, otherwise we'll lose the money we've paid.

Date of experience : September 24, 2023

Security at entrance is unbeliveably…

Security at entrance is unbeliveably rude. Put up a sign with instructions to tell visitors what to do when entering instead of yelling at them…we have paid ridicoulous money to visit!! Show some respect and common courtesy!! First and last visit

Date of experience : October 02, 2022

Awesome place for Harry Potter Fans!

We went to warner bros harry potter studio, it was amazing! Really kind staff who gave you lots of details about everything, even though the tickets were pricey it was totally worth it. My daughter had an awesome time, there was lots to see! you can even interact with stuff around the place, in the greenhouse, the train, and lots more! we were able to get my daughter a minister for magic I.D card with her picture on and information all about her hair colour, her eyes, and more. You can buy different candies, and even meet some death eaters, learn some wand skills, shop whilst your touring, and take photos with them! you can have a go on the broomstick green screen experience which my daughter loved, and get a video of you flying across the street, over the thames river, past different hogwarts places and lots more! Really really recommend it!

Date of experience : September 16, 2023

dreadful customer service- Still not…

dreadful customer service- Still not received confirmation email even tho money has been taken from my account- Emails, Phone NOT answered. Shameful service . NO way to get in contact -- Case Number WB-0416293 - Can PLEASE CONTACT ME.

Date of experience : January 13, 2022

very bad phone line been waiting for…

very bad phone line been waiting for more than 1hr no one answer how we can redeem the unsed ticket if no web site that can booked it or any customer service to answer the phone call.are they cant afford to pay someone to answer phone call even the ticket is not cheap.

Date of experience : January 05, 2022

Thank you to the wonderful staff

We travelled to the studio for the second time on 19th of July 2023. During the tour my daughter became unwell and the assistance we received was amazing. Firstly the staff then the medic at the studio. I want to thank you all so much for your care and attention. Fortunately the medic was happy for us to continue and my two kids and my wife and myself had a wonderful time. I can honestly say I was so impressed with the staff and the full experience. Thank you all again

Date of experience : July 19, 2023

Watford is not London

Watford is not London. Having a customer service line is useless if you never answer it. Don't tell people maximum 3 weeks delivery if that's not the maximum but instead the average. Losers. God I wish my Mrs wasn't into HP so I didn't have to deal with these jesters.

Date of experience : February 12, 2022

AMAZING Dinner in the Great Hall event!

Absolutely amazing experience! We attended the Dinner in the Great Hall event in December so it was also Hogwarts in the Snow. It was absolutely amazing from start to finish! Great food, amazing service and friendly staff. I cannot recommend it enough. The special event costs more than a usual ticket but you get so much included in the price and there were barely any people there so it made all the exhibits really easy to see and get photos with etc! Genuinely loved every minute!

Date of experience : December 15, 2022

Absolutely terrible customer service

Absolutely terrible customer service. These jokers cancel an experience one month in advance which may seem fair enough, but when it’s for your sons birthday and all they will do is refund your tickets and give you free tickets too come again is awful. They forget people save and prepay for travel and accommodation just to visit themselves. Their replies are typical corporate greed with no thought for whose really visiting. I wouldn’t recommend these jokers too anyone, the service would be better from a death eater than these lot

Date of experience : October 21, 2021

A fantastic place

A fantastic place. There were five of us including one adult in a wheelchair and we had no issues at all. Staff were polite and welcoming and we all had a fantastic day out. The food was good. The only recommendation we would make would be to slightly widen the queuing area at the gift shop as it was a bit narrow with the wheelchair

Date of experience : August 10, 2023

Absolutely brilliant

Absolutely brilliant. The staff are amazing. They really do go the extra mile for visitors. The sets are amazing. A must see for Potter fans. The addition of Gringotts is fantastic! My only complaint is the cost of food, but it isn’t any worse than other attractions throughout the U.K. I’d definitely go for a 3rd visit

Date of experience : October 13, 2021

I cannot recommend the tour

I cannot recommend the tour. At the beginning, they chase you from place to place, everything is so fast that you can't even breathe. He speaks fast, so if you are not a native speaker, you don't even know what is going on. Some staff are very rude and arrogant. Overall, the staff ruined the whole experience (which I was looking forward to for half a year) for me. I see no reason for the staff to yell at someone for being sick and I just want to sit down (in the designated seat). I threw money for plane tickets, train tickets and entrance fees out the window. It's probably a coincidence that I ran into a moron, but I'm judging based on my experience, and it was very bad. Don't be fooled by the photos and check the quality, when I opened the photos at home I found out why they only show it at speed - my hand was completely square!

We loved it

We loved it. A family of 5! Great experience & totally worth it. We booked a Saturday evening tour at 5.30pm. It was busy but less crowded. No long ques & easy to take photos. Staff were welcoming & friendly. Special thanks to the lady member of staff who came to our rescue when my 2year old boy decided to have a screaming meltdown half an hour round. She was excellent & took us to the sensory room for some time out, offering us water. Would definitely recommend & go back.

Date of experience : May 22, 2022

Gift tickets are a scam

Gift tickets are a scam: don't buy. Impossible to redeem on their site, which does everything possible to make sure it doesn't recognise the details. Basically they get your money for ages, then you can't get a ticket or redeem a voucher. Avoid!

Date of experience : August 23, 2022

A Must for Harry Potter Fans!

I've visited the tour three times now over around the last 5 years and I still love it each time I visit! There's so much to see and I usually spend around 2-3 hours there. My favourite parts of the tour are the Hogwarts Castle replica as well as the Diagon Alley set. It's great that new things get added to the tour and that there are different themes (such as Christmas and dark arts) so that the visits vary each time.

Date of experience : December 15, 2021

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New Warner Bros. Studio Tour 2024

Updated for 2024.

The Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood is a wonderful chance to peek behind the curtain and see how movies and TV shows are made, and visiting the Warner Bros. lot means you’ll get a big dose of Hollywood history while you’re at it.

The tour was totally redesigned in 2021, having been completely upgraded with never-before-seen experiences and interactive exhibits sure to delight fans of Warner Bros. movies and TV shows. And for the first time, the tour is welcoming kids ages 5 and up.

From the new Welcome Center and expanded Studio Store, you’ll get to experience the new Storytelling Showcase, a new Action and Magic interactive exhibit featuring the DC superheroes and characters from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series, an expanded Central Perk Café and Friends Boutique, and quite a bit more as a guest on the Studio Tour.

What’s New on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour

The first new thing you’ll experience on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour is the Welcome Center. This is where you’ll check in for your tour and where you can shop at the expanded Studio Store as well. Note that the store is open to the public even if you’re not taking the tour. It’s filled with merchandise from both classic and contemporary Warner Bros. movies, as well as their beloved TV series.

There’s a Starbucks in the Welcome Center, just in case you need some coffee, and you’ll be greeted by an impressive oversize sculpture from the Triwizard Tournament (from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ), and both Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny (in bronze statue form).

Related: Wonka Movie Review

Storytelling showcase.

This experience is where you’ll learn about the history of Warner Bros., from its origins in 1923 through its nearly 100-year journey making the entertainment we’ve all enjoyed. You’ll see a sampling of the studio’s film, TV and animation titles, as well as some of the technological innovations. Take a selfie with a replica of the iconic WB water tower, see mini versions of the famous Sound Stages, and walk on an aerial view of the sprawling studio lot printed on the floor.

Central Perk Café and Friends Boutique

Friends fans may never want to leave this sprawling re-creation of their favorite show’s sets. Sit on the famous couch at Central Perk, lounge in Joey and Chandler’s recliners and watch clips from the show, or hang out in Monica and Rachel’s apartment. And you can do all of this while enjoying delicious food from the Central Perk Café next door. Before you leave, you’ll want to shop at the Friends boutique, which has some fan merchandise found nowhere else.

Stage 48: Script to Screen Experience

Have you ever wondered about how on-screen magic is made? You’ll get a taste of what’s involved when you check out the Script to Screen section, which includes a special Post-Production interactive area. Learn about Foley Artists, Sound Mixers, Film Editors, and ADR Mixers. ADR, which stands for Automated Dialogue Replacement, is the process of replacing the actor’s voice that was recorded during production with a new version.

Sometimes when crews are filming, there’s extraneous noise that makes an actor’s dialogue unusable, or sometimes a new line is written and needs to be recorded. Whatever the reason, the way new dialogue is recorded and added to the film is something you can try for yourself. Stand in the booth, choose a scene, and you’ll get to record your voice coming out of a movie star’s mouth!

Action and Magic Made Here

Whether you’re a fan of the DC superheroes , the Harry Potter series , cool costumes and movie sets, or if you just like to be delighted, the Action and Magic Made Here experience is going to be your favorite part of the tour.

Wonder Woman fans get the treat of posing with her wings from WW84 , or from squeezing her lasso for a special surprise. They also get to see many costumes from the Wonder Woman movies, and even the classic Lynda Carter TV series look.

Not to be outdone, Aquaman, Superman, Batman, and Shazam are well represented for their fans (and fans of their villains), and you’ll find costumes, props, and vehicles from their movies, as well as larger than life posters and sculptures.

Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts

We predict Harry Potter fans are going to love this section of the tour. There are several interactive experiences they can choose to try, like taking a lesson in wand choreography, sitting on Harry’s bed under the stairs, mixing a few potions in Professor Snape’s classroom, or possibly the best one: letting the Sorting Hat choose which house you belong to at Hogwarts.

There are other great photo opportunities and interactives just within the Harry Potter section, and as a bonus, if you download the free Harry Potter Fan Club App, keep an eye out for the Enchanted Keys placed throughout the exhibit, and scan them when you see them, you’ll unlock hidden surprises.

Warner Bros Studio Tour Tickets and Info

Get tickets now via our affiliate link.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour 3400 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505 (818) 977-8687 [email protected]

Studio Tours are held on weekends from 9am – 3:30pm.

Beginning July 15, 2021, Tours will be held Thursdays – Mondays.

Ticket Prices (note: ticket price may vary)

Tickets must be reserved online in advance.

Parking costs $15 per vehicle.

More About the Studio Tour

The Studio Tour has a one hour Guided portion, and about two hours of unguided, self-directed time in total. The Guided portion of the tour is spent largely on the Tour Carts, riding throughout the studio lot with a tour guide to explain and answer questions. The rest of the tour is made up of time you’ll spend dining, shopping and exploring the interactive experiences. You’ll be able to complete this on your own time, and it may take you less than two hours.

The Warner Bros. Studio Tour is available in English and Spanish.

The Warner Bros. Deluxe VIP Tour

Note that the Deluxe VIP tour has not resumed in 2021. Stay tuned for updates. What follows is based on the tour as it was in 2012.

The VIP Deluxe Tour begins with a movie overview of some of the classic films and TV shows that were filmed on the lot, and it makes for quite an impressive resume. Beginning with The Jazz Singer in 1927, and continuing with films like The Maltese Falcon , A Streetcar Named Desire , The Music Man , What’s Up Doc , The Matrix Trilogy and all the versions of Ocean’s Eleven , Warner Bros. has been responsible for many great films – too many to name here. 

Plus, dozens and dozens of our favorite TV Shows come from Warner Bros., like ER , Friends , Pretty Little Liars , Ellen , The West Wing ,  The Drew Carey Show , and so many more. You’ll see clips of many of them in the presentation – and immediately wish you had them all in your Netflix queue.

Academy Awards for Everyone!

On your tour, you’ll get to do something only members of the Motion Picture Academy usually get to do: hold an Oscar ! It’s surprisingly heavy, just like all the actresses say when they win – and it’s like a little dream come true when you get your photo taken. At least it was for me .

After that, your tour guide greets you and your group and leads you out to your “private” golf cart which will ferry you around the 10-acre lot for the 5-hour Tour. Photography is permitted in most places on the lot, however, some spots are off-limits and your tour guide will keep you informed.

Celebrity sightings are not uncommon on tours during the week (but rare on the weekends), and of course these can be a highlight of the experience, but since this is where the actors are at work, tour attendees are encouraged not to yell or accost the stars they may see. Photos with celebrities are not unheard of, though, especially if the rules are followed, so keep your eyes peeled and your fingers crossed.

The tour takes you through the backlot, which has doubled for every major city in the world over the years, and the “jungle”, which plays home to the exterior scenes of Pretty Little Liars and True Blood currently, but many others over the years as well.

ER was a major player on the Warner Bros. lot for the 15 years of its run, and so there are many spots on the tour that turn out to have been filmed as part of the show.

Related: Best Live Audiences to be part of in Los Angeles

The Tour Guides are all extremely knowledgeable about the history of the lot and about all the shows that are currently filming there. Each one brings their personality to the job – one they clearly relish. They really make the Tour special and worth every penny.

The tour continues with visits to the Prop department, where you’ll see replicas of the Maltese Falcon, the Wardrobe department where they construct the specialty costumes, and the Transportation and Picture Car department with cars on display like the Scooby Doo van, the Batmobile and the flying car from Harry Potter .

Plus there’s a special Green Screen photo opportunity there as well, where you can pretend you’re waiting for the Hogwarts Express, and there’s a fun stop at the preserved set of Central Perk from Friends .

There’s a visit to the sound department to see how special sound effects are made, some still “by hand”, even in this digital age.

Of course there are set visits, although not to those where there’s a crew actually working. Still, it’s amazing to see the rooms up close that you’ve only seen on TV or on the big screen. The attention to detail is fascinating.

One of the highlights of every tour is visiting the Warner Bros. Studio Museum . Some of the most famous costumes and props from their most popular movies and TV shows are on display. On any given day, you might see Ingrid Bergman’s suit from Casablanca or Voldemort’s cape from Harry Potter . Oh and for the serious Harry Potter fans: you can sit under the Sorting Hat and find out which house you belong to!

And did I mention lunch? Lunch at the Warner Bros. Commissary is included with the price of the tour. The setting is elegant and the food is terrific.

All in all, the Warner Bros. VIP Deluxe Tour is a wonderful way to spend the day.

MomsLA was invited to experience the new Warner Bros. Studio Tour in order to write this review.

This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase anything, once you click through, you will not be charged any additional fees, but we will be paid a commission by the advertiser. As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you for supporting MomsLA.com.

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The Warner Bros. Studio Tour was totally redesigned in 2021 and is not to be missed.

IMAGES

  1. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London Tips & Review for Harry Potter Fans

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  2. 2019 highlights at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London

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  3. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London Tips & Review for Harry Potter Fans

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  4. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London Tips & Review for Harry Potter Fans

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  5. A Magical Guide to the Warner Bros Studio Tour in London: Everything

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  6. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London Tips & Review for Harry Potter Fans

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COMMENTS

  1. Harry Potter Studios, London: Full review & useful tips

    Harry Potter Studios, London: Full Review Of The Warner Bros Studio Tour. January 12, 2020. In Cultural Travel, Destinations, England, Europe, London. The Harry Potter Studio Tour takes you behind the scenes to see the real film sets, original costumes, Platform 9 ¾, Hogwarts Castle and so much more. And it's not just for Harry Potter fans.

  2. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London

    Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter and Oxford Day Trip. 205. Full-day Tours. 6+ hours. If you're a fan of Harry Potter, no visit to London is complete without exploring Warner Bros Studios and Oxford, home to… Recommended by 92% of travelers. 92% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher. ...

  3. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London

    Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter and Oxford Day Trip. 205. Full-day Tours. 6+ hours. If you're a fan of Harry Potter, no visit to London is complete without exploring Warner Bros Studios and Oxford, home to… Recommended by 92% of travellers. 92% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher. ...

  4. Review: Warner Bros Harry Potter Studio Tour London

    The Warner Bros Harry Potter Studio Tour is huge, and there's really a lot to see. I had more than 400 pics and narrowed them down to 86, then to 30. You've got props and accessories and movie sets of all the movies mixed in the Harry Potter Studio Tour. You've got the the Ministry of Magic close to Umbridge's office, there's the ...

  5. Visiting the Harry Potter Studio Tour London: Review, Tips and Guide!

    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 ...

  6. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London Tips & Review For Harry Potter Fans

    Last Updated: April 5, 2021. A mandatory London attraction for Harry Potter fans is the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London. After visiting this magnificent tribute to the people, costumes, props, animals, and sets that brought J.K. Rowling's books to life, I now understand why people, including my daughter, become overwhelmed by emotion upon ...

  7. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London

    Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter. Stop: 4 hours - Admission included. Discover the magical world of Harry Potter, see how real life sets, props, and costumes were used to bring the story to life. Marvel at the attention to detail throughout the tour. as you stroll through the Great Hall, and some of the most iconic ...

  8. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London

    Review of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter. Reviewed February 27, 2019 . I am a Harry Potter movie fan and I must say that the Deluxe Tour experience is a bit challenging to review because of the cost. As promised on the website, the deluxe tour includes special parking section and a guide that meets you in a ...

  9. Warner Bros Studios Tour London Review

    We drove to the Warner Bros Studios Tour and there's plenty of free parking on site. It's really well signposted from the M25 and M1 and it's only 20 miles from London. If you need to use public transport, you can get a free shuttle bus from Watford Junction station.

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

    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. ... 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.

  11. WARNER BROS STUDIO TOUR LONDON

    Start your review of Warner Bros Studio Tour London. Overall rating. 339 reviews. 5 stars. 4 stars. 3 stars. 2 stars. 1 star. Filter by rating. Search reviews. Search reviews. Colin M. Elite 2022. PA, PA. 173. 730. 380. 1/8/2019. 20 photos. This place absolutely lived up to the hype, even on a Friday night which I was nervous about. It was ...

  12. Harry Potter Studio Tour London Review

    Warner Bros. Studio is located in Leavesden, which is quite a long way away from Central London. The best train station is Watford Junction, as there's a free shuttle bus from here arranged by the studio that ferries the guests back and forth at regular intervals.

  13. A Complete Guide to London's Harry Potter Studio Tour

    So when you read this review, remember that I LOVE all things Potter! The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter is probably the biggest pilgrimage site for Harry Potter fans in the UK. It opened to the public in 2012 and this April I was finally lucky enough to visit.

  14. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London

    Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter: Magical Afternoon Tea and Tour - See 46,477 traveller reviews, 51,452 candid photos, and great deals for Leavesden, UK, at Tripadvisor.

  15. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London

    Review of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter. Reviewed 16 October 2013 . I purchased tickets for Harry Portter World in London for my daughters 11th Birthday treat. I left it a little late to book the tickets online so the only tours available, on the date we wanted, were 6pm or 6:30pm. However, as they stay open until ...

  16. Review of Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour London

    London. We'd been holding off on visiting the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London (a favorite London day trip) until all seven Harry Potter books had been read and all eight films watched. Our older daughter was 7 at the start of this process, so it had been a long wait. The younger one hadn't started yet, but we weren't going to hang about ...

  17. 'Harry Potter: Magical Mischief' REVIEW

    This summer, The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London — The Making of Harry Potter celebrates the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) with "Return to Hogwarts."

  18. Review of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London

    Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter: Afternoon tea - See 46,474 traveler reviews, 51,452 candid photos, and great deals for Leavesden, UK, at Tripadvisor.

  19. From London: Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour

    Enjoy the wonderful wizardry of Harry Potter at the Warner Bros. Studio for a minimum of 4 hours. With the bus journey, the total duration is normally 7-7.5 hours, subject to traffic and the entry time. A small fee applies for children ages 3-4 for transportation only, as they require a seat on the vehicle.

  20. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London

    Discover the magic of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London! Explore authentic sets, props, and costumes from the Harry Potter films. Book now for an unforgettable experience. Contact Us; Close. Choose a Language. ... 80,683 Google reviews, February 2024. 2021 Travellers' Choice. Certificate of Excellence 2019. Best Family Day Out 2019. Best for Big ...

  21. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London Reviews

    Absolutely fantastic day out. Absolutely fantastic day out. Your eyes really couldn't take it all in. Interactive displays and with staff so interesting. Yes they want to upsell with photos and videos but you suit your own budget. Eating in the food court wasn't overly expensive and it was very tasty.

  22. Internal Communications and CSR Manager

    Warner Bros. Studio Tour London based at WBSL - The Making of Harry Potter is the only place in the world to showcase the authentic sets, props and behind-the-scenes secrets of the Harry Potter films at the location where they were made. ... Warner Bros Careers Reviews. Pros "The benefits are good and the hours aren't too bad depending on ...

  23. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London

    1. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter. Stop: 4 hours - Admission included. Discover the magical world of Harry Potter, see how real life sets, props, and costumes were used to bring the story to life. Marvel at the attention to detail throughout the tour. as you stroll through the Great Hall, and some of the most ...

  24. Return to Azkaban

    1 st May - 4 th September 2024. Join us in celebrating the 20 th Anniversary of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban with a brand new feature for 2024. Discover new filmmaking secrets and explore fan-favourite sets, built by the original filmmakers and available at the Studio Tour for the very first time!

  25. Junior Product Designer

    Warner Bros. Studio Tour London based at WBSL - The Making of Harry Potter is the only place in the world to showcase the authentic sets, props and behind-the-scenes secrets of the Harry Potter films at the location where they were made. ... It has attracted over 14 million visitors since opening in 2012 and has received over 40,000 reviews ...

  26. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London Reviews

    Absolutely fantastic day out. Absolutely fantastic day out. Your eyes really couldn't take it all in. Interactive displays and with staff so interesting. Yes they want to upsell with photos and videos but you suit your own budget. Eating in the food court wasn't overly expensive and it was very tasty.

  27. New Warner Bros. Studio Tour 2024

    New Warner Bros. Studio Tour 2024. Story by MomsLA• 2mo. Updated for 2024. The Warner Bros. Studio TourHollywoodis a wonderful chance to peek behind the curtain and see how movies and TV shows ...