Ultimate Guide to Warner Bros Harry Potter Studio Tour London – Top tips to make the most of your visit 2023

Harry Potter Studio Tour Review. If you are a regular reader then you will know that Charlie is obsessed with Harry Potter. He has wanted to visit the Warner Bros Harry Potter Studio Tour London from the moment he heard about it. So you can imagine how excited he was when his dreams came true. The making of Harry Potter is an amazing experience and a must-see for all Harry Potter fans. On our visit, we discovered some things that can help make the most of your time at the studios. So I have pulled together this blog post on our tips for visiting Harry Potter World London. When we visited the boys were aged almost ten and almost six. Have you visited the magical world of Warner Brothers Studios Harry Potter?

AD – We have been invited to visit Warner Brothers Studios Harry Potter for the purpose of this blog post – Harry Potter Studio Review all words and opinions are my own.

Ultimate Guide Warner Bros Harry Potter Studio Tour Review London – Top tips to make the most of your visit 2022

 

Where is Harry Potter Studio Tour London?

The Harry Potter Studio Tour is located in Leavesden, Watford. Based in Hertfordshire it is best reached by car being less than three miles from the M25 and M1. However, you can also reach it via the Shuttle Bus that runs from Watford Station. This takes around 15 minutes and is included in the price of your tour ticket. When we visited we drove up from the South Coast. Staying overnight in St Albans. It is very easy to find with brown signs on the M25 telling you which route to take. The full address of Harry Potter World London is – Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden, WD25 7LR.

Can you park at Harry Potter World London?

Yes! I always get a little nervous when an attraction says it has a large free car park. I always want to know how large is large! But in the case of the car park at Harry Potter Studio Tour London, it is large. They can have up to 6000 visitors a day so believe me when I say the car park is large. For this reason, they do offer a premium parking option which costs an additional £10. This guarantees you a spot close to the entrance. When we visited we just had the normal parking and it was perfectly adequate. My advice would be to leave some additional time especially if you have tickets for late morning onwards. Especially with kids, it can take time to walk to the entrance. 

Top tips for booking your entrance tickets – Harry Potter Studio Tour

Booking harry potter studio tour tickets is really easy and can be done online. To make the most of your visit I would suggest that you book tickets for an early morning slot. Not only does this give you the opportunity to spend as long as you want there. But it also means that you are more likely to get those photos everyone wants without everyone else in them. As the amount of time you are there is not fixed, if you get tickets from lunchtime onwards there is a good chance that people from the morning tours will still be hanging around.

Also, be prepared to book well in advance for the best times. Especially at the weekends and during the school holidays. To give you an idea we opted for 9 am tickets on a Sunday and they were booked four months in advance. Be prepared to queue online to get into the ticket booking area of the website. 

How much does a Harry Potter studio tour in London cost?

We opted for a family ticket of two adults and two children which cost £159. It is also possible to purchase individual tickets which are £49.95 for an adult and £39.95 for a child, with under 4s free. So buying a family ticket makes a saving of £20.80. During the checkout process, you can also add guide books and digital guides. Along with an afternoon tea option. If you do not select the guides at checkout you can purchase both while at the studios. Although you are not allowed in the gift shop prior to going on the tour. And we only saw the digital guides at the entrance. But you can download a printable map from their website. 

Do I have to have watched all the Harry Potter films to visit Harry Potter World London?

At nine Charlie has not watched all the Harry Potter movies, he has got to the fourth one. Did this make a difference to his experience? I don’t think so. Some of the elements of the dark arts he had not seen so it generated questions. Likewise around some of the additional characters that appear in the later films. But it did not give the game away. Thought has been given to how some of the darker elements are presented and although I do not deem the older films suitable for him at the moment. The Harry Potter Studio Tour London was absolutely fine. 

What age is Harry Potter Studio Tour London most suited?

Harry was almost six when we visited. It is difficult to say if this was too young or not. I think it depends on the child. Harry does not have the longest attention span. So although he really enjoyed key parts of the tour, he was not interested in reading every single board. Although he did really love the interactive elements and would happily press the buttons over and over again. Giving Charlie a chance to make sure he saw everything he wanted. I can completely see why the entrance is free for the under 4s.

Arrival what to expect – Harry Potter Studio Review

We arrived at the studios fifteen minutes before our tour time as suggested. As you drive into the car park have your tickets ready to be checked (not scanned). Being the first tour of the day the entrance was quiet and we did not have to queue to go through security. First, they check bags and then you go through a body scanner similar to the ones at the airport. They do not allow you to take anything that is sharp into the tour. My husband had to hand in his pen knife which is on his keyring. We were given a little ticket and he picked it up on the way out. We left our coats in the car but there is a cloakroom where you can leave them and larger items. Electronic guides can be purchased from £4.95 each opposite the cloakroom. 

Once you are through security you are free to stop for a drink or something to eat before going on the tour. There are also toilets which we got the boys to use before starting. Toilets on the way round are limited. When you go through the tour entrance you are led to a holding room. There are plenty of pictures from the films to look at. While you wait to be let through to the cinema which is the first stop on the tour. Make sure you pick up your free passport.

What is a Harry Potter Passport?

The boys really enjoyed collecting the stamps for their Harry Potter passports. We picked ours up on the way into the cinema. Although I did notice that there was also a pile at the first stamp which is located near the Griffindor Common Room. There are seven stamps to collect in total at key areas of the tour. Plus finding answers to some questions and looking for pixies. They make a lovely free souvenir of your visit.

How long does the Harry Potter Studios Tour Take?

Well, that depends on you. We were there for five hours and I think we could still go back and probably see bits that we missed. The recommended time is three and a half hours. We took our time intentionally and stopped for something to eat in the cafe. But we didn’t read every plaque and we definitely didn’t engage with every interactive TV screen.

This was partly because Harry was eager to move on to the next exciting thing. We also did not have the digital guides which I anticipate would take longer. We did take part in the photo opportunities and some of the mischiefs managed displays. But there were no large queues for any of these. My advice would be to allow a whole day that way you will not be disappointed. Or have to rush around. Another reason to get early morning tickets if you can. 

Is Harry Potter World all indoors?

The majority of it is inside. The only part that is not is by the cafe about halfway round. Outside you will find the night bus, Privet Drive and the bridge from Hogwarts. Plus a couple of other photo opportunities. There is a covered walkway around the outside and you can avoid it altogether if you needed to by following the signposts for the toilets. Which will take you into the next studio without going outside at all. We did not have our coats and spent around fifteen minutes outside.

What does the Harry Potter tour include – what do you get for free?

Make sure you get your money’s worth. As well as the passport I mentioned above there are a number of other free activities to take part in. Including catching a broom by shouting UP. Wand training classes. Understanding how green screens work and the disappearing effect of the invisibility cloak and how it was used in the films. Seeing how the letters came through the letterbox. There is even the opportunity to make your own origami howler just like Mrs Weasley by Platform 9 3/4 as part of the new feature of magical mischief range of activities.

There are lots of tour guides around, easily spotted by their blue uniform. Ask as many questions as you can. Many are Harry Potter enthusiasts themselves and so happily answer questions. Especially in the creature effects area which is truly fascinating. Which was the husband’s favourite part of the Harry Potter Studio Review.

Pick up the free photo opportunities. There are plenty of places to get your free photo opportunities. Some lend themselves naturally to a photo such as Hagrid’s bike and Mr Weasley’s car. There are also some that have been set up specifically. Such as the one with the desks, in the vaults and platform 9 3/4. Make sure you charge your camera before visiting and if your phone battery is not brilliant, bring a power pack. You will watch to capture everything, there is nothing more frustrating than running out of battery. 

Can you tour the set of Harry Potter?

Yes! Much of the interior set area are made up of actual film sets that have been used in the films. Some have been recreated in the available space and some are actual sets. The largest two are The Great Hall and the newer Gringrotts both of these rooms are huge. They really take your breath away. 

Main areas of the tour – Harry Potter Studio Tour

There are several different areas of the tour Harry Potter Studio Review: 

• Cinema – Harry Potter Studio Tour

• First up is a short film that introduces you to the wizarding world of Harry Potter. With the introduction by Harry, Hermonie and Ron praising the whole team that made the films a reality.

• The Great Hall

• A huge area laid up with long tables just like in the films, catch the ticking pendulum and hear the fireworks in the hall. 

• Interior Iconic Sets at the Harry Potter Studio Tour

• Various authentic sets have been used in the films. Includes details of wardrobes and props along with key sets including the yule ball, common rooms, dumbledore’s office, hagrid’s hut and the Potions classroom. In this area, there is also the green screen experience where you can ride a broom.

• Dark Arts & Forbidden Forest

• Focusing more on the later movies there are some scenes and key props relating to the dark arts and death eaters. Sets from the ministry of magic and Dorloris’s office. Enter the forbidden forest and meet some of the creatures which live there.

• Platform 9 3/4

• Step on board the famous original Hogwarts Express, pose as you enter platform 9 3/4 and have a video taken of your very own run-in with a dementor. 

• The Backlot at Harry Potter Studio Tour

• Next to the cafe is the outside area with the night bus, Privet Drive and several photo opportunities. 

• Creature Effects  –

• Meet all the goblins, see the animatronics and special effects behind many of the creatures that appear in the films. Including the hippogriff, mandrakes, Hedwig and Dobbie. Find out all the scenes secrets of the harry potter film series warner bros. studio tour Hollywood

• Gringott’s Bank & The Vaults

• Walk into Gringotts with its magnificent crystal chandeliers and meet the head Goblin, before seeing the locking door of the Philiopshers stone vault, the silver and gold held within Harry’s vault and watching the dragon destroy the bank.

• Diagon Alley

• Where you can walk up the actual shop fronts used in the films including Ollivander’s wand shop.

• Model Room

• A stunning model of Hogwarts which was used in the films. You can walk around the large replica as it twinkles in the moonlight before having a firework display set against it.

I have covered each of these areas in more detail in the blog post below.

READ MORE – Harry Potter Experience London – What will you see?

 

Can you visit Privet Drive?

You can visit the outside of Privet Drive and the Dursley’s of course there is the opportunity for a photo outside the family home. It is not possible to go inside the house, although one of the first film sets you see is Harry’s room from under the stairs. 

What is there to eat at Harry Potter World London?

When you arrive at Harry Potter World it is possible to eat in one of two cafes at the entrance. Although if like us you are keen to get on the tour. You will be pleased to know there is another cafe in the Backlot area. When we arrived it was still serving its breakfast menu. Which consisted of cooked baps with a choice of bacon, sausage, egg and mushrooms with prices from £4.25. There were also some pre-prepared sandwiches and a kiddie bus meal. The kid’s meal costs £6.50 and comes with a juice drink, sandwich, piece of fruit or flapjack and then either a jelly or chocolate mouse. 

After 11.30 they start serving the lunch menu which has more choices. A selection of different burgers cost £9.95 each and hot dogs £9.25 all main dishes come with chips. There are also three kids’ options that cost £5.75. Three drinks, one butterbeer with a tankard, two packets of crisps, one bap with two fillings, a sandwich and a kiddie’s lunch box came to £33. You can find the menus for all the eating options online – Warner Bros Harry Potter Studio Tour menu opinions. It is possible to bring your own picnic as well and eat it in the cafe with picnic benches available inside and outside. 

How much is Butterbeer at Harry Potter World UK?

The one thing that Charlie was desperate to try out was Butterbeer. He was incredibly excited to find that it was possible to buy it in a tankard. The Backlot cafe is one of the only places in the UK where you can taste authentic Butterbeer. If you are only stopping for a drink then it is worth knowing that the queue on the right is for Butterbeer and ice cream only. It moves much quicker than the food queue on the other side. 

Butterbeer costs £3.95 for a small disposable plastic cup or £6.95 for a souvenir tankard. It is also possible to buy Butterbeer ice Cream, a waffle cone costs £4.95. But if you would prefer a keepsake then you can buy one with a souvenir sundae cap for £6.95. All of which will make your trip to Warner Brothers Studios Harry Potter even more fun.

How much are the pictures at Harry Potter World London?

There are two opportunities to have photos taken. The first is in the inside set area. Where you can appear on a wanted poster and shoot a video of you riding a broom. Along with still photos of you catching the golden snitch or flying in front of the castle. At this one, the price for the photos is £14 each, or two for £20, a poster is £20 and the video £20. However, you can buy all three for £50.

The second photo opportunity is on Platform 9 3/4 of Warner Brothers Studios Harry Potter. Where you can have photos taken in a railway carriage. Before having a video of the journey to Hogwarts. This includes trying to catch a chocolate frog and also coming face to face with a dementor. The prices are slightly different for these ones. It is possible to have a printed ID card, two of these with the video cost £40 or on their own £20 for two. I opted to have all the photos and the video digitally for £30. 

Shopping experiences – Harry Potter World London

There are three different gift shops. The first is a Christmas decorations shop in between the Forbidden Forest and Platform 9 3/4. This has all the Christmas related merchandise, some of which is not available in the main shop. The second is on the platform itself and is a smaller gift shop than the huge one at the end. 

I had encouraged the boys to save up their pocket money, my advice is to set a budget and stick to it. Nothing is very cheap and expect to pay a premium. There is even the option to get some items personalised. A packet of Bertie Bots is £9. Make sure you allow some extra time at the end of your tour to explore the shop properly. Charlie ended up with some coins for £25 and harry a gold bar for £15. A keyring costs around £9-12. There was some really unusual Harry Potter merchandise that I have not seen anywhere else. It really is a treasure trove for Harry Potter fans full of Warner Brothers Studios Harry Potter treats.

Can you stay overnight at Harry Potter World London?

It is not possible to stay at the studio itself. We opted to stay in a Premier Inn in nearby St Albans. This meant that we could get an early morning ticket without having to worry about leaving home really early. With parking right opposite the hotel and a whole range of different things to get up in the city. It is a great excuse to make a weekend of it. It is around a fifteen-minute drive from the centre of St Albans to Harry Potter World London. If you would like to read more about what we got up to during our stay:

READ MORE – Things to do in St Albans with kids 

Is Harry Potter London worth it? – Harry Potter Studio Review

Yes, yes, yes. Charlie was so sad to leave that I thought at one point we might get tears he had enjoyed it so much. The only way I could cheer him up was to promise a return visit when it is all snowy for Christmas. We had a wonderful visit and saw so much and did so much, I know that the boys will remember all the amazing things we saw and got up to. We have already started rewatching the films in anticipation and we can not wait to visit again Harry Potter Studio Review. 

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I hope you have enjoyed this post – Harry Potter Studio Review. Have you visited Warner Brothers Studios Harry Potter? What were your favourite bits? I would love to hear about your experience in the comments below. 

 

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Warner Brothers Studios Harry Potter