One of the popular attractions in London for families is the Warner Bros Studio Tour: The Making of the Harry Potter. This is my review of the Warner Bros Studio Tour London, to let you know is it worth the time and price.
Do note that Harry Potter Studio is not a theme park. It is a Warner Bros studio, more like a museum with painstaking detailed sets containing costumes, props and everything else. The details and information on display is just overwhelming at times, but memorable for a Harry Potter fan.
You also need to note that the Warner Bros Studio is not in London, but outside the city in Watford (about 20 miles northwest of Central London). So earmark most of a day for this tour for travel to Watford, time taken for the tour, F&B, souvenir shopping.
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Tips for Warner Bros Studio Tour London
Book tickets in advance
This is an immensely popular activity in London with kids. So you must book tickets in advance. They get sold out quickly. Studio tour tickets are available from GBP 51.50 per adult. Only under 4s go free, and I think they are too young to enjoy any of this exhibition. There are ticket packages for families as well.
It is also common to book transport with the tickets since the tour is not in London. Combo Tickets and Transfer package can be booked easily. You may end up spending more on buying souvenirs and on food or drinks. So this is not a cheap day trip from London. For a family of 3 like ours, it cost us over GBP 200 on tickets and souvenirs. We did not spend anything on food, only on train travel to Watford and Uber ride back in the night.
Check opening times that vary as per season, before you go.
How to reach Warner Bros Studio
Travel by train: This is what we did. We took a train to Watford Junction, this is the nearest one to Warner Bros Studio at Leavesden. There is a regular electric shuttle provided from Watford Junction to the Studio Tour (it takes about 15 min). Shuttles run every 30 min.
Travel by road: You can drive directly to the Studios. Car parking is free outside the studio. (From London, exit the M1 at Junction 5 and then take the A41 (North Watford) for about 3 miles.
Bus Transfers: You can book a bus transfer with a combo ticket price. Or take a tour from Get Your Guide.
Reach before time indicated on the ticket
Keep 20 minutes for entering the studio (emailed tickets can be shown on phone at the main entrance) and bag check. At the entrance lobby, there are toilets, cloakroom and refreshment facilities. There is a Chocolate Frog cafe, Hub Cafe and a Foodhall in the lobby where you can spend time if you reach early. There is a Studio Shop for souvenirs both at the entrance lobby and at the exit.
It gets crowded during the day
Do expect crowds especially during midday and even more so in the evenings. It is best to go earlier in the morning hours to avoid crowds. In the beginning of the tour, when the passage is narrow, it feels like you get pushed a bit and can’t really spend time on something you particularly like. It gets eased up later when there is more space to move around.
The professional photos are not worth it.
The professional photos are really overpriced in my opinion. At 14 pounds, I recommend to stay away from a souvenir photo.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London Review
Here is my review of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London. We adults and my 11-year old daughter are big Potter fans and thoroughly enjoyed the evening.
The iconic sets
You will see expansive sets when the Harry Potter tour begins. The Great Hall is majestic. It includes the costumes of the students from each Hogwarts House. There are 2 large tables set up for dinner. And then you go through the Forbidden Forest filled with some trees and majestic beasts.
The Platform 9 ¾ , as expected, is popular. The Hogwarts Express stands here. Though the actual scenes in the movies are mostly shot at King’s Cross Station in London. There is also a well-known Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross Station to buy wands, school robes, Wizarding World treats, and movie prop replicas.
The Diagon Alley is stunning. There is where shops like Flourish and Blotts, Mr Mulpepper’s Apothecary and the Ollivanders wand shop.
It is also home to the Gringotts Bank. Gringotts wizarding bank is the most impressive of the lot. It has towering marble pillars, the grand hall is decorated with 3 marvellous chandeliers.
Outside is the Night Bus and Professor Sprout’s Greenhouse. You can do a fun activity like pull out a mandrake!
Thousands of props
The details leave you speechless. Take the potions class of Professor Snape, over 950 jars line the walls of this classroom. This was my favourite.
Professor Dumbledore’s office is equally mesmerising, there are over 900 memory vials placed. Gryffindor’s common room and bedroom has wonderful detailing. There are hundreds of costumes everywhere over mannequins.
Special Effects
The Chamber of Secrets door is a fully operational door created by the special effects team.
The effects used for the dragon encounter in the vault of the Gringotts Bank is just mind-blowing.
FAQs on Harry Potter Studio London
The Hub Cafe is right at the entrance under the dragon statue, it has Starbucks and bakery items. The Chocolate Frog Cafe at the entrance lobby offers ice-cream, cakes and hot chocolate options. There is also Foodhall that offers pizza, pies, burgers, salads and other meal options. You can have breakfast (until 1130 AM) and lunch here.
There is Backlot Cafe after 93/4th platform. This has burgers and hot dogs on the menu. Backlot offers both breakfast and lunch.
What are the transport options to reach Warner Bros Studio?
You can drive directly to Warner Bros. Studio in Leavesden. Or take a train to Watford Junction and then the studio bus shuttle service for the last mile.
There is also an option to book private bus transfers from London with your entrance tickets.
There is no time limit for this attraction, but you should set aside 3 hours for the Harry Potter Studio London tour. Time to travel is extra.
What is the best age to take your kids?
In my opinion, kids above 8 years would really enjoy this experience and of course, adults who are into Harry Potter.
The studio is open all year-round but there are lesser crowds during the winter months (November to March). During summer months which is peak season, it is better to go in the morning hours.
I think you would be delighted with the Harry Potter Studio experience if you are a Harry Potter fan. The detailed sets, the props and the costumes, and everything else would mean so much more.
What sort of souvenirs or gifts can you buy?
You can buy everything from clothing to stationery to robes and wands at the Souvenir Shop. A good spot to pick up theme based gifts from London. They are perhaps available cheaper online on Amazon.
Final Verdict on Warner Bros Studio Tour London
We went without any expectations or past experience at any Warner Bros Studio and had a wonderful time. The sets brought the movies alive. My daughter was just thrilled and left happy with her Hogwarts jacket. The last words for my Warner Bros. London Studio Tour review are that take your kids who are Harry Potter fans for a memorable family trip.
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What do you think of this Harry Potter Studio Tour? Have you been?
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