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Hear up muggles, it’s time to seize your wands and white-spotted owls, seize your ticket to Hogwarts, and prepare to climb aboard the Hogwarts Specific!
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, The Making of Harry Potter, is the solution to step into the magical world of Harry Potter.
It’s your likelihood to stroll among the many movie units, to see how props and motion moments have been made, get a behind the scenes glimpse into a few of your favourite scenes, and see authentic costumes worn by forged members.
In case you thought Harry Potter solely existed within the chapters of a e book and on the massive screens of films, assume once more.
The Harry Potter expertise helps you to get to go behind the scenes, on the place the place the movies have been made; Warner Bros Studios London.
The Making of Harry Potter studio tour is an interesting perception into the know-how and entire staff effort that goes into creating blockbuster films whereas sustaining the integrity of the story from which they got here.
This isn’t a theme park, that is an immersive look into the way in which that Warner Bros purchased this magical story to life.
On this information we’ll share all the pieces you should find out about taking a Harry Potter Warner Bros studio tour in London from getting tickets, what you possibly can see and do, and a few cool interactive experiences.
The place are the Harry Potter London Studios?
The Harry Potter Studios are situated within the Warner Bros Studios in Leavesden (simply exterior Watford), 20 miles Northwest of Central London.
It makes for a improbable day journey from London (or half day) and you may get there by both prepare or bus.
If you’re staying in London, get the London Underground to Hendon Central on the Northern Line.
Then, catch the Warner Bros Studio Tour The Making of Harry Potter bus from immediately exterior the station.
If you’re not touring from Central London, you may get the Southern Railway service to Watford Station.
You can too get direct prepare providers to Watford from each London Euston (20-minute journey) and Birmingham New Avenue (1 hour journey).
As a part of your ticket, there’s a shuttle bus from Watford Junction to the Studio Tour. It takes about quarter-hour and so they run at the least each half-hour.
Don’t concern if you’re not on a direct line when getting the London Underground – getting round London is simple.
Simply enable for additional time. You need to use Google Maps or the TFL Go app that will help you plan your route.
We caught the TFL Rail (Transport for London) out to the Harry Potter Studios from Shepherd’s Bush Station.
You need to use your oyster card/contact much less card if touring via London zones 1-9.
What’s the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter?
The Making of Harry Potter is a self-guided tour that takes you thru two soundstages and a backlot stuffed with authentic units, props, costumes, animatronic creatures, and particular results from the films.
It takes you across the precise location by which lots of the scenes in Harry Potter’s seven-movie franchise have been made.
For greater than a decade, proficient women and men and childhood stars stuffed this studio to present life to the magic of the books all of us love a lot into our actual worlds.
Magic just isn’t the one factor stirred up at these studios. It’s one of many largest studios within the UK and is the situation for a lot of movies together with the Incredible Beasts sequence, Paddington, Mission Unattainable, and Batman.
When filming completed in 2010, hundreds of artifacts, props, costumes, and extra, have been left behind, so to be able to protect and showcase them and produce the filmmaking magic to Harry Potter followers all over the world, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter was created.
Doorways opened on the 31st of March 2012 to hundreds of wannabe wizards and witches from all over the world and it has since grow to be one of many greatest points of interest in London.
There are lots of Harry Potter movie areas all around the UK, however they filmed a lot of the final films within the sequence within the tons on the Warner Bros Studio in London.
Over time, Warner Bros have prolonged the studio tour and added extra iconic movie units and props.
The Hogwarts Specific, the Forbidden Forest, Professor Sprouts Greenhouse, Gringotts, the Courtyard Fountains, the outside of The Burrow and a lot extra have been added since its humble beginnings.
Not solely are you able to go to the movie units and see among the film props, however you may also drink butterbeer, work together with among the magic, and buy your favourite Harry Potter Merchandise.
All about Warner Bros Studio Tickets!
How a lot does the Harry Potter Studio Tour Price?
As of April 2025, The Harry Potter Studio tour prices:
- Grownup – £56.00
- Youngster – £45.00
- Household with 2 kids – £180.00
- Household with 3 kids – £180.00
- Underneath 4s – free
We saved a bit of bit of cash by buying the household move. (that lined our 2 adults and a couple of youngsters)
Reserve tickets effectively prematurely. Tickets are often absolutely booked at the least a month prematurely.
We booked about 3 weeks prematurely as soon as we had our itinerary set for our journey to London, and had little choices left. And we traveled low season and proper on the finish of the pandemic.
In case you’re touring in the course of the summer season, I’d e book months prematurely in the event you can!
There additionally could also be particular exhibitions throughout your tour, and you may prebook a guidebook (£9.95), precedence parking in the event you’re driving (£10.00), or a digital information (£5.25) on the time of buying tickets.
You can too now add on numerous afternoon tea packages – how very English – and a Happee Birthdae Harry cake, which might be beautiful for a HP fan’s birthday! Though it’s reasonably dear…
The place do you purchase tickets?
You possibly can solely purchase tickets on-line – you CANNOT buy them on the gates!
Observe: Tickets are timed entry, which retains customer numbers decrease. I’d be sure you flip up on time, so that you don’t miss your entry.
We arrived about an hour early so stopped in at Bake Smart for a espresso in Watford whereas we waited to get the bus from the station.
They gained’t allow you to into the studios if you’re early, so that you’ll simply be ready within the automobile park!
What if there are not any tickets accessible?
Wipe your tears muggles! Wizards don’t cry, they get to work discovering an answer. Wave that wand. The luck you search could also be discovered hidden with a tour group firm.
The tour group ticketing system is a bit of completely different so chances are you’ll get fortunate with some spare tickets. It’s last-minute choice.
It’ll imply you’ll be venturing with a bunch, and it could be barely dearer. A few of them might even embody transport.
The Warner Bros Harry Potter Studio Tour Highlights
Okay, now let’s begin the magic! You’ll start by seeing the tiny cabinet below the steps and a room stuffed with posters for every of the films, some life-sized figures of Hagrid and the opposite different characters, earlier than shifting right into a small room for a particular results introduction.
In true Harry Potter model, the partitions above could have shifting figures of individuals sharing their tales and emotions in regards to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Guides will then take you to a theater to observe a small trailer in regards to the films.
Then the self-guided tour begins when the doorways slide open, and the smoke slowly unveils the Nice Corridor.
The Nice Corridor
I used to be anticipating to gasp upon first sight of the Nice Corridor, however for some purpose, it didn’t seize my creativeness as a lot.
After we visited, the Nice Corridor was set as much as be within the model of Order of the Phoenix so maybe its darker model didn’t really feel so enchanting.
And likewise, there isn’t a beautiful arched ceiling as they created that utilizing visible results.
However there’s a instructor’s desk on the tip of the room the place the Hogwarts professors sat, two tables on the aspect set for dinner, and costumes of scholars from every Hogwarts Home.
I gasped extra strolling into the Nice Corridor in Christ Church in Oxford, which is alleged to be what the Hogwarts Nice Corridor was modeled on.
Plus, all of the tables have been set out in Christ Church which made it really feel extra actual.
As you stroll out of the Nice Corridor and into the inside units at Harry Potter London studios, you’ll see informational shows of the manufacturing staff in addition to costumes from the Xmas Tide Ball and its lovely ice sculpture.
The Nice Corridor is usually adorned in the course of the holidays. It is best to attempt to time your go to for Halloween or Christmas to see the magic like it’s within the films, with hanging candles from the ceiling and gigantic Christmas timber!
Inside Units
It’s solely strolling via the inside units of the Gryffindor Boys Dormitory, the Frequent Room, Dumbledore’s workplace, Hagrid’s Hut, The Burrow, and the Potions Classroom that you simply understand how a lot consideration to element there was within the making of those movies.
You’ll even be stunned at how small the rooms are!
Give your self sufficient time to concentrate to all of the props and particulars of every room that embody costumes and show panels with attention-grabbing info.
Dumbledore’s workplace particularly had a lot to take a look at with cabinets stuffed with astronomical gadgets, telescopes, and star charts; the Reminiscence Cupboard stuffed with greater than 800 tiny vials; a whole bunch of books (truly British phone books) certain in leather-based; forty-eight portraits of former headmasters hanging from the partitions; and naturally, the sorting hat!
My digital information identified issues in every room to not miss with a narrative connected to it.
In between the inside units, you’ll discover shows sharing lots of the magical issues from the films just like the wands, horcruxes, and the animals of the Wizarding World.
At Hagrid’s Hut you possibly can see the intelligent methods filmmakers used to make Hagrid appear a lot bigger than different characters.
There’s an interactive space the place you possibly can sit within the chairs and take a look at it your self.
Quidditch
Surely, my favourite Harry Potter film second was seeing Quidditch come to life within the first film. It was precisely how I envisioned it in my thoughts, solely far more thrilling!
This Quidditch show will present you the way they made it occur.
Youthful kids will take pleasure in stepping as much as the broomstick on the Quidditch space to command it to rise as much as your hand. Now it’s your flip to fly the broomstick!
The Inexperienced Display Expertise
Fly on over to the inexperienced display expertise. I didn’t assume I’d take part, however as soon as I walked up with Savannah to supply her encouragement, I couldn’t assist however leap in for a witchy picture together with her!
And since it turned out so cool, I needed to buy it. I inform you; I should have drunk a “purchase all the pieces, it’s simply an excessive amount of enjoyable” potion strolling into the studios.
Savannah went one step additional and rode the broomstick round London. We opted only for the picture bundle as an alternative of the video one.
You’ll obtain a hyperlink to obtain the digital variations of the images too which I believed was nice.
There weren’t any strains after we arrived on the Inexperienced Display Expertise. I wouldn’t line up for a very long time to do that.
However, since tickets are timed entry, I don’t assume the strains will probably be that lengthy. However then once more, some folks might linger all day right here!
Additionally, round this space are many shows sharing how the visible and particular results staff created the magic and wizardry of this world we love a lot together with the flying automobile and the whomping willow tree!
Darkish Arts and The Ministry of Magic
The enjoyment of wandering via the units of the great magic will quickly be overshadowed by the darkness.
Beginning with the Loss of life Eaters Assembly at Malfoy Manor, you’ll gaze upon the recreated scene of Charity Burbage’s catastrophic finish with Nagini the snake.
Use your Digital Information to see the way it all involves life on the display.
I liked seeing and studying in regards to the Ministry of Magic on this part as effectively. The flowery purple and inexperienced tiled constructing was primarily based on a 19th century constructing in London.
It was one of many largest units constructed for the movies and required a whole bunch of extras for the movies shot there.
Most of the actors stated it was one in all their favourite scenes to movie – particularly as a result of lots of the extras have been their crew member buddies!
I additionally discovered the Professor Umbridge Show fascinating as I realized that as she gained extra energy on the Ministry of Magic all through the movies, her wardrobe turned progressively pinker.
All these tiny particulars I can’t wait to identify once I re-watch the films.
The Forbidden Forest
Time for a tentative stroll via the darkish and eerie Forbidden Forest. This was Kalyra’s favourite set on the Harry Potter Studios.
It’s a misty land of 19 towering timber, twisted roots, and big spiders.
Press a button and so they’ll fall from the sky, and life-sized Aragog with its furry legs spanning 18ft will creep out of the tree roots behind you.
Youthful youngsters might discover this scary.
Whereas I discovered it tremendous cool, it didn’t scare me. Not after our journey on the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey journey at Common Studios Orlando.
The journey broke down proper after we have been the wrong way up with these big spiders dangling over our faces!
Within the Forbidden Forest, there may be additionally a full-sized mannequin of Hippogriff Buckbeak, which first appeared in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Platform 9¾
Whereas they filmed a lot of the scenes for Platform 9¾ at Kings Cross Station in London, the crew recreated a part of the platform on a sound stage right here for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Half 2.
The prepare inside scenes happen contained in the prepare right here with blue and inexperienced screens for particular results just like the hopping chocolate frogs and flying Dementors!
Be sure you get your picture right here with the cart operating into the wall. The one at Kings Cross station can be very cool (Get there early to keep away from the strains!)
Now you’re completed the primary sound stage tour and are midway via the Making of Harry Potter expertise. Now for a break.
The Backlot Café
Now it’s time for one more magical expertise all witches and wizards can’t await – Butterbeer.
In case you have by no means tried a butter beer it tastes identical to it does within the e book – a cross between creaming soda and butterscotch! Your first style will probably be precisely because it’s described within the e book.
I used to be barely dissatisfied they didn’t have frozen butterbeer like they do at Common Resort, Orlando. I might sit and drink that every one day lengthy.
Situated midway although the studio Tour is the Backlot Café. The café has normal café meals – burgers and scorching canines and chili cheese fries – with loads of gluten free choices!
As I’ve gluten free necessities, I used to be impressed with how they managed this on the café. The primary query they ask is that if anybody has dietary issues and so they maintain that immediately, ensuring to prepare dinner your meals in its personal separate place.
The costs are going to harm for certain, and there may be indoor and outside seating right here and you’ve got views of the Privet Drive and magical automobiles.
The Backlot: Privet Drive and Magical Automobiles
Earlier than you enter Studio 2, you possibly can discover among the exterior units from the movies, together with Quantity 4 Privet Drive, the house of the Dursleys; the enduring Hogwarts Bridge created for Prisoner of Azkaban; and the purple double-decker Knight Bus.
You possibly can leap within the Ford Anglia and Hagrid’s Motorcycle for some enjoyable household images!
Creature Results
In case you liked the creatures from the Wizarding World, you’ll love the Creature Results room.
Uncover how they created Dobby the Home-Elf; the various options of the assorted Goblins, mandrakes, the Basilisk; the animatronic options of Buckbeak and Aragog; and the make-up results used to create the terrifying face of the Darkish Lord.
You possibly can even grow to be Dobby and make him dance!
Gringotts and the Vaults
One in all my favourite sections of the Making of the Harry Potter tour was the vaults of Gringotts Financial institution.
First, you stroll via majestic Gringotts Financial institution, full with goblin financial institution tellers.
In case you’ve carried out the Gringotts’s journey at Common Studios in Orlando, chances are you’ll stroll via right here fairly rapidly as they’re the identical.
Most fascinating within the vaults is studying how they used 38,000 items of rubberized treasure to create the scene for the multiplying cups in Lestrange Vault.
You possibly can take your picture right here in a spot that creates an optical phantasm of you misplaced in the course of the cups!
Subsequent to right here is the set for the Dragon Escape sequence of the ultimate movie. Be ready for a hearth respiration dragon to cost at you thru the smoke!
Diagon Alley
I wasn’t as enthusiastic about Diagon Alley in Harry Potter World London.
I do know Diagon Alley at Common Studios in Orlando just isn’t the actual factor, however boy did it really feel extra magical, particularly with all of the outlets opened and the fireplace respiration dragon on the finish of it.
However Harry Potter film followers will love how that is the actual Diagon Alley used within the latter movies full with quirky outlets and slated buildings. Once more, you’ll be stunned at how small it’s and the way darkish!
Hogwarts Citadel Mannequin Room
There isn’t a higher solution to end a tour of the Harry Potter Studios than on the mannequin of Hogwarts Citadel.
You’ll learn the way they constructed this 1:24 scale mannequin primarily based on manufacturing designer Stuart Craig’s preliminary idea sketch.
They filmed the mannequin with enhanced digital results to create an unbelievably actual Hogwarts Citadel that every one muggles, witches, and wizards lengthy to attend.
Take your time to stroll round and take note of the unimaginable tiny particulars completely hand-sculpted to scale.
On our go to, there was a particular lighting exhibit of the Weasley Twins fireworks exploding onto the aspect of Hogwarts. You possibly can see that in our Reel (+all the opposite cool issues talked about!).
Seeing Hogwarts Citadel was the a part of the tour the place tears pricked my eyes, identical to it did strolling into Hogsmeade at Islands of Journey in Orlando.
I believe it symbolizes the ability of magic, perception, creativeness, and permitting your self the grace to create what you see and really feel within you as a present for the world.
It blows my thoughts what J.Ok Rowling has created with the Harry Potter Realm just because she selected to scribble just a few notes down on a serviette throughout a time of great hardship.
She adopted that path and checked out what she dropped at all of us – a narrative of magic, friendship, braveness, and chance.
Has there ever been a extra in style story? Over twenty years later it’s nonetheless drawing in fanatical muggles of all ages from all all over the world.
All of us simply need to really feel a bit of of that magic from inside the realness of our Muggle Land.
The Studio Store
You finish your tour (after all) within the Studio Store. You possibly can’t entry it with out a ticket.
The merchandise retailer is kind of large and arranged into sections for every home and different issues like Darkish Magic!
No matter you need, this retailer has: jewellery, garments, posters, trinkets, knick knacks, housewares, books, video games and extra.
I liked the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio tour a lot that I purchased the T-Shirt. I couldn’t assist however choose up the black singlet prime with spells written all around the again. I really feel very magical once I put on it.
The ladies additionally picked up one thing to every bear in mind the expertise by and I additionally bought a Harry Potter memento e book, which you’ll order on-line when buying your tickets.
The Harry Potter Digital Information
At Harry Potter World London, you possibly can hire a digital information, which is a multimedia system with headphones that you simply put on round your neck.
The system shares fascinating information in regards to the units, props, and costumes on the tour by way of audio, video, and film galleries.
It options behind-the-scenes footage, tales, and interviews with these concerned within the manufacturing – forged and crew.
I used to be the one one in our group who bought the self-guided multi-media digital information. Craig and the ladies have been content material to wander round taking a look at all of the units.
The digital information enhanced the expertise for me, and I believe it’s a worthy improve.
I realized rather a lot, together with how the unique director pushed again HARD towards the Americanization of the movies i.e. making Hermione American or including in cheerleaders for Quidditch.
He was adamant the films maintain the British integrity of the books. And for that we honor him. Hogwarts doesn’t want cheerleaders or Starbucks!
For a lot of the units there will probably be a clip from the related film scene so you possibly can see how that set got here to life on the display whereas standing in entrance of it.
You possibly can rent them digital guides for upon arrival within the foyer (or you possibly can pre-book).
FOR KIDS: Exercise Passport
Whereas our teen didn’t need the exercise passport, Savannah and I had a great deal of enjoyable filling it out. It’s a enjoyable memento to take house and is totally free.
The Exercise Passport is a small booklet with just a few trivia and puzzles, which we didn’t do as we have been too caught up within the set magic.
There are a number of stations arrange all through the tour, so that you can stamp your booklet.
Memento Guidebook
After the magical expertise on the studio tour, I couldn’t assist however buy the Making of the Harry Potter Memento Guidebook.
It’s stuffed with enjoyable information, in-depth details about the movies tales and behind the scenes tales and secrets and techniques, and exquisite pictures.
I believe it’s price it for true Harry Potter followers as a reminiscence evoking memento.
You possibly can pre-book your Memento Guidebook once you buy your tickets.
FAQs Concerning the Harry Potter Studios Tour
Is the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter accessible?
The tour Warner Bros Studios Tour is accessible, and guests can carry one carer freed from cost. Ticket costs embody the electrical bus shuttle from close by Watford Junction station.
How lengthy do you want for the Harry Potter Studios Tour?
It took us about 3.5 hours to undergo the tour. You possibly can simply keep longer, particularly in the event you get the digital guides. I might say enable for at the least 4 hours. They do enable for that period of time with their final ticket allocation entry time earlier than closing. When you enter the studios, you aren’t on a time restrict so can keep so long as you want!
Is the Harry Potter Studio tour in London price it?
The Harry Potter Studio tour at Warner Bros is dear. BUT, in the event you’re a Harry Potter fan, or you possibly can admire film set, then I believe it’s completely price it, particularly if you’re visiting London with youngsters, or love the books and films your self.
If I examine it to different points of interest I’ve carried out all over the world, the worth is nice for what you get. There isn’t a worth on magic!
It’s one in all London’s greatest points of interest for a purpose so I might enable room in your price range for it.
All of us LOVED it. Kalyra (our 14 12 months outdated) was thrilled after we informed the ladies we have been going to London as a result of it meant she might lastly go to the studios – a dream of hers for years. (It made her London for teenagers record!)
Craig hasn’t seen the entire films, nor learn any of the books, but he totally loved the entire expertise.
Savannah (10 yrs) has solely learn just a few of the books and is beginning to grow to be extra of a loyal fan. She decked herself out with Ravenclaw gear after visiting the Studios.
Harry Potter World London (as some name it) is a improbable solution to enable muggle kids to really feel magic and assist them uncover what can occur once you dream large. That alone is well worth the ticket worth.
Subsequent, I’ll share just a few Harry Potter World tour extras that will improve the magic. It’s one of many causes we selected London as a favourite European vacation spot for youngsters.
The place to remain close to the Harry Potter Studios?
I’m guessing you’re a vacationer spending time in London. I don’t advocate you keep in Watford close to Warner Bros, there may be not a lot there!
You possibly can simply keep in Central London close to the opposite in style London points of interest you propose to go to. As talked about above, it’s simple to get round London.
We stayed on the improbable 4-star Hilton Kensington. It was proper close to Shepherds Bush Station which is on one of many prepare strains that takes you to Watford Junction. It solely took us an hour to get there and concerned one simple prepare change. We stayed right here for 2 nights as visitors of the lodge.
The new buffet breakfast was improbable and had a lot of choices and was an ideal begin to the day. I liked the children breakfast part they’d – the ladies particularly with the doughnuts accessible!
The placement of the lodge was wonderful. It’s solely a two-minute stroll to Shepherd’s Bush tube station and 5 minutes within the different route to Holland Park Tube, each on the purple Central line.
Shut by is the beautiful Holland Park and Kyoto Gardens ( a London park hidden secret) and Westfields Purchasing Middle is throughout the street – that is the biggest buying heart in Europe with greater than 265 outlets and 50 eating places.
On the Southern terrace closest to the lodge is a cluster of 17 eating places, which is the place we stopped for nice Thai one night.
Video: Harry Potter Studios Tour in London
See the magic come to life within the video under!
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