harry potter studio tour address

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Harry Potter™ Studio location in London | Find out the directions, best ways to get there & more

Where is the harry potter™ studio located.

Address: Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden, WD25 7LR.

Find on map

Harry Potter™ Studio is located at Leavesden in Watford, about 20 miles northwest of central London. 

Closest landmark: Watford Junction

Getting to the Harry Potter™ Studio by public transport

Best for: Convenience

Travel time : 15 minutes

Closest station: Watford Junction

Mullany's Coaches provides a regular shuttle service from Watford Junction to the studio. A normal route should take about 15 minutes, with buses running every 20 minutes starting at 9:20 AM. Usually, the last bus leaves between 6 and 8 PM. Please bear in mind that to use the shuttle transfers, you will need to show your booking confirmation.

You can also opt for transfer options from central London with Golden Tours who are the preferred partners of Warner Bros. Studios.

Best for: budget travel

Travel time : 16 - 20 minutes

The nearest train station to Warner Bros. Studios is Watford Junction. The studio is a 20-minute train ride from London Euston and a 1-hour journey from Birmingham New Street. Take the train to Watford Junction (£4.00) and then the roundtrip shuttle service (£3.00) to the studio. Oyster cards are accepted between London Euston and Watford Junction.

There are non-direct trains available too from London Euston but the travel duration to reach Warner Bros. Studios is longer.

Best for: ease of transportation

Travel time: 12 minutes (from Watford Junction)

You can also take a cab from the city to get to Warner Bros. Studios. Either catch a local taxi or book an Uber using the application. Given the long journey, you will have to shell out a fair amount of money to get to the studio.

Please note that if you are being picked up by a taxi from Warner Bros. Studios, the driver will have to present a valid booking confirmation/reservation at the car park.

Best for: time-saving

Warner Bros. Studios is easily accessible from the 4 major London airports. The distance of each from the studio is mentioned below:

• London Gatwick – 58 miles
• London Luton – 17 miles
• London Stansted – 47 miles
• London Heathrow – 23 miles

Getting to the Harry Potter™ Studio by Car

Arriving From The North

Take the Junction 6A exit off the M1 and get on to the M25, Heathrow. Next, take the Junction 20 exit and head southeast towards London (NW & C) on the A41. Keep left at the Hunton Bridge roundabout as well for the A405 (St Albans). Turn on to the left-hand fork and make the first exit to Warner Bros. Studios at the roundabout.

Arriving From London

Take the Junction 5 exit on the M1 and continue on the A41 (North Watford) for 3 miles approximately. Take the 4th exit at the Hunton Bridge roundabout. Keep left and take the first exit. Again, keep left as you approach the Y junction and then take the first exit to Warner Bros. Studios at the roundabout.

Parking at Harry Potter™ Studios

Free parking is available at Warner Bros. Studios car park. For disabled visitors, a number of parking bays with blue disability badges are also available. Please note that you will have to show your booking confirmations to the Car parking Team at the entrance. If you are visiting with a group but travelling independently, each vehicle will need a separate booking to be confirmed at the entrance.

Priority Parking

This parking facility is right outside the studio tour entrance and will require an online booking to be made with an additional payment of £10. Tickets for priority booking have to be made in advance and cannot be purchased on the day. If you have opted for e-tickets, then you will receive them as a mail attachment. Otherwise, the printed copy will be posted to your address. You will also receive a windscreen sticker upon your arrival at Warner Bros. Studios.

Harry Potter™ Studio from popular stops

• Budget-friendly: Traveling by bus is the most inexpensive way to reach Harry Potter™ Studio in London. Mullany's Coaches provides a regular shuttle service from Watford Junction to the studio.
• Fastest route: The fastest way to get to Harry Potter™ Studio is to drive there. It will take you about 10 minutes to get to the studio from Watford Station. 
• Sightseeing: Although walking to the studio would be a great way to soak in the sights of the city, the walk is far too long. You can travel by bus and admire the city on your journey.

• Budget-friendly: Traveling by train is the most inexpensive way to reach the Harry Potter™ Studio in London. Take the train from either London Euston or Birmingham New Street to Watford Junction (£4.00) and then the roundtrip shuttle service (£3.00) to the studio. Oyster cards can be used at any station.
• Fastest route: The fastest way to get to the Harry Potter™ Studio is to drive there. The journey takes around 50 minutes from central London to Warner Bros. Studios.
• Sightseeing: You can admire the landscape and London city by travelling to Harry Potter™ Studio by bus. You can choose transfer options from central London with Golden Tours and have a pleasant journey to Warner Bros. Studios. Driving down to the studios is also an option for a brief and fun road trip.

Book Harry Potter™ Studio Tickets & Tours

Frequently asked questions about the harry potter™ studio location & how to get there.

The Harry Potter™ Studio is located in Leavesden, London.

The Harry Potter™ Studio is in London, UK.

You can get to Harry Potter™ Studio by bus, train, or car. Shuttle buses to and from the studio are available from Watford Junction.

The fastest way to get to Harry Potter™ Studio is by driving there or by taking a local taxi/Uber.

The cheapest way to travel to Harry Potter™ Studio is by train.

The closest bus stop to Harry Potter™ Studio is Watford Junction.

The closest train station to Harry Potter™ Studio is the Watford Junction Train Station.

Yes, you can park at Harry Potter™ Studio. There is free parking for visitor, exclusive parking bays reserved for disabled visitors as well as Priority Parking.

Yes, there are several parking spots available for disabled persons close to the entrance of Harry Potter™ Studio in London.

Walking from Watford Junction takes about 50 minutes. We suggest taking the shuttle bus instead.

Harry Potter™ Studio opening times are from 8:30 AM to 10 PM. The studio is closed on March 30, November 7 to 11, and December 25 and 26.

Opening Times

About the Studio

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Harry Potter Studio Tour London

Everything you need to know about the Harry Potter Studio Tour­ in London . From how to book a tour, how to get there, what to expect, and what you’ll see at the Harry Potter Studio.

We’re just returning home from our first family trip to London, and I think my favorite part of the entire experience was the Harry Potter Studio Tour!

We’ve been reading the Illustrated Harry Potter books with our boys as nighttime family read-alouds this past year. I’ve always wanted that experience, and much to my delight, I think my boys (and husband!) have enjoyed the wizarding world even more than I have!

When my husband found cheap direct flights to London, we knew our boys (ages 8 and 5) would love to see all the Harry Potter nods in London. In fact, we revealed the trip with a Harry Potter scavenger hunt and let them know Harry would be a big part of this trip. The biggest part, of course, was the Harry Potter Studio Tour.

What is the Harry Potter Studio Tour?

The Harry Potter Studios Tour Lond is a tour of the Warner Brothers set that was used for 10 years to film the Harry Potter movies. It’s full of the sets, costumes, props, and magic of special effects. Essentially, it’s a walk through the footsteps of Harry Potter and a full guide into the making of Harry Potter films.

If you can imagine what it took to visually create the Magical world of the Harry Potter books, you’ll have a good idea of what you’ll see on the Harry Potter Studio Tour London! It’s incredible how many talented people came together to create the movie magic that is the eight Harry Potter movies. And this is the background look at so many of those elements.

How do I Get Harry Potter Studio Tour Tickets?

You’ll book your tickets online at the Warner Bros Studio official website . You do need to book these in advance , and the attraction usually does sell out weeks in advance. So the moment you know the date you’ll be available to see wonders of the wizarding world on the studio lot, I’d book those tickets immediately!

How Long is the Harry Potter Studio Tour?

We’d read you can get through it in three hours, but I’ll be honest, we could have spent all day. And for reference, we love Harry, but I wouldn’t call us complete Potterheads by any stretch of the imagination. However, we love the series, we’ve seen three of the movies as a family, and I felt a little rushed with 5.5 hours of time to tour the studio. We booked 2:30 in the afternoon, and I wish we’d arrived around noon. I think six or seven hours , including a 30 minute lunch, would be ideal.   Ideally, I’d book tickets at Harry Potter Studio opening times. If you are amongst the first visitors of the day, you’ll avoid a lot of the crowds and have the full day to enjoy the full-guided tour without any rush. But if you can book by noon, you should be in great shape.

How Do You Get to the Harry Potter Studios?

The studio tour is about 20 minutes by speed train outside of London. From Central London, you’ll book a departure time from London Euston station. HOWEVER, I’d start by heading to King’s Cross station and snapping a picture with a luggage trolley at Platform 9 3/4s. You could also hit up Kings Cross on your way back, but it’s a fun way to start your journey! Right next door is London Euston Station, where you’ll book your train.

The nearest train station is Watford Junction which has a direct train from London Euston station . It’s about a 20-minute ride, and there are several trains per hour. I’d plan to depart an hour before your tour.

From there, there is a shuttle bus run by Mullany’s Coaches, which goes from Watford Junction Station to the studios. Once you exit your metro stop, the Harry Potter shuttle bus is ready to take you to the lot. There are signs in the Watford Junction Station pointing you to the bus, and it’s right outside the station. They run throughout the day, with the last one leaving the studio at closing time. Their shuttle bus makes it incredibly easy to get to the from the Metro station. And they offer return transportation right back to the metro once your tour ends.

You can also arrive by car if you’d prefer to drive or book a car service. I’d plan 45 minutes-1 hour from Central London.

What to Expect on Your Tour

Harry Potter fans will be delighted to to walk through 10 years of artifacts from all eight Harry Potter films. You’ll see artifacts, costumes, props, iconic sets with scene shot secrets, and a few fun surprises. They have a fully-guided tour via handheld device that you can grab on your way in.

Personal Video Guide and Headphones

Don’t skip out on the guide, it is fantastic! It’s full of information, fun facts, movie clips, and narrations from the actors, director, producers, and J.K. Rowlings herself.

The guide is a mini tablet (phone sized) that does such a great job letting you interact with small video clips that explain each thing you’re going to see. You can choose to watch them all, or select those you’re most interested in. Let me tell you, I was happy to listen to them all! They are fascinating! And even our short attention span five-year-old enjoyed watching them and following along.

A Breakdown of the Studio Tour

You’ll enter the studios with a great photo op in front of the sign and a giant billboard for the first movie.

As soon as you enter, you’ll get a headset with a tour. From there, you’ll walk into the main atrium and be greeted by a giant dragon. It’s a busy gathering spot, but don’t forget to stop for a picture at this magical spot!

Tour Welcome

I loved that the tours start where the movies do: with a look at the room under the stairs at the Durselys’ home. You’ll walk past it to see several of the movie posters from different countries for all eight movies. It’s the first thing you see while you go through a queue toward a welcome movie. ­Don’t worry, they have comfortable seats and all guests are greeted warmly. The movie includes a welcome from everyone’s favorite characters, the three main stars. They begin with an explanation of how they basically lived at this studio and grew up here for ten years of their lives. They welcome you to explore the magic that happened as they grew up on set.

The Great Hall

The staff will usher you quickly into The Great Hall. This room is HUGE with so much attention to detail. Also, the setup just like you see in all the movies. I won’t spoil anything here for those who go, but the end of the walkthrough The Great Hall ends with a magical surprise. I mean cheering, clapping, sheer amazement kind of magic.

This is the one and only place they rushed us out of. They keep the entry queue moving and it’s the one experience they need to do in batches.

But you’ll exit seeing a few exam desks, and the transition to wardrobe begins with some of your favorite professors costumes on full display.

Right after The Great Hall, you’ll walk through a wardrobe section. There’s an entire wall with all the wigs, hair pieces, and so much of the specialty wardrobe created for the movies.

My favorite was Luna Lovegood’s wardrobe, which had a tour guide to pull out specific dresses and pieces for a closer look. I loved seeing all of Dumbledore’s robes! But I particularly loved Hermione’s Yule Ball dress. It’s stunning in the movies, and even more stunning in real life!

You can only imagine the great time, detail, and imagination each prop took to make! They had to get creative creating a wizarding world with unique props and the time and effort it took to create things that had never been made before. The hall with props talks about so many specific details, and how each was made.

Indoor Sets

There are a few rooms you’ll see over and over in Harry Potter films, and those rooms are in the middle of the studio with open walls for filming. The Gryffindor common room, Harry’s dormitory, the Slytherin common room are large and happened to be the favorite hangouts of actors in between scenes! But my jaw dropped at Professor Dumbledore’s office! It may be the most stunningly detailed room that you’ll see. And I couldn’t get over the details like the young Minerva McGonagall portrait in the Gryffindor room. Or the telescope and intricacies of it in Dumbledore’s office. Oh yes, and the Sword of Gryffindor hangs proudly to admire from a distance.

The guide also taught us that the stacks of books were hundreds of phonebooks decorated to look like ancient wizard books.

My personal favorite is the potions classroom. I could have spent hours staring at each of the potion jars. It was one person’s job to create each of the items in the jars, and they got creative picking up plastic animals and redecorating, visiting butchers, and inventing a large scale room with no detail spared! It was in fact such a popular space, they expanded it after the first film.

Truly, the details in each space are delightful, and we could have spent so much more time there staring at each!

Green Screen Experience

Let me warn you, if you go to this area, you will likely shell out money for the pictures and videos they’ll take! From the wanted wizard pictures to the green screen flying on a broom through famous scenes from the movie, they are so fun! We decided to tell them to take all our money here! I mean we know our boys will watch the movies of themselves and their parents flying on brooms for years to come!

Special Effects

The filmmakers had such a challenge to create so many magical scenes! The special effects area is where you learn all about their filmmaking trickery. You would think they would use mostly green screens in the movies, and there are plenty of those. However, I loved learning and seeing that they decided to mechanically build so many of the scenes that created special effects. They knew they could get real reactions from the actors with actual “magic” and if the budget warranted it, they always opted to build it.

We learned the cake over Aunt Petunia was lifted with tiny water streams- and got to see it happen live! They build machines to shoot letters everywhere. It was amazing to see so many mechanical items and real props designed to interact with greenscreens.

And honestly, the quidditch area blew my mind! I remember going to an opening night midnight showing of the first movie mostly hoping to see how they portrayed quidditch. It was fun to learn they made so many tech improvements quidditch looks almost completely different by the third movie. I was just geeking out over all the details and effects that made Quidditch happen on the screen!

The Dark Arts/Ministry of Magic

You round the corner to see THE TABLE full of the Death Eaters, or at least mannequins in their costumes set at the table. Right down to Professor Charity Burbage hanging from the ceiling reading to be consumed by a snake. It was a bit of a shock for our kids who haven’t seen that scene yet, but I guess now I won’t be too worried when we watch the movie since they saw the complete behind-the-scenes.

I watched the movie in the tour guide with a behind-the-scenes of the making of the scene blended with the real scene about three times. It is incredible to see how they planted actors, cameras, and CGI to make it happen.

Right around the corner is the Ministry of Magic with walls, offices, and even Dolores Umbridge’s table complete with cat plates and her pink costume.

And off to the side, you can take an interactive lesson from the choreographer who taught actions how to fight with wands. He is a martial arts expert who invented what fighting with a wand woud look like. Actors took three-hour classes to learn moves and physically practice with their wands. I loved watching my boys practice and perform some moves!

The Forbidden Forrest

There are enough magical scenes in the Forbidden Forest, they went right ahead and built it! This was another one they originally did for the actor’s reactions. Apparently, Rupert Grint (Ron) has true arachnophobia and knew what he was getting into with the second movie. They built Argon the spider to scale, with tons of other giant robotic spiders descending. And you can experience the whole scene yourself!

We saw Buckbeak the animatronic. And also Harry’s famous Patronus scene from The Prisoner of Azkaban. It’s a very surreal thing to walk through all these scenes!

Hogwarts Express

Warner Brothers bought an old train and had it transported to the studios. Which as you can imagine, was no small feat!

They transformed it to the Hogwarts Express, and I learned they had to give it a fresh coat of red paint before each movie.

Before you tour the train, there are a few fun things to do and great photo ops! Stop to take photos with a few luggage trolley options at Platform 9 ¾. Take a minute to make an origami howler and hear Mrs. Weasley send one to Ron. And pause for a photo with a letter inviting you to Hogwarts in front of the giant train.

You can tour the outside of the Hogwarts Express, and walk through a train car from each movie. I loved the frozen Dementor car from the third movie! But they were all fantastic!

At this point, you’re a little over halfway through the tour, and it’s a perfect time to stop for some food at…

Backlot Cafe

You’ll find mostly American fare here. There are mostly burgers, hot dogs, salads, and loaded French fries. We weren’t expecting much, but we all liked our food

Don’t skip out on the butterbeer sampler! You can try a butterbeer drink, butterbeer ice cream, and a butterbeer cupcake on a flight. We enjoyed them all! Our boys loved the butterbeer best, and Jacob and I both liked the ice cream best.

Outside Sets

The outside sets section is delightful- and where I started to wish we’d had more time! You’ll start with Privot Drive from the outside, and walk through the inside of the Dursley’s house. You can see the scene with Aunt Marge, including the inflated character props.

Next up is the perfect photo op stops with the famous vehicles from the movies. The Knight Bus is ready for pictures, as is Hagrid’s motorcycle and the Weasley’s card Ron and Harry drive to Hogwarts in book 2.

Creating Magical Creatures

We hurried through this part, and I’d go back just to have time to listen to all the commentary from the audio tour! We saw the masks and makeup that made up the goblins and trolls. There are giant snake heads, dragons, and all the fantastical creatures in one place!

Gringotts Bank

I was floored how giant Gringotts Bank is! I mean I know a lot was going on there with scenes of goblins working, but I never thought it was one continuous space!

You can look through vaults, see the famous desks, and then head to the next room for a literal bang. The Dragon escapes through Gringotts right before your eyes with all the Hollywood-style effects. It’s an incredible scene, and I can’t believe it’s all live with very minimal CGI!

Diagon Alley

Diagon Alley is a very real and continuous street with each of the specialty shops in a row. If we’d had another hour I would have loved to have spent it looking at the details in the shops.

But the ones I spent time looking in had me tickled with the clever details and elements inside! And the Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes shop tugged right at my heartstrings. You can see the magical pranks and homage to the beloved family in all the spectacular detail. I love that it’s there!

Hogwarts Castle

Obviously, it wouldn’t be in a movie budget to build a full Hogwarts exterior, but they definitely built a model that’s still huge to film all the panning shots of the castle. And you can walk around the castle and see some of the effects they used like winter shows, fireworks, and day and night time lighting. It’s amazing! And I can only imagine the CGI artist’s creativity turning the model into something magical and perfect for the scene!

Ollivanders Wand Shop

Before you head to the location where you can buy your own wand, you’ll walk through THE room where Harry bought his wand. They have boxes and boxes with labels on them used in the movie.

The Studio Shop

I feel strange calling it a gift shop, because this gift shop is also an experience! We walked out with one lollypop and a chocolate frog, but there was about every Harry Potter merch item you could imagine! Okay minus a Ravenclaw scarf that my Ravenclaw child had their heart set on! But I assured him we could find one elsewhere.

We almost gave into a Hedgewig puppet that moved its head and flapped its wings. But they truly had every character, animal, and even Fantastic Beasts creatures in stuffed animal form. The shirts, costumes, robes, candy shop, bags, and magical pens all amazed us!

Even if you plan to buy exactly nothing, it’s a fun place to walk through and experience a little magic in merch form.

Leaving the Tour

We had one kid start to cry when we left stating “I don’t want to leave! This has been one of the most magical days of my life!” Which I actually think sums up how our entire family felt!

The five and a half hours went by so fast, and we all were delighted by the experience! It exceeded our expectations! And as a family who make experiencing fun part of our lives (and mom’s job), we all agreed this was one of the most amazing things we’ve ever experienced!

I think it’s worth the money, and worth the time of travel even during a quick trip to London. Don’t tell Disneyland Paris I said this, but the Harry Potter Studio tour was the most magical thing we experienced on this family trip to Europe!

Harry Potter Studios Frequently Asked Questions

If you listen to the entire tour guide, it will take about five hours to complete the tour . We felt rushed with 5.5 hours and could have easily spent 6-7 touring. However, their website claims the average is 3.5 hours. It just depends on how much of the tour resources you want to consume and if you want to walk through or stop to listen and learn about every detail.

As Harry Potter fans who wouldn’t quite classify themselves as Potterheads, we would say this is 100% worth your time and expense to see! The filmmaking included more creativity and design than almost any other film, and the artifacts and details are stunning. It’s a magical experience unlike anything else, and very worth it.

Buy your ticket in advance, and take the metro for arrival. You can save money packing your own food and avoiding souvenirs. If you are going as a family, look into the family ticket options for a cheaper price.

The sooner, the better! These tours fill up fast! It gets the busiest on the weekends during the summer holiday months. You may need to book your tickets 1-2 months in advance to get a time early enough to see the full tour! If you are going on a weekday or during the off-season, try to book at least a week in advance.

We hope this helps you plan and prepare for your own tour of The Making of Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour!

If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out these fun places to visit too:

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How to Get to the Harry Potter Studio Tour from London

How to use public transportation to get to the Harry Potter Studio Tour from London

The set of Dumbledore’s office.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Year Visited: 2022

Time of Year: May

The Harry Potter Studio Tour

If you’re a fan of the Harry Potter movies, visiting the Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour while in London is a must.

These are the actual studios where they shot the majority of the movies (there are other filming locations you can visit throughout the UK as well!).

The Harry Potter Studios are huge, and are therefore set 20 minutes outside of central London. If you have a car, you can drive there, but it is pretty easy to get to the Harry Potter Studio tour from London using public transportation (provided the Underground line you need isn’t shut down—like it was for us…).

Good to Know: If you don’t want to get to the Harry Potter Studio tour on your own, you can also book a tour with transportation from London, but this will cost more than doing it yourself.

What’s in this Article:

How to get to the studio tour, frequently asked questions, where to buy harry potter souvenirs.

London to Watford Junction:

To get to the Harry Potter Studio Tour from London, first take the London Underground to Euston Station.

More Info: Read more about using London public transportation .

At Euston Station you will switch from the Underground to the Overground (unless you were close enough to Euston that you walked there). You will follow the signs leading up to the National Rail service (if you need help finding where to go, just ask any of TFL [Transport for London] employees who will be at the station).

From Euston, you can get a train to Watford Junction. This is a direct train, so you will not have to get off and change trains, but it may make stops at other locations along the route. The journey can take 15 min. to an hour, depending on how many stops the train makes.

We did not travel from London Euston, as the line was shut down for maintenance. I will explain what to do if a line is shut down in a later section.

You can also get on the Overground at any of the stations along the route between Euston and Watford Junction. Euston is the most easily accessible from central London, and you can get the fastest trains here, but if you’re near another station on the route, you can get to Watford Junction from there.

Can you use your Oyster card to get to Watford Junction from London?

Yes, you can use your Oyster card on the Overground from London to Watford Junction. You will not need to purchase a rail ticket for this journey.

The orange double lines mark the Overground route from Euston to Watford Junction in the top left.

Watford Junction to the Studios:

Once you arrive at Watford Junction, exit the train station and cross the parking lot to bus stop 4 on the far side of the parking lot.

There are posters for the studio tour at the bus stop, so you will know you are at the right one. Chances are there will also be someone dressed as a wizard…

This bus will take you directly to the studio tour.

Do you have to pay for the shuttle to the tour?

According to the website, you do have to pay for the shuttle to the studios. However, you do not have to pay to get on the shuttle. There is simply a tip jar if you would like to leave something for your driver. You do need a valid studio tour ticket to get on the shuttle.

The shuttle bus from Watford Junction rail station to the studios.

The Return Journey:

Once you’re done at the tour, head back to the bus stops where you were dropped off. Keep in mind that there are multiple bus stops here, so make sure you get in the line for Watford Junction.

Then of course you can take the Overground back to London from Watford Junction.

What if the line from Euston to Watford Junction is shut down?

It happens. In fact, it happened when we were in London, over a bank holiday weekend.

TFL will periodically shut down lines for maintenance work, typically on Sundays or Bank holidays, when there isn’t the mad rush into the office (yes, even in post-2020!).

If the line you need is shut down, there will be replacement buses available to get you to your destination.

The most important thing to remember if this happens is that it will take you a lot longer to get to the studios. It took us an hour and a half to get from London to Watford Junction. So make sure to give yourself enough time.

An easy way to check your route is on the TFL app .

You can also ask at a station in London, and they will help you figure out where to go.

To get to Watford Junction we took:

The Underground to Queen’s Park.

The Overground to Harrow & Wealdstone.

A rail replacement bus to Headstone Lane.

A second rail replacement bus to Watford Junction.

We followed this journey from the app, and asked each of the station attendants along the way to make sure we ended up in the right place.

The way back ended up being a lot easier. We got a bus at Watford Junction that went directly to Stanmore, an outlying Underground Station.

It is important to be familiar with the Underground Stations. We almost missed this bus because we didn’t recognize the name. Again, always ask the attendants, who will help you know exactly where to go.

The main lobby area.

Before Your Tour

When you first arrive at the Harry Potter Studio tour and pass through security, there will be a lobby with the restrooms, and the information booth.

There is a free coat check at the information booth, so you can leave anything here that you don’t want to have to carry around with you through the whole tour.

You can also get a free “passport” at the information booth. There will be stations throughout the tour where you can stamp the passport. It’s a super fun and free souvenir to take home with you, and no , it’s not just for kids! So be sure to go up to the information desk and ask for the passport!

After that you will pass into the main lobby, a large open area that will lead off to the Harry Potter tour, the gift shop, and three of the four restaurants. You can visit these either before or after your tour.

The passport you can get stamped at different locations throughout your Harry Potter tour.

During Your Tour

At the start of the tour you wait in a long line (basically the epitome of Disney World ) until you get up to the theater where you will watch two videos and enter the Great Hall. After that, you can ramble through the tour at your own pace.

The tour showcases actual sets and costumes used for filming, as well as props/special effects and how they were made.

There are a lot of photo op stops where you can take pictures. These include on the Hogwarts Express and at Platform 9 and 3/4, so if you didn’t get a picture at King’s Cross Station, don’t fret.

There are several gift shops along the tour with specialized products, like the Christmas gift shop, so be sure to check these out before you exit the tour. The main gift shop is at the end of the Harry Potter tour.

Ron and Harry on the Hogwarts Express.

Eating on the Tour

You can eat in the main food hall either before or after your tour, but if you get hungry or thirsty during your tour of the Harry Potter Studios, you can eat at The Backlot Cafe. This cafeteria is about halfway through the tour, and there are also bathrooms available here.

Pro Tip: If you want to try a butterbeer, be sure to get one at The Backlot Cafe. This is the only place at the tour where you can get butterbeer.

See more of the Harry Potter Studio Tour in this video:

Harry potter studio tour frequently asked questions.

The set of Gringott’s Bank.

Here are answers to all the questions I had before visiting the Harry Potter Studio tour from London :

Do people dress up at the Harry Potter Studio Tour?

Yes! There are definitely people at the Harry Potter tour in full on wizarding gear.

I just chose to wear my house colors, so I could still blend in with the muggles… But I wish I had worn my Hufflepuff scarf though!

So if you want to dress up, do it! You will not be the only one.

How long do you spend at the Harry Potter tour?

We spent 2 hrs. walking through the studio tour (not counting time spent eating). You can spend longer or shorter, depending on how much you want to see.

After the initial start of the tour, you wander through at your own pace. There are a lot of photo op stops which we did not take advantage of because we didn’t want to wait in line.

You could easily fill up three hours here, plus the cafes and gift shops.

Can you start the tour early if you arrive before your time slot?

Because transportation can be unpredictable, you should give yourself plenty of time to get to the studios. We arrived about an hour before our tour was scheduled to start.

We got into the line as soon as we arrived, even though our tour didn’t start for an hour. The employee let us in the line without even checking our tour time, although we then asked if it was ok.

Apparently this is not always allowed, but it depends on how busy it is. But again, we had no trouble starting the tour early.

Can you enter the gift shop, or eat before your scheduled tour?

Yes, if you arrive before your scheduled tour, you can get something to eat while you wait. There are three food options available in the lobby area before (and after) you go on the tour.

The Hub Cafe (Starbucks)

The Chocolate Frog Cafe (desserts)

The Food Hall

The food was surprisingly good, especially the ice cream at The Chocolate Frog Cafe!

I believe that you can also enter the gift shops, although the website still says with the “current 1-way policy” that this is not possible. I did not try to enter the gift shops, since we got in line for our tour right away, even though we arrived early, but it seemed like you could go in them before the tour.

Can you eat during the tour?

Yes, in addition to the three food options in the main lobby of the Harry Potter Studio Tour, there is The Backlot Cafe , about halfway through the tour.

Can you get Butterbeer at the Harry Potter Studio tour?

Yes, but be aware, you can only get butterbeer at The Backlot Cafe on the tour.

Is the Harry Potter Studio tour outside?

The majority of the Harry Potter Studio tour is inside, but there are a few things to see outside.

Just after the Backlot Cafe, there is an outdoor courtyard you have to walk through to get to the rest of the tour. You will see a few more sets in this courtyard, including the Knight Bus, the Hogwarts Bridge, and Number 4 Privet Drive.

If you don’t want to stay outside (if it’s pouring rain or freezing cold), you can quickly walk through the courtyard to continue on your way.

Can you sit under the enchanted ceiling?

If you look at the Harry Potter Studio tour website, there is a picture of the enchanted ceiling with floating candles at the main food hall.

This is only open for the afternoon tea, so if you are just eating at The Food Hall, you do not get to sit under the ceiling.

Do you need a tour ticket to do the afternoon tea?

Yes, unfortunately you cannot come to the Harry Potter Studios in London just for the afternoon tea, or even just to shop in the gift shop. They consider all of these things to be part of the experience, and thus you need an actual tour ticket to get in to the building. Then you will also need an additional ticket for the afternoon tea.

Does it cost money to check your coats?

No, you can check your coats and bags for free at the information desk when you first walk in! So be sure to take advantage of this.

Are the passports just for kids?

No! Pick up a FREE souvenir “passport” at the information desk when you first walk in. This is a fun activity, and it is not just for kids (although sometimes you will have to wait a while for your stamp, because children do not understand the concept of lines, and as a 30 year old it is apparently frowned upon to shove the 10 year olds out of the way, even if you were there first…).

The stamps in the studio tour passport.

Where to Get Harry Potter Souvenirs

The Shop That Must Not Be Named, in the York Shambles.

There are so many places to get Harry Potter souvenirs throughout the UK, that I wasn’t sure if I should buy something at the studio tour, or wait until I went to the gift shop at King’s Cross Station (where it might be cheaper, orrr they might not have it!), or wait until I got to the Shambles in York, where it would just be so much cooler to buy a wand!

So to help you decide, I’m reviewing the shops at the studio tour, as well as listing out ALL of the other locations I found where you can buy HP souvenirs, and if they’re worth waiting for.

Good to Know: There are more HP shops than the ones listed here. You can literally find one everywhere you turn.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour

The Harry Potter Studio tour is actually the best place to buy Harry Potter souvenirs in the UK. Their shops are definitely the most extensive, plus they are all themed. You can buy candy from Honeydukes, or a wand from Olivander’s.

I chose not to buy anything at the gift shops here, because I wanted to buy souvenirs from the Shambles (AKA the real life Diagon Alley—pictured above!), but I ended up regretting that decision. This is really the best place to buy souvenirs. They have an insane amount of variety, whereas all the other Harry Potter gift shops are fairly small.

Be sure to spend some time browsing around the shops at the studio tour.

Heathrow Airport

When you first arrive in London at Heathrow, you can visit the Harry Potter gift shop in terminal 5.

Please note: We arrived at terminal 2, and did not travel to terminal 5. You might need to go out of your way to visit this shop.

Platform 9 3/4

There is a Harry Potter themed gift shop at King’s Cross Station, the site of Platform 9 3/4. There is also a photo op of Platform 9 3/4, but it is not on the actual train platforms (otherwise, you would need a ticket). Look for it in back of the main rail station lobby.

The York Shambles

The Shambles are arguably the coolest street in England. They definitely have a Diagon Alley vibe, which I think makes it the perfect place to buy a wand.

There are several Harry Potter themed gift shops here, the largest one being The Shop That Must Not Be Named . Keep in mind that, even though it is a larger shop, there are still a lot of things you can find at the studios that you can’t find here.

The Jacobite Steam Train

If you choose to ride the Jacobite Steam Train in Scotland someone will come push the souvenir cart around so you “get something off the trolley.”

Of course they do not have a lot of options, as it is just a little cart, but you can get some unique steam train (Hogwarts Express) themed items here.

This is where the steam train stops off at, before returning to Fort William. We found a fun little shop here, hidden away down a secret alley.

Again, it was mostly the same things you will find at other gift shops, and because it is a smaller shop, the selection will be slimmer. It is fun, however, to find secret hidden shops that make buying Harry Potter souvenirs more special.

Glenfinnan Viaduct

You can visit the Glenfinnan Viaduct to watch the steam train go by! And then of course, you can find buy Harry Potter souvenirs in their visitor center.

This is not strictly a Harry Potter shop though, and the selection is small. But you will find more Hogwarts Express themed merchandise, if you are not able to go on the actual train.

Literally Every Street in Edinburgh

Everywhere you go in Edinburgh, you will find stores advertising the “birthplace of Harry Potter.” It’s all the same merchandise, so there’s no need to wait to find something better somewhere else, if you do find something you want.

Conclusion:

After traversing the UK in search of all things Harry Potter, I would conclude that the best place to buy souvenirs really is at the Studio tour in London. So go ahead and consider this permission to blow all your vacation fund at their gift shops.

However, it is especially fun to buy Harry Potter souvenirs from Diagon Alley (the York Shambles) and the Hogwart’s Express (the Jacobite Steam Train).

But if you find something special, buy it at the studio. You can always buy chocolate frogs and every flavor beans at any of the shops you come to, but you might not find the same merchandise that they have at the large studio stores.

The set of Diagon Alley.

Any more questions?

Don’t hesitate to email me or comment below with any other questions you may have about visiting the Harry Potter Studio tour from London.

Planning a trip to London?

Be sure to save one of the pins below for future reference:

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Posted on 1st July 2021 Categories Things to do

By: Author Julianna Barnaby

Visiting the Harry Potter Studio Tour (+ Everything You Need to Plan Your Trip)

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Love Harry Potter? The Warner Bros. Studio Tour is an absolutely magical day out for children and adults alike. Here’s what you need to know before you go.

Harry Potter. You may have noticed that I’m low-level obsessed with both the films and the books. The story that captured our imaginations 20 years ago is no less magical today.

London is filled with Harry Potter spots – whether that’s filming locations, cool graphics stores or Potter-inspired bars , there’s plenty to keep your wands busy. Even so, the Harry Potter Studio Tour is phenomenal.

I’ll admit that I put visiting the tour off for a while because I never quite got round to booking my ticket. Mistake . Now that I’ve been I can say hand on heart that it is a must for anyone who loves Harry Potter.

I’ve written this step-by-step guide to help you understand what to expect, how to book your tickets, plan your journey and have a brilliant time. No pressure then…

OK, So the Big Question is… Are the Harry Potter Studios Worth the Money?

In short – yes. The Harry Potter Studios are worth the money.

It’s pretty much impossible to talk about why you should go on the Harry Potter Studio Tour without confronting the fact that tickets are hella expensive.

£47 for adults and £38 for children over 5 is no laughing matter – particularly when you add transport and (if necessary) accommodation to that too.

Even though the tickets are expensive, I’d say that the experience is absolutely worth it – it’s been brilliantly done – so much so that I know people who’ve been back a couple of times over the years.

Want to book a tour instead? Choose from these tours from London .

Exploring the Magical World of Harry Potter at the Warner Brothers Studio Tour in London: What to Expect

All eight of the films were filmed in the Leavesden Studios over a period spanning more than a decade.

There’s nowhere else that you can visit where you can see so many of the places, costumes and details that made the iconic films the biggest movie series in history.

How to Get Your Hands on Harry Potter London Tickets

Buy tickets on the website.

Now, I’m not going to lie – trying to get your hands on the Harry Potter studio tickets is like trying to conjure a genuine smile from Professor Umbrige. As in, it will take all of your wits and whiles to make it happen. Unlike trying to coax a smile from Umbridge though, it will be totally worth the effort.

First of all, let me be clear. You have to buy tickets in advance – there will be no turning up on the day and hoping to strike lucky.

That shizz just doesn’t fly (as in they don’t even sell tickets on the door, so you’ll have schlepped out to Leavesden for no reason – and I’ll warn you, apart from the studio tour, Leavesden isn’t the kind of place where you go to have a lot of fun).

So, you need to plan your trip in advance. Preferably as far in advance as you possibly can.

Tickets for the Warner Brothers Harry Potter tour sell like hotcakes – and months ahead.

Don’t be all blasé like me, hopping onto the website and thinking you’ll pick one up for the next day. I was totally sucker punched when I saw that tickets were pretty much booked out for two months in advance. That’s not a typo and yes you’re reading it right. Two months.

Now, there are a couple of workarounds, which I am going to go into more detail below but that is the standard position.

So if you’re thinking about taking a trip to London and you want to get a ticket, do it the moment you book your flights. I only wish I were joking.

Book Tickets Here

Sneaky Trick Number One for Getting a Ticket to the Warner Bros Studio Tour

Book a tour – or transport inclusive ticket from a tour operator.

I have to be honest – I am prettyyyyyy disorganised a lot of the time and I’ve often found that hunting around for a tour can mean that you can nab a last minute spot when all other hope is lost.

Have a look on Get Your Guide and simply work your way through the different operators until you can find one with a ticket for the date that you want. Simple and oh so crafty * cackles uncontrollably in the manner of Bellatrix Lestrange *.

PS – I talk more about tours and transport inclusive options in the How to Get to the Harry Potter Studios Section Below.

Sneaky Trick Number Two For Getting Your Hands on Harry Potter Studio Tickets

You’ll have better luck if you can visit on a weekday outside of school holidays, but as you’re likely to be grown-ass adults with actual jobs, whether you can do that depends on exactly how much magic you’re willing to practice to get yourself a spot.

Sneaky Trick Number Three for Nabbing Those Tickets

Now I know that I said that you have next to zero chance for nabbing tickets to Harry Potter land in London without booking them at least a couple of months in advance but guess what… I lied.

Well, kind of.

You can get last-minute tickets on the website if you’re willing to be flexible and just take whatever day and time is available. I booked my tickets on Tuesday to go on the Sunday of the same week – and was pretty lucky that the tour started at 2pm so I had loads of time to make my way around.

There were only a couple of tickets for the Sunday available – and a few more for the following Monday and Tuesday… after which the earliest I could book was 2.5 months later.

It’s a big gamble – definitely not one I’d recommend taking if you’re only in the country for a short period but it is always worth checking.

Read Next: The Ultimate Guide to London’s Magical Harry Potter Spots

Tips for Making the Most of Your Time in the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour

If you’re more of an adult than me and actually book your tickets far enough in advance that you get a choice about which slot to choose rather than having to take whichever one’s available because you’re trying to find a ticket for this weekend, I have a tip.

Go as early in the day as possible – and try and avoid the last slot or two.

Much as I’d love to pretend that these are sage words I winkled out of prophecy buried in that creepy vault in the Ministry of Magic, the boring truth is there are very good reasons for this advice.

One is that the tour is untimed. Once you’re in, you’re in for however long it takes you to make your way around.

Considering that some people (ME) literally won’t rest until they’ve read / played with / googled at / photographed / posed with every tiny little bit on every single set, you can understand how later slots can get pretty busy.

The second reason I say to go as early as possible is kind of the same – you want to make sure that you have all the sweet sweet time that you need to make your way around that tour.

They suggest three to four hours but who knows, you may end up taking more (particularly if you kick back with a butterbeer in Hogsmeade).

Someone once spent over thirteen hours in the tour, which seems a liiiitttttle excessive – what were they doing? Reenacting the films? Actually, that’s a brilliant idea.  

Either way, with the earlier slots you pretty much have all the time you want. It would be a real shame to have to rush any of the experience – you paid enough to justify squeezing every last second of pleasure from your well-spent galleons.

Wear Comfortable Shoes

Did you see that bit above where I said that the average person takes three to four hours walking around the studios?

Now imagine doing that in some flimsy-ass high heels that make you want to cast a spell and set your own feet on fire after half an hour and I think you’ll get my point about comfortable shoes.

Unless you have your own flying broomstick that is, in which case you can wear those heels as you zip around the tour with your cape billowing in the breeze behind you.

Dress Up (If You Want, but Why Wouldn’t You Want to…)

I have one regret about my trip to the making of Harry Potter and that is that I didn’t dress up. There were so many kids (and adults!) rocking cool Harry Potter attire that the moment I saw them, I knew that I a) wanted to be them and b) would feel so sad about it for the whole time I was there.

So dust off your capes, your house scarf, your Potter-style glasses etc with free abandon – ain’t no one going to judge you for it.

Swot Up on the Films (and the Books for Extra House Points)

This will only apply if you haven’t watched the film in a little while (in which case, who even are you?).

There are so many cool spots here but there’s no point if you can only dimly remember the films from some time a few years ago when you watched it as you did your knitting.

No. That is not good enough. You want to make sure that you’ve watched the films recently, that they’re fresh in your mind, that you recall every detail – and preferably you can do some short reenactments as you go around…

And, if you want to get extra mega-nerdy house points, breeze through the books so you can say sage things comparing the books to the films and the sets and totally blowing everyone’s minds with your crazy levels of knowledge.

Don’t Whizz Through the Great Hall too Fast – In Fact, Don’t Whizz Through Any of the Tour too Fast

The tour starts with a couple of short intros – one in a small room where you can see the cast on small screens above you and marvel at how much older they look. Then start thinking about how much older you must be too and actually get so wrapped up in this that you actually end up missing everything they say.

The second intro film is a much grander affair and in an actual cinema. Now, once you finish that second film, the doors beyond open and you’re let into the Hogwarts Dining Hall.

What do you get when you take lots and lots of very keen Harry Potter fans, lock them in a dark room and then let them loose onto one of the film’s most exciting sets?

I think mayhem is the word that you’re looking for. I had a whole family push into my photo, pretty much stampeding over me to nab a picture with a statue of Dumbledore.

No worries though, jokes on them because I just waited behind until almost all of the people had trampled their way through to the next room and quietly (and rather smugly, channeling my best Hermione knows it all face) took my pictures and had a nose around the now empty hall.

Don’t take too long though – you only have a certain period of time until the next group of people are released from the cinema room and into the frenzy.

That advice applies to all of the tour actually – unless you’re in one of the later slots you have all the time that you need to make your way around, take millions of pictures and absolutely live your best Harry Potter life.

There’s no need to rush that – if you do, you won’t have anything good to put into your pensieve.

Read Next: Mischief Managed: This is What it’s Really Like to Visit the Harry Potter Inspired Bar in London

Pick the Guides’ Brains

No, not literally. The guides in the Warner Bros studios take Harry Potter fandom to. another. level. You will bow in the face of their superior and all out geeky knowledge of the things on the set.

I totally encourage you to sidle up to one and ask a really niche question about a tiny piece of the set buried in the back of a scene, then watch as *poof* all their magical knowledge comes out. It’s BEAUTIFUL.

Do Fill in Your Making of Harry Potter Passport

You’re handed a Harry Potter Passport with your tickets. I tried to be all cool and dismissive about it – what do they think we are? Children who are going to run around getting stamps and filling in the questions in our magical books? Damned right we are.

Now is not the time to pretend that you’re in any way not excited about finding the 13 golden snitches that are hidden throughout the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour.

Finding those snitches and getting those stamps is better than that moment when everyone thinks that Harry’s dead and he bursts out of Hagrid’s arms to turn Voldemort into tiny pieces of ash. I shizz you not.

Highlights of the Warner Bros Studio Tour in London

Now that you’ve booked your tickets and are incredibly excited, I thought I’d help fuel the fire with a few sneak peeks at some of my favourite spots from the set 😀

The Great Hall

Feasts, howlers, ominous speeches – Hogwarts’ Great Hall has seen it all. It’s pretty cool to see the hall in real life (though if you’ve ever visited Christ Church in Oxford – another city with many Harry Potter filming locations , you’ll notice the strong resemblance).

I won’t let you in on all of the little secrets but you get to peek behind the scenes to find out how they created the floating candles and enchanted ceiling effects, plus there’s a cool display of the house uniforms and details on how they changed throughout the films.

The Gryffindor Dormitory

Lush velvet, wooden four poster beds – welcome to the Gryffindor Dorm. Biggest surprise? The beds are absolutely tiny as they were designed for the kids for The Philosopher’s Stone but ended up being used in all the films.

Dumbledore’s Office

So much wisdom, so little time.

The calm retreat in which many of the films’ most memorable scenes took place – Dumbledore’s Office is adorned with rows and rows of books and many portraits of former Hogwarts headmasters.

Though it brought up all the feels from that awful moment when Snape kills Dumbledore and you feel like your soul has been split in two.

The Potions Room

Press it, don’t squeeze it Hermoine. The potions room is lined with all manner of tinctures and strange ingredients – ready to be made into love potions or poisons… let’s hope it’s the first of the two!

The Forbidden Forest

The Forbidden Forest is a real eye opener – dark, ominous and more realistic than I’d like to admit, it’s crazy walking through the forest as giant spiders descend from the ceiling, accompanied by thunder and flashes of lightning.

Malfoy Manor

The ominous tone of Malfoy Manor is set by a dummy of Charity Burbage hanging over the long table at which the death eaters sit. Who can forget the poor teacher’s death – brutally attacked by Nagini while the whole table watched.

The Ministry of Magic

Glimpses of the Ministry of Magic peep out from the giant sets – one of the largest ever created for a film. The larger-than-life Magic is Might statue stands to remind Muggles of their rightful place. Creepy.

Read Next: The House of Minalima – Step into a World of Harry Potter in Soho

Platform 9 ¾

It’s real! All aboard the Hogwarts Express! Many of the scenes on Platform 9 ¾ were actually shot in King’s Cross (one of the filming locations in London) but part of the station was reconstructed in the studio – complete with a Hogwarts Express that you can jump aboard and trolleys buried in the walls for that iconic shot of you running through to the secret platform.

Diagon Alley  

Hop into Ollivanders and get your wand at the ridiculously lifelike set for Diagon Alley . The set changed significantly throughout the progress of the films – the final version is a cross between a Victorian shopping street and a weird, wacky emporium.

Hogwarts Castle

The last stop on the Harry Potter studio tour is IMHO the best – the scale model of Hogwarts Castle. Each of the films directors changed bits on the castle to suit the mood of their film – the result? An incredible sprawling model, complete with intricately-designed details. When can we move in?

What’s The Best Way to Get to the Harry Potter Studios from London?

Where is harry potter studios.

The Harry Potter Studios are actually situated just outside of London in Leavesden, Watford. There’s not too much to do in this area besides visiting the studio tour but there’s plenty to do inside, so you can still make a day of it.

Have no fear though – no matter which part of London you’re in, the Harry Potter Studios are pretty easy to get to. I’ve outlined the easiest ways for you below…

Getting to the Harry Potter studios isn’t difficult if you have a car. It’s about a 45 minute drive from Central London and parking is free.

Like many places outside of the city, Sat Nav does tend to lose its way a little when you put in the postcode, so you’re better off entering in Warner Bros Studios Leavesden to make sure that it takes you to the right place. We don’t want any Diagonelly / Diagon Alley mix ups here.

Make sure that you have your booking confirmation to hand as you go into the car park as they need to check it before you go in.

By Bus from London

Did I mention that the studios are kind of in the middle of nowhere? Upshot is that your options for getting to them are far more limited than for places in central London.

If you’re not driving, the easiest thing to do is to buy a Bus and Entrance Package. The package covers your bus from a central London location and your ticket for the tour. Mischief managed!

There are a few different operators offering buses from different London locations – t his one does them from Victoria coach station , or browse here for other options . Most bus and tour packages cost around £85 for adults.

On a Guided Tour

This is different (and a lot more expensive) to the Bus and Ticket Combos. I’m talking fully guided tours for those who want that next-level Harry Potter knowledge and aren’t afraid to make it rain pounds and pennies in order to get it.

This guided tour includes transport from London, a fully-guided tour around the studios plus re-entry to the studios so that you can go back and explore them at your own leisure before heading with your guide back to London again.

Book your spot for £89 pounds – and no, you can’t rob Gringotts to fund the cost of the tickets.

By Train (and Bus)

In my opinion, getting to the studios by train is the most awkward option, though it isn’t too bad. You need to hop on a train from London Euston to Watford Junction (this takes about 20 minutes) and then catch a bus (£2.50 extra – cash only) from Watford Junction to the Studios (this takes about 15 minutes).

In theory, you could do the trip in 35 minutes but everyone I’ve spoken to says it takes a bit longer and there’s the hassle of having to change at Watford Junction.

I’d rather hop on one bus to do the full journey but that’s just me. You don’t need to book ahead but check train times to make sure you’re not waiting around in Euston for the next one.

Hotels Near Harry Potter Studios London

Premier inn watford north (budget).

I tend to prefer Premier Inns over Travelodges but it’s the same deal – a comfortable budget option that’s only a short distance from the studios. Check availability.

Hemel Hempstead Holiday Inn (Budget)

The Hemel Hempstead Holiday Inn is everything that you’d expect from a Holiday Inn (as in basic but clean and comfortable). The real draw is that it’s less than a ten-minute drive (seven minutes to be exact) away from the Studios – particularly perfect if you’ve got an early morning start. Check availability.

The Grove (High End)

The Grove is hella pricey but what else do you expect when you opt to stay in a gorgeous country manor house? Stylish interiors, ridiculously snuggly beds and a fabulous in-house restaurant. Totally your pick if you really want to push the boat out. Check prices and availability.

Other Hotels in Watford

I should point out that there are quite a few hotels in and around Watford Junction, where it totally makes sense to stay if you are getting the train to the station but don’t want to hurry there and back the same day.

Compare prices and availability for hotels in Watford.

Harry Potter Studio Tour London Map

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Looking for More Harry Potter Guides?

Check these out…

Harry Potter Filming Spots in London

Guide to Leadenhall Market

Soho’s Magical House of Minalima

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Harry Potter Studio & Oxford from London: Magic Behind the Scenes

Roam the streets of oxford, visit hogwarts castle, and hop aboard the hogwarts express.

Want to immerse yourself in the magical world of Harry Potter while you’re in London? Then join this unforgettable tour, where you’ll spend the morning on a guided walk of Oxford. Afterwards, you’ll be taken toWarner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter. Brave the Forbidden Forest, walk down Diagon Alley and jump aboard the Hogwarts Express. Learn how J.K. Rowling’s legendary books were brought to life, and take plenty of photos to remember your day at Hogwarts!

• Behind the Scenes of Harry Potter​
• Excursion to Oxford
• Warner Bros. Studio Tour
• Hogwarts Castle
• Unveiling the Magic
• Gringotts Wizarding Bank
• Dumbledore Office
• Original Costumes Exhibition

Your friendly tour manager will greet you and the rest of your Harry Potter-obsessed group at your designated meeting point conveniently situated near a major Tube station in the heart of the city. From here, you’ll drive to the city of Oxford where you’ll begin your visit with a guided walking tour of this University City. Wander through the university’s stunning grounds and immerse yourself in history as you admire illustrious buildings where so many literary giants have once roamed.

After some free time to explore on your own, you and your group will be transported to a world of magic and wonder at Warner Bros Studio. For at least four hours, you’ll be guided through Diagon Alley, The Forbidden Forest, the Hogwarts Express, and so much more. Not only will you walk through original film sets, but you’ll also marvel at authentic costumes and props, and learn the behind the scenes secrets that helped bring Harry Potter’s fantastical world to life.

London Day Trip to Oxford University and Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter Tour Description

Your 10-hour day trip Includes:

Roundtrip transportation from London by executive coach

Professional tour manager

Admission to Warner Bros Studio - The Making of Harry Potter

Guided walking tour of Oxford

4 hours exploring the magical world of Harry Potter

Begin Your Day Trip Out of London

The day begins in the morning in central London, where your tour manager and your executive coach will be waiting for you. Once on the bus, you’ll meet your excited group of fellow Potterheads and your day trip can start!

Oxford is your first stop of the day, which is about two hours away. Sit back and enjoy the ride, you’ve got a big day ahead!

Tour Oxford’s Legendary University

Now that you’ve arrived in the enchanting city of Oxford, stretch your legs with a one-hour walking tour of the city’s famed university. The University of Oxford is the oldest university in England, and was founded in 1167. Follow your knowledgeable guide past some of the university’s most prominent buildings, lush green quadrangles, and cobblestone squares. You’ll admire some of the most iconic buildings on campus, including the Radcliffe Camera, the Sheldonian Theatre, and the Bodleian Library—which Harry Potter fans will surely recognize. Marvel at the impressive, ivy-clad architecture as you imagine the many literary greats that walked through these same halls.

Visit a Selection of Colleges

The University of Oxford is expansive, and contains 38 independent, autonomous colleges. Your guide will lead you on a captivating tour, showcasing a curated selection of these prestigious colleges while providing fascinating insights. Christ Church, Magdalen, and St. John’s are just a few of the impressive colleges that your guide will point out. After your walking tour, you’ll complete your visit with some free time to explore on your own. Return to your favorite building or wander through the gorgeous cloisters—the choice is yours.

Enter the Magical World of Harry Potter

About one hour away from Oxford, you’ll arrive at Warner Bros Studio, where you’ll finally get to experience the fantastical world of Hogwarts for yourself. For the next four hours, The Making of Harry Potter tour will take you through the iconic film sets of all eight Harry Potter films. As you explore, stare in amazement at original props and costumes of some of your favorite characters.

Discover the Secrets of Movie Magic

As you immerse yourself in Harry Potter’s fantastical universe, you’ll learn the tricks of the trade that make up artists used to create realistic prosthetics and transform cast members into their beloved onscreen personas. Plus, you’ll be treated to all the other behind the scenes secrets and special effects that were used to bring this wonderful world of wizardry to the big screen!

Wander down the Great Hall, Roam Through the Forbidden Forest, and Hop Aboard the Hogwarts Express!

Begin your journey by walking through the Great Hall and onto legendary film sets, including Dumbledore’s office, 4 Privet Drive, the Gryffindor Common Room, and the Weasley kitchen—complete with the magical self washing frying pan!

Feel your favorite movie scenes come to life as you walk down Diagon Alley, visit the Ministry of Magic, brave the Forbidden Forest, and hop aboard the iconic Hogwarts Express for a photo!

Next, saunter through Gringotts Wizarding Bank, one of the newest tour additions. Lined by marble pillars and glistening chandeliers, your jaw will drop as you marvel at the costumes of Goblin bankers before coming upon the Sword of Gryffindor along with heaps of treasure.

Enter Professor Sprout’s Greenhouse

End your magical journey with the Warner Bros Studio’s brand new addition, Professor Sprout’s beloved Greenhouse. An absolute favorite among Potterheads, now you can finally see where Hogwarts students learned about Herbology! Now that you’ve seen where that magic was made, it’s time to depart Hogwarts and head back to London. You and your Harry Potter loving group can spend the drive comparing your favorite, and most surprising, behind the scenes secrets!

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What you get with this tour

See what people are saying

3 total reviews

Way better than Orlando

This tour exceeded all of my expecations. Amazing.

Thanks. Loved seeing locations around London in addition to Studio tour. Only suggestion mention bronze Harry Potter statue in front of theater/casino. There are three or more casinos in that area.

BEST DAY EVER

I must say that I'm a huge Harry Potter fan, I've been obsessed since I was a little kid. Having a day in London fully dedicated to my favorite books was so great. The tour in the city was really cool to see all the filming sites, then the studios was so awesome. The sets were so cool, the miniatures are really interesting. It's so incredible to see how the movies are made.

Frequently Asked Questions

What to bring?

For your safety and comfort during the guided walking tour in Oxford, we strongly advise wearing comfortable footwear that provides stability and traction.

Is this tour run by The Tour Guy?

No, this tour is operated by one of our trusted and vetted partners in London.

What happens if it rains?

We run this tour rain or shine.

What is the cancellation policy for this tour?

We provide a complete refund for cancellations made up to 14 days prior to the travel date.

Can I bring my kids and do I have to pay for them?

Kids are welcome! Children aged 5-15 years old are charged at a discounted rate, and children under age 5 are free.

Does this tour include hotel pickup?

No, hotel pickup is not included in this tour.

Where does this tour end?

At the end of the tour, you will be dropped off at Gloucester Road Rube Station.

Free 24-hr cancellation on group tours! Learn more

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Diagon Alley

The Diagon Alley set constantly changed throughout the Harry Potter series. Though, the street’s initial design included rich elements from the Harry Potter books with influence from streets described in Charles Dickens’ works. Since its construction, walls have shifted, shop fronts have moved and entire buildings have been carefully tweaked, to make them look slightly leaning, to create the street that is seen in the films. For Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, several of the Diagon Alley set pieces were re-dressed for usage in the village of Hogsmeade. 

Gringotts Bank, Flourish and Blotts, and Mr. Mulpepper’s Apothecary are all located in Diagon Alley, as is the famous Harry Potter London shop for wands, Ollivanders. 

Fun fact – During filming, the wand shop had over 17,000 individually labeled wand boxes.

Forbidden Forest

The Forbidden Forest in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was shot on location as well as in the studio. For Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, this was moved entirely to the Studio to house the infamous acromantula spider Aragog’s lair, and it grew throughout the film series. Scenic artists created backdrops that were up to 600 feet long for the filming of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. 

Fun fact – The Harry Potter Studio Tour Forbidden Forest contains 19 trees, each with a diameter of over 12 feet.

Platform 9 ¾

In the movies, hundreds of students were taken from Platform 9 ¾ in King’s Cross station, London to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Scotland by the Hogwarts Express. Most of the scenes on Platform 9 ¾ were shot on location at King’s Cross Station in London, however for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, a section of the station platform was reconstructed on a stage at Leavesden, complete with track and the train. 

The external views of the train were created using actual trains and passenger carriages on sites across the United Kingdom, while all the sequences that take place inside the train were created using a built-in set of interior carriage sets. The green screen background in the windows was changed with moving backdrops and special effects such as hopping Chocolate Frogs and flying Dementors by visual effects teams working on the movies.

Fun fact – The Hogwarts Express served as the backdrop for the series’ very first shot in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, as well as the series’ very last scene in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, ten years later.

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The costumes, the art department, special & visual effects, creature effects.