Places Visited On The Tour
- Kings Cross Home of Platform 9 ¾
- St Pancras Station The Setting for the Flying Car
- Claremont Square The Order of the Phoenix HQ
- Leadenhall Market Diagon Alley and The Leaky Cauldron
- Tower Bridge The Backdrop to the Orders Flight Through London
- Stoney Street The Entrance to the Leaky Cauldron
- The Millenium Bridge The Site of the Attack by the Death Eaters
- St Pauls Cathedral Part of Hogwarts
- Australia House AKA Gringotts
- Piccadilly Circus Part of the escape to London in the Deathly Hallows
- Great Scotland Yard The Ministry of Magic
- Westminster Station Closest tube to the Ministry
- Lambeth Bridge Where we witness some of the Knight Buss frantic journey
Stop Fourteen Great Scotland Yard
Address: Great Scotland Yard, Westminster, London SW1A
Meander to Great Scotland Yard to hunt for the two entrances to the Ministry of Magic .
Great Scotland Yard looks innocuous enough.
There are some rather beautiful buildings and its located just off of Whitehall, the heart of British government as in 10 Downing Street is just off Whitehall and the Houses of Parliament sit at the other end.
Nothing incredible to see here right?
Wrong.
Great Scotland Yard was used to represent the heart of the wizarding world the Ministry of Magic neatly reflecting the areas importance in the real world.
Cast your mind back to Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix when Arthur Weasley takes Harry to the Ministry for his hearing on performing underage magic. They enter the Ministry through a red telephone box underneath a stone archway.
Well, youll have to picture the telephone box and the archway near the junction of Scotland Place do so and voila you have the entrance to the Ministry of Magic.
The fake bridge is a duplicate of one just around the corner on Scotland Place, CGIed here to cover up some of the ugly doorways of the buildings in the scene.
Watch the Scenes
8 minute walk from Great Scotland Yard to Westminster Station.
Retrace your footsteps along Great Scotland Yard back to Whitehall. Turn left onto Whitehall and follow it along. There is an entrance to Westminster Station is on Whitehall.
Stop Ten Goodwins Court
Address: Goodwins Ct, Covent Garden, London WC2N 4LL
Strolling along the narrow passageways around Charing Cross Road I wouldnt blame you if you got the distinct feeling that the next stops on our Harry Potter walk in London was a part of the city Harry himself would be familiar with.
Crooked ye olde buildings overhang the narrow walkway of Goodwins Court, one of the two spots in the area that are said to have inspired Diagon Alley.
Delightfully quaint bow-fronted buildings transport you to another age their iron-barred windows and dingy brickwork are thought to date back to 1690.
Some people are convinced that Goodwins Court was the basis for the set of Diagon Alley in the Warner Brothers Studios and I have to say, the two do look convincingly alike.
Rumour has it that the only reason that Goodwins wasnt used as Diagon Alley in the films was because it was too narrow for the filming equipment needed.
What do you think?
Before you get too carried away though- I will say that others champion our next stop, Cecil Court as the inspiration for Diagon Alley. Lets go and take a look.
Watch The Scene: Harry and Hagrid go to Diagon Alley in the Philosophers Stone
1 minute walk from Goodwins Court to Cecil Court.
Walk to the other end of Goodwins Court. Turn left onto St Martins Lane, cross the road and turn right onto Cecil Court.
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How To Get To The Harry Potter Studio Tour
You have two major options for getting to the Harry Potter Studio Tour you can take a tour which includes your transport, or you can make your own way there using either public transport or a car.
Well go through both of these options so you can make the right decision as to which is going to be best for you.
What Should You Expect On A Harry Potter Walking Tour
Make London magical with a Harry Potter walking tour in The Big Smoke. This interactive trip sees you wandering central London with an expert guide who will take you deep into the world of wizardry. As you head around Muggle London, youll see Diagon Alley, Leaky Cauldron and discover which Hogwarts House you belong in while testing your HP knowledge.
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Our Harry Potter Studio Tour Review And Experience
Now for the fun stuff! Although, if you want your visit to be a surprise, you might want to skip this section, as you now have everything you need to know in order to visit.
Still, if you want an idea of what to expect from your visit, read on, and well share our own experiences of visiting the Harry Potter Studios!
Where Is The Harry Potter Studio Tour
The Harry Potter Studio Tour takes place in the Warner Bros. Studio, which is found in Leavesden, England. This is around 20 miles northwest of London.
The Warner Bros. Studio is a fully working film studio, one of the largest in the UK, and many films have been shot here, including the whole Harry Potter franchise as well as some of the Star Wars, Batman, and Mission: Impossible films.
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Set Designs And Paintings From The Harry Potter Films
See how they created the magnificent sets
Leading out from Diagon Alley you go through to a room where you can see lots of drawings and blueprints of all the set designs, such as Hagrids Hut, the Burrow, Hogsmeade and of course Hogwarts itself.
If you like artwork there is a white gallery with lots of beautiful paintings of the characters, with notable scenes from the books.
If architecture is of interest, here you will also see amazing scaled models of all the buildings featured in the films such as Diagon Alley, Ollivanders Wand Shop, Hogsmeade and classrooms in Hogwarts. The models themselves are highly intricate and fascinating to see.
What Should You Expect On Harry Potter Tours Outside Of London
While the capital might be the scene for some of the best Harry Potter tours in London, its not the only place to go on a wizardry quest. Hogwarts itself was filmed over several locations that include Christ Church College and Bodleian Library in Oxford. The Potters House is located in Lacock Village, Wiltshire, while Godrics Hollow can be found in Lavenham, Suffolk.
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Where To Buy Harry Potter Studio Tour Tickets
If you are making your own way to the Harry Potter studios, you have to buy your ticket in advance from the official website. You cannot turn up without a ticket, and tickets are not for sale on site.
Tickets go on sale well in advance, but despite the site having capacity for up to 6,000 people a day, they tend to sell out far in advance, so you will want to plan as far ahead as possible.
The summer months, weekends, and school holidays are the busiest days of the year for the Studio so we recommend that you book as far in advance as you can if you are visiting over those periods.
Weekdays often have better availability, so if you are flexible, look at different days of the week to maximise your chances of getting a ticket.
Tickets are for timed entry, which helps the studios manage visitor numbers throughout the day. Whilst there is no limit to how long you can stay after you enter, you do need to enter the attraction at the time you book. There is a little bit of flexibility in this, but its best not to show up hours later than your time to avoid disappointment.
The WB Studios Tour folks recommend you arrive at the site at least 20 minutes before your ticket time so you can go through the security checks.
If you cant buy a ticket from the official site, dont worry, you still have lots of options.
Deluxe Tours can be booked directly with the Studios, subject to availability, on the official site here.
How Much Is A Harry Potter Walking Tour
Some of the best Harry Potter tours are walking tours with an expert guide. The price starts from £20 per person, depending on the time of the year, though prices can vary if you add extras to the tour. The River Thames boat trip, for example, is often a popular add-on for tourists who want to see more of London.
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What Should You Expect On Harry Potter Free Tours
Free Harry Potter tours offer plenty of magical moments without needing to pay for the reservation of the tour. An expert guide is on hand to take you through the world of Muggle London as you discover the real-life counterparts of the magical locations on the big screen. Highlights include Ministry of Magic , Geometrical Staircase , Muggle Prime Ministers Office , and many more.
Stop Three Claremont Square
Address: 23 Claremont Square, Islington, London N1 9LX
Claremont Square is one of the more tucked away locations on our Harry Potter London walk. Its about a 15 minute walk from St Pancras.
A quiet terrace of Georgian houses in Islington might not look like much but Claremont Square is the film location for 12 Grimmauld Place.
Still not ringing any bells? Make your way to numbers 23 to 29 and all will become clear.
Its the home of the Order of the Phoenix a.k.a the Black residence that Sirius kindly donates to be used by the order in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and is used again by the trio The Deathly Hallows Part I.
Claremont Square was the perfect location for Grimmauld Place, which is described in the books as being close to Kings Cross Station and a small square with terraced houses .
Luckily for all of us, the Fidelius Charm that stops muggles from seeing 12 Grimmauld Place in the Order of the Phoenix doesnt actually stop us from seeing the properties at numbers 23 to 29 Claremont Square in real life.
Watch The Scene: Harry Arrives at Grimmauld Place with The Order of The Phoenix
5 minute walk to Angel Station from Claremont Square, 5 minute underground ride to Bank Station, 6 minute walk from Bank Station to Leadenhall Market.
Take the Northern Line to Bank.
Exit Bank Station and turn onto Cornhill, walk along Cornhill for 300 metres, turn right onto Gracechurch Street where you will find the entrance to Leadenhall Market on your left.
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Warner Bros Studio Tour London
- Get into the Harry Potter spirit as you watch the first movie on board
- Step into the wizarding world as you explore the real Great Hall and Diagon Alley
- Discover the original props, costumes and effects from the film series
- See what all the fuss is about as you sip on a frothy cup of Butterbeer
Get your hands on some of the most coveted tickets around and experience the magic of Harry Potter with the incredible Warner Bros. Studio Tour London. This unique walking tour promises to take you behind-the-scenes and showcases a huge array of beautiful sets, costumes and props. Youll learn some closely guarded secrets about the special effects and animatronics behind this movie magic and see what has made these films so popular all over the world.
Step onto Platform 9 ¾ and venture inside the original Hogwarts Express steam engine. This permanent exhibit gives visitors the chance to climb aboard the train and pose with a luggage trolley as it disappears through the iconic platform wall. The scenes featuring the working train were shot at the Studios including the last scene in which grown-up Harry, Ron and Hermione wave their own children off to Hogwarts.
4.6
Arriving At Warner Bros Studio Tour London
J.K. Rowling quote
If coming by bus, it will take you to just a hundred metres or so from the entrance, and then you are left to walk inside independently.
There are now more queues for security if you didn’t get your tickets delivered to your home address, you will need to pick them up from the ticket machines and a box office outside, you will need to queue for this.
You will then need to queue to go through security which includes a bag check and personal scan. If you are going on an organised tour, your arrival time will allow you about twenty minutes to queue, ready for your pre-booked entry time into the Studio itself.
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How Long Does The Harry Potter Studio Tour Take
The regular tour itself is self-guided, other than an introduction at the beginning, so you can take as long as you like to wander the studios.
The average length of a visit is around three and a half hours, and that is what the studio estimates most people will take and forecast their capacity around.
This is also about the amount of time that most tour companies will give you, although some offer a bit more time on site, so if you think you will need more time, be sure to pick a tour company that offers more time.
Harry Potter World London
Harry Potter World London, known as the Warner Bros Studio Tour London, is the best way to explore the making of the Harry Potter movies. Located just outside of London, go behind the scenes to get a glimpse of a world of witches and wizardry. Youll get to see the awesome sets, costumes and props all used in the filming of the movie series including The Great Hall, Diagon Alley, the Forbidden Forest, Platform 9¾ and more! The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London is the highest-rated attraction in the world every year since it opened in 2012! Its a perfect day out for the family and a must-see place on any visit to London for Harry Potter fans!
Our Warner Bros Studio Tours are available almost every day of the year! Book with or without transportation from Central London.
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Harry Potter Studio Tour London
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Cory A. London, England, United Kingdom
Hello Everyone!My name is Cory, and I am from the most beautiful town of Richmond in London. Being,…more
Day Trip / Out of Town, Local Experience, Youth and Family
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Kid Friendly: Yes. Potterheads, buckle up ! Today is your day. Friendly: Yes.I would be more than happy to arrange a featured vehicle upon request at extra charge. Advance notification is required. Please feel free to contact me for possible alternatives.Maximum travelers: 6
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Warner Bros Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter Backlot Tour – Herdfordshire North London
Get Lost In The Plot Of The Tales Of Beedle The Bard
Youre never too old for storytime! The Wizarding Academy of Dramatic Arts uses a trunk full of props and puppets to retell the famous wizarding fairytales: The Fountain of Fair Fortune and The Tale of the Three Brothers.PRO TIP: Download The Official Universal Orlando Resort App to see the latest showtimes and find out when you can catch a concert or a story.
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Is The Harry Potter Studio Tour Accessible
The Harry Potter Studio Tour is accessible, and visitors can bring one carer free of charge with proof of entitlement.
For the studio itself, the majority of it is level and accessible for wheelchair users. There are some exceptions, such as the Hogwarts Bridge and the Knights Bus. Diagon Alley also includes an incline and cobbled streets.
Wheelchairs and mobility scooters are permitted but mobility scooters cannot be wider than 86cm.
Visitors with assistance dogs are welcome and water bowls can be provided. Theres also a dedicated toilet area for assistance dogs.
For visitors with a hearing impairment, induction loops can be provided. A portable iPad is also available , which can provide a subtitled version of some of the films. Its also possible to book a BSL tour in advance.
For more information on accessibility and any other needs you have, please visit the accessibility section of the official website.
Where Was Harry Potter Filmed
Harry Potter was filmed all across the UK, at real world locations such as Glenfinnan Viaduct, Alnwick Castle, Glencoe in Scotland and Leadenhall Market in London. See our full guide to Harry Potter filming locations in the UK for more.
The interior sets and the majority of the rest of the films were shot at the Warner Bros. Studio in Leavesden, just outside London.
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Things To Know Before You Arrive
Even if youre remotely interested in the enchanting world of Harry Potter then a Harry Potter studio tour in London is a must. But, before you set out for what is sure to be a magical experience, read this for everything you need to know so you can enjoy a mind-blowing Harry Potter experience without any problems or concerns.