What Happens Once You Arrive
If youve printed off your tickets, you can go right in. If you havent, youll have to stop by the ticket window, or use one of the convenient machines. You can arrive earlier than your time slot and hang out in the entry room until your time arrives.
They may even allow you in early, depending on the flow of things for the day. Once your slot arrives, youll be ushered into a room to see a short film, then taken to the start of the tour.
If you didnt already know, the tour is completely self-guided. If you dont know everything you already wanted or needed to know about the set, the costumes, and the filming, then you should pay for the audio guide. I found it to be completely invaluable and fun to listen to.
This is when youll enter the Great Hall and are set free to explore the set at your leisure. Seriously, you can stay as long as you like. To get you super excited for what youll see, here is a short video I filmed while I was there:
The video gives you a pretty good idea how the set is laid out. The Great Hall is all dressed up for dinner, and near the end of the room are some of the great costumes on character models. Next, youll go into the set warehouse, where many different displays are set up. Theres one for set design and costume design. Theres a section full of the portraits that were commissioned for the movies.
I personally loved the set decoration from the Yule Ball.
The Harry Potter Digital Guide
At Harry Potter World London, you can rent a digital guide, which is a multimedia device with headphones that you wear around your neck.
The device shares fascinating facts about the sets, props, and costumes on the tour via audio, video, and picture galleries. It features behind-the-scenes footage, stories, and interviews with those involved in the production cast and crew.
I was the only one in our group who purchased the self-guided multi-media digital guide. Craig and the girls were content to wander around looking at all the sets.
The digital guide enhanced the experience for me, and I think its a worthy upgrade.
I learned a lot, including how the original director pushed back HARD against the Americanization of the films i.e. making Hermione American or adding in cheerleaders for Quidditch. He was adamant the movies keep the British integrity of the books. And for that we honor him. Hogwarts does not need cheerleaders or Starbucks!
For most of the sets there will be a clip from the relevant movie scene so you can see how that set came to life on the screen while standing in front of it.
You can hire them digital guides for £4.95 upon arrival in the lobby .
What Are Potter Passports
When you arrive on site, pick up Potter Passports for your children from the guest services window to the right of the gift shop. Theyre free, and include a treasure hunt for kids. You can get them at the visitor centre before you go into the tour.
Let them stamp their passports at key points around the tour. Its a little thing, but all three of the kids with us thought they were great fun, and they make for a great souvenir.
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Is It Worth It 5 Reasons
The Harry Potter Studio Tour is worth it as its a brilliant place to visit for any fan of the books and films. Seeing the real sets that were used for filming and being able to take in the details and the work that went into making the films is an opportunity that you will not regret.
Our top 5 reasons to visit were the following highlights of the tour:
Drawbacks
As wonderful and fascinating as the tour is, there are a few small drawbacks to be aware of:
Tip Number Seven: Keep An Eye Out For Animatronic Or Interactive Displays
Its not always obvious, but some of the displays at the Harry Potter studio tour can be set in motion with either buttons or interactive boards. The kids loved hunting down these interactive areas, so keep your eyes peeled for them as you walk round.
Probably the first was right near the start of the tour. Underneath the giant pendulum from The Prisoner of Azkaban are a row of touchscreen interfaces containing a digital Mauraders Map. Our kids loved this and spent ages exploring the different links.
Further on, The Burrows set display has a number of little screens in front of it each of these sets a different one of Mrs Weasleys household Magiks into action. G-Man spent quite a while here, doing the ironing. I hope he likes it as much when hes older.
The interactive Burrows setLook out for the Marauders Map
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Stop Sixteen Lambeth Bridge
Address: Lambeth Bridge, London SE1 7SG
Im guessing that by this point, you are going to be pretty tired.
Its been a lot of walking for one day but theres one last stop for you to take a look at before we hop on our broomsticks and fly home.
Its only a ten minute walk from Westminster Station to Lambeth Bridge where you can relive the antics of the Knight Bus.
Cast your minds back to Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, when Harry storms out from the Dursleys only to be rescued by the totally fabulous Knight Bus.
Careering through the streets of central London at what is, quite frankly, a rather irresponsible speed, the Knight Bus hurtles around, narrowly avoiding mowing down old ladies and causing destruction.
With me now?
Then youll certainly remember the excitement when the bus has to squeeze between two muggle London buses on a bridge. Lambeth Bridge is that bridge.
While you wont see any optical illusions here, its a cool little spot to add to your tour of Harry Potter filming locations in London, if only for the beaut views of the river Thames, Parliament and beyond.
Watch the Scene: The Knight Bus Ride to the Leaky Cauldron
And with that, its a simple matter of saying Mischief Managed, putting away your Marauders Map and giving yourself a huge pat on the back.
Thank you for joining this London x London Harry Potter Audio Tour and I hope you have an absolutely brilliant time discovering all the places featured on this tour.
Keep exploring!
Mandrakes And Magical Creatures: 1st July 12th September 2022
Brand-new for 2022, Mandrakes and Magical Creatures will shine a spotlight on how your favourite creature effects were brought to life on screen.
Start your journey in the Great Hall watching the Frog Choir scene as seen in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, featuring the costume of conductor of the choir, Professor Flitwick, as worn by Warwick Davis.
During your tour you’ll see plenty of magical creatures including as Cornish Pixies, Dumbledores beloved Fawkes and the animatronic Monster Book of Monsters can be spotted during your visit. In addition, you will learn how Thestrals and Mandrakes were brought to life using a mixture of scale models and CGI in the Creatures Workshop.
Professor Sprout’s Greenhouse
Professor Sproutâs greenhouse will now be open for the very first time! Step into the greenhouse, home to many exotic and magical plants, and stop to pull out a potted Mandrake as part of an interactive display.
Based on the scene in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, you will recognise the Venomous Tentacula hanging from the ceiling as you walk through the greenhouse.
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Faq Harry Potter Studio Tour London
How long does the Harry Potter Studio Tour take?
The Harry Potter tour takes 3-4 hours on average.
Is the Harry Potter Studio Tour London worth it?
Definitely! Its an amazing experience, beautifully designed and very entertaining.
Where to buy Harry Potter Studio Tour tickets?
You can buy tickets on the official site or join a tour that includes tickets and transport.
Where are the Harry Potter Studios London?
The Harry Potter Studios are in Leavesden, Hertfordshire, north of London.
What is the nearest train station to Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studio Tour?
The nearest train station is Watford Junction.
How to get to the Harry Potter Studios from London independently?
Take a train from Euston Station to Watford Junction and then a shuttle bus to the Warner Brothers Studios.
Is the Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studio Tour a theme park?
No, its a tour around the film sets of the Harry Potter movies.
When did harry the Harry Potter Studios London open?
The studios opened in March 2012.
How To Get To Warner Bros Studios London
The nearest railway station to the Studio Tour is Watford Junction. Direct train services arrive there from both London Euston and Birmingham New Street .
Dont fear if you are not on a direct line. Getting around London is easy. Get the tube to the nearest train line to take you to Watford Junction. Just allow for extra time. You can use Google Maps or the TFL Go app to help you plan your route.
We caught the TFL Rail out to the Harry Potter Studios from Shepherds Bush Station.
You can use your oyster card/contact less card if traveling through London zones 1-9.
As part of your ticket, there is a shuttle bus from Watford Junction to the Studio Tour. It takes about 15 minutes and they run at least every 30 minutes.
READ MORE:An in-depth guide on getting around London!
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Gringotts Bank And Australian Embassy
The famous Wizard’s Bench in several of the films is inspired by the Australian Embassy in London. You may have passed by and not noticed the striking resemblance, but to give you a clearer picture of it, your guide will show you photographs from the films which prove that the Wizard’s Bench was indeed inspired by this building.
What Is The Best Time Of The Year To Visit
The studio tour is open throughout the year and has seasonal events in summer, fall and winter.
The summer months are a great time to enjoy outdoor sets such as riding Hagrids motorbike. During October, the Harry Potter Studio Tour offers Halloween events, including a spooky adult-only tour. From November until January, you can experience Hogwarts in the snow and enjoy a magical festive atmosphere.
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Additional Information On The Harry Potter Tour
Harry Potter is a film series based on the books b J.K Rowling that consists of eight features. The first in the series is Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, released in 2001. It took ten years for the series to conclude in 2011 with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows- Part 2. The story of Harry Potter follows a young wizard as he fights various enemies in the magical world, largely Lord Voldemort. With the help of his friends, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley, Harry discovered what he can do and how to use his powers.
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson played the roles of Harry, Ron, and Hermione respectively. The first movie released to critical acclaim and impressive commercial success, which set the pace for the rest of the series. Originally, the then chosen director Steven Spielberg wanted the films to be animations. However, he left the series, and the project recruited other directors. Chris Columbus, Mike Newell, Alfonso Cuaron, and David Yates are the four directors who handled different parts of the project. Five of the films in the Harry Potter franchise are on the list of the 50 highest-grossing movies of all time.
What Youll Find Inside Harry Potter Studios:
The Studio Tour opens with a video of people talking about their experience with Harry Potter and what it means to them. And this was the first time, out of many, that I got teary eyed. Hearing how others have been impacted by this story is what makes me want to keep writing and reading.
Then the cast of Harry Potter, including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint walk you through a bit about what youll be seeing inside. These are the real sets, real props, and real clothing used inside of Harry Potter. So gear up for some excitement.
After the short film ends you stand in front of the Great Halls grand entry doors. If its your birthday you can go up to the doors to open them!And then, youll get chills. Its funny, I even get excited just typing these words. You open up onto the Great Hall and your mouth drops. To be fair, the Hall is much smaller than how it appears on screen but its still absolutely breathtaking.
Because we were there near Halloween we had hanging pumpkins and set dinner table and costumes of the cast at the front of various teachers. Food is displayed on the tables and you can see what magic really went in to constructing an ornate hall.
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Warner Brothers Studio Tour
The Harry Potter Studio Tour at the Warner Bros Studios in Leavesden was where a lot of the magic behind making the films happened.
Seeing the sets and props IRL, walking along Diagon Alley, popping into all the rooms in Hogwarts its brilliant.
I know that tickets are quite expensive and you have to book ages ahead but its absolutely worth it.
Is Harry Potter Studio Tour All Indoors
No, the Harry Potter Studio tour is 95% indoor and 5% outside. There is a small part outside where you can visit the house of Harry Potter on Privet Drive, the Knight Bus and you can walk on the Wooden Bridge of Hogwarts Castle.
To explore more Harry Potter locations outside, why not extend your visit with this fabulous walking tour across London?
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Stop Nine Australia House
Address: Strand, London WC2B 4LA
Time to withdraw your galleons for which youll need to head to Australia House, which doubles up as Gringotts in the film series.
It might have been the inside of Australia House that was used as an actual filming location but take a close look at the outside of the building as it clearly influenced the design of the bank used in the film .
The triangular shape and imposing architecture of both is no coincidence.
It is indeed the wizarding bank, just missing a few bells and whistles.
Australia House is the longest continually-occupied diplomatic mission in the United Kingdom the exterior was built with marble shipped from Australia.
Inside, its no less striking no wonder the makers wanted to use it as a filming location for the series.
Unfortunately, youre not allowed to enter the building.
If youre doing this tour on a weekday, you may be able to poke your head inside to see a snippet of the stately interior that serves as Gringotts in both Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone and as the backdrop to the trios antics in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II.
Still, its not quite the same as it was the Exhibition Hall rather than the lobby that was used in the films anyway.
Imagine row after row of goblins tapping, calculating and keeping themselves busy around the large Exhibition Hall and voila, you have Gringotts.
Stop Six Stoney Street
Location: 7A Stoney Street, London SE1 9AA
Cross Tower Bridge and head to Borough Market, which is about a 15 minute walk once you get to the other side.
Borough Market is Londons best-known food market with a bounty of fresh produce and delicious street food that attracts people from far and wide. The market is mentioned as early as the 13th century, but historians believe its even older than that. Its the perfect place to stop and refuel.
Thats not what were here for though.
Stoney Street, next to Borough Market is the second place that features as the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron .
Head underneath the railway bridge on Stoney Street and look at what is now the entrance to Tacos El Pastor and youve found it! The entrance to the Leaky Cauldron in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and the next stop on our Harry Potter free walking tour of London.
The Prisoner of Azkaban is the third film in the Harry Potter series and the first film to be directed by Alfonso Cuaron who created a much darker and dirtier world to reflect the growing malignancy present in the books.
Gone are the bright colours of Leadenhall Market, the entrance to The Leaky Cauldron in Stoney Street is formed of the grimy brickwork of the Victorian Railway arches.
It looks a bit nicer these days, thanks to the colourful artwork added by El Pastor but imagine standing here without any of the art or colour and youll see why it was the perfect place for The Leaky Cauldron.
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