Warner Brothers Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter
On my most recent visit to England, I was finally able to secure tickets to spend an entire day with all things Harry Potter. I wasn’t going to miss a Harry Potter Studio Tour!
It. Was. Magical.
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Leavesden, England was the filming location of Harry Potter over the ten years it took to bring the books to life. Although, sadly, the filming of Harry Potter is over, Leavesden is now home to the Warner Brothers Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter.
Located just 20 miles north-west of London, it makes for an easy day trip. The studio tour opened in March 2012 and on peak days, nearly 6,000 Harry Potter fans flock to this studio to get their own little taste of the magic.
This place is a dream come true for fans of Harry Potter.
Read below to know what you can expect from the tour, what you will get to see and some helpful information for planning your visit!
Movie Sets
You will feel as though you’ve been transported directly into the Harry Potter movies as you are standing in the Great Hall or winding your way through Diagon Alley.
Creep your way through the Forbidden Forest and take your seat on the Hogwarts Express when you find Platform 9 3/4. The thought and workmanship that goes into every single detail of these sets is amazing.
For another post from one of my trips to London, check out my post How I Became a Spectator at the Royal Wedding!
The Art Department
Here you will find the huge, intricate, amazing model of Hogwarts castle, graphic design items like the Daily Prophet, white card set models (used by the directors to determine the best camera angles) and technical drawings that were used to create every environment, prop and character in the films.
Props
View the 950 potion bottles lining the walls of the Snape’s potions classroom or the 900 personalized vials in Professor Dumbledore’s office.
You can even see the pink office of Professor Dolores Umbridge or Puking Pastilles at Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes in Diagon Alley!
Costumes
Throughout the tour you will see the actual costumes worn by Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Alan Rickman and many of the other actors from the series. You’ll see Hogwarts uniforms, the invisibility cloak, various wigs and masks and even some of the formal wear that was worn at the Yule Ball.
Tickets
Adults: 47 pounds
Children (5-15 years): 38 pounds
Babies (0-4 years): Free
Family (2 adults & 2 children or 1 adult & 3 children): 150 pounds
Tickets must be purchased in advance and can sell out months ahead of time.
Hours
Winter: 9:30am – 8:00pm (weekdays), 8:30am – 10:00pm (weekends)
Summer: 9:30am – 10:00pm (weekdays), 8:30am – 10:00pm (weekends)
**It is important for you to check the hours of the specific date that you plan on traveling because hours can change or the studio could be closed for various events and renovations.**
How to Get There
Address:
Warner Brothers Studio Tour London
Studio Tour Drive
Leavesden
WD25 7LR
Train
The closest train station is Watford Junction which has direct service from London Euston station (journey time of 20 minutes). Once you arrive at Watford Junction, there is a shuttle bus that departs every 20 minutes. The bus journey is 15 minutes and will bring you directly to Warner Brothers Studio. In order to use this shuttle service, you will need to show your entrance ticket to the driver. The cost of the shuttle is 3 pounds.
Driving
Exit the M1 at Junction 5 and take the A41 for three miles. Take the fourth exit at the Hunton Bridge Roundabout which will bring you back on to the A41. Keep left and take the first exit. Keep left at the Y junction and take the first exit which will bring you to the Studio Tour.
Parking in the main parking lot is free. If you would like priority parking (next to the entrance of the building), you will have the option to purchase this online when booking your tickets. The cost is 10 pounds.
Bus
By far, the easiest way to get to Warner Brothers Studio is by tour bus. Most tours will have a central meeting place somewhere within London. You will meet at this location at the designated time, present your booking receipt and then take a seat on the bus. The tour bus will bring you right to the entrance of the studio. Prior to exiting the bus, the driver will let you know the departing time for your return back to London.
We booked our tickets with double decker bus service from London and it could not have been easier.
Dining
The Chocolate Frog Cafe
Available from open to close of the studio, here you can purchase ice cream, hot & cold beverages and various sweets.
The Hub Cafe
Available from open to close of the studio, this cafe serves Starbucks beverages and prepackaged sandwiches and pastries. This is located right at the tour entrance but, keep in mind, you are not allowed to bring food and beverage on the tour with you.
The Food Hall
This self service restaurant opens when the studio opens and closes at either 5pm or 8pm (depending on the hours of the studio). They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. Menu items include a full English breakfast, bakery items, handmade pies, bangers & mash, afternoon tea and even a roast chicken family feast.
The Backlot Cafe
This self service restaurant is located at the midway point of the tour. It opens when the studio opens and closes at either 5pm or 8pm (depending on the hours of the studio). They offer indoor and outdoor seating that offer views of the exterior sets and props like the Knight Bus, Hogwarts Bridge and Privet Drive. They serve breakfast items, salads, soups, sandwiches, hot dogs and a number of other items.
Here you will also be able to enjoy an ice cold butter beer or even some butter beer ice cream!
Helpful Information
Prior to your arrival, download the Wizarding World App and create a login. Throughout the studio, you will find Enchanted Keys. Scan them with your app and you will receive exclusive information about the part of the studio that you are in.
When you first arrive, make sure to pick up a complimentary Harry Potter Activity Passport. This makes for a great souvenir and includes trivia, puzzles and a Golden Snitch hunt. You can even get your passport stamped at various points throughout the tour!
Digital Guides are available for a cost of 4.95 pounds per person or 12.95 pounds for a group of up to four people. These can be booked ahead of time when you purchase your tickets online or they can be added when you arrive at the studio. These are essential if you are looking for additional information regarding props, costumes, sets, and even behind the scenes information.
Another great souvenir is taking home a picture of you flying on a broomstick. Within the tour, you will find a large green screen area. Throw on a robe and hop on a broom for an awesome picture. You get to choose your background and you can purchase an actual picture or a digital copy.
Plan on spending anywhere from 3 – 4 hours at the studio. This will mostly depend on if you plan on eating while there.
Bags will be searched upon entering.
The studio has a cloakroom, family restrooms, a nursing room, WiFi and is Accessible.
For more information, click here to visit the official Warner Brothers Studio Tour website!
I hope this information helps you plan your journey to the Harry Potter Studio Tour!
If you haven’t read the books or watched the movies, start now.
After all this time?
Always.
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