Enter the world of groundbreaking spells and enchanting incantations. Unravel the wares at Diagon Alley. Wonder at the massive Great Hall. Discover the depths of the Forbidden Forest to encounter rare, magical and mysterious creatures.
Harry Potter Studio London is where the magic happens. The iconic sets, authentic props and detailed trinkets are what make this tour a truly magical one.
For many, the Harry Potter series has been a part of their lives growing up, and seeing the magic unfold in front of their eyes is a surreal moment.
But is the Harry Potter Studio Tour London worth the hype? Let’s cast aside the spell and find out.
How to Reach the Harry Potter Studio?
Although the Harry Potter Studio is not exactly in London (but in Leavesden, Hertfordshire), there are many easy ways to reach the location. First, you can try the bus services from Victoria Coach station and Kings Cross station. You can also book a fully guided tour that includes transport from the studio and back to London.
Whether you are a resident or a tourist, exploring London in a touristy way is perhaps the best way to experience the city.
The London Hop On Hop Off 4-hour bus tour takes you to Warner Bros Harry Potter Studios. And you can check out other attractions along the way!
Booking Tickets for the Harry Potter Studio Tour
You’ll find it is harder to get Harry Potter Studios London tickets than conjuring up a smile from Professor Snape unless you book the tickets in advance.
When booking, try to book for a morning slot. Then, you’ll have much more time to explore the grounds and click more solo pictures.
How Long will it take to Cover the Studio?
That completely depends on you and your love for the Harry Potter franchise. If you are a Potterhead, you can be at the studio for two days straight and still not get enough of it.
Spending 4 – 5 hours will give you enough time to cover the place, but there’ll still be some details, iconic memorabilia, costumes and backdrops you could miss.
There is a lot to see, experience and explore.
Harry Potter Studio Review – The First Look
The magic of Harry Potter comes alive in this massive, awe-inspiring Warner Bros studios.
The tour begins once you pick up your Harry Potter passport, complete with a Golden Snitch hunt, trivia, and puzzles – a cute little souvenir to collect.
A massive dragon – the Ukrainian Ironbelly – hanging from the main lobby’s ceiling gives you a dramatic welcome.
The studio tour begins with a short film by the cast and the crew talking about their experience making the movie.
After the movie, the doors open, and you find yourself in the Great Hall of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The spectacular Great Hall is massive, stunning, and meticulously detailed, and there couldn’t be a better way to start the tour.
The Main Attractions
The entire studio is a one-big masterpiece, but we will explore each attraction at the pace it deserves.
The Great Hall
The iconic Great Hall of Hogwarts School seems the perfect place to begin our tour. It is a huge room with dinner tables – cutlery – lining up the sides. The arched ceiling was amazing, but it wasn’t enchanted (we half expected to find floating candles and the night sky).
You can find models of some characters in their original costumes on display. And spot the House Pointer machine, the ticking pendulum and Dumbledore’s Lectern.
Gringotts Wizarding Bank
Even though this set is a reproduction, the first look takes your breath away. It is huge, with massive columns, a curved ceiling and massive windows. And shiny!
The chandeliers lining the centre of the hall are gigantic. You can find Goblin bankers staring down on you from their pedestal.
The Gringotts bank has been painstakingly reproduced with as much attention to detail as possible. So, before heading to the tour’s next stop, marvel at the locking door to the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry’s vault, and the heaps of gold and silver.
Diagon Alley
Stunning, colourful and rustic – the famous stores on Diagon Alley look stunning. Although you can’t go into the stores, you can still walk in front of the stores – Ollivanders, Flourish and Blotts, Mr Mulpepper’s Apothecary.
As you walk through the street, you can find many beautifully crafted props on the store windows, from dusty old wands in Ollivanders to Hogwarts robes in Madame Malkin’s.
What Other Attractions You Shouldn’t Miss on the Tour?
The special effects are another fascinating part of the tour. In the green screen photo section of the tour, you can click pictures of riding on a broom – the Nimbus 2000.
Learn to use the wand like a pro with a demonstration video and help from a guide.
Climb on board the actual replica of the Hogwarts Express on Platform 9 ¾. Marvel at the magical creatures in the Forbidden Forest. Tour highlights include the animatronic spider Aragog, centaur, buckbeak and the Basilisk. Don’t miss the Creatures Room, where you can find the prosthetics used for some characters, special effects and behind-the-scenes videos.
Triwizard Tournament cup, the golden egg, the many cauldrons and magical potions in the Potions classroom, and the Weasley house filled with mechanical tricks are some details you shouldn’t miss.
Pro Tips
- You don’t have to be an ardent Potterhead to enjoy the place. Even a remote interest in the franchise makes you wonder at the amount of effort, creativity and time that has gone into making the movie.
- Allow at least 20 minutes for the security checks, so arriving well ahead of your entry time makes sense.
- There are a few Souvenir shops – the Studio Shop is the main one. You can load up on official merchandise, scarfs, art, collectables and costumes.
- Take your time to explore and experience every section of the tour. It’s a shame if you have to rush through it, as you might end up missing some great experiences.
- Don’t miss the opportunity to ride the broom, enjoy Butterbear (buy a souvenir cup) and hop on the Knight bus.
- Go prepared – rewatch the movies if you don’t remember the nitty-gritty details and don’t want to look out of place on tour.
- Warner Bros hosts special events on special occasions, which they update on their website.
The moment of truth – is it worth the hype?
Yes.
Obsessive fan or an indifferent on-looker, the Harry Potter studio tour has something for everyone. It is an experience you won’t forget in a hurry. If only we had the Invisibility Cloak, we’d never leave the place!