A Harry Potter Studio Tour Review & Must-Know Tips
For Harry Potter fans visiting London, it’s common to wonder: is the Harry Potter studio tour really worth it?
I’m a lifelong Potter fan (midnight book release parties, anyone?) and frequent traveler to London (I even lived there for a little while!), and I’m here to answer all your questions about the studio tour. I have visited the Harry Potter studios twice within the last five years, both with and without a child in tow, and I’m ready to share all my insights for fellow Potter fans.
After all, if you’re spending the money to visit a place like London, where there’s so much to see and do and often not enough time or money to do it all, you have to be selective.
In this guide, I’ll tell you in detail what you can expect from a trip to the Harry Potter studios in London along with my honest opinions about various aspects of the tour. I’ll also give you my tips to make the most of your experience if you decide to go, and who will get the most out of it (tdlr; hardcore fans will enjoy it; casual fans are more likely to get overwhelmed and worn out), as well as the various options you have for how to get to the Harry Potter studios and other frequently asked questions.
Basically, this is your one-stop shop to decide if this Potter fan experience is for you, how to plan your visist, and how to set your expectations. Let’s get started.
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Whenever possible, I recommend buying books at local bookshops or through Bookshop.org, because shopping there puts the profits right into the hands of indie bookstores all over the country.
What to expect from the London Harry Potter Studio Tour
I’ve done the London Harry Potter studios tour twice in the last five years, and after taking my time both times through, I’m fully prepared to let you know what the experience is like and what you can expect from your visit.
Essentially, the studio tour is exactly what it sounds like — a walk-through of two soundstages and a backlot, all crammed with leftover sets, costumes, and props used in filming the eight Harry Potter movies.
What makes this London Harry Potter experience unique from any others in the world essentially boils down to these five elements:
- Original sets, props, and costumes used in the movies on display (more than at the traveling exhibits)
- Interactive photo and video opportunities
- Genuine Butterbeer and Butterbeer ice cream for sale
- Rotating interactive exhibits about different aspects of making of the films
- Arguably the best Harry Potter shop in the world
Related: The Harry Potter studio tour is just one of the many Harry Potter activities to do in London if you’re a fan. Make sure you check out my complete round up for more ideas to fill your itinerary.
A Quick Walk-Through of the Tour Experience
Now that you have an overview of the experience, let’s get into the details of what a visit entails.
Tickets are only by timed entry. At the designated time, you’ll queue in appropriate line and begin with a short guided portion of the visit. Your guide will welcome you and take you into the first film set, the Hogwarts Great Hall.
Tip: If you’re there to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, or other mile marker, be sure to let them know! You’ll get to be one of the people who opens the massive oak doors to enter the Great Hall first.
Inside the Great Hall, your guide will share some behind-the-scenes anecdotes about filming the first Harry Potter movie, like how they originally tried to hang real, lit candles from the ceiling (and why the ultimately switched to CGI).
Tip: The decorations in the Great Hall change depending on the season! For my second visit, I was there while Christmas decorations were up. I highly recommend doing so if you can, because it was magical!
Your time to look around the Great Hall and take pictures is limited, though, as they will shuffle you out to make room for the next group. So don’t dawdle too long in one area of the massive room. Make sure you go up to the Professors’ Table and take in the amazing costumes and props there, like Dumbledore’s podium.
After the Great Hall, the rest of the Harry Potter Studio Tour is self-guided (unless you’ve paid for a third party guided tour or an audioguide). You can take as long as you want to go through it, at least until closing time.
Tip: The first sound stage is a bit of a maze, and there’s not necessarily one clear way through, so move carefully to ensure you don’t accidentally bypass an entire section of props and sets.
On our own after leaving the Great Hall, you will wander through a huge soundstage full of actual film sets. They are crammed somewhat haphazardly into this massive building, with no clear rhyme or reason to what goes where. Some of them have informative placards in front of them that will tell you some fun behind-the-scenes details about a particular set or costume.
Some of the highlights in this first soundstage area include:
- The potions classroom
- The Gryffindor dormitory
- The Gryffindor common room
- The Slytherin common room
- The kitchen of the Burrow
- Dumbledore’s office
Related: Did you know that film producers used a Manchester library for inspiration in designing Dumbledore’s office? The similarities are remarkable, and it was one of my favorite stops during a bookish weekend in Manchester.
- The actual Hogwarts Express (which you can walk through)
Along the way, there are several interactive elements you can take part in if you so choose. Many of these were added just in the last couple of years. Some of the interactive elements you can do on the first soundstage include:
- Summoning a broomstick to your hand (say “up!”)
- Taking a size distortion photo at Hagrid’s table
- Taking your very own Wanted Poster photo
- Flying a broomstick through London in front of a green screen, then receiving it as a video of you flying through London and the Hogwarts grounds
If this sounds like a lot for the first half of the tour, you’re right, because it is! This first sound stage alone can take hours to cover in its entirety.
Luckily, at about the half-way point, you’ll be able to stop and rest in a large cafeteria. Here, you can buy food, Butterbeer (in a souvenir mug), and Butterbeer ice cream (in a souvenir dish). If you pre-book it, you can also have a wizarding afternoon tea experience.
Related: This is just one of the many unique London afternoon teas you can enjoy during your trip. Check out my list of bloggers’ favorites, most of which have a fun book tie-in.
Tip: If you’re not getting food, bypass the long food line and go straight to the Butterbeer bar to just order drinks and a couple of select snacks.
At the Backlot cafe, you’ll find bathrooms and plenty of seating, both outdoors and inside. Take your time to rest and recover before tackling the backlot and the second soundstage (trust me, you’re going to need it).
If you buy Butterbeer, make sure to stop at the convenient washing station where you can rinse out your Butterbeer mugs and cups before advancing through the rest of the tour. This is much appreciated.
Once you’ve eaten and recovered, you continue the tour at your own leisure. The next part will take you outside into the backlot. Here, you can see more sets, like the famous Hogwarts bridge, the exterior (and interior) of 4 Privet Drive, the Hogwarts greenhouses, the Knight Bus, and more.
Next, it’s back inside to explore the second and final soundstage. In this second indoor area, you’ll see some absolutely iconic sets, my favorite of which is the Gringott’s Bank lobby, both before and after the blind dragon destroys it in Deathly Hallows. The destroyed set of Gringott’s even has a cool effect that makes it appear as though the dragon is emerging from the rubble.
You’ll also get to stroll down Diagon Alley exactly as it appeared in the movies, peering into the magical window displays. You can check out lots of props in the second sounstage as well, including seeing the details of how various creatures’ masks and looks were developed.
You’ll also get to see a rotating exhibit that dives into a certain aspect of making the Harry Potter films. Finally, one of the last things you see is a breathtaking replica of the entire exterior of Hogwarts and its surrounding grounds. It might be in miniature, but it’s still massive — and, for a lifelong fan, quite moving.
This castle was one used to film exterior shots of Hogwarts Castle, and the detail is spectacular. It’s a lovely way to conclude your studio tour before, of course, exiting through the gift shop (take all my money!).
Related: The shop at the Harry Potter Studio tour is basically worth the price of admission all on its own. I have visited so many London Harry Potter shops, and this one is by far the best, selling the best quality, licensed merchandise.
Verdict: Is the London Harry Potter studio tour worth it?
If you’ve visited any of the traveling Harry Potter exhibitions (like the one in New York), then you may already feel like you’ve seen plenty of set pieces and costumes. However, the London Harry Potter studio tour is massive in comparison. That makes sense, really. The London tour includes huge set pieces that can’t easily be taken on the road.
Similarly, if you’ve already visited the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios, you might feel like your experience at the studio tour is much the same, or in some ways, not as good. Indeed, they did such a fantastic job recreating the shops at Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley at Universal that walking through the Diagon Alley film set loses a little bit of its “wow” factor (at Universal, you can go inside the shops, after all, unlike the studio tour). The same could also be said for the Gringott’s lobby and even Dumbledore’s office.
So really, it comes down to your level of fandom. For a casual fan, seeing a traveling exhibit or visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter might be all the behind-the-scenes experience you feel you need. After all, the London Harry Potter studio tour is enormous, time-consuming, and honestly pretty exhausting. Even the most enthusiastic fans are likely to get fatigued at a certain point. One can only take in so much.
For a die-hard Harry Potter fan, however, there’s no other experience that can fully compare to a visit to the London Harry Potter Studios. For those fans, it’s a must-do experience.
But what about kids? Is the Harry Potter studio tour in London good for kids? Again, it depends. As I said, the tour is massive and takes several hours to get through. If you grew up with the series but your kids are indifferent, you might want to consider going without them — harsh, maybe, but just true! They will likely get tired and complain while you’re still immersed in the magic. These tickets are not cheap, and for many, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. So consider how enjoyable it will be for your kids, and how enjoyable it will be for you if they are not enjoying themselves (Parents will get exactly what I mean!).
I waited to bring my son until he was 11 (the perfect age!) and had already read the entire book series and watched all the movies, so he appreciated it all, too. Even still, he got pretty worn out and ready to be done before we’d gotten through it all.
As for whether or not it’s worth it to pay extra for the interactive elements, the price on this has surprisingly improved in the last couple of years. On my first visit five years ago, you had to pay 50 pounds just for your broom video, and any other photos or videos cost extra. Now, you pay one price — 50 pounds — for all of your interactive photos and videos, to also include your custom Wanted Wizard poster.
Related: One of the big highlights of our Harry Potter trip in London was taking a Harry Potter walking tour. Check out my complete breakdown of the options that are currently available and how to choose the best one.
Essential Tips for Visiting
- Reserve your tickets the moment you have your dates for travel, because they literally sell out months in advance.
- Book the first tour of the day, if you can, to avoid crowds as much as possible. Entry is timed, but people can take as long as they want in the tour, so it can get quite crowded. Even going on a weekday, it was filled with local school groups doing field trips. Also, arriving early will give you a chance to shop before it gets really busy, and you can wear your new swag on the tour.
- If the weather’s cold or at all questionable — and this is England, after all — don’t check your coat or jacket at the coat check. You’ll be miserable during the outside portion of the tour. As annoying as it is, just carry it with you during the tour.
- If it’s your birthday, though, stop by coat check and get a birthday pin. Also, be sure to tell your guide at the beginning of the tour so you can help open the doors to the Great Hall.
- Be well-rested and well-hydrated and don’t plan too many other activities on the same day. This might sound dramatic, but one of the most common observations of the studio tour is how LONG and LARGE it is. It really is pretty exhausting spending all day here. You’re likely to be grumpy after too long if you’re not well-rested and feeling good when you start the tour. Be prepared for a long day. This can be the sole activity for your day and it will feel incredibly full. Also, if you’re traveling internationally to come to London, you might not want to do it directly after a red-eye flight, or when you’re recovering from jet lag.
- Wear your fan gear! This is the time to go all out, because you are among your people. Just like at the theme parks, this is the perfect opportunity to wear your cosplay, or just a house scarf, or any other kind of HP items you might have.
FAQ
How long does the Harry Potter tour take?
I’d plan for a minimum of 4 hours, or more if you plan to eat in the middle of the tour (I recommend it), and still more for shopping at the massive fan shops. This time does not include travel to and from London.
When should I book HP studio tour tickets?
As soon as possible, especially if you are planning a trip during peak times, like summer or over any holiday periods. At minimum, plan to book two months in advance.
Can I still get tickets if it’s sold out?
If your desired time sells out, your best option is to book through a third party tour company. I had to use this option on my first visit, and it worked out okay.
The tour I chose included transportation to and from the studios from London as well as a walking tour in Oxford, which has several sights to interest not just Potter fans but also book lovers. This can be an advantage — you don’t have to worry about transportation, and you get to see another sight as well. The disadvantage of using a third party tour is that you must keep to their set time limit for the studio tour or risk getting left behind.
How do I get to the Harry Potter Studios?
What you may not realize is that the Harry Potter studios are not actually in London, but outside of London in Watford. So you need to factor in travel time when planning your trip there.
The cheapest way to get to the Harry Potter studios from London is by train followed by a free shuttle bus. You’ll first need to catch a train (not the tube) to Watford Junction. It’s a 20-minute train ride from London Euston and a 1-hour train ride from Birmingham New Street.
You don’t need to buy train tickets in advance; just check the schedules online and arrive with enough time to buy them at the station. There are self-service kiosks, or look for someone sitting in an info booth. They are used to Harry Potter fans being unsure of which train to take, and usually just outright ask, “Going to Watford?” and tell you exactly which ticket to buy.
Once you’re at Watford Junction, look for the free shuttle bus to the studios — it’s covered in Harry Potter film art, so you can’t miss it. Show your timed entry ticket to the driver, and settle in. Tom Felton even greets you in a pre-recorded video welcome message as you head toward the studios.
Related: I love how Tom Felton still embraces his role in the Harry Potter film franchise. His memoir about filming the eight movies was one of my favorite reads of 2022.
Other options for getting to the Harry Potter studios include:
- Driving (there’s a free car park available, or priority parking for £10, which must be booked online)
- Taking a taxi (not recommended, as you’ll pay a fortune)
- Booking through a third party that includes transport from London
Where can I stay near the Harry Potter studios?
If you don’t want to add the hassle of a long train ride to an already long day of touring the Harry Potter studios, you can always find lodgings closer to the studios in Watford. In this post, I’ve done all the research and picked the best hotels near the Harry Potter studios tour for every budget and group size.
If you don’t have time to check it out, you might consider one of the following rentals.
Budget travelers might want to consider the Holiday Inn Express in Watford, which has affordable rooms and is less than 2 miles from the Harry Potter Studio Tour.
There’s also been an uptick in private vacation rentals with a Harry Potter theme located near the studio tours. One popular one is a 9 3/4 themed apartment for rent very close to the studio tour. This is a great option for groups to consider, as it can house up to 6 people in its two themed bedrooms.
You can search for the best hotel options by typing in the studios as the location in Expedia or Hotels.com and sorting them by the closest distance.
Travel Resources At-A-Glance
All of the following are links to sites and services I actually use to book and plan my travel or to purchase books or travel gear.
For flights: Skyscanner is my number one go-to resource for booking flights. I love using the “explore” function to find the cheapest places I can fly during a given time or using the fare calendar to identify the cheapest days to fly.
For hotels and lodgings: For hotels, hotels.com, and for vacation rentals, VRBO.com. I’ve had much better experiences with private rentals through this website than through other popular private vacation rental websites.
For car rentals: Kayak allows comparisons across a wide range of booking agencies and lists reviews of companies as well. I’ve found this to be the most user-friendly and efficient way to compare car rental prices.
For tours & excursions: Viator and Get Your Guide are my top choices for booking excursions and tour experiences in a new destination.
For travel gear: Amazon.com and REI for more outdoorsy items. Check out my travel gear recs here.
For booking trains & buses: I find the Omio app and website to be the most easily navigable for comparing options for public transportation, especially in Europe,
Best travel credit card: My favorite travel rewards credit card for European travel has been the Chase Sapphire Rewards card. Visa is accepted just about everywhere in Europe, and there are no foreign transaction fees on the card. Some of the travel benefits I love on the Chase Sapphire include free TSA pre-check or Global Entry (worth it every time), an annual $200 travel credit, an annual $200 hotel benefit, built-in rental car, and trip insurance, and points are worth 50% more when used to book travel. I travel around Europe a LOT, and I end up with many free flights and hotel stays from using my points on my Chase Sapphire.
For books: Bookshop.org often has prices as good as Amazon or sometimes better, but profits go to indie bookstores all over the country. Whenever possible, consider buying your books from this online indie bookshop resource.
Hopefully I’ve answered all your questions about the Harry Potter studio tour in London and helped you decide if it’s worth the visit for you or not. If you have any more questions, please feel free to email me or reach out through my contact form!
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