The Harry Potter Studio Tour London Guide: Everything You Need to Know for Visiting
If you're traveling to London, taking a visit to the Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studio Tour is one of the best ways to spend your day! Use this handy guide to learn everything you need to know before visiting the Warner Brothers lot. Find out how to get there, what to expect, where and when to buy tickets, and what to see at the Harry Potter Studio Tour.
The Harry Potter Studio Tour London Guide: Everything You Need to Know for Visiting
If you’ve been reading TCS throughout the last few years, you probably know by now that I’m a HUGE Harry Potter fan. Like, a MASSIVE fan. To me, there is nothing better than a rainy day where you can stay inside, order some delivery, and turn on a Harry Potter movie marathon or curl up with one of the books. I’ve spent more weekends than I could even count doing this, now that I think about it...
As soon as I booked my trip to London, the first thing I did was schedule the day when I would go to the Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour to explore the sets of the Wizarding World—no joke. This was my absolute top priority and nothing was getting in my way. I immediately started scouring the web for what to expect, where to buy tickets, what to see, and how to get there so I could know everything there was to know.
If you’re in that same boat right now, this guide is exactly for you! I figured there were probably other Potterheads like myself who wanted to get that ultimate experience and know everything possible before booking and arriving at the studio tour in London. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know and buy before visiting the Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour London!
BEFORE YOU ARRIVE: Purchasing Tickets
Because the Harry Potter Studio Tour is a popular attraction, tickets sell out very quickly. It is highly recommended that you book your tickets as far in advance as you can to ensure that you’ll get the desired time and date that you want to go. They also don’t sell tickets at the door, so you really have to make sure you book in advance. You can book your tickets for the tour right here on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour website.
PRO TIP #1:
Schedule your ticket time for as early as you possibly can because there is no limit on how much time you spend on the studio tour. If you book earlier, you have as much time as you want to meander, explore, and read every single little detail. I probably spent 5 or 6 hours there by myself!
Adult tickets start at £39 (unless you get a ‘Saver Ticket’) for regular admission. There are a ton of other package options that you can opt in for on their website that will give you additional souvenirs and/or guides. The regular admission was just fine in my opinion, though.
PRO TIP #2:
Make sure to print out your booking confirmation whenever you receive it via email to make the process much smoother once you arrive. This is absolutely necessary! You will use this confirmation to print out your actual tickets at a kiosk near the main entrance (unless you opt to pick them up at the ticket window). The kiosk is super easy to use!
PRO TIP #3:
Check the website for special events that might be scheduled during your visit. The studio puts on special, exclusive events every month, so you might want to plan your trip around that if you can.
BEFORE YOU ARRIVE: Planning Transportation
The Harry Potter Studio Tour is actually just outside of London’s city center, which means you’re going to have to plan how you get there. You can get to the studio by train, bus, or car. My preferred method is obviously the train since I don’t typically rent cars when I’m staying in a city. If you are driving or want to take a bus, you can look at some of those routes on their official website.
If you’re staying in London and want to take the train, you can book a ticket from the London Euston train station to the Watford Junction train station. I suggest purchasing that ticket in advance so you can give yourself plenty of time to arrive. You can purchase your ticket online right here. Once you have your ticket reservation, you can choose to print out your tickets directly from a kiosk at the train station to save more time.
Related reading: The Ultimate Harry Potter World Travel Guide
PRO TIP #4
There is both an express train to Watford Junction (meaning it goes direct with no stops in between) AND a local train (meaning it stops at every station along the way). The express train will get you there in about 20 minutes, while the local train will get you there in about 1 hour. I was unusually ahead of time to the London Euston train station and made the mistake of getting on the local train instead of the express train that I had booked on my way to Watford Junction. I still got there fine, but unfortunately I didn’t have the extra time I allotted myself because of this mistake. Make sure you get on the right train!
Once you arrive to the Watford Junction train station, there is a Warner Bros. Studio Tour shuttle bus right outside the station that will be waiting to pick up guests and take them to the lot. The bus is fully decked out in Harry Potter images, so don’t worry—you won’t miss it.
Buses run every 20 minutes and take about 15 minutes to arrive to the lot. A round-trip return ticket will cost £2.50 and you must pay it in cash. Credit cards are not accepted; so make sure you bring cash!
PRO TIP #5:
Bring the £2.50 in CASH for your round-trip return shuttle bus ticket. Once you exit the train station, the bus will be directly to the front of the entrance in the parking lot. Since they run every so often, there may or may not be one there; but rest assured it will come and you will notice. The bus is hard to miss because of all the Harry Potter images on it.
PRO TIP #6:
Plan to arrive at the lot tour at least 20 minutes before your scheduled time to guarantee entry. The lines can be crazy during peak times of the year, so it’s best to be prepared!
ARRIVING AT THE HARRY POTTER STUDIO TOUR
Once you arrive to the tour, you’ll have to go through a small security checkpoint before entering the building. Once you’re inside, you’ll likely queue up with the other guests who are also coming for their scheduled time. I’m the worst person when it comes to waiting in line and I’ll say that it didn’t bother me one bit. There is so much to “oooh” and “ahhh” at when you get inside that you won’t even realize you’ve been standing in line. You’ll be mesmerized by the magic!
PRO TIP #7:
If you’d rather save your money for souvenirs instead of food at the [slightly overpriced] cafe, pack yourself a little lunch or some snacks for the day. There is a large lunchroom right outside the cafe where you can sit down to eat about halfway through the studio tour. You won’t be able to eat or drink while you’re walking through the tour, but you can surely save it for later!
Once you pass through the line to enter the tour, you’ll be escorted into a theatre where you’ll stand to watch a brief film before getting escorted into another room to watch another quick film. Once you’re escorted into the next room, you’ll eventually see the front doors of Hogwarts after the film finishes. THIS IS WHERE IT ALL BEGINS!!!
PRO TIP #8:
Try to get a seat in front row of this second room if you can. You’ll be one of the first to enter The Great Hall, which means tons of cool pics! BUT...
PRO TIP #9:
Don’t worry if you’re not in front of the line to get in through the front doors of The Great Hall because the room will eventually clear out as people pass through to the next room. This is where you can begin to move at your own pace. Be patient and just hang back because the crowd will eventually go ahead. You’ll be able to capture those images without people in the background if you really want.
WHAT TO EXPECT INSIDE THE HARRY POTTER STUDIO TOUR
What can you expect once you’re inside? Magic. Just pure magic.
Seriously though, this is where you’ll be able to let your inner HP fan girl go crazy. There is no time limit for how long you spend in each room! Look at every single detail. Read all the plaques. Watch all the videos. DO IT ALL! Do it twice if you want!
As you walk room to room, you’ll see things like the costumes used, Dumbledore’s office, props from the Ministry of Magic, the Hogwarts Express train, behind the scenes special effects, and so much more. The entire experience is so whimsical you’ll actually feel like you’ve stepped into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Fun Fact: The paintings and portraits around Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry are mostly the faces of the cast and crew members!
FINAL PRO TIPS FOR THE HARRY POTTER STUDIO TOUR
PRO TIP #10:
Save some money for souvenirs at the end! It’s not a bad idea to take something home with you to remember this magical trip...maybe some Slytherin socks or a Gryffindor shirt?
PRO TIP #11:
Butterbeer. Yes or No? Well... I personally thought that the Butterbeer was kind of gross and way too sweet. It tastes like pure butterscotch; so if you’re into that, then go for it! I don’t know why they haven’t come up with a Butterbeer that actually has beer in it yet. I mean...come on... Low hanging fruit, Warner Brothers!
PRO TIP #12:
Make sure all of your batteries are fully charged. Bring extra memory cards and even portable USB chargers if you can. If you’re a Potterhead like me, you’ll run out of battery life and space very quickly, so it’s good to be prepared!
PRO TIP #13:
Watch all the movies before you go! It will make the experience so much cooler to be able to know exactly what you’re looking at when you walk through each room.
PRO TIP #14:
If it’s the cold winter months, take advantage of the complimentary coat check at the beginning of the tour. It will be better than lugging around your coat the whole time.
PRO TIP #15:
Take lots and lots of pictures to remember your visit! You’ll probably be looking at them a million times before you’re able to return again (or is that just me?).
Overall, the Harry Potter Studio Tour is something I highly recommend for both Potterheads and people who are visiting London and looking for fun activities to do. It’s great for families, solo travelers, couples, and people of all abilities. It’s truly an unforgettable experience and one that I can’t wait to experience again when I’m back in London!
And with that... I SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I AM UP TO NO GOOD! MISCHIEF MANAGED!
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Have you been to the Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour London? What other tips would you add to this list? --or-- What is your favorite Harry Potter movie? Comment below!
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Ultimate Harry Potter World Travel Guide: Hogwarts & Hogsmeade
The Ultimate Harry Potter World Travel Guide - Part 3: Inside Hogwarts and Hogsmeade at Harry Potter World in Orlando, Florida
Ultimate Harry Potter World Travel Guide: Hogwarts & Hogsmeade
Here we go with the final installment of the Ultimate Harry Potter World Travel Guide! This time, I’ll dive into the Hogwarts and Hogsmeade part of the park, which is located in the Islands of Adventure part of the theme park.
**Don’t forget to download the Official Universal Studios app on your smart phone before you go to help navigate and see wait times! Also remember that if you have a park hopper pass, you are able to take the Hogwarts Express train from park-to-park, which is an awesome perk!**
If you want a great view of Hogwarts castle when you come to the park, make a left when you walk into Islands of Adventure towards the Marvel area/Toon area/Jurassic Park area because you are going to see the majestic castle over a lovely bridge and through the trees. It is so beautiful and worth stopping to take a picture. It is just after the Jurassic Park area if you are traveling that way. Going the opposite way when you get in the park is fine too; I just prefer the picturesque view of the castle!
Hogwarts, Hagrid’s Home, and Dragon Challenge Ride
I pretty much almost cried when I saw the magical castle (ok, not really...) because I felt like I was actually there. There are quite a few rides in this area (different from Diagon Alley, which only has 1 major ride); so if you like roller coasters, you will definitely like this part of the park.
· There is an amazing ride inside Hogwarts that you cannot miss if you come here. My friend and I probably rode it at least 15 times in the weekend we were there because we loved it so much.
If you don’t have an Express Pass, try hopping in the single riders line the first time you go on the ride. HOWEVER (this is the only exception), I absolutely suggest going through the regular line as well because you will get an inside walk through of Hogwarts.
You get to see the Greenhouse, Hall of Portraits, Gryffindor Common Room, Dumbledore’s Office, The Grand Hall, The Sorting Hat, holograms of Dumbledore and some of the other characters, and more! It is the only time I am going to suggest waiting in the regular line just because they make it so cool to be inside!
· Hagrid’s home is also a location of another smaller roller coaster. It isn’t a massive roller coaster, but it is still worth trying once. Here you will see Hagrid’s home and Buckbeak lounging near his home in his nest.
· The Dragon Challenge Ride is one of my favorite roller coasters in the park. The theme here is centered on the Goblet of Fire. You will even see the goblet when you walk into the ride! Keep your eyes out for the Weasley’s blue car (as seen in Chamber of Secrets) on the path towards the roller coaster.
Hogsmeade
Hogsmeade makes you feel transported in a nostalgic way because you’re standing in the middle of sunny, warm Orlando, Florida, but all of the buildings in the village have snow on the rooftops and there is a lovely holiday feel in the air. There are places to shop, eat, and enjoy people watching.
· Step into all of the unique boutiques around the village to see what they have to offer. My personal favorite of Hogsmeade is Honeydukes, which is famous for all their sweet delicious treats.
· The Three Broomsticks and Hog’s Head are 2 great places to grab a bite to eat and a drink. Both serve alcohol too if you’re over 21 and looking to have a drink.
· Hear Moaning Myrtle’s cries in the bathrooms to the right of the Three Broomsticks.
· If you have one of the interactive wands, there are tons of spots around Hogsmeade to try your magic tricks! Don’t forget to use your map to find all of the spots
· If you have a park hopper pass, you can also board the Hogwarts Express here to go back to Diagon Alley.
Whether you’re lucky enough to spend a few days in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter or you’re just there for the day, remember to have a magical time! It is all about escaping to this enchanted world, so have fun with it! Mischief Managed!
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Ultimate Harry Potter World Travel Guide: Diagon Alley
Ultimate Harry Potter World Travel Guide: Diagon Alley
Like I said before, I am an absolute huge Harry Potter geek and loved everything about visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter this year. There are 2 locations for Harry Potter world—Diagon Alley and Hogwarts/Hogsmeade. Diagon Alley is located in Universal Studios towards the back of the park. Visiting this part of Harry Potter World blew my mind. Here are some things to make sure you see when you’re there!
London, The Red Phone Booth, The Knight Bus, King’s Cross Station, and Grimmauld Place
Even before you enter Diagon Alley, you’re able to step into the magical world of Harry Potter by seeing little parts of “London” right outside the entrance to Diagon Alley.
See the outside of The Leaky Cauldron and the sign that muggles seem to miss. It gives you a visual taste of what you are about to experience when you step behind the walls.
Step inside the Red Phone Booth that is near The Leaky Cauldron and The Knight Bus right outside of Diagon Alley. Once inside, if you dial the code “MAGIC” on the phone, you will hear the voicemail recording of the Ministry of Magic!
The Knight Bus comes fully equipped with the creepy Jamaican shrunken head in the front of the bus, as well as the bus boy, who is always giving people a good laugh. Step up and talk to him and then walk around to the back of the bus and get a look inside The Knight Bus! It has all the beds and luggage just like in the movie.
The entrance to King’s Cross Station is just outside of Diagon Alley and looks absolutely majestic. You will need to have a park hopper pass to get into the station and ride the train to Hogwarts/Hogsmeade (do this if only for 1 day because it is so worth it!). Once you are in King’s Cross Station, you will get a chance to “walk through the wall” of Platform 9 ¾. I was lucky enough that no one was behind me, and my friend got an awesome video of me entering the magical world through the wall. It is so cool and whatever technology they used for this visual effect makes me really happy. Kudos Universal Studios engineers!!!
Just before you go into Diagon Alley, step over to the town houses of Grimmauld Place and stand outside of #12, which is the house of Black. Look above the door, and every minute or so you will see Creature peeking his head out and watching all the muggles walk by. Such a creepy looking guy!
Inside Diagon Alley
Stepping behind those magical walls into Diagon Alley might have been one of the happiest moments of my life. The entire vibe in there is like you are literally in the movie and in Diagon Alley. They even have the music playing to set the mood! It is beautiful...
First thing’s first: Go buy an interactive wand. If you want the Ultimate Harry Potter World experience, you’re going to need a wand to go around and cast spells. Let the wand pick you! **Secret**: You don’t have to buy the wand at Olivander’s wand shop. They sell them in a few different locations throughout Harry Potter World. We went to a shop called “Wands by Gregorovitch” that is just around the corner from Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes and they had the entire selection there with no line to wait in.
Inside Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, they make it look and feel just like the real store. Look up at the top of the ceiling and see 2 awesome details: Fireworks on a screen and a Dolores Umbridge doll that screams, “I WILL. HAVE. ORDER!” as it rolls back and forth on a line.
Step into The Leaky Cauldron for some quintessential Harry Potter/English food. You can even try Butter Beer (unfortunately not really beer/doesn’t have alcohol, more of a cream soda) or Pumpkin Juice (very sweet and tasty like apple cider with pumpkin spices).
Follow the dark alley and sign into Knockturn Alley for some creepy views of this part of the city. They have moving “Wanted” signs for evil characters like Bellatrix Lestrange and many other death eaters.
Borgin and Burkes is in Knockturn Alley and you can come in here for your typical villain-type souvenirs. They even have the Vanishing Cabinet in the back of the store and you can hear the bird chirping from inside the walls!
About every 15-20 minutes, the dragon above Gringotts Bank roars loudly and breathes fire out of his mouth! It is so great to see, so make sure you have your camera ready!
You can actually shop in many of the stores along Diagon Alley. Even if you don’t buy anything, it is still great to stop in and feel like you’re getting ready for your year at Hogwarts. There is a boutique to buy robes (also a talking mirror in this boutique!) and other Hogwarts apparel, there is an ice cream shop, and even a place to buy Butter Beer and other beverages.
Stop and take a seat in Hagrid’s motorcycle right next to Gringotts Bank.
The ride at Gringotts Bank is a very cool one that you shouldn’t miss. To save time waiting, try the single riders line if you really don’t mind riding alone or if you don’t have the Express Pass. The technology and engineering that has gone into these new rides is so impressive. They use holograms and lots of other modern technology to make it a unique experience. The inside of Gringotts even looks like the actual bank—goblins and all!
Around the corner from Gringotts, there is a Money Exchange shop and you can go in to exchange money for Harry Potter currency. There is a goblin that sits at the top of the desk when you walk in who is interactive with the guests and talks to people. You can ask him questions and he will answer however he feels is most appropriate. Some of his responses are pretty comical too.
See the creepy mermaids from Goblet of Fire on top of the water fountains near Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes. They even shoot out water from the top of the fountain every so often.
The best part of visiting these parks is seeing this fairy-tale world come to life. Enjoy seeing all the little details that went into making it a reality, and relax with a Pumpkin Juice or Butter Beer at the end of the day. I solemnly swear that I am up to no good!
Click Here for things to do to make your trip the best experience!
Click Here for the Hogwarts and Hogsmeade guide!
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Ultimate Harry Potter World Travel Guide
The Ultimate Harry Potter World Travel Guide
Anyone who knows me knows that I am (unashamedly) a huge Harry Potter fan. I’m talking, like, a super huge nerdy fan. One of the peak moments of my year (and probably decade) was visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida. It was everything I wanted it to be and more.
This is the 1st edition of a 3-part series to my Ultimate Harry Potter World Travel Guide. Here you'll find info on how to make the most of your time in the parks when visiting Harry Potter World.
TOP 7 THINGS TO DO TO HAVE AN ULTIMATE HARRY POTTER WORLD EXPERIENCE
Get a park hopper pass!!! I cannot express how crucial this is if you want to have your ultimate Harry Potter experience. There are Harry Potter attractions in both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios that you will want to see.
PLUS there is the Hogwarts Express train that connects both of the parks and you cannot ride this train unless you have a park hopper pass. I know tons of people who didn’t get the pass at first, and ended up buying it at some point during their stay. It is worth it—trust me.
Download “The Official Universal Orlando Resort App” on your smart phone. Not only is this app a perfect map of both of the parks, but it also gives you pretty exact wait times of all the rides in the park. I was addicted to using this app when I went and found that the wait times on the app were all very accurate. (It also helped navigate my friend and I when we had had a few too many cocktails after lunch...) It is great if you want to navigate your day based on location/wait time!
Buy an interactive wand at Olivander’s OR (which is even better), there are locations through Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade with shorter lines that you can buy the same exact wands with no line to wait in.
“But why buy a wand?” you ask. Firstly, because they are awesome exact replicas of the wands from the movies; but secondly because there are stations hidden around the park in Harry Potter World that you can actually cast spells and make things come to life, move, shift, squirt water, etc. And let me tell you—it is so much fun to do.
You will get a map of both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley with locations of all the stations. Simply point your wand towards the sensors and say the magic phrase! And don’t worry about looking like a weirdo (I’m in my 20s and did this next to kids) because everyone else around you is nerding out and loves it just as much as you do. (No kidding, there are grown adults with Hogwarts robes running around the park and it is so cool.) Expecto Patronum!
SINGLE RIDERS LINE!!! This is no longer a best-kept secret of visiting the parks; however, I highly recommend (unless you have some inclination with having to be with your party at every second of the trip) jumping in the single riders line at any attraction that allows it. You will definitely cut your wait time in half and sometimes more. On some of the attractions, we even got to ride it 3-4 times in a row because we just kept getting back in the single riders line.
Consider the Express Pass option. If you’re visiting the park at a peak time of year and you really want to stay with your party at all times and avoid the long lines, I would suggest looking into purchasing the Express Pass for the park. You will fly by in the lines and get the most out of your day.
We visited the park in February, so it wasn’t that busy and we didn’t find it totally necessary to have the Express Pass. They have 2 options of the pass: Unlimited Uses or Single Use. Cost obviously varies and can be expensive, but in some cases it is so worth it.
Ride the Hogwarts Express!!! The train takes you from one park to the other and has a cute visual show in your cabin going both ways. Like I mentioned earlier, you can only get on the train if you have a park hopper pass. So get the park hopper!!
Dress comfortably and bring as little as possible to the parks. A nice feature they have at the parks is free, rentable lockers to put your things in right before the rides. But the lines can get so long and you don’t want to waste time with that!
These are just some of the suggestions I have after my ultimate weekend there. Obviously, based on the time of year, wear appropriate clothing, shoes, sunscreen, etc. But the most important thing is to have fun!! The park is so magical (seriously these engineers did an amazing job at making it come to life) and you are going to feel like you stepped right into the movies—music and all!
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Hi, I'm Ana Rebeca! Welcome to The City Sidewalks. Here you’ll find tips on Travel, Lifestyle, and Wellness.
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