For Harry Potter followers, the Warner Bros Studio tour in Leavesden at all times tops the checklist of issues to do in London – however because it’s not an affordable expertise, it’s effectively price researching suggestions for the Harry Potter studio tour beforehand to get probably the most out of your go to.
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Whether or not you’re questioning about methods to get tickets or methods to get there, how lengthy to spend, what to do about meals, methods to keep away from large spiders and whether or not you actually need that digital information in any case, I’ve packed all of the solutions into my checklist of prime suggestions for visiting the Harry Potter Studios, London.
Having visited a number of occasions with my daughter (and extra occasions with out her), there’s additionally recommendation should you’re visiting Harry Potter world with youngsters. Seize your cloak, pack your wand and browse on.
Which attraction is the primary one? If you happen to’re questioning simply what number of Harry Potter sights there are in London, the official title is the Warner Bros studio tour, nevertheless it’s additionally generally generally known as the Harry Potter tour, Harry Potter Studio tour London and Harry Potter World
E-book early
Tickets for the Warner Bros studio tour get snapped up very early – plan to e book in August should you fancy Hogwarts within the Snow at Christmas, and often months prematurely to go to throughout peak season as effectively.
If you happen to’re visiting on a moist Wednesday in January, you’re prone to have extra selection, however this actually isn’t one thing to depart to the final second.
An earlier time slot can also be a good suggestion if you will get one, to present loads of time to discover and to keep away from a late night time with youthful followers.
The place to search out tickets if the Warner Bros website is bought out
The most affordable method to go to is at all times reserving direct with Warner Bros Studios but when your dates are exhibiting as booked, there are some various choices to strive.
Tour operators will typically have availability should you’re pleased to purchase tickets with a coach switch – you can even e book direct by way of Golden Excursions which is the primary supplier. These additionally present one of many movies on the journey to Watford which is enjoyable.
Whilst you can select to take the bus from Victoria Station or close to Baker Road Station, in addition to from Kings Cross, there’s additionally an choice to make your individual manner and to satisfy on the ticket assortment desk should you’re staying at a lodge close to the Harry Potter Studios.
If you happen to’re selecting the choice with out transportation, do take into account the way you’ll get to the positioning although as each the shuttle bus and parking require you to point out a ticket.
You may as well be part of small group excursions to the Harry Potter Studios whereas some resorts provide packages together with tickets. Once more, this can be a dearer choice however should you’re planning to e book a lodge anyway, it’s price exploring.
For resorts close to Harry Potter World with youngsters, try my prime picks for locations to remain
Find out how to get to from central London
The Warner Bros Studio tour is round 20 miles from central London because the crow flies, in Leavesden, Hertfordshire – simply exterior Watford, nevertheless it’s simple to entry utilizing public transport.
By practice
By far probably the most simple manner is to take the practice direct from Euston station to Watford Junction – the direct quick trains take solely 20 minutes and you may pay utilizing contactless or Oyster card, similar to the tube and different Tfl companies.
In contrast to different nationwide rail companies, youngsters beneath 11 journey free on this route too – usually ages 5-15 pay a 50% fare on practice tickets. If you happen to do catch one of many different practice routes between Euston and Watford Junction, it can take longer and also you’ll must have the right baby tickets.
When you arrive at Watford Junction, there’s a free shuttle bus which is included as a part of your entry ticket. The journey takes round Quarter-hour, and buses run a minimum of each half-hour throughout the day: the final bus heads again when the Studio Tour closes within the night.
You’ll want to point out your ticket or reserving affirmation to the driving force to have the ability to use the shuttle bus, so ensure you have it at hand. Sadly the Knight Bus isn’t an choice.
By tube
There’s no direct tube path to the Harry Potter Studios or to Watford Junction itself. Nevertheless, you may take the Metropolitan Line to Watford Underground station, simply over a mile from Watford Junction station.
You’d then both must get a taxi to the Warner Bros Studios – round 10-Quarter-hour by automobile – or make your method to Watford Junction station to catch the shuttle bus.
There are bus routes which run between the 2 stations, though it can additionally contain a minimum of a brief stroll and a few solely run each half-hour. Alternatively, it’s 5-10 minutes by taxi, which prices round £7-£10.
Enable loads of time
Whilst you can go at your individual tempo, it pays to depart loads of time to discover right here. Harry Potter World in London is large – and new areas are continuously being added and unveiled.
There’s additionally an unimaginable quantity of data to find, with behind-the-scenes movies to look at, an opportunity to learn extra of the main points of the creation and inspiration of the assorted props, plus interactive actions together with casting spells and using broomsticks.
It’s beneficial to permit round a minimum of three and a half hours. Whilst you may rush spherical in much less time should you’re visiting with youthful youngsters (or much less dedicated followers), it’s not an affordable day trip so it’s price taking advantage of it.
You possibly can very simply spend longer too. On one go to with my then seven-year-old daughter, we spent round 6 1/2 hours exploring, and even on my earliest visits earlier than a number of new areas had been added, I’ve by no means spent lower than about three hours there.
The morning slots are at all times the best choice if you’ll find them, as you may then spend so long as you need inside. Keep in mind there’s just one (busy) place for lunch when you’re inside, in addition to a restaurant at the beginning, though you may convey your individual meals to eat within the Backlot cafe.
There are restricted numbers for the very begin of the expertise, so count on to have to stay to the time in your ticket, however after that time, you may discover at your individual tempo.
Whilst you can return to some areas, particularly within the first part of the expertise earlier than you attain the Forbidden Forest, it’s not at all times simple (or potential) to return, so it’s at all times higher to take your time then transfer on.
After you go the Hogwarts Categorical at Platform 9 3/4 and the final a part of Studio J, there’s no turning again. From right here, you head previous the Backlot Cafe to the outside areas together with the brand new Professor Sprout’s Greenhouse and Privet Drive, earlier than attending to Studio Ok, with Creature Results, Gringotts and Diagon Alley – try the downloadable map right here.
What age ought to youngsters go to?
There’s no minimal age for admission, so if you wish to flip up with a child or toddler, you’ll nonetheless be welcome as the entire attraction is household pleasant.
Nevertheless, until you assume your child goes to nap the entire manner spherical, I wouldn’t advocate it with youthful youngsters. Followers will need to have the prospect to absorb each final element, whereas toddlers merely don’t have that spotlight span – they’ll get bored, you’ll get grumpy and it’s an costly choice to hurry stroll by means of.
There’s additionally quite a lot of strolling for little legs – it’s not a small website – and infrequently a lot of queueing, particularly at the beginning. In case your youngest has older siblings who’re determined to go, it’s effectively price taking a buggy or provider and discovering one thing which is able to maintain the littler ones entertained.
I’d advocate it for youths aged round 6+ although, so long as they’ve already been launched to the early tales – as soon as they’re a number of years older they usually’ve learn extra of the books or watched extra of the flicks, they’ll get much more out of it.
Watch a minimum of one movie beforehand
If you happen to’re planning to go to the Warner Bros Studio tour, the probabilities are you’re already a fan, have learn all of the books, watched the flicks and perhaps even have your individual wand.
However if you’re planning to go to with youngsters and introduce them to the wizarding world, it’s effectively price watching a minimum of one movie earlier than you go.
Visiting with my daughter for the primary time simply earlier than her sixth birthday, she had solely watched the primary film and we had been starting to learn the books, nevertheless it actually helped her to really feel acquainted with Hogwarts (and sparked a love of the tales which has seen us return right here and revel in a string of different Harry Potter days out across the UK).
Keep in mind that you just may spot some issues which is able to act as gentle spoilers for later motion pictures alongside the way in which.
Take into account bringing your individual meals
Aside from a restaurant earlier than you go into the Harry Potter Studio tour, there’s one predominant restaurant (the Backlot Cafe) round half-way by means of the attraction and it’s – unsurprisingly – very busy.
It’s additionally not the most affordable place to eat, so it’s effectively price bringing your individual meals to save lots of time within the queues and cash. You should use the cafe tables, or the picnic tables exterior if the climate is nice.
There’s additionally a separate part to purchase butterbeer and butterbeer ice cream should you simply desire a candy deal with somewhat than ordering meals. If you happen to haven’t had butterbeer earlier than, I’d advocate ordering one to share – it’s positively an acquired style, so that you may discover you don’t need an entire one every!
You possibly can maintain the plastic mugs as a memento although (and there’s an space to scrub them up so that you don’t have a sticky mug in your bag for the remainder of the day).
Or should you’re planning to make a particular occasion of it, you may e book a Harry Potter afternoon tea, with timed slots and a separate space to eat, at present £70 for 2.
Set a funds for the present store
For Harry Potter followers, the present store on the finish is nearly as magical because the studio tour itself, and you would very simple spend some huge cash in a short time – particularly should you’re contemplating clothes, wands and different larger objects.
Fortunately you can even get some souvenirs with out breaking the financial institution, together with chocolate frogs and different sweets, stationery and loads of themed ins and outs, together with choices for every of the 4 homes.
Whether or not you’re attempting to forestall your self spending your total journey funds or need to scale back pestering out of your youngsters, it’s effectively price setting a funds earlier than you go in, to keep away from each temptation and tears.
Be careful for the added prices
Whereas entry to the Warner Bros studio tour covers the price of most issues inside (barring meals, drink and the present store), there are some further expenses if you need a photograph posed on a broomstick, for instance.
These are non-compulsory should you fancy attempting the inexperienced display screen expertise with out an official photograph, and there’s extra free interactive enjoyable and particular results, together with making a broomstick leap up into your hand or having a go along with a wand.
Preserve your telephone charged
It goes with out saying that you just’ll need to take photographs as you discover, of the whole lot from an opportunity to change into a large or wave a wand, to the wonderful props and units alongside the way in which.
So discovering your telephone battery is nearly flat as you arrive is one thing of a catastrophe.
You should purchase branded transportable telephone chargers from the data desk for £15, nevertheless it’s higher to maintain your telephone charged or to convey your individual energy financial institution – I’m a fan of this Anker transportable charger which is compact however highly effective sufficient to cost two units without delay.
There’s additionally WiFi inside in case you may’t wait to start out sharing.
Don’t carry your luggage all day
There’s a free cloakroom the place you may go away coats, luggage and suitcases whilst you go to, so that you needn’t drag the whole lot round with you all day.
You may as well go away buggies and pushchairs there should you desire to not take them in, though a restricted quantity are allowed inside for every timeslot.
Skip the scary bits
If you happen to’re visiting with youthful youngsters, or arachnaphobes, it’s potential to skip the scary bits – though there aren’t too many of those anyway.
Strolling by means of the Forbidden Forest, there are two paths to decide on between, so if you wish to keep away from Aragog solely, you may. Be sure to ask workers as effectively should you additionally need to keep away from him within the Creature Results part in direction of the top.
The world on the Darkish Arts can also be off to 1 facet, so you may skip previous should you’re visiting with youthful youngsters.
And workers are nice too should you’ve acquired nervous youthful followers with you – on our first go to, my then 5-year-old daughter was unexpectedly afraid of Buckbeak. Workers supplied to take us round to keep away from strolling previous, then performed a sport to assist her construct up her braveness to scurry previous so we wouldn’t miss the rest.
Choose up an exercise passport
There’s a free Exercise Passport which incorporates puzzles, extra trivia, a Golden Snitch hunt and area for memento stamps to gather alongside the way in which.
There’s a lot data to soak up, and a lot to see and do this having this isn’t important, nevertheless it does make a enjoyable mini memento should you don’t need to purchase the official information, and is one other enjoyable choice with youngsters if they’re feeling overwhelmed or beginning to lose curiosity on the sheer quantity of element.
And obtain the app
Obtain the Harry Potter Fan Membership app earlier than you go to, and you should utilize your Enchanted Keys to unlock extra enjoyable as you discover.
The app is free to obtain (from the appstore or Google Play), and all it’s good to do is log in, faucet the important thing image within the Uncover tab and scan the Enchanted Keys everytime you spot them on the Studio Tour. That features further quizzes, extra movies and different secrets and techniques of Hogwarts and the Wizarding World.
However you don’t want a digital information
Digital Guides are additionally obtainable with added behind-the-scenes footage, extra info, interviews and so forth.
Realistically, there’s such an enormous quantity of data obtainable as a part of the primary shows, that you just actually don’t want these to get probably the most out of your go to.
They’re obtainable in a string of languages in addition to English, together with French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, Chinese language (Mandarin), Brazilian and Portuguese, so it’s one to think about if somebody in your group has restricted English although.
Allow them to know if it’s your birthday
If anybody in your group is celebrating their birthday, allow them to know on the entrance – not solely will the birthday boy/woman get a badge, they’ll additionally play a particular function at the beginning of the tour.
That’s all I’ll say in order to not spoil the shock, nevertheless it’s one thing even the youngest Harry Potter followers can do and can love (so long as they’re not too shy).
Is it price visiting?
If you happen to’ve visited another Harry Potter expertise world wide, you may marvel is a go to to Harry Potter World price it?
Personally, I don’t assume there’s the rest fairly prefer it. Whilst you’ll get a style of the wizarding world at Common Studios in Orlando or recreated within the Forbidden Forest in Cheshire, for instance, that is the one place the place you may see the unique props, go to the unique units and stand the place the movies themselves had been made.
Don’t arrive anticipating a theme park with rides however for followers, this actually is unmissable.
For extra Harry Potter places in London and extra Harry Potter days out within the UK, in addition to locations to remain close to Harry Potter World, try my prime picks
Disclosure: This submit incorporates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee. All suggestions for the Harry Potter studio tour in London are my very own suggestions
Photographs copyright MummyTravels
