Harry Potter Studios London: how to get there, tickets and tips for visiting Warner Bros Studios

Visit the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter was one of the activities we were most excited about on our trip to London, especially our little Anna, the demanding one. de our 3-day trip to London. And having been there, we can say it clearly: If you like Harry Potter, it's totally worth it, and even if you don't, you'll still have a great time.

Because We're not talking about a theme park Anyone. Here You literally enter the original movie sets. You see the royal Great Hall, stroll through Diagon Alley, board the Hogwarts Express, and discover how many of the saga's most iconic special effects were made.

And yes: both children and adults leave completely fascinated.

In this guide we tell you Everything you need to plan your visit to the Harry Potter Studios in London:

• how to get
• where to buy tickets
• how much time to dedicate
• tips
• which is more worthwhile

And if you'd like to complete the experience with a magical Harry Potter tour of London, here's our complete guide:

Harry Potter in London: A Complete Guide

What are Harry Potter Studios London?

The Harry Potter Studios London are the original studios where much of the Harry Potter film saga was filmed.

The following are preserved here:

• original sets
• wardrobe
• special effects
• creatures
• mockups
• real objects used in the films

The experience is designed as a self-guided tour where you can visit mythical places such as:

• the Great Hall
• Dumbledore's office
• the Gryffindor common room
• Diagon Alley
• Gringotts Bank
• the Forbidden Forest
• Platform 9 ¾
• the Hogwarts Express

And honestly, even if you've seen a thousand photos before going, it's much more impressive in person.

Where are the Harry Potter Studios?

Although many people think they are in central London, the studios are actually in Leavesden, about 30 kilometers from the city.

That's why it's important to organize transportation well and calculate travel time.

How to get to Harry Potter Studios London

The most convenient and cheapest way: tickets + direct bus from London

After looking at several options, we sincerely believe this is the most practical and cheapest alternative if you want to visit the Harry Potter Studios without too much hassle.

This pack includes:

• entrance to the studios
• Direct bus from central London
• round trip
• arrival directly at the studio door

And for families or travelers who don't want to worry about trains, changes and schedules, it's greatly appreciated; you go door to door.

Furthermore, it often costs practically the same as organizing it independently between:

• Tickets
• train
• transfers
• time you spend booking trains…

And you save yourself a lot of time and stress.

You can book it here:

Tickets to Harry Potter Studios + bus from London

For us, especially when traveling with children, it's probably the best value for money option.

The most convenient and fastest way to get there: tickets + train from London

For us, this is the most convenient, easy and perhaps fastest option because the train takes less time; it's recommended, especially if you're traveling with children.

Includes:

• entrance to the studios
• train tickets from London
• A guide at the start of the station explains everything and answers your questions.
• Access to the free shuttle bus from Watford Junction station which drops you off at the Studios door in a 10-minute journey

You can book here:

Tickets to Harry Potter Studios + train from London 

Going independently by train

First you should know that trains in the UK are mostly privately owned and operate differently; you have to Reserve your seat and buy it online in advance to get a better price.Otherwise, right there you either don't get a seat or you get a seat but it costs you more.

The most common way is:

1. Find a train that goes to Watford Junction
2. From this station, take the official shuttle bus to the studios, which is free and takes exactly 10 minutes to reach the studio entrance.

The total journey usually takes about 1 hour between all connections, but it's also a bit of a hassle because you have to check and organize the schedules carefully as the shuttle buses leave every 30 minutes.

The main railway companies that run from London's various stations to Watford Junction are: 

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk

https://www.southernrailway.com

Go by car or taxi

You can also arrive by car and the studios have free parking.

However, driving around London and leaving the city might not be worth it if you're staying in the center.

Alternatively, you can go by taxi or Uber, which will probably cost around 150 euros, which isn't too bad if there are 4-5 of you.

How long does it take to visit the studios?

Much more than you imagine.

We thought we'd be there for about two or three hours, but we ended up spending practically the whole day there.

The recommended approach is to calculate:

• minimum 3.5-4 hours
• Ideal: between 5 and 6 hours if you want to eat relaxed in their restaurant and buy souvenirs at your leisure.

Especially if:

• You're traveling with children
• Do you want to take photos?
• You like to look at details
• you want to eat there peacefully
• Are you a fan of the saga?

What to see inside Harry Potter Studios London

The Great Hall at Hogwarts

Probably one of the most impressive moments of the entire visit.

Entering here for the first time gives you goosebumps.

Diagon Alley

One of the most visually spectacular areas.

The facades, shop windows and stores look completely real.

The Hogwarts Express and Platform 9 ¾

Here you can get on the train and take some really fun photos.

It's one of the children's favorite areas.

gringotts

One of the most recent and truly spectacular expansions.

The level of detail is incredible.

The Forbidden Forest

Very immersive and much more impressive than we imagined.

The special effects area

Perfect for understanding how many iconic movie scenes were filmed.

Tips for visiting Harry Potter Studios London

Book your tickets well in advance.

Especially in:

• summer
• Christmas
• Easter
• bridges
• weekends

Tickets usually sell out quite easily.

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Just arrive and pick up your free play passport

The only great souvenir you'll find for free, and the little ones will love following the clues and finding the stamps to complete the passport.

You'll find it at the information point, and if not, just ask any of the staff; they'll be happy to give it to you.

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Go first thing in the morning if you can

This way you'll avoid some of the initial crowds and get better photos.

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It has an external battery for the mobile phone.

You're going to take a lot of photos.

Many.

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Don't underestimate the final store

The store is huge and quite dangerous for the family budget.

Especially if you're traveling with children who are Harry Potter fans.

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It's worth eating there

There are several themed cafes and the atmosphere is part of the experience.

Yes, you can try the famous butterbeer, don't hesitate, it's delicious.

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Where to stay when visiting Harry Potter Studios

If you're taking a short trip to London, the most practical thing to do is usually to stay near:

• King's cross
• Euston
• Paddington

This will give you better connections to get to the studios. 

Another option is to book a hotel near Watford Junction station, where you'll save a lot of money on accommodation and have the station close by for visiting London city and seeing studios with its free shuttle bus.

Here you can look at hotels in London: Hotel in London

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Travel insurance for London

Even if you have a European Health Insurance Card, coverage in the UK is quite limited.

We always recommend traveling with insurance, especially as a family.

Here's the one we use with a discount:

Travel insurance with a 5% discount This link is essential for any unforeseen medical or travel emergencies in London, although the European Health Insurance Card covers the bare minimum there for an emergency.

Other places around the world where Harry Potter was filmed that you can visit

After visiting the Harry Potter Studios in London, it's quite common to leave wanting to continue searching for real-life filming locations around the world. And the good news is that there are several iconic places you can visit.

If you're a fan of the saga, these places are definitely worth visiting.

Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scotland

One of the most famous places in Harry Potter.

The Glenfinnan Viaduct is the spectacular bridge where the Hogwarts Express passes in the films.

And yes, it really exists.

In addition, you can board the famous Jacobite Steam Train, considered the authentic Hogwarts Express.

The landscape of the Scottish Highlands seems literally taken from the magical universe.

Alnwick Castle, England

Alnwick Castle was one of the locations used for Hogwarts flying lessons in the early films.

It is one of the most beautiful castles in the United Kingdom and they also organize themed activities related to Harry Potter.

Gloucester Cathedral

The impressive Gloucester Cathedral was used to film several interior corridors of Hogwarts.

The cloisters are absolutely recognizable to any fan.

Christ Church College, Oxford

Christ Church inspired part of the design of the Great Hall at Hogwarts.

The main staircase also appears in the films and is one of the most visited places by Harry Potter fans.

Lacock Abbey

Lacock Abbey was used for several interior scenes of Hogwarts, including classrooms and corridors.

The small medieval village of Lacock also seems frozen in time.

Harry Potter New York

Although they are not recording studios, Harry Potter New York is one of the most spectacular themed stores in the Harry Potter world.

It has immersive experiences, exclusive merchandise, and very impressive interactive zones.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando

For many fans, the Theme Park definitive.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter recreates entire areas such as:

• hogsmeade
• Diagon Alley
• Hogwarts

And it has some of the most spectacular themed attractions in existence.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Japan

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter also has an impressive version inside Universal Studios Japan.

The setting is spectacular and it's usually less crowded than Orlando.

Harry Potter Studio Tour Tokyo

Many people don't know it exists, but Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter is currently one of the largest Harry Potter studio tours in the world.

Experience It's similar to Londonbut with new areas and exclusive spaces.

Our experience at Harry Potter Studios London

Honestly, we were expecting something very touristy… but not this touristy. spectacular.

What is most surprising is the absolutely obsessive level of detail in the sets, costumes, and special effects.

And although it initially seemed like an activity designed for children, it ended up becoming one of the best memories of the trip to London for all.

Yes, you may have seen the movies twenty times. But walking through Hogwarts, even for just a few hours, still has something special. magic.

 My expectations were much worse, and I assure you that even though I'm not a big Harry Potter fan, I ended up having a great time and it was full of magic. Highly recommended, family.