If you’re even a little bit of a Harry Potter fan, visiting the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter – will probably feel like a pilgrimage. For me, it did!
But is it worth it? And more importantly, how do you make the most of your time (and money) once you’re there?
I visited the Harry Potter Studios in London recently and came away with loads of insights, honest opinions (spoiler: I hated the butterbeer), and plenty of tips I wish I’d known in advance. If you’re planning a visit, this guide will give you a full rundown — including how to get there, what to expect, the best photo spots, and which experiences are worth splurging on.
Let’s dive in.
Is the Harry Potter Studio Tour worth it?
Short answer: yes – especially if you’re a fan (or simply you like screen tourism / visiting places you see on TV). The Warner Bros studio tour is massive, immersive, and packed with original sets, costumes, and props used in the films, all housed in the actual studios where the movies were shot.
Even if you’re not a Harry Potter enthusiast, there’s something impressive about the scale of production and the behind-the-scenes details. My father, who has never read a single book or seen the films, enjoyed it thoroughly because of his interest in movie production and special effects.
The Great Hall feels monumental as your entry point. Walking past costumes, potion bottles with tiny handwritten labels, the Hogwarts Express, and Diagon Alley is a treat.
But I’ll be honest – not everything is a must-do.
The paid photo ops were underwhelming, and butterbeer was… let’s just say, not my cup of tea.
💡Helpful tips for visiting Harry Potter Studios:
- Ticket prices: £56 per adult, £45 per child aged over 5 years, family tickets cost from £180 (two adults & two children). Even though kids under 4 are free, you must still select a ticket for them on your booking.
- Best guided tour from London: This best-selling tour to Harry Potter Studios from London is a winner!
- Closest hotel to the studios: Hunton Park Hotel is the closest hotel to Harry Potter Studios (it’s 780 meters from the entrance).
How to get to Harry Potter Studios, London:
The studios are located just outside of London (in Leavesden, Watford) and are easily reachable not only from within the UK but also internationally. You can fly into London or take the Eurostar train from Paris, Amsterdam, or Brussels. (Here’s an idea: combine the Harry Potter Studios with Disneyland Paris, for the perfect combo!)
If you love the ease that a guided tour offers (a tour provides free transfers to the studios from London), then this best-selling tour to Harry Potter Studios from London is likely going to be a winner for you. It includes admission to the studios, round-trip transfers, and has multiple departure times throughout the day – making it a very flexible option. It costs £95 per person.
I took the train from London Euston to Watford Junction, which took just 20 minutes. You can pre-book your train tickets here! At Watford Junction, a free shuttle bus – covered in Harry Potter graphics – takes you directly to the studios. Just show your entry ticket to board.
Euston is centrally located and very accessible. What’s great is that it’s also just a 10-minute walk to King’s Cross, where you’ll find the Platform 9 ¾ photo opportunity. But here’s the truth: the lines are painfully long, and the photo setup isn’t on the actual platform. It’s just a brick wall with a luggage trolley halfway through.
Cute? Sure. Worth an hour in line? Not really.
Instead, walk over to the magnificent St. Pancras building – it’s stunning, less crowded, and a real filming location from Chamber of Secrets, where Harry and Ron took off in the flying car.
You could also drive to the studios, which are easily reachable by car (we rent our cars via Discover Cars and we highly recommend them!) But, keep in mind that priority parking at the studios costs £10 and should be booked in advance!
My booking tips:
Book at least six weeks in advance – these tickets sell fast, especially during holidays and weekends. And there’s even a queue (of up to 5 minutes) to enter their online booking system – that proves how popular this place is!
The timed-entry system helps manage crowds, but you can easily spend four to five hours inside. We spent almost 7 hours there!
If your plans change, the cancellation policy is surprisingly generous. I had to cancel a ticket for my sister, and I received an 80% refund just by calling customer service.
If you can’t manage to nab tickets via their direct website, then a good idea is to book a guided tour, as these companies pre-book blocks of tickets, and so even if you book last-minute, you’ll get a studio ticket. There’s a huge variety of guided tours to Harry Potter Studios from London, and you can check them all out here (and below!)
Before starting the tour:
Don’t forget to pick up a complimentary Activity Passport – great for kids or detail-loving adults. It includes trivia, a Golden Snitch hunt, and spots for collectible stamps along your journey.
For even more insights, you can hire a Digital Guide narrated by Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood!) with behind-the-scenes interviews, extra visuals, and wayfinding help.
If you’re celebrating something special, you can also upgrade to Afternoon Tea at the Hogwarts Table – a charming experience with sweets, Butterbeer scones, and themed treats. Little witches and wizards even get their own Hogwarts Trunk tea set. Just know this won’t take place in the actual Great Hall, but in the restaurant.
📖 Related Read: Check out my guide to the nearby coastal city of Brighton!
The tour experience: What to expect inside
After a short intro and film screening, your visit begins with the Great Hall. It’s a wow moment, honestly! It’s the only timed portion of the tour, so take your photos quickly before they usher you into the main self-guided section.
You’ll then explore a maze of sets and props, including the Gryffindor common room, Dumbledore’s office, the potions classroom, and the Burrow’s kitchen with its charming magical effects.
There’s also an interactive broomstick riding section, green screen experiences for flying scenes, and oversized props like Hagrid’s table that make for fun illusions.
I was lucky to visit during the “Triwizard Tournament” season — we got to film short scenes, and though we only purchased one video (they’re expensive!), the experience was delightful.
Photos and videos are available for purchase: £14 for a still photo, £20 for a poster, £30 for a video, or £40 (per person) for a digital bundle of everything.
Break time: Don’t Miss the Frog Café
Halfway through, you’ll reach the Backlot Café. This is where you can try food, snacks, or the famous butterbeer.
I made the mistake of skipping the Frog Café (right at the entrance) – a Harry Potter-themed Starbucks – thinking I’d return later. Big mistake. The interior was beautifully decorated, and I regret not sitting down for a quick break there. You can even take a picture of yourself as a famous witch or wizard in a chocolate frog card!
As for the butterbeer… I hated it. It tasted like a strange, fizzy mix of Fanta and iced tea, with melted ice cream foam on top. It cost £7.90 in a souvenir cup, which you can wash at a nearby station (though it’s not clearly marked). While the cup is a nice keepsake, the drink itself was nearly undrinkable to me.
There’s also a fun option to pre-order a “Happee Birthdae Harry” cake – a six-inch chocolate fudge cake with pink and green icing. It serves 6–10 people and must be booked 72 hours in advance. Perfect for Potterhead celebrations!
Outdoor backlot and free photo opportunities
Once you exit the café, you’ll step outside into the backlot. Here you can explore the Knight Bus, the flying blue car, the Burrow, the herbology greenhouse, the Hogwarts bridge, and even go inside 4 Privet Drive.
These are some of the best and completely free photo ops.
I spent a good chunk of time here – it was less crowded, as it was raining and these are all outside. Don’t rush through this section. It’s where the tour breathes again after the more packed indoor segments.
The second soundstage and final highlights
Back indoors, you’ll enter the darker, more atmospheric second soundstage – and it’s packed with magic.
The Forbidden Forest greets you with eerie sounds, dim lighting, and giant spiders – yes, Aragog included. It’s immersive and slightly spooky, but incredibly well done.
Then you move on to the Ministry of Magic, with its towering fireplaces and green tiled walls that make you feel like you’re stepping into a different universe.
The Divination Tower classroom is another gem. The details – teacups with dregs, stacks of books, and a hazy atmosphere – bring Professor Trelawney’s scenes vividly to life.
Diagon Alley was a particular highlight for me. The cobblestoned street curves slightly as you walk, making it feel like you’ve truly entered the wizarding world.
Peeking into shop windows, you’ll find spellbooks, cauldrons, and Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes with all its bright colors and jokes.
You can’t actually go into the shops, but the window displays are packed with delightful details for those who linger.
Gringotts Bank is the grand finale of this section. The marble floors gleam, goblin figures leer from behind their desks, and then the lighting dims — suddenly, you’re in the destroyed bank with dramatic sound effects and flashing lights simulating the dragon’s attack. It’s stunning and cinematic.
Before you leave, you’ll walk through the creature effects section, where masks and animatronics showcase how magical beings like Buckbeak or Dobby were brought to life.
Finally, you’ll end with the breathtaking scale model of Hogwarts. It fills an entire room and is softly illuminated, capturing the emotion of saying goodbye. It’s quiet, reverent, and honestly, the perfect ending.
When to visit Harry Potter Studios: Weather and seasonal events
Your experience can vary wildly depending on when you visit – and there’s truly no bad time.
During Christmas, the studios are transformed into a snowy Hogwarts. The Great Hall is decked out with Christmas trees, flaming puddings, and candles, while Diagon Alley sparkles under artificial snow. It’s magical, cozy, and hands down my favorite time to go.
Halloween is another fantastic choice. The Forbidden Forest becomes even more eerie with additional atmospheric effects, and you’ll find darker themes and props from the more sinister side of the wizarding world. Expect Death Eaters and special effects demos.
In the summer, longer hours mean more time to linger, but also larger crowds. Try booking early slots and going on weekdays to avoid the worst of it. We went there on a Thursday in July, with an entry slot for 1:30 pm, and it was ok.
And yes – rain is a consideration. Much of the experience is indoors, but the backlot section (Knight Bus, Privet Drive, bridge) is fully exposed. Bring a hooded jacket or umbrella just in case. The rainy weather did keep crowds down when I visited, so it wasn’t all bad!
The Studio Tour also runs rotating special events and seasonal themes, like “Dark Arts” or “Magical Mischief.” These limited-time experiences often feature new props or reenactments, so keep an eye on their website when planning your dates.
Budgeting for your visit
You’ll likely spend around £115 – £130 for the entire experience, including train tickets, food, butterbeer, and optional photos. While the extras add up quickly, the base experience is already packed with value.
Look out for free photo spots – the blue car, Knight Bus, Privet Drive, the greenhouses – which are just as memorable as the paid ones.
A few last tips
Don’t underestimate how long you’ll spend inside. Plan for this to be your main activity of the day. Bring a power bank for your phone, take plenty of photos, and don’t assume you’ll circle back to earlier sections – see what you want to see as you go.
And if you’re with someone who’s not a big fan, don’t worry. The craftsmanship and film production elements are impressive enough for anyone to appreciate.
Final thoughts on visiting Harry Potter Studios in London
The Harry Potter Studio Tour is a must-do for fans and an enjoyable experience even for those who aren’t. The scale, the detail, and the emotional connection to the stories are unmatched.
Even if you skip the butterbeer, avoid the crowded photo ops, or miss out on a few extra experiences, you’ll still come away with something magical. Just go prepared – and let yourself feel the wonder.
You may also enjoy reading –
18 Things to Know Before Visiting Peppa Pig World
How to Spend One Day in Rye, England
10 Artsy Things to Do in London That Deserve a Spot on Your London Itinerary
10 Best Historic Sites to Visit in the UK & Ireland
PIN THIS
Last Updated on December 29, 2025 by snaphappytravel