Allow us to cast a Lumos spell and shine a light on how to visit the Warner Bros. Studio Tour — The Making of Harry Potter by train.
Emma Watson as Hermione Granger, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, and Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1. Image Credit: 2010 WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC.
How to visit the Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour by train
A Proclamation from the Ministry of Magic, Travel Decree No. 32:
Young wizards and witches attempting to visit the Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour by train should arrange transportation to the Watford Junction train station. Direct services are available from London Euston train station and the Birmingham New Street train station. From Watford Junction, a shuttle bus will take train passengers to the Studio Tour.
Please do not attempt to apparate to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour. We regret to inform you that the Knight Bus is not in operation at this location and there is no availability for Thestral-led carriage rides.
How to get from London to the Harry Potter Studio Tour
To get from London to the Harry Potter Studio Tour, you can take the London Overground line or West Midlands Train from London Euston to Watford Junction. The fastest direct trip takes just 14 minutes. To get to London Euston, take the Circle (yellow), Metropolitan (magenta), or Hammersmith & City (pink) line to Euston Square then walk two blocks to London Euston railway station.
How to get from other UK cities to the Harry Potter Studio Tour
If you’re running around England, Scotland, or Wales in search of Harry Potter filming locations (or riding the real Hogwarts Express), you can visit the Harry Potter Studio Tour either direct from Birmingham New Street or with connections from these railway stations:
- Manchester Piccadilly > London Euston > Watford Junction (direct route available)
- Edinburgh Waverley > Birmingham International > Watford Junction (direct route available)
- Bristol Temple Meads or Cardiff Central > London Paddington > London Paddington (Underground) > London Euston > Watford Junction
Interior of Gare du Nord in Paris, France. Image Credit: Getty Images, Sylvain Sonnet
How to get from Paris to the Harry Potter Studio Tour
You don’t need a broomstick or an enchanted Ford Anglia 105E to get from Paris to the Harry Potter Studio Tour. You can just go beneath the English Channel — no gillyweed required! Take the Eurostar from Paris Gare du Nord to London St Pancras International, then take the Northern Line (black) from the King’s Cross St. Pancras Underground station to London Euston Tube station, then take the train from London Euston to Watford Junction.
What is the cheapest way to visit Harry Potter Studios?
The cheapest way to visit Harry Potter Studios is to take the train then use the free shuttle bus (which is included in the price of your ticket) to get to the Studios. How can you get the cheapest train tickets to Harry Potter Studios? Book your train tickets as far in advance as possible to get the lowest price available.
How to buy tickets for the Harry Potter Studio Tour
Follow this link for a breakdown of prices and ticket types for the Harry Potter Studio Tour. Tickets range from the basic studio tour admittance to deluxe tours with priority parking, a photo package, a guided experience, and Butterbeer.
What to expect from the Harry Potter Studio Tour
The Harry Potter Studio Tour is a great activity for fans of the film. This family-friendly experience is both informative and interactive: not only will you explore the backlot and two soundstages, but you will also find opportunities to engage with the attractions — including photo ops of you riding a broomstick and the Hogwarts Express.
Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. Image Credit: Jaap Buitendijk/2011 WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Is the Harry Potter guided tour worth it?
Yes, the Harry Potter guided tour is worth it. Is it necessary? No. So, think of it like this: you can watch the movies without reading the books, but if you read the books, you’ll get a deeper experience with more insight and context. Same goes with taking the guided tour.
Is the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London a theme park?
No, the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London is not a theme park — but it’s exciting, thrilling, and unforgettable all the same. You’ll have the chance to visit real set pieces used in the films, which is something that even the theme parks don’t have.
🚂 Trainline Trivia: The UK has something better than a Harry Potter theme park: it has the actual filming locations from all eight movies that you can visit by train.
Read also: Experience the magic of Harry Potter by train: from Platform 9 ¾ to Hogwarts
Is Harry Potter World the same as the Warner Bros Studio Tour?
No, Harry Potter World and the Warner Bros. Studio Tour are two different attractions. The Warner Bros. Studio Tour — The Making of Harry Potter is an interactive tour of Harry Potter’s cinematic universe featuring props, sets, and other exclusive items from the films.
Harry Potter World is an amusement park attraction with rides that’s found in theme parks like Universal Studios Resort in the United States.
Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, Emma Watson as Hermione Granger, and Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. Image Credit: Jaap Buitendijk/2009 Warner Bros. Ent.
How many Harry Potter worlds are there?
The Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour in London is a unique addition to the literal world of Harry Potter. Across the globe at major theme parks, there are three Harry Potter worlds in the United States, and one in Japan, one in China. Two new Harry Potter-themed lands will open up soon: one in Florida and one in Abu Dhabi — yes, there’s almost one Harry Potter world for every Weasley.
As far as the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London goes, The Making of Harry Potter brings you into the cinematic world with sets of the Great Hall, Forbidden Forest, Platform 9 ¾ (not to be confused with the separate attraction in King’s Cross train station), Diagon Alley, Gringotts Wizarding Bank, and Professor Sprout’s Greenhouse.
What are the Warner Bros Studio Tour opening times?
The London Warner Bros. Studio Tour — The Making of Harry Potter has varying hours depending on the day and season. The first bus can start as early as 8:15 AM, with the facility opening at 8:30 AM and the first tour starting at 9:00 AM. On these days, the final tour begins at 6:30 PM, with the facility closing at 10 PM, which is when the final bus leaves.
On dates with later hours, the schedule is as follows:
- First bus: 9:20 AM
- Studio tour opens: 9:30 AM
- First tour begins: 10:00 AM
- Final tour begins: 4:00 PM
- Studio tour closes: 8:00 PM
- Last bus: 8:00 PM
How long does it take to go around the Harry Potter Studio Tour?
Most wizards and witches take 3.5 hours to see the full Harry Potter Studio Tour. No need to bring a Time-Turner with you: you’re allowed to take as long as you’d like to experience this magical attraction.
Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter and Alan Rickman as Snape in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. Image Credit: Jaap Buitendijk/2011 WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Do people dress up for the Harry Potter Studio Tour?
A certain writer-who-must-not-be-named remembers a time when he’d dress up for the VHS release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Yes, people dress up for the Harry Potter Studio Tour. We encourage you to dust off your robes, grab your wand, and enjoy your journey into The Making of Harry Potter.
Are there any photo opportunities at the Harry Potter Studio Tour?
Yes, there are plenty of photo opportunities at the Harry Potter Studio Tour if you want to unleash your inner Colin Creevy. You can bring your regular Muggle camera and cellphone but keep the fancier gear at home. Photos are allowed in most areas, except the pre-show movie and the greenscreen areas.
While your photos won’t come to life like those printed in the Daily Prophet, you do have an opportunity to snag some truly magical moments on (digital) film. Via a greenscreen experience, you can hop on a broomstick and ride over London or slide into a carriage of the Hogwarts Express and relive the ride to Hogwarts. Digital photography and video packages are available for an extra fee.
Is there a café at the Harry Potter Studio Tour?
Yes, there is a café at the Harry Potter Studio Tour — more than one, in fact. Your options are: The Chocolate Frog Café, which sells hot chocolates, cakes, and ice cream; The Backlot Café, which serves burgers, hot dogs, and Butterbeer; The Hub Café, which has your Starbucks fix; and The Food Halls, which serves breakfast and lunch (with vegan and gluten-free options).
🚆Trainline Tip: The Food Hall has one of the most magical afternoon teas in London.
You need to get sorted on the train before you get sorted in the Great Hall. Download the Trainline app (it’s basically an Alohomora spell for unlocking the cheapest train tickets available) and purchase tickets to the Warner Bros Studio Tour — The Making of Harry Potter today.
Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1. Header Image Credit: Jaap Buitendijk/2010 WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC.
