I spent my childhood following Harry Potter movies & their characters in each & every aspect that I could. Watching all 8 films was something really special, making me go on a magical journey every time I watched. From films to reading all seven books, I must say that I’ve been a die-hard fan of this truly enchanting studio for a long, long time! This guide to the Warner Bros. Studio in London is a culmination of all those experiences you had when watching Hogwarts students fight Voldemort! If you’re a crazy fan like me, then check out all the things you can see & do at the Harry Potter studio.
Warner Bros Studio may be a household name for it, but the place is all about one thing – The Making of Harry Potter. The studio takes you on a journey filled with exhibitions, iconic props & costumes, visual effect sets, and places like Great Hall & Diagon Alley – making you go nostalgic at every moment.
Located about 20 miles from London – the studio served as a key filming location for most of the iconic scenes. After the final wrap-up of the last chapter, all the props & costumes used were restored and kept in the studio for exhibition purposes. Not just that, but the sets created for the films have been restored too. Approximately 588 different Harry Potter sets were constructed at the studio, with the most notable places being – Hogwarts’s Great Hall, the Dumbledore’s Office, the massive office of Ministry of Magic, and Olivander’s Wand shop. With this, Warner Bros. Studios decided to expand the studio & open it for tourists to give out a live experience of Harry Potter’s legacy.
The Harry Potter Studio in London has become popular over time, with millions of tourists visiting every year. It has defined a whole generation of kids & adults to travel & experience the studio. It can be a spine-tingling thing for you, to witness the actual items & artifacts in reality.
USEFUL TIPS BEFORE YOU TRAVEL –
BEFORE YOU VISIT, WATCH ALL THE MOVIES –
To have the best possible experience at the Harry Potter Studio, make sure you watch all 8 movies. You may also go on to read the books if you want (books are better). Trust me; your excursion to the studio will be more special if you exactly know the scenes from the movie. Each set; each prop will make you go nostalgic. You may even remember watching a particular scene so carefully, then seeing the replica at the studio. Reminiscing of Harry, Ron & Hermione having butterbeer at Three Broomsticks Inn & then having the actual drink at the studio – the feeling is extraordinary!
TAKE AS MUCH TIME AS YOU WANT –
We want you to have the time of your life. Do not hurry up, while exploring the studio. You may lose some important points from the curators. Try to explore & learn things along the way; get to study the potions just like Hogwarts’s students did. It’s all about the experience & the way you enjoy it. Generally, 3 hours is enough at the studio for you to visit every set, so allow yourself to indulge in as many activities as you can.
LEARN WHILE YOU EXPLORE –
You will definitely do this if you’re a die-hard Harry Potter fan. The best way for you to add up your knowledge is to ask questions! Curators & guides are helping you out in understanding every particular item present in the studio. They might sometimes surprise you with their encyclopedic Harry Potter knowledge. Some of these curators have worked in the studio during the film shooting, so they make share some personal experiences with each character. They often have plenty of stories to share, explaining the minute details of it.
PLAN YOUR STUDIO TRAVEL –
The studio hosts some exciting exhibitions depending on the time of year. These may be based on several occasions, wherein a particular event may only happen during Valentine’s, Easter, or Halloween. It’s good to do your research as to which event is happening when. Some notable events include – ‘A Celebration of Slytherin’, ‘Dark Arts’ and ‘Hogwarts in Snow’.
ACTIVITIES & EXPERIENCES –
There are tons of activities to do here at the studio, with never-ending learning opportunities & experiences. Organize your time accordingly & make sure you enjoy all of it thoroughly. You can pose for a photo at the 9 ¾ platforms, fly a broomstick, drink butterbeer with your friends, wander down through Diagon Alley or jump on Sirius Black’s motor mobile. You can also take a guided interactive tutorial on ‘how to defend yourself from Dark Arts’. Flick your wand & learn some magical spells, cast your own Patronus & learn how you could beat Death Eaters.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WARNER BROS. STUDIO IN LONDON –
HOGWART’S CASTLE
The studio has a huge model of Hogwart’s castle, which was used during the film shooting for the exterior shots. You can watch each side of it, with different angles, truly making it a breathtaking experience. The curator will let you know the description of each caste part, with rooms either belonging to Gryffindor or Hufflepuff. If you are coming in around Christmas, then you will find Hogwart’s castle filled with snow.
THE GIFT SHOP
This is a place that will totally immerse you! It’s full of wonderful stuff but those things are a little expensive. But, you can’t really resist buying some souvenirs, will you? There are plenty of things in store for you. From official merchandise & chocolate frogs to replica wands of characters and Hogwarts maps, you can buy almost anything. You can even find the Gryffindor scarf and several other clothing items. Also, do not miss your visit to the Forbidden Forest shop, where you can find themed souvenirs of Aragog plush and Peppermint Toads. Buying these items is a great way to show the friends of your visit to the Harry Potter Studio (also making them feel jealous) and also to have some memorable memories.
DRINK BUTTERBEER
The studio serves you a sweet glass of sweet and creamy Butterbeer. You can pretend to be at the Three Broomsticks Inn, having fun with your friends & going a couple of beers down!
COURTYARD AREA
You can get some refreshments here at the Cafeteria, allowing you to take a short break. You can sit & relax at the Chocolate Frog Café or the Food Hall and have a meal. There are plenty of things to do here as well, from striking a pose to the Knight Bus to catching the exterior glimpses of Privet Drive. You can get all photogenic & click tons of pictures.
TICKETS FOR HARRY POTTER STUDIO –
Tour timings vary according to the time of the year. Generally, the studio tour opens at 08.30 and the first tour starts between 9 am and 11 am.
Tickets need to be purchased well in advance.
There are different ticket packages that the studio offers & rates differ for age-group
16+ years (Adult) – £47.00
5-15 years (Child) – £38.00
2 Adults & 2 Children or 1 Adult & 3 Children (Family) – £150.00
0-4 years – Free
Adult Complete Studio Tour Package – £56.95
Child Complete Studio Tour Package – £47.95
POPULARS TOURS OF WARNER BROS. STUDIO IN LONDON –
Here’s a popular collection of tours & activities that you can choose to visit the famous Warner Bros. Studio.
(Disclaimer – For the tours, you book through the given links, I get paid a small commission – at no extra cost to you. These partner programs are a way to run my blogs and to showcase quality content to my readers. I’ve personally ensured to suggest only those tours that are relevant & which will benefit you)
Visiting the Harry Potter Studio is fun & memorable, among all movie fans & Potterheads. With so many activities to do & experiences to have, you can indulge in what the studio has to offer. In the end, you will always take some wonderful memories back home!
