THE Warner Bros. Studio Tour London is one of the world’s most popular Harry Potter attractions.
It’s where all eight of the hit film series were made, and opened in 2012 – welcoming as many as 6,000 visitors each day.
Warner Bros. Studios Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, wasn’t always a top attraction as the site was originally used as an airfield.
Called Leavesden Aerodrome, it was acquired by The Ministry of Defence in 1940 and wasn’t converted into a film studio until 1994.
In 2000 Warner Bros. leased the whole airfield and began to make the first of the Harry Potter films – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
They made eight movies in total, completing the series in 2009 and it opened its doors to the public in 2012, becoming the experience we know today.
Through the years, it has expanded with additional attractions like the Forbidden Forest expansion which opened in March 2017.
Another addition is Gringotts Wizarding Bank which April 2019 and Professor Sprout’s Greenhouse in 2022.
The site is in Leavesden, which is easy enough to get to by car, and there’s a huge car park at no additional cost – but you will need to show your ticket confirmation upon entry.
For anyone travelling by train, the nearest station is Watford Junction.
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From there, the Studio Tour offers a complimentary shuttle bus service – these run at least every 30 minutes and take 15 minutes.
Adult tickets start from £56 and children (between 5-15) from £45 – children under four years old go free.
You must pre-book a ticket as there are no walk-ins.
There are savings when families book consisting of two adults and two children or one adult and three children – discounts are applied at the online checkout.
For those coming further afield, there are packages that include hotel stays and breakfast from £76.
Here’s everything else you need to know about visiting.
The experience
On entry, there’s a cloakroom if you want to leave your bag, but in the winter you might want to take your coat as part of the experience is outside.
Then it opens up to a canteen area so you can sit down and have a snack, or if you’re keen, head straight through to where the tour begins.
Depending on the time and day you may have to queue, then you’ll be let into the experience as part of a small group.
Once inside there’s a quick video introduction where you’ll recognise some of the faces from the cast and J.K. Rowling.
The fun begins when the double doors open and there’s a big reveal into the incredible Great Hall – which is a pretty magical moment in itself.
The tour is self-guided so from there on you can wander around and take everything in at your own pace, which I find is much nicer than being hurried along.
You can chat to the friendly and incredibly knowledgeable staff along the way – we met the lovely Olivia who chatted about cast costumes.
She showed off some of the most beautiful dresses like the one Fleur Delacour wore to the Yule Ball in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
For those who want more of a ‘guided experience’ then you can hire a Handheld Digital Guides for an extra £5.25.
Each section of the tour is dedicated to various scenes and parts of the film that fans will just love, from Diagon Alley to the end.
What is there for adults?
The Studio Tour is definitely not ‘just for kids’. In fact I’d argue it’s possibly more suited to adults.
Each area from the Forbidden Forest to the Gryffindor common room, and Dumbledore’s office has behind the scenes facts – which is why I’d argue you’d need much longer than three hours to fully take in the experience.
There are also interesting elements showing how they filmed the cast on their broomsticks and how the Night Bus scenes were filmed which will intrigue those interested in the literal ‘Making of Harry Potter’.
I’d say there are a few sections of the attraction more suited to adults too, like the creature effects, which show off the masks of the goblins at Gringotts bank.
There are also technical drawing and initial plans of creatures that you see in the movies.
I was certainly taken back to my own childhood upon seeing the Hogwarts castle model draped in snow.
What is there for kids?
If your child is a fan of Harry Potter, or even if they aren’t, the whole experience is a paradise for the imagination.
They’ll love the interactive elements too like the witches and wizards you meet along the way teaching quick spells and doing live demonstrations.
Spots like Professor Sprout’s Greenhouse will prove to be a hit as kids (and adults of course) can pull up a screaming Mandrake.
There are plenty of photo opportunities too if little witches and wizards want to dress up during their visit.
Activities along the way include a “Harry Potter Passport” with a stamp collection throughout the tour, and the digital guide is all child-friendly content.
When it comes to food, there’s a dedicated kids menu where they can enjoy burgers, hot dogs and vegan options – not to mention a Butterbeer which is non-alcoholic.
My only qualm is that for very young children, it might be a little too much and even potentially scary at points.
Younger kids will be shocked by the terrifying dragon that suddenly appears inside Gringotts bank and the huge spiders that drop in the stormy Forbidden Forest.
Is it accessible?
The majority of the Studio Tour is accessible with very few parts that cannot be accessed via wheelchair.
These are the Hogwarts bridge, which has short staircases either side and cannot be adapted as it’s an original set piece – which is the same case for The Hogwarts Express.
The Night Bus has a short boarding platform which also cannot be accessed by wheelchairs.
Throughout the year there are Relaxed Tours which are adapted experiences for those with autism and related conditions.
Trained guide dogs, assistance dogs, buddy dogs, hearing dogs and medical alert dogs are welcome on the tour.
Key changes include to lighting and quieter sound levels.
Any add ons?
Heading to Hogwarts is special at any time of the year, but after visiting in November, I’d highly suggest going to one of its themed events, like Hogwarts in the Snow.
I’ll admit it’s not overly different, but for someone like me who considers the Harry Potter film series a must-see at Christmas, it does make it that extra bit special.
There’s sprinklings of snow on the windows, and the Great Hall is decked out with enormous Christmas trees.
Throughout 2026 there will be further themed events like Magical Mischief based on Fred and George Weasley’s pranks which will run between January 24 to April 27.
The Summer Feature which will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Philosopher’s Stone will then take place between May 7 to September 7, 2026.
Running between September 16, November 8 2026 will be Discover the Dark Arts where the Great Hall will transform for the spooky season.
These themed events are at no additional cost to the price of the Studio Tour.
However there are some events which require a specific ticket like In Magical Mischief After Dark which will take place on February 13-14 and starts from £99pp.
Is there a shop and cafe?
There are multiple dining choices; the first that you’ll come to is The Food Hall, which you can visit either before or after the tour.
Inside you can even book to have breakfast, afternoon tea, or even a three-course candlelit dinner.
There are points throughout the tour where you can take a break like at the Backlot Café which is midway through the tour and a great stopping point.
We stopped here for a seasonal Hogwarts in the Snow Hot Dog (£15.96) and a classic beef burger which comes with all the toppings and fries (£14.65).
And a Butterbeer will set you back £7.95.
Just after you go to Platform 9 ¾ you’ll find the Butterbeer Bar, there’s also the Hub Café and Frog Café which serves luxury hot chocolates and milkshakes.
Once you’ve finished the tour, you can discover the delights of the gift shop which sells all sorts of souvenirs that you’re very likely to want to take home with you.
Visitors can even buy their own wands and costume with a cloak or even a personalised trunk.
Of course, there are plenty of clothing themed into the four houses so you can get some comfy knitwear or even a cloak embroidered with either the crest of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin.
There are plenty of sweet treats too, like the Chocolate Frog, Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans and even Bottled Butterbeer.
Visiting at the end of the year meant there were lots of Christmas themed souvenirs too like pyjamas, baubles and snow globes.
What else is there to do in the area?
The Harry Potter Studio is in Leavesden, Hertfordshire, and is without a train station which makes it very difficult to explore via rail.
It’s not a place where you can walk to other areas by foot either as the studios is far from any other attractions.
However, for those arriving by car, the experience is a 20-minute drive from the city of St Albans, known for its plethora of pubs and its huge cathedral.
Another nearby town is Hemel Hempstead which is home to the historic Ashridge House known for its beautiful gardens.
Final verdict
I don’t see how anyone who is a fan of Harry Potter could leave the Studio Tour and feel dissatisfied.
There’s so much to do and see that you could easily spend a whole day there – and with no time limit on the tour, you can do exactly that.
While ticket price is expensive, once you go in and see the sheer size of it as well as all the effort that goes into the attraction, you realise why.
The amount of original props that the public are actually allowed to step inside is impressive too – like the Hogwarts Express train that’s on display.
Not to mention the staff are incredibly friendly, and really know their stuff.
All in all, it keeps the spirit of Harry Potter alive and makes for a fantastically magical day out for the whole family.
