Looking for a little magic in London? The Warner Bros. Studio Tour, the making of Harry Potter, is the answer.
One December I treated myself to a few more days in London, a city I love deeply and know well by now. For some years a concert or an exhibition has been all the excuse I need to book a flight and spend a few days wandering its neighbourhoods without a plan. This time, for an extra touch of magic, I set out to do something I never had before, and booked a visit to the Harry Potter Studios, where the films were shot over a decade at Leavesden.
A confession, and why you should still go
I will confess: I was a little let down by the film series. Reading the books, I had built the school and its whole world in my mind down to the last detail, and, as so often happens, the screen version felt less enchanted than the one living in my imagination. “If only there really were a school like Hogwarts,” I kept thinking.
And yet, for a lover of theatre and stagecraft like me, the studios are a visit not to be missed. Filming ran for ten years, so most of the sets are built full-size, and the costumes, props and wigs are superb and astonishing in number. That is precisely why, when the saga wrapped, Warner Bros. chose not to dismantle the hangars but to preserve the sets and lay out a walking route for the public.
You push open the doors of the great Hogwarts Great Hall, which is dressed differently through the seasons, and step into the school: the tricks and special effects, legendary rooms like Dumbledore’s office, the Gryffindor dormitory, the classrooms, the Weasleys’ house, the anxiety-inducing purple triple-decker bus, and endless magical paraphernalia. The area devoted to broomstick flight and Quidditch is the most popular, so I would head there first, then work slowly round the rest of the first hangar before moving to the outdoor section, with the wobbly bridge, the Dursleys’ house at Privet Drive, and the kiosk serving Butterbeer, a tasting of which is included in the ticket. The second hangar holds set and character drawings, masks, and the astonishing Diagon Alley.
One warning: once you leave a section you cannot go back, so take your time and make sure you have seen everything before you cross each threshold.
A later addition, and a highlight, is the hall with Platform 9¾, the Hogwarts Express steam locomotive and the luggage trolley vanishing into the famous brick wall, along with more special effects laid bare.
As with every self-respecting attraction, you exit through the shop, and this one is engineered to send children into a frenzy: essentially everything you see in the films is on sale. If you are bringing yours, agree a budget in advance, from experience it saves a great deal of negotiation at the end.
Booking and tickets
Access is by advance booking only, and you must check in at the entrance twenty minutes before your allotted tour time. Booking means choosing a date and a specific time slot, on the official Warner Bros. site. It does sell out, so book well ahead, especially in school holidays and at weekends.
Prices change over time, so check the official site, but as a guide the standard adult ticket currently starts from around £58.50 and children from around £47, with family tickets available and under-5s free. Many agencies also sell packages that bundle the ticket with return coach transport from central London, which can be the simpler option if you would rather not deal with the trains.
Note that 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of the first film, so expect special anniversary features and busier dates through the year.
Getting there from London
The studios are about 30 km from central London, at Leavesden. The classic route is by train from Euston to Watford Junction (roughly 20 minutes on the fast services), then the dedicated shuttle bus, which runs every 20 minutes and takes about 15 minutes to the studios. Watford Junction is within the Oyster card zone. If you drive, parking is free for ticket-holders. If you book a coach package instead, the London meeting point (often Victoria) is usually set a couple of hours before your entry time, so factor that in.
Good to know
There is a free cloakroom at the entrance, a cash machine and a well-stocked café, but note you cannot begin the tour carrying food or drink. Free wifi is excellent throughout. And, special effects aside, you may photograph everything, this is a place built for sharing.
Enjoy the magic.
Further reading
- Where to stay in London, my tested picks by budget
- Literary London, a reader’s walk through the city
- Walking along Regent’s Canal
- Official tickets and opening times: https://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/
Frequently asked questions
Prices change, so always check the official Warner Bros. Studio Tour site, but as a guide the standard adult ticket currently starts from around £58.50 and children from around £47, with family tickets available and under-5s free (a ticket is still required for them). Packages that include return coach transport from central London cost more but simplify the journey.
Yes. Access is by advance booking only, with a specific date and timed entry slot, and you must check in about twenty minutes before your slot. Tickets frequently sell out, especially at weekends, in school holidays and around anniversaries, so book as far ahead as you can.
The studios are at Leavesden, about 30 km from central London. Take a train from Euston to Watford Junction (around 20 minutes on fast services), then the dedicated shuttle bus (every 20 minutes, about 15 minutes’ ride). Watford Junction is within the Oyster zone. Parking is free for ticket-holders, and coach packages from central London are also available.
Allow at least three to four hours, and more if you are a devoted fan, as the tour is self-guided with no time limit once inside. Remember that you cannot go back to a section once you have left it, so pace yourself and see everything before moving on.
For fans of the books and films, and for anyone who loves stagecraft and behind-the-scenes film-making, it is genuinely special: real sets, costumes and props from all eight films, not a theme park with rides. Even semi-fans tend to be won over by the craft on display. Prices are steep, so it is best treated as a highlight rather than a casual outing.
