Warner Bros Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter

Families

Film and TV

Types of venues , Attractions

Until Wed Mar 6

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Time Out says

Wed Sep 7 2011

It was 2011 when JK Rowling’s bespectacled teen wizard (spoiler alert!) triumphed over evil on the big screen. But Pottermaniacs can get still get a HP hit at Warner Bros’ ‘Studio Tour’ experience on the outskirts of Watford, which brings together the sets and designs for the movies on a scale roughly equivalent to Terminal 4. Muggles be warned: the queue for timed entry to this coach-magnet of an attraction can also reach Heathrow proportions. But once you’ve made your way past the wizard chess, the holding pen full of international marketing posters, and cheesy cheer-leading from the official tour guide, you’re free to wander and appreciate the experience.

The magic of the movies was mostly down to their meticulous realisation of Rowling’s wonky, spectacular world. Here, you begin by entering Hogwarts great hall and end (on average people take three hours) with a staggering 1:24 scale model of the multi-turreted school and its grounds. Fantastical animatronic beasts, commentary and a world of wizard props including a three-decker purple bus crop up on the way.

The Tour is great but not cheap. The budget option is a daytrip (£30 off-peak return from Euston-Watford Junction; £85 tour entry for a family of four). So it’s tempting to go the whole Hogwarts at The Grove – a five-star-home-from-home to Radcliffe, Grint and Watson during the filming years, and now a parkland paradise frequented by actors and footballers. It does package deals including room, breakfast and tickets from £415 per family – and has enough free swimming pools, mountain bike trails, games rooms and Ofsted-rated childcare (£6 an hour) for you to make a weekend of it – and one that all the family will enjoy.

The studio is located in Watford (London trains run from Euston), and buses take visitors from Watford Junction Station to the venue; booking is essential.

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(29 ratings)

What time does the tour start and how long does the tour last? We will be staying at a hotel near Heathrow and only have an afternoon and evening in London before flying home to Canada. Is it possible to do the tour?

jane Barker Tue Feb 26
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We are going on Thursday tour booked for 4. Can you get in before that time to look at the shop etc? Can't get through to ask

Karen Tue Oct 23 2012
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amazing day out, even our four year old loved it. Some, infact most of the tour is breathtaking, the rest is nothing less than superb. Loved the gift shop, averagely priced we thought. We will definitely be going again after Christmas <3

Trudi Sun Oct 21 2012
Rated as: 5/5
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Icons Pack. I so, agree. Write to me in iambic pentameters.

aper son Wed Oct 17 2012
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Amazing day out.

Laura Sun Oct 14 2012
Rated as: 5/5
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The studio was impressive and it was a great experience! I did not like the halfhearted behaviour of the people doing photos there, though. I bought 3 posters for my family with my picture as an evil wizzard with my name on it and the woman did show them to me the other way around and put them in bags. Beeing back home, i see she did not change the name from Harry Potter. If i pay 21 pounds for 3 posters on cheap paper at least the people working there can put some efford into their job i find.

Sarah Tue Sep 25 2012
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I like films of harry potter and i love it and it was cool . i like everything and me and michelle and mum . we i like it . go again sometime . i like clock tower and hagrid hut and i like boys rooms and grils room and i like common rooms and walk a bridge and i like hagrid motorbikes and sidcar . i like betterber is really nice . i like it and i like the philosophers stone and i like buckbeak and i like arther car and brooms to ride it was cool and i like dumbledore's office and i like the chamber of secrets and i like the dragon and i like the hockous lockets and i like hermione granger because i like her is my actrees and i likes carry books and i likes wands and i like lessons and time turner get back to lessons each year and hermione crush of Gilderoy Lockhart and crush of him . Ron and hermione romance and kiss him and i love him . Hold hands and see got childern and i like rose and hugo are sister and brother. and now adults now and still same age . Love nicola Jayne Blake xxxxxxxx

Nicola Blake Thu Aug 16 2012
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I LOVE Harry potter, dad if you giv away he Harry potter collection you'll hae me to del with!!!!!!!!

Chloe Sat Aug 11 2012
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I LOVE Harry potter, dad if you giv away he Harry potter collection you'll hae me to del with!!!!!!!!

Chloe Sat Aug 11 2012
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Amazing from start to finish if you are true Harry Potter fans. Brilliant day out and worth every penny.

Andrea Roberts Sat Aug 4 2012
Rated as: 5/5
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Warner Bros Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter

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