If you are a millennial like me or even a gen Z, Harry Potter books and movies must have been a great part of your life. To re-create such a magical mystical world from the books into the film took a lot of effort and thousands of artists, technicians, interior & fashion designers, set designers and more! So being the Harry Potter buff that I am, visiting the studio where most of the magic was created for the screen was a dream. So read on below where I talk about my memorable visit to the Warner Bros. Studio London.
Decadent Diaries Tips:
Once your trip tickets etc. are booked and it is confirmed that you are going to London, start looking up tickets on the official website of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, as sometimes especially during peak tourist months, tickets sell out months in advance.
Do book only once you are certain that you are going to travel because tickets are non-refundable (check their official website for the latest terms and conditions)
If you are not able to get a ticket from their website or wish to wait last minute to buy the same only once you are traveling to be sure, check out for reliable & trustworthy tours and travel agencies who sell a package i.e. you not only purchase an entry ticket from them, but they also bundle in a pickup and drop service from some main bus stations in London. I personally did not want to go for this as the price almost increases per person by around 30 - 50% hence I took the risk of booking in advance on the official website.
As far as getting there goes, I took a direct train from London Euston to the studio's nearest railway station Watford Junction (20 min train ride). Use the National Rail app to plan your timings for the trains.
Just outside the Watford Junction station is the bus stop where you can get the shuttle bus to the WB studios which is included in the cost of your ticket. They check your ticket before you board the bus. It's a 15 minute bus ride from Watford Junction Station to WB studios. Busses run at least every half an hour and for the full set of timings for the shuttle bus check out their official website. There is a whole section on their website called getting here from where you can plan out your travel.
It is important that you aim to get to the studio 20 minutes before your allotted time, also bags will be checked upon entry. When you buy your ticket, make sure to read all their rules and regulations as mentioned on their ticket.
It will take a good 3 to 4 hours to explore this detailed studio, no matter how fast you try to get over with the tour, hence plan out your timings accordingly.
As I exited the bus and saw this massive studio, I was just so excited because I had dreamed of visiting this place for so many years! The photo sessions started with me posing happily outside against the entry board of the studio. I was so excited that we reached around 40 minutes earlier than our time slot, however as the rush was a bit less that day we were allowed in.
As you enter inside once your bags are checked, you are greeted by a ginormous dragon hanging from the ceiling in the hub area where there is also a cafe and a food hall (the same dragon which Harry and his posse use to escape from Gringotts in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2). I could see clearly all the cuts and bruises and the chains attached to him. It was so realistic!
Immediately the Harry Potter Theme Track started playing in my mind! You know the track - Harry's Wondrous World by John Williams. My excitement started building up even more for what lay ahead.
Then the Tour officially began with me getting a glimpse into Harry's Cupboard under the stairs, the space was so tiny for poor Harry in reality and seeing his humble clothes and shoes really pulled at my heartstrings. Also got to see some other Dursley House artifacts.
Then came one of the most exciting parts, awaiting our entry into The Great Hall!! We gathered and a WB Tour staff built up the anticipation and finally opened the lofty entry doors to display the splendid grandeur of this hall. The first things I noticed of course were the long wooden tables, chairs and the tall glass windows. I really felt like I was in the movie scene from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone where the new students first time get to see the hall. There were special smoke effects and lighting effects to make our entry into this hall feel even more wondrous. We also got to see some of the famous costumes of the main characters in the films.
From there we were led to the area of all the Interior Sets. Oh My God! The number of iconic sets and costumes that I got to see here was just mind blowing. I got to see Hermione's beautiful pink gown from the Yule Ball and the mesmerizing Triwizard Cup in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I saw Voldemort's robes which were just so well done to suit his scary character. The Gryffindor boy's room where Harry and Ron slept made me feel like hey wish I could go to Hogwarts! The Gryffindor & Slytherin Common Rooms were so intricately decorated, I was surrounded by just so many unique artifacts. I saw the Mirror of Erised where my husband and I took a picture as what we most desire from our hearts is each other (mushy moment!). Seeing Dumbledore's awe-inspiring office and the entry stairs with the magnificent phoenix was a dream come true. I stood next to the pensive and took a picture like Dumbledore would when he was deep into his thoughts. Hagrid's Hut felt like I was actually sitting there with him. The portions room was also so well decorated with all the countless glass bottles and cauldrons and Snape's signature costume on display. The interiors of the Burrow (Weasley Home) felt so familiar I wanted to sit down and have a meal with the Weasleys! There was so so so much to see everywhere I looked. All 8 films were brought to life right in front of me. I also got to do this fun activity where you stand next to your broom and say "Up" and the broom rises into your hand!
One of the most memorable moments came after in the form of Green Screen Experiences. Let's face it, I will never get to act in a Harry Potter Film. But this experience fulfills that dream in a small way. They make you sit on a broom and the staff asks you to do certain actions and emotions at the time they are recording you. Then you get to see the finished product, which in my case was me flying all over London and then on to Hogwarts on the broom. I felt like a character in the movie being officially directed and acting it out! The broom does not move, it is all done by the special effects and the green screen. So it looked like I was actually flying in the video! I would like to state that this is not included in your ticket cost and you have to pay for the recording separately, but for me it was so worth it! I keep watching that video over and over to relive that experience.
The dark arts area had the creepy set of Nagini and Voldemort at the table with the death eaters scene at Malfoy Manor from Deathly Hallows Part 1 - another iconic scene from the movie. The Ministry of Magic Atrium was full of shades of frightening red. Umbridge's pink office with all her pink clothing and cat portraits. The life-sized "Magic is Might" statue was intimidating. And then there were the technical demos - a look into how the cloak of invisibility worked using special effects and also how the scene of the unlimited letters coming into Dursley's mailbox in the first film was created using practical effects.
I then entered the Forbidden Forest which was so realistic and eerie and filled with rickety dark trees with their thick roots spread across like monster claws. I got to see the famous Hippogriff Buckbeak which did its signature bow from time to time. The scary trees and huge spiders spread throughout the forest set, combined with the effects of lightning, thunder, wolf cries and sudden sound effects made me feel like I was actually in the movie when the spiders attacked Ron and Harry!
After that, I then got to view Platform 9 3/4 (9 and 3 quarters) and the Hogwarts Express. There were photo opp areas for the iconic scene of Harry's trolley going through the wall, there was an arts and crafts area with very helpful staff who let you make your own complimentary "howler". Then we went into the train and passed by the iconic compartments. I really felt like just going and sitting in one of the compartments waiting for the train to depart and take me to Hogwarts! In this area there was another green screen experience, not as popular as the broom one but I was personally very excited. Me and my husband did this together - a recreation of traveling on the train to Hogwarts and the scene where the Dementor passes by the train. It was quite fun.
Then we entered the huge Backlot Cafe where we took a much needed break from this detailed tour. As it was lunch time the cafe was pretty crowded with huge lines for the butter beer and other treats. We settled for a simple sandwich and Crisps from a smaller stall where there was not much rush. I had tasted butter beer before at the Harry Potter store in New York so didn't have it again here (personally am not a big fan of butterscotch). However, if you have not yet tried one, you definitely once should try either the butter beer or the butter beer ice cream. Once we were done we saw the Backlot area where the exterior of No. 4 Privet Drive was recreated, the wooden bridge of Hogwarts was recreated and much more. I went for a walk through the bridge and made my husband stand on the other end just to get the perfect shot 😂 (he's amazing ❤️)
After which we entered the Creature Effects area where we saw cute baby Mandrakes, Hedwig and Voldemort just before he regains his body. All of these creatures and how the effects were created to animate them were displayed. The amount of effort that went into bringing each creature to life was really awe-inspiring. We also got to see Dobby the Elf, the majestic Fawkes and much much more. I have so much more respect for the people behind the scenes now.
I then walked into one of the grandest sets which was the Gringotts Bank. When I walked in, I just went wooowwwww. My jaw hit the floor. The tall marble arches, glorious crystal chandeliers and the odd elves working at their desks, looking at that area my face looked like the heart eyes emoji 😍
I walked up to the front where I felt now I will have to answer this scary elf's questions like in the movies! This was definitely my favourite set in the whole studio, the detail, the grandeur was simply stunning.
After which I walked to the Vaults area where we were able to view some other famous props and rooms from the movies. I saw the vault cart, the vault door of Vault 713 whose intricate locking system was unlocking right in front of my eyes. I also liked Bellatrix's vault where the Gemino Curse scene was so painstakingly recreated with multiples of gold and silver artifacts. Then I entered an entire set recreating the iconic scene where the vault dragon breaks out of Gringotts in the last film. There were light and sound effects and the 3D visualisation of the dragon, where in the end he spits out fire. For a moment I felt like I would be charred to death. Again it was so so realistic!
Then we got to visit Diagon Alley and we walked by some famous stores like Olivander's, Gringotts Entrance and Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. I felt like I could just enter Olivander's and he'd actually be waiting for me there to help me select my first wand! One of the nice things about this tour was that along with the sets the respective outfits or costumes the characters wore in those scenes were displayed as well.
At this point, my heart and mind were full of so many awesome memories of this place and the perfect end to the same was entering the model room. The model room was a realistic model of Hogwarts and it was so beautiful I could keep standing and exploring all the tiny details from every angle for hours. It was really a sight to behold. The tour exits into the shop where you can buy all the Harry Potter merchandise your heart desires!
I definitely felt this tour was really worth it being the fan that I am. Seeing the amount of work that went into bringing this world to life from the pages, really made me appreciate the movies, the crew and the thousands of people behind making these great sets and costumes even more.
Hope you enjoyed reading my post ❤️ These are my personal experiences. Do check out their official website for planning as per your preferences and to find out about their upcoming events and updates.
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