Visiting the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London is every Harry Potter fan’s dream. The idea of getting to see the actual sets and props from the Harry Potter films is enough to make every witch and wizard want to immediately book a trip! Walking into the Great Hall, exploring the Forbidden Forest, and hopping on the Hogwarts Express train are just some of the magical things to do at the Harry Potter Studio Tour.

I was so excited when I was finally able to visit London for the first time and got to experience the Studio Tour. It was even more magical than I could have ever dreamed! For those hoping to one day visit or looking to plan a trip, I’ve put together a guide full of pictures and tips for the Studio Tour including: how to book your tour, food options, what to bring, and other tips. So let’s check out the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London!

Book Early!

All tickets to the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London must be booked in advance! As soon as you have the dates for your trip planned, you should immediately book your ticket and select your time slot on the Studio Tour website. They only allow a certain number of people in each time slot, and they will sell out even months in advanced! If the tickets for the dates of your trip are already sold out on the Studio Tour’s website, be sure to check out Viator (which is what I ended up having to do).

Ticket Information

Ticket Prices from the official Harry Potter Studio Tour Website:

Adult (Ages 16 years and above) £45 (~ $57)

Child (Ages 5 to 15 years) £23.50 (~ $30)

Ticket Prices from Viator:

Prices start at $109 per person and include round-trip transportation from London.

As you can see, you definitely end up paying more through Viator. However, if the Studio Tour tickets through the official website are sold out, I would definitely use that option.

Pro Tip: When selecting your time slot for the Harry Potter Studio Tour, select the earliest time slot possible. They do not limit how long you can spend at the studio once you’ve entered. So not only does scheduling an early time slot mean more time for the tour, but it also means it will be less crowded.

Getting to the Tour

The Harry Potter Studio Tour is actually located outside of the city of London. You can get to the tour via car, shuttle bus, or train. I didn’t have to arrange transportation since I booked the trip from Viator, but it’s very easy and affordable to navigate public transportation from London.

Getting to the tour from London: You can take the London train from London Euston station to Watford Junction. From there, you’ll hop on a Warner Bros. shuttle bus to the Studio Tour. The whole trip there takes about an hour, but the cost of transportation is very affordable. The train ticket costs less than £5 (each way) and £2.50 (round trip) for the Warner Bros. shuttle bus. For more information about transportation to the tour, check out the Studio Tour’s Journey Tool.

Pro tip: If you take the Warner Bros. shuttle bus, you MUST bring your printed Harry Potter Studio Tour ticket confirmation and pay in cash. They do not provide change, either, so make sure to bring exact change.

Amount of Time You Need at the Tour

I’ve already mentioned the benefits of selecting an early time slot at the Harry Potter Studio Tour, but how long should you plan to spend there? According to the website, the average time spent in the Studio Tour is 3 1/2 hours. Because I had booked through Viator, I could only spend 4 hours at the tour before the bus returned to London. I was so nervous that I wouldn’t have enough time to see everything or that I would feel rushed.

I’m happy to say that in 4 hours, I was able to see everything at an enjoyable pace and eat lunch. So for those of you who have a later time slot, don’t worry as long as you have at least 4 hours. That being said, I could have easily spent more time there. I did end up eating my lunch quickly so I had time to see more things. So if you’re a big Harry Potter fan and plan on eating lunch there, I would probably plan on spending 5-6 hours at the Studio Tour.

Food Options at the Studio Tour

You’ll want to plan on eating at the Harry Potter Studio Tour. While you can bring your own food and drinks, they have plenty of options there. There are two different sections that you can eat at. One place is located right before you start the tour (called the Food Hall) and the other is halfway through the tour (the Backlot Cafe).

If you get there for an early time slot, I recommend grabbing breakfast or a coffee from the Food Hall (located at the beginning) and planning your main meal for the Backlot Cafe (located halfway through the tour).

Not only does the Backlot Cafe have more food options, but they also have a Butterbeer cart and outside seating where you can view the Knight Bus and 4 Privet Drive!

Here are the menus for both places:

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Food Hall (at the beginning): Menu

Backlot Cafe (halfway through the tour): Menu

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Pro tip: For an inexpensive souvenir, you can pay an extra £3 to get your Butterbeer in a souvenir cup. I promise it will be the cheapest souvenir there lol. There’s also a Butterbeer cup rinsing station inside the Backlot Cafe so you don’t have to carry around a sticky mug when you’re done. Want a cute Butterbeer photo? Just outside the cafe to the left are Butterbeer Barrels that make for a great photo spot for you and your Butterbeer!

What to Expect During the Tour

During the Studio Tour, expect to see many sets, costumes, and props from the Harry Potter films. They also have plenty of behind-the-scenes videos and information throughout the tour about the making of the movies. You can purchase a digital guide and headset for only £5.95 that will give you even more behind-the-scenes information. The digital guide will definitely slow down your tour, but I would still recommend the purchase for big Harry Potter fans.

The Harry Potter Studio Tour, itself, is broken up into two different sections, separated by the outdoor section of the tour. Plan to spend the majority of your time in the first section. There are WAY more things to do and see in that first section. So take your time exploring that area and soaking it all in.

Also expect some interactive Harry Potter magic along the way. You can ride a broomstick, practice spells, and make magic in the Weasley burrow! Make sure you do not miss out on these truly magical experiences as they aren’t just for children.

Pro tip: At the beginning of the tour, they hand out Passports to the kids to get stamped throughout the journey. If you ask nicely, though, they should let you have one too. Such a cute (and free) souvenir!

What to Bring

We’ve already talked about making sure to print out your ticket confirmation, but there are some other things you’ll want to bring with you to the Harry Potter Studio Tour.

1. Camera. It can be an actual camera or just use your phone (like I do), but you’ll definitely want to be prepared to take tons of pictures to remember your magical trip.
2. Portable Charger. I cannot stress this enough to bring a portable phone charger. With all the pictures and videos you’ll be taking, your phone battery probably won’t make it. I highly recommend purchasing this Portable Charger from Amazon. I’ve used it for so many of my travels!
3. Memory Stick. Regardless if you bring a camera or use your phone, you’ll want to bring extra memory. I recommend this Flash Drive from Amazon for your iPhone. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been on vacation and ran out of memory on my phone. So having this backup is a life-saver!
4. Poncho. Because part of the tour is outside and the London weather is unpredictable, be on the safe side and pack a lightweight poncho just in case. You can get cheap ones here.
5. Your own Harry Potter merch. Because all of the clothes and merchandise is VERY expensive at the Studio Tour, save money by bringing and wearing your own merch. You can check out my Harry Potter outfit ideas here.

Overall, I highly recommend the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London for Potterheads and Muggles alike! It’s truly an unforgettable experience and one I hope to do again on my next trip to London. I hope this guide helps you plan a magical trip to the Harry Potter Studio Tour. If you have any more questions about the tour, follow me on Instagram @fandomfashionista and send me your questions. Now, enjoy some pictures and a video from the tour!

Video of the Harry Potter Studio Tour London

Pictures from the Studio Tour

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I would never recommend anything that I don’t love, and the money goes to keeping up this blog. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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