Our experience visiting the Harry Potter Studio & Museum in London
The Harry Potter Studio Tour in London is a real must for fans of the popular fantasy series and is ideal for a trip with the whole family. Of course, we were also there to see the exhibition in Watford for ourselves. In the following article, we tell you about our experience, our impressions and have a few useful tips for you.
A visit to the Harry Potter Studio & Museum in London is a must for Harry Potter fans. At the Making of Harry Potter, you can experience original film props and film sets. See live how special effects are created and marvel at the many costumes and props in the museum that were used in the making of the Harry Potter films.
After a long day of adventure at the Harry Potter Studio Tour, you might be yearning for a quaint place to rest. Why not continue the magic at a nearby wishing well hotel, where the enchantment of the day can linger into your evening?
If you're looking to explore more accommodation options to make your stay truly comfortable, be sure to check tophotels.com for a comprehensive list of top-rated hotels in the surrounding area. Finding the perfect spot to relax after your Harry Potter excursion can be a breeze.
I was completely blown away by the great attention to detail and the size of the exhibition. I highly recommend visiting the Harry Potter Museum in London on your next holiday to London.
In this report you will find all the important information about the exhibition such as opening times, tickets and prices for the Harry Potter Museum London. There are also a few facts about Harry Potter and, of course, this detailed report on our visit. We were truly mesmerised by the world of the wizarding students!
Harry Potter fans travel to London from all over the world. They want to be transported into the magical world at the original locations of the eight films. So there are a few things to bear in mind:
At the end of the article you will find a map in which we have marked the filming locations known to us.
Have fun reading!
Frequently asked questions about the Harry Potter Museum & Studios
Where are the Harry Potter Studios?
The studios are part of the Warner Bros. studios in London . Leavesden is in the south-east, about 30 kilometres outside London.
Where can I buy tickets for Harry Potter Studios?
What is the difference between the Harry Potter Studio Tour and the Harry Potter World at Universal Studios?
The studio in Leavesden near London is the real film studio, where the film locations are recreated and the original props are on display (the Great Hall, Gryffindor dormitory, Diagon Alley, Gringotts, ...). Filming really took place here. At Universal Studios Hollywood and Orlando (Florida), a theme park has been recreated. There are rides, a wand shop and Hogsmeade. It was not filmed here.
How much time do you need if you want to do the Studio Tour?
We spent 4-5 hours here. You could easily spend 2 hours longer. Allow at least 1 - 1.5 hours for the outward and return journey from the centre of London.
What to expect at the Harry Potter Studio in London
During the tour of Warner Bros. studios in Leavesden, you can see real film props and film sets. There is also a huge fan shop where you can become a wizard yourself. Wands, capes, T-shirts, jumpers, jackets and jerseys from Gryffindor to Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff to Slytherin.
A Harry Potter paradise, and not just for children!
Why you can visit the Studio Tour and the museum more often
We don't want to give everything away. But if you were here 2-3 years ago, you should definitely visit the Harry Potter Studios again. New props and film sets are constantly being added to the studios and the museum. One or two treats await you on the tours. Be curious!
What's always been there: Harry's room (or rather chamber) under the stairs at the Dursley's in Privet Drive No. 4. You'll also see the backdrop of the house later.
You pass Harry's room in Privet Drive as soon as you enter the Studio Tour in London.
You then enter the Great Hall of Hogwarts and can see the first costumes of the main characters.
Costumes of Professor Dumbledore, Hagrid and Severus Snape are available right at the beginning in the Great Hall of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter Studios in London! 
The Gryffindor outfit and unifrom. Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione wore these.
You can enter the "real" Platform 9 3/4 from the films. Marvel at the Great Hall at Hogwarts, visit Gringotts Bank or take a look around Albus Dumbledore's office. Enter the Hogwarts dormitory, explore Hagrid's hut or stroll along Diagon Alley.
You can visit Gringotts and the goblins since 2019!
The Gryffindor common room can also be visited as a film set.
Many animations show how certain scenes were filmed with special effects. And you can also ride a broom with a green screen.
I was very impressed by the original Hogwarts Express. You can enter and explore the film set in the carriage. An absolute highlight for me. The old steam locomotive had actually been discarded by the railway and was due to be scrapped. Instead, it was restored and is now in the studios.
The masks and hands of the goblins are particularly ingenious. The production and transformation of actors into their film roles is also shown. You can even see Baby Voldemort animated.
We found it very idyllic to stroll through Winkelgasse towards the end. There is also a "miniature" Hogwarts, where day and night are simulated. This model was also used for filming.
Original film props
You will find many original props in the studios. The Snitch, the sword of Gryffindor, the talking hat, Hagrid's motorbike, numerous brooms (including the firebolt), various wands and costumes. Also the masks of the dwarves or the money in Gringotts.
The golden Snitch (unfortunately a little blurred) is just one of the many props on the Harry Potter Studio Tour. 
More props
Workshop for masks
In addition to the props, you will also enter the Creature Effects Workshop. Here you can see how Dobby the house-elf is brought to life or how Lord Voldemort was animated as an embryo. We spent a long time here because we were very interested in the special effects and animation techniques used.
Exclusives
In the studio and on the tour, you will also be shown sequences that you have never seen before. There are interviews with actors and audio commentaries from the crew.
We don't want to reveal much more, because we want you to take the Harry Potter Studio Tour yourself and follow in Harry's, Ron's and Hermione's footsteps!
Buy tickets for the Harry Potter Studio Tour
You can buy tickets for the studios on the official website. Adults pay £47 (around €55) and children aged 5-15 pay £38 (around €44).
As a family (2 adults and 2 children or 1 adult and 3 children) you pay a flat rate of £150. Small children from 0 to 4 years need a ticket, but this is free. You still have to book it.
For the full studio tour package you pay £56.95. We recommend this as it includes a digital guide (device with headphones) and a printed guide with lots of extra information.
With this guide alone, you could spend hours longer in the studios. Here you can find out a lot more additional information. A must for Harry Potter fans. Sometimes it was even too much for us. You save £4.95 if you book in advance in combination as opposed to booking individually on site.
When booking, you have to select the day and time. No-one checks whether you are on time to the minute. We were even there too early and had to wait until our "time slot" was up.
Once you're in, you can stay until the studios close. We generally recommend booking one of the first appointments in the morning. It's not so busy then.
We were surprised that there were so many parents with children (of school age) in the studios during the week. Even though there were no holidays anywhere.
Transfer and arrival
The studios are located about 30 kilometres outside London in Leavesden near Watford. The journey is by train and bus. You can also get to Leavesden directly by bus for an extra charge. This was too expensive for us, as travelling by public transport and from there by the official shuttle bus was cheaper.
Transfer by bus from the centre
Don't fancy travelling by public transport and changing buses? Then you can easily book a ticket in advance for the Harry Potter Studio Tour in combination with the bus.
How to get there by public transport:
From London Euston (alternatively Birmingham New Street), you first travel to Watford Junction. The journey takes around 20 minutes. You can use your Oyster Card for this.
Leave the station here and go to the bus station diagonally to the left of the building. From here, the Mullany's Coach shuttle bus runs every 20 minutes to the Warner Bros. studio (journey time approx. 15 minutes).
Make sure you time it right so you don't miss the time on your tickets. We have planned around 1 - 1.5 hours from Euston.
Costs for the arrival/departure
The return shuttle bus from Watford Junction to the studios costs £3.
Train Euston to Watford Junction: Single journey in peak time (Monday - Friday 6.30am - 9.30am and 4pm - 7pm) costs £8.80 GBP. Off-peak journey costs £5.60.
Arrival at Warner Bros. Studios
The buses stop almost directly in front of the entrance. Have you received a booking confirmation by email? Then you need to exchange it for a real ticket at the counters to the left of the entrance.
Inside you have the option of handing in your jackets or booking a multimedia guide. Remember that a small part of the tour also takes place outside. If the weather is bad, make sure you take your jackets with you (even if it is inconvenient).
How much time should I plan?
The visit is great fun and really interesting! We really enjoyed it. You can easily spend 4-5 hours here.
Take your time, get the audio guides and really learn everything about the filming of the Harry Potter films.
Plan about 1 - 1.5 hours for the journey to and from the studio and at least 3 hours in the studios.
Further tips
Save money and bring food
You are allowed to bring food and drink to Warner Bros. studios. This is particularly useful if you don't fancy overpriced fast food.
We went back to the centre hungry and then had a delicious meal. We tried a Butterbeer anyway. One sip is enough ...
Hotel tip: Stay overnight like Harry Potter? Georgian House
A tip for Harry Potter fans that only reached us after our trip. In the Wizard Chambers of Georgian House in London you can stay in rooms that are modelled on the dormitories at Hogwarts.
The bed and breakfast is located in the centre of London, but is not cheap at around €210 per night (depending on the date).
You can book the B & B at booking.com. Make sure to book the Enchanted Chamber or the Magic Chamber for families (cheaper).