Harry Potter WB Studio Tour, Watford

If you’re a Harry Potter fan (and who isn’t?!) then this tour is a must-see on a trip to England. Located about an hour north of London, just outside the town of Watford, the Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studio brings the show to life for all to enjoy. My daughter, a proud Ravenclaw, and myself, a loyal Hufflepuff, made this a priority on our trip to London and sharing these photos will hopefully inspire any other fans out there to add this to any England itinerary.

Because we were making our own way to and from the studio we started at King’s Cross Station where my daughter was hoping to get a picture of the 9 3/4 platform. They have moved it into the main area of the station and it now takes upwards of an hour to get your picture taken and pay for a copy. We had no time for that, however the station itself is a nice place to grab a bite to eat if you are coming or going from here.

We walked past St.Pancras Station, stopping briefly inside the hotel for a quick photo op of the main stairway, and then it was on to Euston Station to catch our train to Watford. This station is a stark contrast from King’s Cross Station and hopefully will be renovated in the near future!

We ended up on the Lioness Line which is actually part of the London Tube line, but it does take you straight to Watford Junction where you can then catch a free shuttle bus to the studio. Let the magic begin!

Before continuing it’s time to mention that this tour can book up months in advance. Because our trip coincided with the “Hogwarts in the Snow” festivities we booked two months before our travel dates. Time slots are limited and closing times in the winter can be much earlier than in the summer…another thing to keep in mind.

As you enter the main lobby of the studio you are greeted by a Ukranian Ironbelly dragon hanging from the ceiling. From here you make your way slowly through some exhibits that include drafts and posters of the movies, as well as a set of “under the stairs” where Harry lived.

The tour allows a certain number of people through the Great Hall at one time and so it was a bit rushed at this point. I snapped as many pictures as I could of the dining area decorated for the Christmas season.

After you leave the Great Hall you are free to roam around the rest of the studio and take your time looking at the exhibits and displays as well as take part in some of the interactive activities they have. There are costumes and some very recognizable clothing that was worn, as well as wigs used for some of the characters.

There is the Leaky Cauldron, the Talking Portraits, and a selection of wands used in the movies.

Although the movies were mainly shot throughout Scotland and England, most of the rooms in the films are right here at the studio that was in use for 10 years. Local schoolchildren were hired to become extras in the movies which began filming in 2000 and finished in 2010.

Pendulum clock and Dumbledore’s entrance and office…

Sooooo many props and sets…

as well as some famous creatures…

After seeing a replica of the train we stopped for a bite to eat and a butterbeer at the Backlot Cafe before heading to the sets in The Backlot area. This is about the halfway part of the tour…yup there’s a lot more to see!

The Backlot includes Privet Drive and the house where Harry Potter lived, as well as a greenhouse used for herbology lessons and the wild and magical Mandrake plants.

It was fun to be here in the evening and it was easy to get caught up in feeling like you were part of this enchanting world.

Heading back inside you enter a large area of the studio which is dedicated to Gringotts Wizarding Bank. An interesting fact about the shows is that actor Warwick Davis played three characters in the movies…a goblin, a professor, and Griphook.

The last section of the tour is the set of Diagon Alley, including Ollivanders Wand Shop, Flourish and Blotts Book Store and the Emporium.

As the tour comes to an end you will see photos that inspired locations for Harry Potter as well as designs and models from the art department on display. These are fascinating in their intricate details and miniature size!

The last exhibit is a large scale structure of Hogwarts and its surrounding grounds. The “Hogwarts in the Snow” theme was definitely in evidence here! It took 86 artists and crewmembers to build this model and there is lighting for inside lanterns and torches. Filming of this castle, along with digital effects, can be used to create realistic views of Hogwarts.

And that brings us to the end of the tour. We could have stayed longer, but the studio was closing and it was time to get the shuttle to the train station so we could catch our train back to London. We spent 4 hours here, which is even more than they recommend, and it was maybe just enough. There is so much to see and a lot of information to read about in each area so do plan on spending the better part of a day if you visit.