Harry Potter Studios London

We flew into London on our way to Finland. London is the best gateway city to Europe in my opinion. There are lots of direct flights from many US cities. It's easy to get around on their brilliant train system. Language is not a problem. There's always something new to see or do. On this trip, I finally got tickets to Harry Potter Studios. 

I have been a huge Harry Potter fan since college. I read all the books, watched all the moves, went to Harry Potter World at Orlando Universal Studios 3 times. I have my own wand. I dressed up as a Ravenclaw student for Halloween multiple times. 

Here's my visit in as many details as I can muster: 

First thing first, you need to buy your tickets in advance. You have to pick a day and a time for your tickets. They probably sell out about a month in advance, maybe sooner during holidays. A regular ticket is £56. You can also add on extra items including hotel, meals, digital packages, etc. 

*Tip - There are less people later in the day than earlier. You may want to visit in the afternoon vs the morning. Avoid school holidays if you can.  

HP Studio is in Leavesden which is a suburb northwest of London. There's a dedicated shuttle bus that will take you to the Studio from Watford Junction which is easy to get to from any train. You can also drive there, I saw a huge parking lot. 

Once you get there, you have to go through bag check. There are lockers if you want to store large bags. The entry area is huge with access to the ginormous gift shop, the sit down restaurant, cafe, and bakery. 

*Tip - eat before you come or bring snacks. The food options are limited. You can get food in the entry before the tour. There's a second place midway through the tour that you can get food. That's it. And you're probably going to be there for hours. 

*Tip - You can pick up an activity passport in the front or you can ask anyone that works there for one. You can collect stamps at different stations throughout the studio. It makes a nice memento of your trip. Press REALLY HARD on the levers to get a good stamp impression.

Once you're ready to enter the tour, you have your tickets checked and you walk through an area lined with photos. You're told to wait in a large room until enough people enter and then a tour guide introduces the studio. Then they open the doors of the Great Hall and you're off! 

There are many rooms to go through and look at. At it's core, it's basically a collection of sets, costumes, and props of the movies. You can tailor it at your speed. You can spend more time looking at things that interest you and less time looking at things that don't. 

Here are my favorite pics! 

*Tip - There is a dedicated butterbeer cup washing station outside the food hall so you don't have to wash your cup in the bathroom.

I will admit I love the books more than the movies but I still really enjoyed the studio tour. It's a great place to spend a few hours. Lots of people were dressed up so if you want to flaunt your HP gear, this will be the perfect place. Until next time fellow Potterheads, "Mischief Managed!!!"