Are you a fan of the boy wizard, Harry Potter? If so, you’re sure to enjoy a VIP Harry Potter tour at the Warner Bros. Studio outside London, England.
I was lucky enough to join the Harry Potter Deluxe Studio Tour with my husband and although several years have passed, I still remember our amazing experiences there.
This fantastic VIP experience takes you into the magical world of the Harry Potter books and movies. You’ll explore original sets, see the intricate details of authentic costumes up close, and enjoy some magical experiences accompanied by an expert tour guide.
This is just one of a fantastic selection of Harry Potter tours in London, England. If your UK vacation includes a trip north of the border into Scotland, you can also explore some Harry Potter locations in Edinburgh, where the boy wizard’s story began.
Other great options for Potterheads include visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando.
What’s included in the Harry Potter Deluxe Studio Tour?
There are two tour options at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, London: Standard tickets and Deluxe Tickets.
All ticket holders get to step onto iconic sets from the Harry Potter movies, see authentic costumes and props, and learn more about the making of Harry Potter movies, including the special effects.
There are also special events throughout the year, like the Triwizard Tournament and the Yule Ball.
Deluxe Tour tickets include a host of cool extras, including:
- Priority parking next to the Tour entrance
- 2.5-hour tour accompanied by one of the knowledgeable tour guides
- Complimentary breakfast and lunch
- Exclusive photo ops
- Digital greenscreen photographs and videos
- Free Butterbeer or Butterbeer ice cream
- Souvenir guidebook and lanyard
You’ll also be able to re-enter the Studio Tour after your guided tour, allowing you to explore the exhibits at your own pace.
Arriving at the Studio Tour
The Warner Bros. Studio is located in the Watford area northwest of London. Tickets booked through a third-party tour operator often include transport from a variety of different pickup points and central London locations. Deluxe tickets can only be purchased through Warner Bros. directly.
These are the best tour options for visiting Warner Bros. Studios – all standard tickets.
You can also use public transportation to reach the Tour from main railway stations including London Victoria and Euston train station among others. The nearest train station is Watford Junction, around 15 minutes away, and the Studio Tour offers a free shuttle service that runs at least every 30 minutes.
If you prefer to drive to the Studio Tour, Deluxe ticket holders can use a priority parking section near the entrance.
When you arrive, you’ll be directed to the Deluxe Tour meeting point, where you’ll meet your Harry Potter Deluxe Tour guide and receive your souvenir lanyard. You’ll then head to the Food Hall to enjoy the complimentary breakfast with unlimited tea, coffee, and fruit juice that’s included in the tour ticket price.
There’s also an option to hire a handheld Digital Guide that guides you around the enchanting world of Harry Potter, providing fun facts and interactive activities along the way. This guide is probably more useful for Standard ticket holders who don’t have the benefit of an expert guide showing them around. However, you might find it handy for the self-guided portion of the tour.
Our Deluxe Harry Potter London Experience
Once you’ve met your tour guide, you’ll explore the exhibits in a small tour group. You might find that your guide hurries you past some of the exhibits, but don’t worry: there’s plenty of time to go back to them after the guided portion of the tour.
Your guided tour begins on the actual stone floor of Hogwarts Great Hall, as seen in the movies. You’ll also have an exclusive photo opportunity at the doors to the Great Hall of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Only one small group of VIP ticket holders is allowed in the Great Hall at a time, and each person gets a chance to have a souvenir photo taken opening the door. It’s a unique opportunity to get a really cool souvenir that isn’t available to Standard Tour ticket holders.
You’ll see authentic sets like Dumbledore’s office, the Forbidden Forest, and Platform 9¾ where Harry boards the Hogwarts Express. You’ll stroll down Diagon Alley, surrounded by original movie costumes, and your tour guide will wear white gloves to show you unique props like letters, potions textbooks, and potion jars.
Fun facts for Potterheads
Your expert guide will also share some quirky on-set tales that make the experience more magical. For instance, our guide explained that the original dormitory set was built when Daniel Radcliffe and the other actors were around 10 years old.
As the cast grew taller over the years, the beds became too small for them, but there was no room to expand the dormitory set. So the filmmakers needed to film the actors sitting up in bed or lying in a way that hid their feet hanging off the end of the beds!
It’d be hard to find these facts and trivia if you’re on the self-guided tour, so serious Harry Potter fans will get a lot out of the Deluxe Tour experience.
Food and Drink on the Deluxe Harry Potter Tour
The Deluxe Harry Potter Tour includes complimentary breakfast and lunch.
Halfway through the guided portion of the tour, you’ll be taken to the cafeteria to place your order for the hot lunch included in your Deluxe Tour package. After you’ve explored the outdoor sets, you’ll return to the cafeteria to eat your meal.
This was the only part of the VIP Studio Tour that I felt was underwhelming. There was nothing really wrong with the food, but it was just regular cafeteria fare like burgers, chicken sandwiches, and fries. You’re not really here for the food, but this was the least impressive part of the day.
Souvenirs included on the Harry Potter deluxe tour
After you’ve finished your meal, a member of staff will guide you back to the start of the studio tour, and you can continue looking around the exhibits until closing time.
Insider tip: Booking your tour to start early in the day will give you maximum time to explore the sets.
The self-guided portion of the tour also gives you a chance to pose for some other cool green screen photos, including an Azkaban “Wanted” poster and a printed Ministry of Magic ID card. You can even take your own greenscreen “broomstick flight” video over the rooftops of London. These normally cost extra but are included for VIP ticket holders.
Your Deluxe Studio Tour includes a complimentary Butterbeer or Butterbeer ice cream served in a souvenir cup at the end of your tour. You can browse the Studio gift shop for some additional merchandise and souvenirs, and you’ll also receive a really high-quality souvenir guidebook as a memento of your Harry Potter experience.
FAQs and Tips
Here are some tips and guidance to help plan your Warner Bros. Studio Tour London visit.
How long does the Harry Potter Deluxe Studio Tour last?
The guided part of the Harry Potter Deluxe Studio Tour lasts around 2.5 hours. You’re welcome to stay as long as you like to explore your favorite parts of the studio further, and visitors often spend 5 or more hours enjoying the experience.
Are there any options for last-minute tickets?
The Harry Potter Studio Tour is often booked out months in advance, so I really recommend booking as soon as possible. I’ve been trying to take my kids on the Deluxe tour ever since I visited for the first time several years ago, but I’ve never managed to find Deluxe tickets on a day that suited our travel plans.
However, slots sometimes become available due to cancellations, so check the official website of the Warner Bros Studio tour for last-minute ticket availability.
What is the best day of the week to visit Harry Potter Studios London?
You’ll have a better chance of booking the Harry Potter Deluxe Studio Tour if you can be flexible with your preferred slot. Ticket availability tends to be better on weekdays than weekends and for time slots earlier in the day.
What to wear on the Harry Potter Deluxe Studio Tour
Comfortable, casual clothing is recommended for your Harry Potter Deluxe Studio Tour. Be sure to wear warm clothing in cold weather; light layers are the easiest way to ensure you’re comfortably warm.
However, die-hard Potterheads often visit the tour in their Harry Potter costumes, so feel free to cosplay as your favorite character from the Harry Potter movies or books.
You can also expect to spend a lot of time on your feet exploring the sets and waiting in line, so comfortable footwear is a must.
Harry Potter Studio Deluxe Tickets vs Standard Tickets: which is better?
Another member of the Wanderlux team booked standard tickets for the Harry Potter Studio Tour, which gives you access to all the same sets, props, and costumes as the Deluxe Tour. Standard tickets are a more budget-friendly way for Harry Potter fans to enjoy the experience.
However, you won’t benefit from the knowledge and stories of an expert guide and will miss out on additional features like the complementary lunch and photograph opportunities. If you prefer to explore museums and sites on your own, the standard ticket may be a better option for you.
How much do the Harry Potter Deluxe Tickets cost?
Deluxe tickets currently cost 250 pounds.
What other ticket types exist?
There are plenty of other ticket options depending on your needs. There is a low-sensory ticket for people with sensory processing issues and several tours combined with meals (breakfast, afternoon tea, evening cocktails, and dinner are all options). Each of these can be bought directly from the Warner Bros. website.
Is the Harry Potter Deluxe Tour worth it?
The Harry Potter Deluxe Tour is a magical experience that any Harry Potter fan will enjoy. The sets are breathtaking, the staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and there are plenty of out-of-this-world moments and cool experiences that make your visit memorable.
The VIP treatment wasn’t quite at the same level as other deluxe experiences like the Disney VIP Tour, for example, and the complementary food was underwhelming. However, at £250 per person, the ticket price is lower than some other VIP tours, and there’s certainly enough to keep Potterheads entertained for a full day.
I thoroughly enjoyed my Deluxe Harry Potter Studio tour, which remains a memorable experience several years later.
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