WHAT IT’S LIKE TO EXPERIENCE THE WARNER BROTHERS STUDIO TOUR LONDON

For my thirtieth birthday, all I wanted was to head to the United Kingdom and do everything Harry Potter that I could in about four days — kind of insane for a trip from Washington state all the way to the UK but I digress. The Warner Brothers Studio Tour London The Making of Harry Potter was one of the MAIN attractions on my list of Harry Potter-themed things to do because it’s kind of the mecca of things to do. On the Warner Brothers Studio Tour visitors step onto authentic sets, discover the magic behind spellbinding special effects, and explore the behind-the-scenes secrets of the Harry Potter film series.

Discover the iconic Hogwarts Great Hall, explore the Forbidden Forest, board the original Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 ¾, and step foot into Gringotts Wizarding Bank, all before wandering down Diagon Alley. The Studio Tour is where all eight films were produced, which is pretty freaking magical to be able to walk through as a fan. It showcases the British talent and artistry that went into the making of The Wizarding World and allows visitors to relive the magic through the eyes of the filmmakers who brought the films to life. To say I cried would be an understatement… AND the fact that I was there on my actual 30th birthday was just the cherry on top. In this article, I want to cover all the ins and outs of our experience, what we loved, what we thought was okay, and much more!

When you’re in the planning process of a trip to visit and partake in this tour planning is KEY. This tour books up so quickly — so when you know what day you want to come, buy your tickets! Tickets range from £53.50/$68.00 USD. You’ll pick a time slot and go into the tour with a smaller group of people to allow for the tour to be less crowded than if everyone went all at once.

What is the Afternoon Tea like at Warner Brothers Studio Tour London?

When I saw there was an Afternoon Tea option while booking our tickets online, I kinda just went for it. I mean we were going to be there for my thirtieth birthday so I kinda said eff it. The afternoon tea was definitely a splurge running £79.90/$101.20 for two. Creatively designed and beautifully crafted by talented pastry chefs, Afternoon Tea features an array of indulgent sweets, savory treats, and delectably delicious baked scones, served with an assortment of loose-leaf teas. You can also add some sparkle to the occasion and upgrade your Afternoon Tea to include a glass of champagne. Every detail of this experience was thought out; from the golden teapots to the cauldrons holding sugar cubes to the beautiful themed pastries for the season. We visited on September 29th which is when everything is Dark Arts themed for Halloween so our special desserts on top were themed for that. I’ve seen some for the spring and summer months and they’re gorgeous too! The overall experience was 6/10 for us. The food was okay — the treats and scones were probably our favorite part and the service was just okay. It wasn’t anything special.

We assumed it would be more immersive and on theme but it felt like we were just at a regular ole restaurant getting high tea. We’re used to Disney World and Universal where even the staff and servers are all about the immersive or themed experience. The overall decor of the place was incredible because you’re sitting under the floating candles which gave Great Hall vibes. Truly, everything looked incredible and tasted okay but the ultimate question we had to ask ourselves was is it worth the money? Probably not… Would I do it again? I would with friends who wanted to do it and hadn’t done it before. Would I do it again by myself or with my husband? No, I don’t think so. There are a couple of other places to eat at the Studio Tour so you don’t even have to do the tea if you’re hungry.

What are the food options at the Warner Brothers Studio Tour?

There are four different options for food, snacks, and of course butterbeer at the Studio Tour.

THE HUB CAFÉ

Under the watch of the Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon in the Studio Tour Hub, the Hub Café serves specialty Starbucks hot and cold drinks and bakery items throughout the day. This is a great spot to grab a drink and then experience the Hub — it’s the central point of the building where you start and finish the tour.

THE CHOCOLATE FROG CAFÉ

The Chocolate Frog Café serves luxury hot chocolate, ice creams, milkshakes, and an extensive range of cakes expertly hand-crafted by a team of pâtissiers. Don’t forget to snap a selfie at the Chocolate Frog Card Mirrors, to picture yourself as a famous witch or wizard.

THE FOOD HALL

Once you’ve stepped underneath the Ukrainian Ironbelly and passed the Chocolate Frog Café, you’ll find the Food Hall, where you can enjoy classic British meals, hand-made pizza direct from a stone-fired pizza oven, pies, burgers, salads, and a wide range of sandwiches.

THE BACKLOT CAFÉ

Halfway through the Studio Tour, you’ll find The Backlot Café. It serves breakfast until 11:00 then classic burgers and hot dogs. Indoor and outdoor seating is available with views of the most incredible exterior sets and props such as the Knight Bus, Privet Drive, and the famous Hogwarts Bridge.

Butterbeer

Butterbeer is obviously a must!! If you’re not familiar, it’s a non-alcoholic beverage reminiscent of shortbread and butterscotch and is suitable for those with gluten, wheat, and nut allergies. The unique blend of top-secret ingredients makes for a special and refreshing drink evocative of the beverage found in the Wizarding World. Alternatively, why not enjoy a delicious Butterbeer ice cream to enjoy while walking around the exterior sets? Vegan Butterbeer is available on tap in the Backlot Café and you can also pick up a bottled Butterbeer in the Studio Tour shop to take home with you.

What is it like to visit the Warner Brothers Studio Tour London during the fall season?

We visited during my birthday which just so happens to be at the end of September — and what happens during the end of September through November 10th? Halloween at Hogwarts!! I’m a spooky queen so being able to be there during this time was an absolute DREAM! You’ll step into the iconic sets from the Harry Potter film series in a spookier setting as they dim the lights and set the stage for Halloween. Visitors will be able to experience Hogwarts as a student, by stepping into the Great Hall with over 100 pumpkins floating above a spooky feast, as seen in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. When I say I was crying over this set, I mean it!! Everything from the pumpkins to the tables filled with Halloween treats was absolutely insane!

In addition, you’ll find the symbol of Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters projected throughout the Studio Tour. Not only this, but throughout the tour you’ll experience the Death Eaters’ procession in a menacing display, showcasing the authentic costumes seen on-screen. I don’t want to give away too much about this performance but I recommend getting a front-row seat because it was electric!

You’ll also have the opportunity to learn wand combat moves in an interactive display with Paul Harris before joining forces to practice your spells on Death Eaters. Paul was the Wand Choreographer from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 and describes the importance of wand combat as a ‘physical element to casting a spell, because otherwise what makes one wizard better than another?’

One of my all-time favorite parts of the tour was the outdoor sets! You’ll have the opportunity to walk through the Dursley’s house, see the Knight Bus, Privet Drive, the famous Hogwarts Bridge, and the greenhouse where Herbology was taught at Hogwarts. Grab a butterbeer or snacks from The Backlot Café then stroll through the gorgeous sets just outside.

I was shocked by how much was packed into this magnificent tour because you truly could spend 5 hours here exploring every nook and cranny. I wish we could have spent more time because there was just SO much for fans to learn about and see. Again, I don’t want to give away too much but below are some of my favorite photos from the tour.

What is the shopping like at Warner Brothers Studio Tour London?

The main Studio Shop offers a range of specially selected collectible items, replica wands, confectionery, apparel, and much more — like MUCH MORE! The store was super crowded when we were there but we managed to walk around a couple of times and take everything in. It didn’t feel like there were too many pieces that you couldn’t get elsewhere or online. I was going to grab this cute t-shirt with numerous Harry Potter spells on it but when we looked at the line to check out… we ditched our stuff and I ended up being able to order the shirt online through Universal Orlando’s website. I would imagine if you go when it’s less crowded the line won’t be as long but this time it was wrapped around the entire store which is huge! That to say… the store was incredible and there were SO many wonderful Harry Potter pieces I could have definitely spent a ton of money on. I loved that each part of the store was separated into groups such as Hogwarts House merch, wand shop, Honeydukes, and Forbidden Forest, and while we were there during the fall there was an area for Dark Arts. I’m not sure if that’s there always or was just there for that season. In addition to the main studio shop, you’ll find the Railway Shop halfway through the Studio Tour. After stepping onto Platform 9 ¾, explore the Railway Shop full of souvenirs, gifts, homeware, apparel, and more. Grab some Peppermint Toads or a Chocolate Frog to snack on while finishing out the tour!

How to get to the Warner Brothers Studio Tour London

What many people don’t realize is that the Studio Tour isn’t actually in downtown London… It’s actually a decent bit away. That being said, the Studio Tour website has some incredible resources for how to get to the tour. You can find that information here. We used these resources for planning out our trip but ended up driving to the tour because there was a train strike during the time we visited plus we had very limited time to do everything before having to catch an overnight train to Scotland.

What was our overall review of the tour?

Overall, we had the most wonderful time at the Warner Brothers Studio Tour in London. I can’t wait to come back during a different season and experience even more MAGIC!

XOXO

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