Hogwarts, or at least as close as you can get.

27 December, 2015

If you're a fan of Harry Potter then this is worth a visit. Admission is timed and space is limited (although not as limited as I'd like) so check the website and heed their instructions with respect to arrival and collecting your tickets. If you just show up you are likely to be disappointed.

This was our second visit, and that alone should tell you quite a bit. We did have additional family with us who hadn't visited before, so that contributed to the decision- making process, but we also knew things would be decorated for the holidays. Since we first visited in spring of 2014 they have added several new sections, including the Hogwarts Express. If you're a Harry Potter fan then there is no room for debate, visiting the studio is a moral imperative. Tickets are a bit pricey, but definitely represent a good value overall with the new spaces as it helps significantly with the crowd issues we experienced our first visit. You can photograph practically everything and other than the initial section of the tour (which I won't reveal here) you are free to move around the exhibits at-will.

Getting there is pretty simple for tourists visiting London.  First, take a train from Euston to Watford Junction. (Euston is served by the Northern and Victoria lines of the Underground as well as the Overground and Bus Routes 10, 59, 73, and 390) Trains depart on a fairly frequent schedule and some have Watford Junction as their first stop, others make several stops before Watford Jct, so the trip can take as little as 20 minutes or nearly 40 minutes. The same thing happens on the return. Just read the train schedule (or ask a staff member) to pick the train that suits your plans. If you have 3 or more in your party ask for a group ticket, you'll usually see significant savings. A same-day return ticket for a party of three was just over £20 and a party of six was under £40.

When you arrive at Watford Junction you'll find double-decker Harry Potter buses waiting to take you to the studio. It's £2 per person, round trip (the best value you're likely to find in all of England) and the buses are new and spotless. Unfortunately, they're not triple-deckers like the Night Bus and Ernie won't be driving nor will you find Stan Shunpike working as conductor.

When you arrive the outside of the sound stage will likely inspire you to stop for photos, as will the chess pieces sitting out front. (If they don't you may want to ask yourself why you're there in the first place and see if you can sell your ticket to someone else.) Look for the self-service kiosks just to the right of the entrance door and collect your tickets if you don't already have them. The audio guide has some neat information, but unless you have hours and hours and are willing to ignore the rest of your group for the duration of your tour I don't advise renting one, there's plenty to experience without it.

I won't go in to too many details of the tour itself because I don't want to introduce spoilers. Hopefully this explains my reserved selection of photos. If you want to know if a specific item is included on the tour send me a private message and I'll be glad to share details privately.


The tour begins with a short video presentation, followed by a brief guided section. After that you're free to wander through a self-guided tour of various sets, props, costumes and hair/makeup examples. All the movies are well-represented and many major sets are included, including the boys' dormitory, Dumbledore's office, Snape's dungeon, Hagrid's cabin and the Weasley kitchen. You get to walk up Diagon Alley and see all manner of special effects as well as stand next to the gates of Hogwarts. There are numerous interactive displays and video presentations to explain how much of the on-screen magic was produced and give a peek behind the cameras during production. You will be stunned again and again as you realize how well the real world and the CGI world were merged in the movies. I found the level of detail they went to when decorating the sets absolutely staggering. If you need a short break there are benches placed throughout the first part of the tour so you can rest if needed.

About halfway through the tour you can purchase a glass of Butterbeer - look for the refreshment stand to the right (just in front of #4 Privet Drive) as the lines tend to be shorter/non-existent. I recommend AGAINST buying one for each member of your party (at least at first) as some people don't find it appetizing (think cream soda with butterscotch foam on top) There are tables if you want to have a snack before continuing.

As is the case with most things, the tour ends at the gift shop. 😉  The selection of products offered is overwhelming, so shop carefully (especially if you have to consider luggage allowances for a flight home.)

Dinner was an intended indulgence that ended up being a bit of a disappointment. My first experience with Nobu was in New York City almost 20 years ago and it was absolutely incredible. Every single thing we ordered was among the best food I've ever eaten. I've been to Nobu NYC a couple of times in the years since and had nearly identical experiences each time. If you were a fan of the original Iron Chef America series you may recall Iron Chef Japan, Masaharu Morimoto. While he opened his first eponymous restaurant in Philadelphia in 2001 he was head chef at Nobu prior to that. So, knowing that my family would enjoy the same, I booked a table weeks in advance at Nobu Berkeley Square. 

While the service and food were good, they were not up to the standard of what I've

experienced at both Nobu  and Morimoto in Philadelphia over the years. Everything was prepared well and the quality of the ingredients were certainly of a high caliber, but it kind of fizzled by comparison. This is a restaurant that should produce a steady stream of superlatives with every dish and it falls well short of that mark. The miso-
glazed black cod was probably the best dish overall and the only dish that I'd characterize as memorable, but you don't come to a restaurant like this to be favorably impressed by a single dish. In summary, if you're looking for a memorable dining experience in London this is not it. If you're looking to be absolutely amazed by some of the best Japanese cuisine you can find in the Western world then stick to Nobu and Next Door Nobu in New York or Morimoto in Philadelphia. Nobu Berekely Square just does not provide the experience that their price demands.