Harry Potter Studio Tours - 2027

 Tickets are now available through December, 2027. This is one of our favorite experiences when you've overloaded on London. It does require a bit of planning, but it's not difficult. If you've visited London a time or two and are a fan of things Harry Potter, this should be in your wheelhouse.

Read my previous post for fairly detailed instructions on how to get to Watford Junction/Leavesden from London.

Harry Potter 25th Anniversary

 

On May 7th Warner Brothers Studios - Leavesden, will introduce a new program celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the release of Harry Potter and the Philosipher's Stone.

Enjoy a new show explaining the secrets of sound effects, as well as demonstrations of the magic used to film quiddich matches and other flying scenes in the series. You'll also be able to experience Wizard's Chess on the same scale that Harry, Ron, and Hermione played before Quirrel met his demise.

As I've previously reported, this tour is one of the best entertainment-based presentations I've ever experienced. If you have plans to be anywhere close to the metro London area, I strongly suggest making time to catch a train to Watford Junction to visit the studios at Leavesden.

Reminder - tickets must be booked prior to your arrival!

Full details on the First Year at Hogwarts can be found here.

More for Harry Potter Fans

WB Studio Tours in Leavesden (Watford Junction) have announced a new offering for fans of Harry, Ron, Hermione, et al. Currently planned for a limited run, beginning the end of March, 2026 and going through mid-April. Guests who choose this option participate in a behind-the-scenes tour featuring costume design and hands-on creative activities in addition to the studio tour. Guests also receive a collectible enamel-pin badge commemorating their participation.

Workshops are at 15:00 on the days offered, and access to pre-sale registration has just opened.

Check out the Mastering the Magic web page for complete details.

Unless the program is extended I'll unfortunately not be able to enjoy this activity, so let me know what you think.

Heading to New York

This is my first attempt at blogging a trip in (nearly) real-time, so we'll see how it goes!

November 4, 2025

The vagaries of advanced purchase tickets once again resulted in a change in our flight time the day before departure. The change probably happened long before, but American didn't alert us until about 36 hours before departure. Yet another reason to allow yourself a bit of extra time, our schedule for the day should remain intact. I notified the transfer service of the ~30 minute delay when they sent their confirmation text in case they hadn't yet reviewed the airline schedule. Our eldest picked us up at the appointed time and, other than navigating the extensive construction project at our local airport (new parking deck, terminal curb expansion, hotel, and rental car facility, among who knows what else) everything ran smoothly. Check-in was seamless, as was our TSA experience (we're thankful that they're still working during the shutdown.)

Once again we boarded a flight with seats up-front and no room in the overhead bins. Our carry-ons all fit comfortably in a any overhead, but it seems that many have transitioned to bags that only fit sideways on regional jets, leaving about 1/3 of the space un-usable. Between crew using this space and the ill-fitting bags of others it's a bit annoying. The weather was windy in New York, forcing LaGuardia down to a single runway, forcing us to be held on the ground for departure.

Our flight took off exactly on-time and, after an uneventful trip with excellent cabin service, arrived on-time. Our driver was waiting, and I kept him informed of our progress as the trek from the gate to baggage claim in Terminal B was a bit longer than anticipated. Years ago the chaos of construction at LGA was a constant inconvenience as I flew in and out on a regular basis. I’ll be the first to say that the benefits were definitely worth the hassle. If you ever experienced the low ceilings, poor lighting, and cold-war era décor of the previous incarnation, the new version will leave you in awe. The natural light (even on an overcast day) with ceilings so high they don’t seem to exist, complemented by organic curves, provide a (dare I say) soothing experience that reduces the general stress of travel. Flow through the terminal is smooth and logical, and the transition from baggage claim to the arrivals curb and parking deck continues the theme. I can’t remember a more pleasant arrival in any airport, and I’ve been traveling by air for over 45 years. If Viktor Navorski had arrived at Terminal B, instead of JFK, on his quest to procure the autograph of Benny Golson he may have lost all desire to leave. When we made it to our luggage carousel the crowds had dispersed and our bags were the only ones remaining, making retrieval simple! We wheeled them out the door, where our driver was waiting less than 50 feet away. 

 Our driver from NYC Airports Limo was polite, helpful, and efficient – meeting expectations based on previous experience. The midafternoon trip to our Times Square hotel was uneventful, save one aggressive bicycle messenger who took exception to the bike lane transition from one side of the street to the other at an intersection. Arrival and unloading at the Home2Suites Times Square was smooth, quick, and effortless. Vehicle movement in Manhattan seems to have become smoother and less congested over the years. Perhaps the advent of ride share and pedi-cabs have reduced the number of vehicles on the streets, but that’s just a guess. 

Check in at the hotel (a property split between two Hilton brands, Home2Suites and Hampton Inn) was quick and painless, despite our anticipation based on the crowded lobby. Front desk staff were friendly while doing their utmost to keep things moving, given the afternoon rush of arrivals. We tapped our key, selected our floor, and waited at the appropriate elevator as directed by the digital keypad. While the efficiency of these systems for getting the lobby cleared is hard to refute, the return can be frustrating. Our room was clean and in immaculate repair, with a view of the Hard Rock just across 48th Street. I applied a well-known hack to the guest-hostile motion sensing thermostat to bring the room to a comfortable temperature as we performed our minimal unpacking before heading out for the evening. 

Leaving the hotel was a challenge. As efficient as the digital elevators are for clearing the lobby, they are exponentially worse at moving people from the floors to the lobby. We waited for over 15 minutes (and countless requests) as elevator after elevator arrived at our floor filled with housekeeping staff headed to the basement at the end of their shift. In the absence of dedicated staff/freight elevators for the property perhaps they should dedicate a single elevator (of the five or so) to staff use during shift change. This issue alone is enough to keep me from recommending the property, or from ever staying at this property in the future. The hotel is nice, the staff is convivial, but the inconvenience of the elevators at peak times is so outrageous as to erase everything positive that the hotel offers. 

Since we had tickets for the theater we searched for a dinner option that was convenient and likely to be predictable in length. (As much as we would have loved to indulge in an absolutely extravagant restaurant experience, it just wasn’t in the cards this trip.) If you’re a regular reader you know we’re fans of Burger & Lobster, having eaten at multiple locations in London over the years. We were excited to discover a location in Manhattan, and it was only a block from our theater! We had a reservation (which didn’t appear to be necessary at 5:00pm on a Tuesday) and were seated immediately. (At the risk of being redundant, allow me to reiterate how people react to simple politeness – the host was a bit stressed by the overly-demanding people in front of us, so we introduced ourselves with a smile, which immediately impacted his demeanor and put a smile on his face.) Our waiter introduced himself in fairly short order. Graham was friendly, engaging, and knowledgeable – yes, that’s his job, but he absolutely owned the job, he wasn’t just phoning it in by going through the motions. He didn’t talk to us, he conversed with us and made it a dining experience and not just eating a meal in a restaurant. If you visit and have the good fortune of being served by Graham you should have a great experience. On his suggestion we opted for the Connecticut Lobster Roll (warm) instead of the Traditional Lobster Roll (chilled) - and we were not disappointed! I’m an absolute sucker for the B&L fries, and thankfully Graham offered both salad and fries – saving me from an over-indulgence in fried carbs (yes, I ate the entire salad before starting on the fries or lobster roll.) The roll was delightful – with just a little extra garlic butter, of course. In an act of unprecedented willpower, I managed to leave about half of my fries – preventing future digestive discomfort. We departed in ample time to take a leisurely walk to the theater. 

With one evening to go to the theater we chose to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. My comments will be abbreviated and focused in order to avoid spoilers. A co-worker saw the production last year on his annual Broadway pilgrimage and gave it high marks without spoiling it for me, and I appreciate his efforts to be enthusiastic while preserving the mystery of the story for me. This is the first non-musical I’ve seen in many years, forcing me to re-focus my point of view. The acting was solid across the board. Some performers were excellent, the effects were amazing (rising to the level of shocking at some points) costuming was spot-on and the stagecraft and transitions were a combination of innovative and elegant. The storyline is intricately woven with the original series of books/movies, and I suggest that you have more than a passing familiarity with them before seeing the play. Simply knowing who Harry Potter is won’t provide the degree of understanding required for maximum enjoyment. The theater itself is an immersive experience, from the lobby to the stage. Theater staff are friendly and engaging, just put your cell phones away when asked. I purchased tickets using the TodayTix app and found the process to be seamless. Our orchestra seats were just at $100 each, which I considered fair based on an advanced purchase. (You can find seats for a fraction of that if you are flexible in your timing and seat preference.) The last Broadway show we attended was about 12 years ago, and tickets in the balcony for that production were not significantly less expensive. 

As we exited the theater we checked our phones and discovered that Zohran Mamdani had been elected Mayor of NYC. As we strolled through Times Square we didn’t see a single inflatable frog, dinosaur, nor unicorn. So much for the downfall of civilization previously predicted by his opponents.

We enjoyed our brief stay in the city, and it has fueled our desire to return for a longer visit sooner rather than later.

Breakfast at Hogwarts!

Just received email from the WB Studio Tour in Leavesden. If you're interested tickets go on sale July 19! (click link below photo for full details)

Warner Brothers Studio Tour - Breakfast at Hogwarts

Enjoy a magical Sunday morning this summer with 'Breakfast at Hogwarts'.

Start your day with an exclusive breakfast reception in the iconic Great Hall. Lined with Cheeri-Owls and Pixie Puffs, the Great Hall trestle tables will be specially dressed for breakfast as they were in the magical film series.

After enjoying a selection of breakfast canapes, fresh pastries, fruit smoothies and bucks fizz, you will be joined in the Great Hall by staff members dressed in full Hogwarts uniforms for a complimentary photograph at the breakfast table.

You'll also have the chance to meet the award-winning filmmakers who helped bring the world of Harry Potter to life on-screen. Oscar winning Special Effects Supervisor, John Richardson, will demonstrate how the magnificent Chamber of Secrets door was created and Costume Designer, Laurent Guinci, will help you step into Professor Slughorn’s armchair suit for a unique photo opportunity.

Walk among the authentic sets and discover the behind the scenes secrets at the studios where it all began, ahead of the first tour of the day. Highlights include the Gryffindor common room, Dumbledore's office, the Weasley kitchen at The Burrow, the iconic Platform 9¾ that houses the original Hogwarts Express locomotive and, new for 2017, the Forbidden Forest.

Following a complimentary sample of Butterbeer in the Backlot Café, you will be able to step inside Harry Potter’s childhood home, number four Privet Drive, before wandering up the wizarding shopping street of Diagon Alley.

Breaking News

I just received email from the Harry Potter WB Studio Tour in Leavesden announcing another special event. In celebration of the 15th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (aka Harry Potter Finding the Philosopher's Stone) From July 22 through September 5 they are featuring a special "Making Of" program and the door to Number 4 Privet Drive will remain open as well. See Devil's Snare and learn how to make your very own troll snot, unicorn blood, and three-headed dog drool! You can find more details at this link on the WB Studio website.

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.

Breaking News!

I just received an email update from the WB Studio Tour in Leavesden. From May 27-June 6, for the first time, you'll be able to tour the Dursley's living room at Privet Drive. The tour doesn't appear in my reverse timeline for several more posts, but I wanted to post this now in case anyone is contemplating a visit sometime around the end of the month. The only portion of Privet Drive on the regular tour is the cupboard under the stairs, and that only gets passing glimpses as you weave your way thorough the queue at the beginning. Getting to the studio from London is fairly easy and the tour is a must-see for Harry Potter fans. You can read my most recent review over on Trip Advisor (including directions on how to get there) if you'd like to know more.