9 Things to Expect at the Harry Potter Studio Tour

It's Out of the Way

When you take the Harry Potter Studio Tour, make sure to leave plenty of room in your schedule for getting there. Located 20 miles north of London in the town of Leavesden, it’s not somewhere you can just "pop by." The good news is that it’s very easy to take public transportation: Take the Tube to Euston Station and from there you can switch to another train to arrive at Watford Junction and hop on one of the many inexpensive shuttle buses that'll take you directly to the studio. Alternatively, you can book your tour through a company that offers round-trip transportation from London, like this Harry Potter Studio Tour from Viator.

However, if you know that you want to devote the whole day to the tour, especially if you want to arrive early to avoid the crowds, book a hotel in the nearby town of Watford. This is also a great opportunity to get a small taste of the English countryside and break away from the urban sprawl of London. Less than a 10-minute drive from the studio, The Grove is a fantastic option for families looking for a picturesque experience. Located on a 300-acre estate, the hotel offers plenty to entertain parents and children after the tour.

It’s More Like a Museum Than a Tour

Although it’s called a tour and you need to book your ticket for a particular timeslot, the studio is really more like a museum. After watching an introductory film with others in your ticketed timeslot, you enter together through the doors of the Great Hall and then you’re on your own, free to explore.

Even on a slow day, you can see for yourself just how many people are touched by the Harry Potter series, meaning it'll be very crowded. Remember to hang back at the beginning of the tour, so you separate yourself from the initial rush of people or if you’re really worried about the crowds, select an earlier timeslot. Don’t forget you can stay in the Harry Potter Studio tour for as long as you want, so don’t be afraid to take all the time you need.

Stop and Observe the Details

The Harry Potter Studio tour should definitely not be rushed and if your schedule can swing it, make sure to take in every little detail, because it's pretty impressive. From the smallest prop to the enormous sets, everything made for the Harry Potter movies was made with a painstakingly-close attention to detail, which goes under-appreciated on the big screen. While on the tour, you’ll be able to get a closer look at things like the etchings on the Goblet of Fire and every stitch on the beautifully embroidered costumes.

You’ll See Things You Won’t Recognize

If you’re a big Harry Potter fan, you’ll be delighted when you see props from some of the film’s most memorable moments, like the Sorcerer’s Stone or the seven cursed horcruxes. But there are plenty of props you might not remember from the movies, because they never made it into the final cut. From custom-built furniture to troll statues that were used as stand-ins for digital versions, there are plenty of surprises in store to delight even the most studious Potterhead.

The Movie Magic Will Be Dispelled

It might not be real magic, but the technology that goes into creating the world of Harry Potter is still extraordinary. Throughout the studio, you’ll see the intricate masks that gave the Gringotts goblins their signature scowls and the digital techniques that brought Dobby and all the other fantastic beasts to life.

You'll Get to Make the Movie Magic

This experience is incredibly interactive and there are plenty of opportunities to jump right into the films: You can ride a broomstick in front of a green screen or take part in some of the free activities, like learning the choreography for a magic duel or using special sensors to trigger a magical reaction onset. The tour is immersive and interactive, especially the brand new Forbidden Forest section—just be warned, there's a hairy special effects surprise.

You’ll Have Many Photo Opportunities

Obviously you're going to want to take plenty of photos on the tour, and not only will there be plenty of opportunities, you'll be surprised at just how good they turn out. Unlike a traditional museum, the studio tour is a working movie studio and the lighting conditions are perfect for photography.

Look Out for Special Exhibitions

Every year, the studio switches things up with special features on props or characters, so make sure to look at the calendar of events before you plan your trip. Some features repeat, such as the 'Dark Arts' exhibit that takes place between October and November, followed by 'Hogwarts in the Snow', where you can see the sets dressed up for the holiday season.

This year is a particularly exciting time to visit, since the opening of the permanent Forbidden Forest expansion. You enter through the dimly lit forest surrounded by huge trees specially recreated for the exhibition. There are also encounters with plenty of magical creatures, including the enormous Aragog, and you can learn about the techniques used to create a realistic forest on a movie set.

You Might Get Emotional

Take a deep breath. You’ve finally made it to Hogwarts. It might hit you when you first walk through the doors of the Great Hall or it might just be the theme music taking you back through every emotional high and low of all eight movies. The tour has that effect on a lot of people, so there’s no need to feel ashamed if you get a little teary-eyed. For me, it was approaching the giant model of Hogwarts Castle and studying its intricate details that I shed a few tears myself.