The tour features the actual sets used for filming. You can explore the Gryffindor Common Room, Dumbledore’s Office, and the Forbidden Forest. The most recent additions include the towering marble pillars of Gringotts Wizarding Bank and Professor Sprout’s Greenhouse.
⚠️ Crucial booking tip
Tickets cannot be purchased on-site at Leavesden. All tickets must be booked online in advance with assigned time slots.
Why is the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London a must-visit attraction?
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London is more than just a museum; it is a pilgrimage for anyone who has ever dreamed of receiving a Hogwarts letter. Unlike a theme park with rides, this is a behind-the-scenes masterclass in filmmaking. You aren't just looking at replicas; you are walking on the actual York stone floor of the Great Hall and standing inches away from the authentic costumes worn by Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint.
You can smell the Butterbeer in the Backlot, feel the scale of the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9¾, and witness the mechanical genius behind the animatronic Buckbeak. Whether you are a die-hard "Potterhead" or a cinema enthusiast, the sheer level of detail, from the hand-knitted Weasley Christmas jumpers to the thousands of hand-painted wands in the Ollivanders tribute room, is staggering. It offers a rare, transparent look at the visual effects, creature shop secrets, and architectural blueprints that turned J.K. Rowling’s literary imagination into a tangible cinematic reality.
What to see at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London?
Discover Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter
Highlights of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
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The Great Hall
Step onto the original York stone floor of the iconic Great Hall, home to authentic costumes and long dining tables.
Forbidden Forest
Traverse the misty Forbidden Forest, filled with 12-foot-tall trees and a massive animatronic Aragog hidden within the deep shadows.
Platform 9¾
Board the original Hogwarts Express steam engine and pose with a luggage trolley as it "disappears" through the platform wall.
Gringotts Wizarding Bank
Marvel at the towering marble pillars and crystal chandeliers of Gringotts, featuring the Lestrange vault and a scorched gallery.
Hogwarts Castle model
Gaze at the breathtaking 1:24 scale model of Hogwarts, used for every aerial shot throughout the entire film series.
Diagon Alley
Wander past Ollivanders and Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes on the actual cobblestoned street that served as the wizarding shopping hub.
Professor Sprout's Greenhouse
Step into the herbology classroom and pull a screaming Mandrake from its pot in this interactive fan-favourite set.
Potions Classroom
Explore the dark, atmospheric classroom filled with 500 hand-labelled jars containing everything from dried herbs to baked animal bones.
Professor Dumbledore's Office
View the Sword of Gryffindor and the Pensieve inside the Headmaster’s circular office, surrounded by hundreds of hand-bound books.
Ministry of Magic
Marvel at the massive "Magic is Might" statue and the intricate, hand-painted tiles of the sprawling underground wizarding government hub.
Planning your visit: Location & getting there
The Studio Tour is located in Leavesden, near Watford. Since direct public transport requires multiple train and bus connections, the most popular and hassle-free way to visit is via round-trip luxury coach transfers departing directly from Central London (Victoria or King’s Cross).
Brief history of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
The site at Leavesden was originally an aircraft factory and airfield during WWII before being converted into a film studio in 1994. For over a decade, it served as the production home for all eight Harry Potter films. As filming wrapped on The Deathly Hallows – Part 2 in 2010, the production team realised they had an immense archive of preserved sets and props.
Rather than striking the sets, Warner Bros. decided to preserve them permanently. The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter officially opened its doors to the public on March 31, 2012. Since then, the tour has undergone massive expansions, including the 2015 addition of the Hogwarts Express and the 2019 opening of Gringotts Wizarding Bank, ensuring the magic remains fresh for returning visitors.
Who built the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London?
The tour was designed and produced by the Thinkwell Group in close collaboration with the original filmmakers, including Oscar-winning Production Designer Stuart Craig. By involving the actual crew who built the film sets, the tour maintains an unparalleled level of authenticity, ensuring every prop and light fixture is placed exactly as it was during production.
Architecture of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
Frequently asked questions about Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
Yes! It is the only place in the world where you can walk through the actual original film sets, view thousands of authentic costumes and props, and taste authentic Butterbeer.
No, all tickets must be purchased online in advance. Tickets are time-slotted and sell out quickly, especially during weekends and holidays.
The average visit lasts between 3.5 and 4 hours, though guests are welcome to explore at their own pace once inside.
The experience is primarily self-guided, allowing you to immerse yourself in the details that interest you most. While the journey begins with a brief guided introduction and a short cinema film, you are free to explore the rest of the studios independently.
Most of the tour is indoors and climate-controlled. However, the Backlot is an outdoor area where you can see the Knight Bus, 4 Privet Drive, the Hogwarts Bridge, and a section of the wizarding ruins.
Yes, almost everything you see is a genuine artefact from the film series. The tour features the actual sets, hand-crafted props, and original costumes that were used by the cast and crew during the decade-long production of the Harry Potter films.
The Hogwarts Castle model is a viewing exhibit. It is a massive, highly detailed 1:24 scale model that you walk around rather than through, viewed from multiple levels to see every intricate detail.
You can try riding a broomstick or appearing in a flying car using green screen effects. The experience takes a few minutes, and you can purchase the footage afterwards.
Most are original, carefully preserved or rebuilt using the same materials and techniques by the actual film crew and designers.
The Warner Bros Studio Tour London is where the films were actually produced using controlled sets. London filming locations (like King's Cross or Leadenhall Market) are public sites used for exterior shots.
Visitors can explore a vast collection of original sets, including the Great Hall, Diagon Alley, and Gringotts Bank. You will also see thousands of authentic props, intricate costumes, and detailed exhibits on creature effects, special effects, and the Art Department's blueprints.
The tour follows a linear path. It begins with a cinema introduction and the Great Hall. Once you exit the Great Hall, you can explore the interior sets, the Backlot, and the final galleries at your own pace.
Don't miss the Art Department section. Look closely at the hand-designed labels on the cereal boxes in the Great Hall or the intricate "wanted" posters—the level of detail in the paper props is incredible.
Some staff have worked on the films or have direct connections to the production, especially during special events or tours with guest speakers.
Not at all. Even non-fans enjoy seeing how blockbuster films are made, especially the design, special effects, and behind-the-scenes craftsmanship.
