The train used for Platform 9 ¾ scenes is a real GWR 4900 Class locomotive named Olton Hall. It was repainted and renamed Hogwarts Express exclusively for the Harry Potter films.
Included with Warner Bros. Studio London tickets
Timings
RECOMMENDED DURATION
4 hours
Explore studio sets & attend the Triwizard event with round-trip hotel, train, or bus transfers.
Inclusions
Entry ticket to The Making of Harry Potter at Warner Bros. Studio Tour
Entry to the Triwizard Tournament experience (May 15–Sept 8)
Round trip transfers to the studios either via coach, train, or hotel pick up (as per option selected)
Additional Paid Upgrades:
Round-trip coach transfers from Victoria Station, Baker's Street, King's Cross, or near the British Museum
Round-trip train transfers between Euston and Watford Junction Station [Get directions] and then a shuttle service to the Studios
Hotel pick-up and drop-off from central London
Guided tour of Warner Bros. Studio
English-speaking guide
Small group of 8 or fewer people
Pair Warner Bros. Studio entry & a guided Oxford tour in one day, with roundtrip coach included.
Inclusions
Full-day tour of Oxford and Harry Potter™ Warner Bros. Studio
Guided walking tour of Oxford
Entry tickets to the Harry Potter™ Warner Bros. Studio
Round-trip coach transfers from Gloucester Road Tube Station
Enjoy round-trip train transfers with personal escort & a guided Studio visit in a small group.
Inclusions
Guided tour of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
Entry to The Making of Harry Potter™ at Warner Bros. Studio
Escort at the train station
Round-trip train transfers between Euston and Watford Junction Station [Get directions]
Shuttle bus from Watford Junction Station to the studio
Small group of 8 or fewer people
English-speaking guide
Visit three historic sites in the UK in just one day with round-trip coach transfers from London.
Inclusions
Full-day tour of Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, and Bath
Entry to Stonehenge
Round-trip AC coach transfers
Boarding from central London
Expert English, Spanish, Japanese, Portuguese, French, or Italian-speaking guide (as per option selected)
Audio guide in English, German, Spanish, French, Dutch, Italian, Ukrainian, Mandarin, Russian, Polish, Japanese, Korean, and Brazilian Portuguese at Stonehenge
Additional paid upgrades:
Entry to Windsor Castle
Entry to the Roman Baths
Exclusions
Enjoy direct hotel pick-up & a quieter, more personal Studio experience with a 16-people group.
Inclusions
Half-day tour of The Making of Harry Potter™ at Warner Bros. Studio
Entry to Harry Potter™ at Warner Bros. Studio
Round-trip hotel transfers from Central London
Shuttle and professional driver
Small group of max. 16 people
Exclusions
Inside Soundstage J at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, the Platform 9 ¾ set recreates the exact platform used for filming scenes from several Harry Potter movies. With the full-sized Hogwarts Express, period luggage, and the famous brick entrance, this set captured unforgettable moments from Harry’s first journey to Hogwarts and the emotional closing scene from the final film.
The recreated platform features the full Hogwarts Express engine and a section of track, with select carriages open for display. Inside, compartments are dressed with scene-specific props like the trolley snack cart and newspapers, reflecting moments such as Harry’s first journey or the Dementor encounter.
Next to the brick archway, a half-embedded luggage trolley appears mid-disappearance into the wall. This optical illusion recreates the look of students vanishing onto the platform. You can pose with it, mimicking Harry’s iconic run in the first film. It’s one of the most popular photo spots on the entire Studio Tour.
Scattered around the platform are small props that were either used on-screen or faithfully recreated. You’ll find trunks tagged with character names, owl cages, and striped scarves, all arranged as if students had just arrived. These items were carefully matched to each house and character during filming to maintain continuity between scenes.
The Platform 9 ¾ set replicates real British train stations with Victorian brickwork, iron pillars, and industrial lights. The team used references from King’s Cross and modernised the set over different films. The lighting design mimics natural daylight and steam glow, shifting across scenes to match the changing moods of the story.
Hanging from the beams, the red and gold Platform 9 ¾ sign is the same one seen in scenes across multiple films. The surrounding signage includes vintage-style train timetables and platform number signs. These were printed on weathered boards by the production to give the platform an aged, lived-in feel that matched the magical world.
No, the Hogwarts Express is stationary. Movement in the films was created with special effects and simulated backdrops. Visitors can view the train up close but it doesn’t operate.
You can walk through a few open carriages and view compartments from the doorway, but sitting inside is not permitted to preserve the sets and props.
Each compartment is dressed to reflect a different moment in the series, such as the Dementor attack or first-year journey. Staff are on hand to explain the scenes if you’re unsure.
Yes, the digital guide includes dedicated narration and behind-the-scenes info about this set, including design choices and filming techniques used on the train and platform.
Many scenes from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 were filmed on the replica set, including farewells and other character interactions on the platform.
Occasional steam puffs may startle younger visitors, but there are no loud audio effects. The atmosphere is designed to be immersive without being overwhelming.
The nearest restrooms are located just before the Backlot Café, which appears a few minutes before you reach the platform set.
No, the Platform 9 ¾ set is part of the full Studio Tour experience and cannot be accessed on its own without a general admission ticket.
