The second half of the Warner Bros Harry Potter Studio Tour begins outside where you can purchase yourself a nice cold Butter Beer. It’s a nice break to all the costumes and props you see in the first half of the tour.
In this outdoor area you can either sit or stand as you drink your Butter Beer, a delightful and really creamy version of what we’d consider a cream soda in America. For the Butter Beer and a souvenir cup, you’re looking at spending 5 pounds. Just to let you know, be sure to carry a full wallet with you. The Harry Potter experience is a lot like Disney World, fun and memorable but not necessarily cheap.
In the outdoor area you will also see the double-decker bus from the film, Privet Drive where Harry Potter was born, Tom Riddle’s grave, and the creaky bridge where Harry, Hermione, and Ron had many a scenes. You can walk across the bridge.
Another fun part of the tour is the walk down Diagon Alley, with all its details and life-sized store fronts. Here you will see familiar businesses such as Gringotts Bank, Weasleys’ candy shop, Flourish & Blott’s, and Ollivander’s wand shop.
There are dozens of other rooms and sets on the tour that you’ll enjoy but one of the most impressive and beyond mention, was the large-scale model of Hogwarts with all its intricate details. The model is surrounded by screens where you can look at it from all different angles and zooms. The model is absolutely phenomenal and a testament to the highly skilled artisans that worked on the film.
All in all, the Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour, from the first half of the tour to the second, was a great experience and one I’d gladly do all over again – this time with kids in tow. A well-furnished gift shop sits at the end of the tour, complete with all types of paraphernalia from the film ranging from cloaks to diaries to Lego sets to cups.
A café and Starbucks bid you farewell as you wait to catch a double-decker Harry Potter bus back to the Watford Junction tube station. You can also purchase a package deal with a tour bus company, consisting of the studio tour and a private bus to and from central London. If you go this route, it’s important to note that you only have 3.25 hours at the studio. A convenient option for families, it may feel a bit limiting to single visitors or those traveling without kids who may want to stay at the studio for as long as they desire.
The next time you’re in London, either by yourself or with your family, you should definitely put the Harry Potter Studio tour at the top of your list. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience, something we don’t quite have in America – it’s an experience that should not be missed. If you’d like to see more pictures from the tour, check out this slide show which can also be easily found under our Media Gallery on the menu bar. Enjoy!
