What to Expect from Warner Bros Studio London in 2026? (Honest Review!)
If you’re a Harry Potter fan, visiting the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, The Making of Harry Potter is probably already high on your bucket list. But before you book your tickets, you might be wondering… is it actually worth it?
We recently visited the studios ourselves to see what the experience is really like, from stepping inside the Great Hall and wandering through Diagon Alley, to discovering how the films were brought to life behind the scenes.
In this honest review, we’ll share exactly what to expect, what surprised us, and whether the Warner Bros Studio Tour London truly lives up to the hype, especially if you’re travelling all the way to visit.
What to Expect at Warner Bros Studio Tour London
One thing Carol had to remind me several times before visiting was that the Harry Potter studio isn’t a theme park. Instead, the experience is all about the real film sets, props, costumes, and visual effects used in the Harry Potter movies, and honestly, that’s exactly what makes the studio tour so special.
What we really liked about the studio tour is that it’s completely self-guided. That means you can explore everything at your own pace, which is great, because if it were up to Carol, we probably would’ve spent the entire day there.
This works perfectly if you’re a big Harry Potter fan, because you can take your time exploring the sets, observing the props up close, reading the behind-the-scenes stories, and watching the mini documentaries throughout the studios without feeling rushed.
The Biggest Sets at Warner Bros Studio Tour London
One of our favourite parts of visiting the studio was immersing ourselves in some of the largest sets used in the films: the Great Hall, the Forbidden Forest, Platform 9¾ with the Hogwarts Express, Gringotts Wizarding Bank, and, of course, Diagon Alley. Seeing these places up close felt surreal, especially Gringotts Wizarding Bank, which was easily our favourite of the lot.
Although the tour includes plenty of interactive features, props, and behind-the-scenes displays, stepping into these sets is a completely different experience. For a moment, it genuinely felt like we were about to start casting spells ourselves. The level of detail is incredible, and you quickly realise how much craftsmanship went into building the wizarding world.
Hogwarts Castle miniature
We also have to give an honorary mention to the Hogwarts Castle, which appears at the very end of the tour. Technically, it isn’t a full set like the others, as it’s a detailed miniature model rather than a walk-through location. But what makes it fascinating is that this model was actually used to film the exterior shots in the movies, meaning the Hogwarts you see on screen is the same one displayed in the studio.
How Long Does the Warner Bros Studio Tour London Take?
Carol trying the famous Butterbeer
The official website suggests allowing around three to four hours for the experience, and that’s actually how long we spent exploring the studio. If you’re visiting with kids, it may end up being more of a full-day activity, as there are plenty of things to see and do throughout the tour.
There’s also a café halfway through the tour, where we stopped to try the famous Butterbeer.
Food at the cafés can be a bit pricey and, in our opinion, not the highlight of the experience. We’d recommend bringing your own snacks or lunch (which is allowed by Warner Bros.), and then treating yourself to a Butterbeer 🍻 instead, since that’s definitely a must-try while you’re there.
Warner Bros Studio Tour London Tickets and Prices
Because it’s such a popular attraction near London, tickets often sell out weeks in advance, especially during weekends and holidays.
You can buy tickets directly from the official website or through trusted third-party platforms, like GetYourGuide, which is actually what we recommend if you’re looking for better prices.
When doing our research, we realised that for the same ticket, transport option, and overall experience, the official Warner Bros ticket was around £15 more expensive than the tickets we ended up purchasing.
Funnily enough, the transport company Warner Bros uses for their London departures is the same company that sells cheaper tickets independently.
What’s included in the ticket we purchased?
Return bus from London on a Harry Potter-branded bus.
Studio entry.
Access to authentic sets, costumes and props from all eight Harry Potter films.
Access to Studio Cafe.
Tips When Visiting Warner Bros Studio Tour London
Book tickets early.
Plan for transport time.
Grab a Harry Potter activity passport from the arrival hall.
Use the free cloakroom behind the reception desk.
If it’s your birthday, ensure to let the reception desk know for a secret gift.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments section. Otherwise, check below for more London blogs 🩵
