How to plan a Harry Potter tour in London?

Posted by Elena D.

26.12.2022

People who love Harry Potter and the movie franchise are so happy to learn that London offers an exciting tour for them. Do you think it's the right kind of adventure for you? Many say that it's one of the things worth seeing, even if you aren't a Harry Potter fan. The ultimate studio experience is based in London, but you can find similar tours in different cities. We highly recommend considering Scotland as an option, too, especially if you plan to stay in the UK for a few weeks or over a month.

If you want to extend your experience to the Harry Potter Scotland tour, you'll need to consider travelling long distances and having a comfortable arrival. Knowing that Harry Potter movies were filmed in the UK and Ireland, you have more than one location to visit. The most obvious one is the Warner Bros film studio in London, but many scenes were filmed in Wales, southern England, and the breathtaking nature of Scotland.

Warner Bros studio always suggests you book your tickets on time. The Harry Potter tour is always in high demand, and they must plan the schedule carefully. If you want to book on short notice, you may find the preferred dates sold out.

But is there a perfect way to plan a Harry Potter tour? Let's give you some tips on how to do that:

1. Visit the Warner Bros Studio for a Harry Potter Tour

Many movie scenes were filmed on sets in nature, but a significant part of the movie was made in this particular studio. So, the Harry Potter studio tour is the most natural way to start your experience, especially if you arrive in London.

What to expect in these studios?

The official name of the tour is Warner Bros Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter. It's practically an exhibition of all the anticipated movie scenes and everything that reminds us of Harry Potter, Ron, Hermione, other wizards, and even Muggles.

Once you enter the studio, you get a passport and receive stamps to prove you were on a Harry Potter tour to explore J.K. Rowling's fantasy world. Adults can easily explore the studio alone, using the premium digital guide, enter the Great Hall, and wait for the Hogwarts train at Platform 9 and 3/4.

Don't forget to wander around Diagon Alley, visit Dumbledore's Office, or even have some tea with the Umbridge's kitty ornaments. You will recognize so many scenes and even book details, while the polite stuff is always there to show you the next stage of your Harry Potter tour. Just a reminder of what we said at the beginning. Try to book your Harry Potter studio tour tickets as early as possible, so you can plan the whole experience on time.

2. Mix Yourself an Afternoon Tea

The wizarding world is known for different potions made under the eye of Severus Snape. Surely, no one can tell you how to make a Polyjuice Potion or Felix Felicis, but you can visit the Cutter & Squidge Potion Room for an ultimate potion lesson.

You don't need advanced chemistry to create an exceptional cup of tea, but the experience is on the highest level in this bar. And we are sure that a nice tea is exactly what you need after the Harry Potter studios tour, especially during the cold months.

The Cutter & Squidge bar is located in Soho, London, and you can choose if you want to reserve your spot at 12 pm, 3 pm, or 6 pm. Surely, you have to book in advance, because the number of spots is quite limited. And don't worry, you will get delicious pastries as an addition to your magical tea.

3. Check When "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" Plays in Theatres

Harry Potter and the Cursed Chold cinema.

The "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" happens 19 years after the original timeline. It's a popular theatre play, but the original cast doesn't play their recognizable roles. Instead, talented actors are hired to play our favourite characters. Many fans hope that this franchise addition will eventually motivate Warner Bros to film a new movie.

Even though it's not mandatory to attend the play during your Harry Potter London tour, you should at least consider planning it and see if you have time for that. Some fans don't approve of the "Cursed Child" part because it's outside the known Harry Potter universe, but we suggest watching the play anyway.

4. London Filming Locations

As we said, Harry Potter was filmed in many real-life locations around the UK. For your Harry Potter tour London experience, you can visit the Westminster Tube Station, the Lambeth Bridge, Millennium Bridge, and St Paul's Cathedral.

You can walk through the Leadenhall Market and even visit the Australia House. If you visit Claremont Square, you will get the impression you already know this place. And the King's Cross Station has a photographic spot between platforms 9 and 10, for obvious reasons.

We won't give you any hints about what's hidden in the mentioned locations. The real Wizarding World fans will recognize them immediately. So, get ready for a tour of Harry Potter world because London and the whole UK have plenty to offer.

5. Spend a Night in a Harry Potter Themed Hotel

The Georgian House Hotel Wizard Chambers is another way to enjoy your UK Harry Potter tour and make your London experience really special. When we say this hotel is magical, we mean that. Any chamber can fit two to six visitors. We recommend booking a bigger room for families. The rooms remind of Harry Potter chambers, and the hotel's interior mimics Hogwarts Castle.

The best thing is that the menu consists of classic meals and magical treats for the kids. But don't mind ordering them even if you are an adult. Everyone deserves a nice plate of wizard breakfast, no matter their age.

6. Add Scotland to Your Harry Potter Bucket List

We already mentioned that Scotland should be a part of your planned Harry Potter tour. You will need a bus, train or even a long-distance chauffeur service to get there. A flight can be the most convenient option for those on a short trip. We recommend using private chauffeuring because you can explore so many beautiful spots between London and Edinburgh. It's an almost 8-hour ride (by car), so ensure you split the trip into two parts. If you decide to take a train, that will shorten your travelling time by three hours. The flights will take you about one and a half hours, so ensure you plan the trip smartly.

What do you get in Edinburgh?

As a part of the Harry Potter Edinburgh tour, you can visit the popular filming location. There are 13 stops, a guide, and a map you can follow. This tour is also known as the Harry Potter Edinburgh trail, and if you want, you can get audio guidance and GPS instructions

The first spot is the Dog House, where you can order Butterbeer, and then you can head to the Spoon bar. This location was once owned by Rowling's brother. As you suppose, it's one of the places where she assembled the story of the boy who lived.

The National Museum of Scotland is also important because Rowling got the inspiration for Ron's wizard chess there. The Elephant House is another bar where Rowling spent her time while writing. They consider themselves the birthplace of Harry Potter.

And if you visit the Greyfriars Kirkyard, you will find an interesting memorial stone belonging to Thomas Riddel. You see the similarities, right? You can even find memorials for the poet William McGonagall and a woman named Elizabeth Moodie. The Museum Context is dedicated to Harry Potter completely because Edinburgh is proud of its status as Harry's birthplace. You seem to have plenty of things to do during your Harry Potter Scotland tour, so ensure you plan it on time.

How Long is the Harry Potter Tour?

You aren't really limited on how long you can stay in one spot or another. Usually, you can complete the Harry Potter tour Edinburgh in a few hours, as well as the Warner Bros Harry Potter studio tour. You can even explore more options around the UK and stay as long as needed.

Can Everyone Enjoy the Harry Potter tour?

Every fan or Muggle can enjoy any Harry Potter UK experience. It's entertaining, and people even get inspired to watch movies or read books. You only have to book your tickets on time and respect the Warner Bros Studios schedule, so you won't miss any interesting spots.

If you aren't really a fan, we still recommend taking at least the studio's Harry Potter tour and seeing what London has to offer. We are sure you will change your mind (and heart) and give the Wizarding World a chance, no matter your current age.

Final Thoughts

If you plan on staying more than one month in the United Kingdom, you have enough time to plan a UK Harry Potter tour. You can use the ideas from this blog post or conduct your research and extend the overall experience to Wales and Ireland.

We suggest you also include the transfer service plans so you can adjust the expenses and plan your time wisely. This way, you won't miss any of the exciting Harry Potter tour spots around the UK. SIMBER Chauffeur Services can help you plan any complex travel requirements be it an airport transfer, a chauffeur for the day or even a tour, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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