Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – the Making of Harry Potter

The Harry Potter film series made Leavesden its home for more than ten years. As the books were still being released while the films were being made, the production crew saved many of the iconic sets, props and costumes that were created especially for the films – just in case they were ever needed later on in the series.

Once filming wrapped on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 in 2010, the production crew were left with a treasure trove of thousands of intricate and beautifully-made artefacts, many of which wouldn’t have been saved on a typical production.

The team behind Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter wanted to preserve and showcase these iconic props, costumes and sets so that Harry Potter fans could experience the magic of filmmaking first-hand. Many of the original cast and crew returned to reassemble the sets and record their memories from filming, and on 31st March 2012, the Studio Tour opened its doors.

Set adjacent to the working film studios where all eight Harry Potter films were made, the Studio Tour offers visitors the unique opportunity to explore two soundstages and a backlot filled with original sets, animatronic creatures and breathtaking special effects.

Take your students out of the classroom to the filmmaking home of the Harry Potter film series. Spend a spellbinding day outside of the classroom by stepping onto authentic sets at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London. Board the original Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 ¾, take in the grandeur of Gringotts Wizarding Bank, all before wandering down Diagon Alley.

Inspire your students as they learn how their favourite subjects could lead them to a career in the creative industries. Lessons meet national curriculum learning objectives and exam board specifications.

Lessons are developed and delivered by qualified teachers, giving students the opportunity to view up-close the amazing and authentic props, costumes and craft used in the Harry Potter film series.

LOtC Quality Badge, Sandford Award

The Studio Tour has three sections – J Stage, the Backlot and K Stage.

You will enter J Stage through the Lobby. The flow of the Studio Tour is one way. The guided part of the Studio Tour takes place in the holding room, the cinema and the Great Hall. Once you leave the Great Hall, the Studio Tour is self-guided. There are staff members on hand to answer any questions you may have throughout the Studio Tour. In J Stage there is a free interactive green screen broomstick experience, where students will be entitled to a free digital download photograph of their experience. There is also an opportunity to buy a photograph at a preferential price for school groups, available on request.

Just over halfway through the Studio Tour is our exterior Backlot and Backlot café. After the Backlot you will enter K Stage which exits into our Studio Shop, where you will have the opportunity to purchase a wide array of merchandise. If you choose to have a lesson, you will be met by the Learning Team and escorted to our classroom prior to beginning your tour. Lessons are tailored for different Key Stages and are focused on 5 subject areas: English, Film & Media, Business, Art & Design and STEM.

We can accommodate a maximum of 55 people including adults and children in our classroom, with two classrooms available. Other than availability, there is no limit on group sizes for a self-guided visit.

Pre- and post-visit resources are provided for each lesson and a downloadable trail is available on our website.

There are lots of exciting photo opportunities throughout the attraction to ensure students take home an everlasting memory.

The taking of photographs and video footage with handheld cameras and mobile devices is allowed in most areas, apart from within the pre- show cinema and green screen areas.

Please note, filming with the use of tripods and other specialist photographic equipment (such as drones) is not permitted across the site, including in exterior areas such as the car park. Member of the press, camera crews and commercial photographers must contact the Studio Tour for further information ahead of their visit.

Risk assessment information is available to download from our website and free pre-visit tickets for two teachers are offered once a visit has been booked and paid for.

The Learning Team can be contacted at learning@wbstudiotour.co.uk

Schools pricing:

UK primary schools – £20 per pupil with a free teacher place per 5 pupils
UK secondary schools and UK colleges – £23 per student with a free teacher place per 10 students
Group pricing:
All other groups receive group pricing, check the Studio Tour website for further information.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London has a qualified Ambulance Technician and trained First Aiders on hand to assist with illness or injury. Teachers or students needing assistance can speak to any member of staff on site who will arrange help. AEDs are also available on-site.

Studio Tour shop
Food Hall – serving breakfast and lunch
Chocolate Frog café – serving sweet treats
Hub café – serving Starbucks drinks and bakery products
Backlot café – serving breakfast, lunch and Butterbeer
Sensory room
Changing Place

The Learning Team are all SEN-trained qualified teachers with experience of tailoring lessons to students’ needs.

The majority of the Studio Tour is suitable for wheelchairs but some areas can be difficult to navigate, this includes Diagon Alley’s cobbled street, the Great Hall’s slate floor, the Forbidden Forest’s spongy surface, and Privet Drive’s narrow doorway. The Knight Bus also has a short boarding platform which cannot be accessed by wheelchairs.

The Hogwarts Express™ is accessed via a short staircase and alternative access cannot be provided as it is an original set piece with a narrow corridor which is unsuitable for wheelchair users. However, a viewing carriage can be found at the end of the Hogwarts
Express.

Our green screen area provides visitors with two fully accessible photo opportunities, including the chance to fly a broomstick as members of the cast would have done during filming. Visitors must be able to transfer themselves on to a broomstick and seatbelts can be provided if required.

Accessible toilets and a Changing Place facility are available.
For further information please visit our website .

‘This is always such a magical trip and the lesson adds another layer of engagement and enjoyment for the children (and staff!). It is brilliantly done and absolutely fascinating.’ – KS2 teacher

‘Just brilliant, so important when design subjects are being cut in schools. [We] need to inspire the next generation of designers and makers.’ – KS3/4 teacher

‘Our children were thoroughly engaged and suitably spellbound!’ – KS2 teacher

‘This trip is always an enjoyable experience for our pupils. It is something that all children in our school look forward to’ – KS2 teacher

‘Best school trip I have ever done. Staff have been unbelievably helpful and incredible value for money’ – KS2 teacher.

Please check the website for current opening times.