So, the tricky thing for me writing this is to not spoil the surprises in store at Warner Bros Studios. For any fan of Harry Potter this is a fantastic trip worth every penny. The magic starts from the moment you arrive and the die-hard amongst you will notice that even the cones in the car park are shaped like sorting hats – a great attention to detail! From here on in we were wowed at every opportunity!
Your tour starts with a guide and a short film presentation. At this point anyone with a birthday is invited forward and without saying too much it’s worth having a birthday!!! From then on you are free to wander around at your own speed although there are many staff around to answer questions and impress with their Harry Potter knowledge. You visit various sets from the Harry Potter films and there are many displays of props, costumes and info on how they created such fantastic effects throughout the films. You can do an audio guide if you wish and for children there are lovely passports they take round, hunting for snitches and finding stamps.
There are loads of things to experience too – broom stick flying, wand training, how to work with a green screen and how to look as big as Hagrid! It was great fun for my 2 kids to dress up in robes and fly over Hogwarts. Ok, it was fun for us big kids too and that is what this place has in huge abundance – fun at every corner. Speaking of corners, try your hardest to go into the Forbidden
Forest on your own for waiting around the corner is the biggest (and scariest) surprise of them all. We went through this bit a few times and screamed every time!
This year new Goblet of Fire displays have been added and that’s the great thing about Warner Brother Studios they are constantly improving and adding to it as well as maintaining what is already there so each time you go there is more to experience, hence why my two daughters nag me every day to go back again. Apparently, the average time spent there is 3 and a half hours but we were there 6 so you really can make a day of this place. Our advice would be to bring a picnic or there is a café selling hot and cold food and most importantly the famous Butterbeer. £5 gets you the drink and a cup to take home with you!
Can’t write about a visit here without a mention of the Hogwart’s Express – simply wow, no other words! You’ll see what I mean when you vist!
The final bit of your journey takes you into a room with a model of Hogwarts – I won’t say anymore as I don’t want to spoil this for you but a friend told me in advance that it was spectacular and she wasn’t wrong. If ever you can feel the magic of Harry Potter then it’s in this room.
All in all, we think this is one of the best days out for all ages and good value for money. It’s not overcrowded so you can easily see all the displays and you don’t have to queue long for anything and even if you are in a queue you are surrounded by interesting things to see – they really have thought everything through.
I asked my 10 and 7 year old daughters what their favourite bits were. The eldest said all of it and the youngest said The Great Hall, The Dormitory, The Hogwart’s Express, Diagon Alley, Broomstick flying, Wand training, The Forbidden Forest…….I think she means all of it!! We are definitely planning a return visit!
To find out more or buy tickets online visit the Warner Bros Studio Tour website here
