The Harry Potter franchise was filmed all over Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales). London lays claim to many of the famous scenes and is ripe for a Harry Potter tour the next time one is in the British capital. There are a number of tour operators offering Harry Potter tours of London and beyond. One will see one's childhood movies in a whole new light.
One of them is Evan Evans Tours. Book with them, and wizard one's way through London discovering the many hidden and not-so-hidden sites used in the filming of Harry Potter. Their tours enable one to leave the Muggle world behind and explore the wonderful wizarding world of Harry Potter - choose from a range of their Potter-themed tours. Locations range from the Warner Bros Studio to real-life filming locations.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London offers a chance to step onto the sets and get a glimpse behind the scenes of the wizarding world. On this tour, one can walk through the doors of the Great Hall into the dining room. There one will see the Sorting Hat and more.
- Studio: Enjoy A Warner Bros. Studio Tour
This tour is brand new for 2022 and offers the opportunity to peek behind the scenes and see the filmmaking trickery the studios employed to create the magical world of Harry Potter. Visitors will learn how their favorite moments were brought to the screen.
Visitors will enter the Great Hall and see the set dressed for a Weasley prank on the peaceful O.W.L.s exam, and they will complete with the swinging pendulum under the watchful eye of Dolores Umbridge. They will see demonstrations throughout the Studio Tour on how clever camera trickery created the effect of the invisibility cloak and much more.
The meeting place for this tour is either at London Victoria Train Station and Victoria Underground Station or from Russell Square.
This tour includes seeing firsthand the breathtaking movie sets, stepping on board the Hogwarts Express, discovering original costumes, visiting the visual effects department, and comfortable transfers to the studio on a superior coach.
- Price: £94.00 ($123.00)
- Included: Studio Entrance Fee and Transfers
- Excluded: Guide
- Location: 20 miles outside of Central London in Leavesden, Hertfordshire
Harry Potter Film Locations Walking Tour
While the above tour just offers transfers to the studio, the Harry Potter Film Locations Walking Tour is an actual guided walking tour. On this tour, one will visit the real-life filming locations of the movie series in London.
Be entranced as one's professional guide brings the magic to life as one uncovers many of the real-life locations that inspired some of the movie's most iconic scenes. On this tour, one will see up to 18 of the real-life filming locations.
- Price: £28 ($37.00)
Morning Tours:
- Tour Starts: 9:00 am, Westminster Underground Station Exit 1
- Tour Ends: approx 12:00 pm, Platform 9 3/4 (Kings Cross Station
Afternoon Tours:
- Tour Starts: 2:00 pm, Westminster Underground Station, Exit 1
- Tour Ends: approx 5:00 pm, Platform 9 3/4 (King's Cross Station)
The tour passes Westminster Tube Station, as seen in The Order of the Phoenix (used by Harry and Mr. Weasley on their way to the Ministry of Magic), the Instagrammable Platform 9 ¾at King's Cross Station, and much more.
Filming Locations Visited:
- Westminster Tube Station
- Great Scotland Yard
- Trafalgar Square
- Borough Market
- Platform 9 ¾at King's Cross Station
- The Harry Potter Shop
Harry Potter Photographic Exhibition
Another opportunity to wizard London is with their Harry Potter Photographic Exhibition. It offers an exciting journey through the 10 years of memories lovingly spent creating memorable films. One will see a never-before-seen display of behind-the-scenes images.
The exhibition displays hundreds of iconic photographs and takes fans behind the camera to see the key moments in the making of the film series. This is a brand-new attraction in London with hundreds of exclusive and never before seen images. It includes areas dedicated to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Fantastic Beasts.
With green screen technology, fans will be able to pose just like Harry Potter and his friends - riding a broomstick over London and more.
- Location: Convent Garden
- Price: £20 ($26.00)
- Open: The Photographic Exhibition is open daily from 10:00 am to 6.00 pm
- Duration: One Hour
- Bonus: Enjoy London’s only bottled Butterbeer bar
If one would really like to explore the real world of Harry Potter, then one needs to explore beyond London. Explore key places in England, Scotland, and Wales and see the locations that inspired so many of the iconic scenes of the movies.