harry potter studio tour careers

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Assistant Merchandiser - Warner Bros. Studio Tour - The Making Of Harry Potter

Full Time Job Location: Leavesden, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom Company Overview Every great story has a new beginning. We're excited to announce that Discovery and WarnerMedia have combined to become Warner Bros. Discovery. WBD is a premier global media and entertainment company offering audiences the world's most differentiated and complete portfolio of content, brands and franchises across television, film, sports, news, streaming and gaming. We're home to the world's best storytellers, creating world-class products for consumers. From brilliant creatives to technology trailblazers and beyond, join us as we step into the next chapter. Our studios are considered one of the foremost motion picture and television production and post-production facilities in the world. They inform, engage, and transport audiences to new worlds. The key to that lies with our Studio Operations group, which includes areas like soundstage/backlot set rentals, events, design, culinary, construction, landscaping and much more. Whether it's hosting an unforgettable studio tour, creating an optimal workspace, or equipping talent to tell the best stories, these teams lay the foundation for the memorable experiences we provide. The Job In this role you will join our Merchandising team with the goal of maximising sales and margin through effective management of stock. Your role will be to drive the business forward through strategy, insight, planning and reviewing product as well as store performance. What's in it for you? • Competitive Salary • 25 days holiday (pro-rata) • GymPass or free access to our on-site gym • Exclusive access to our Screeners App, with our exciting Warner Bros. and HBO content • Staff discounts on Studio Tour tickets, retail, food and beverage • Access to Friends and Family events • Free on-site staff car parking • Complimentary staff shuttle bus between Watford Junction and our Studio Tour • On-site staff Studio Café • Option to join our pension and private healthcare schemes The Daily • Support the planning and development of merchandising strategies that balance customers' expectations and our business objectives, predominantly for the upcoming Studio Tour in Japan, opening May 2023. • Review and monitor key line flows, updating the business on true uplifts per product type, tracking goods into the business to ensure they are delivered on time. • Support the Merchandising Team with analysis of sales figures, customers reactions and market trends to anticipate product needs and plan product ranges/stock. sales information as well as range meetings. • Deliver weekly trade & sales figures and review each product line with the head of department to action findings. • Collaborate with Warner Bros.' Buying, Design & Compliance teams, joining weekly meetings with the Buying team to update on critical path and deliveries. • Proactively keep aware of market trends. • Work with suppliers and distributors to negotiate quantities and time-scales through analysing lead times and shipping routes on all stock planning from both international and domestic suppliers. • Support with the forecasting and planning of intake across all stores and businesses in the Tours & Retail group, ensuring availability targets are met and exceeded. • Manage weekly intake plans and open to buy for all products, maintaining accurate purchase orders. • Take responsibility for setting, inputting and monitoring stock levels on systems for all store locations. • Partner with head of department and WB logistics to maintain our freight forwarder relationships, ensuring we are bringing goods into the businesses in the most cost-effective way, whilst helping and monitoring duty codes. • Communicate with our warehouse and ecommerce teams, to discuss issues with purchase orders, out-of-stocks, delivery issues, supplier performance and ways to improve merchandising actions to support warehouse operations. • Assist in the training and development as well as general support of the Merchandising Assistants. The Essentials • Significant experience of working within a similar role at a fast-paced retailer • A proactive approach to problem solving with a highly analytical approach • Advanced level of Excel • Sound commercial acumen and a genuine interest in the retail market • Proven communication skills with the ability to maintain excellent working relationships. Nice To Haves • • SAP experience desirable but not essential Department Overview Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden (WBSL) is a purpose built, state-of-the-art film and television studio offering one of the largest facilities in the UK. This 200-acre secure site has a half a million square feet of stage space, a back-lot tank, one of the largest heated underwater filming tanks in Europe and a 100 acre back-lot. It also owns Set-Lighting and Rigging - a rentals division, WB De Lane Lea - a post-production facility and Leavesden Park - a contemporary office complex. It is the only Hollywood owned studio of its calibre to be operated in the UK. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter is the only place in the world to showcase the authentic sets, props and behind-the-scenes secrets of the Harry Potter films at the location where they were made. It has attracted over 14 million visitors since opening in 2012 and has received over 40,000 reviews on TripAdvisor with 96% rating the experience as 'excellent' or 'very good'. Since launching, additions to the Tour include Platform 9 ¾ featuring the original Hogwarts Express, the Forbidden Forest and Gringotts Wizarding Bank. The Tour group plans future expansion with a walking and photographic Tour in London, and a replication of our world-famous Tour in Japan in 2023. In December 2018 WBSL acquired the Platform 9 ¾ group which sells Wizarding World merchandise, souvenirs, and collectibles. It includes shops at Kings Cross Station, Heathrow, and Gatwick, as well as stores at The Cursed Child theatre productions in London, New York and other international locations. Opening Summer 2021, we continue to grow, launching our first flagship store in New York alongside expanding our ecommerce operations in the UK and US, and exploiting new areas of commercial development. The Perks • Exclusive WarnerMedia events and advance screenings • Paid time off every year to volunteer for eligible employees • Access to well-being tools, resources, and freebies • Access to in-house learning and development resources • Part of the WarnerMedia family of powerhouse brands Warner Bros. Discovery embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects the diversity of our society and the world around us. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, disability or any other category protected by law. If you're a qualified candidate with a disability and you need a reasonable accommodation in order to apply for this position, please contact us at [email protected].

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A Magical Guide to the Warner Bros Studio Tour in London: Everything You Need to Know

Last Updated: February 16, 2022

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Fact: In my entire life, I’ve only cried once at a tourist attraction.

And judge me all you want, but this cryfest happened at a Harry Potter studio tour.

… Allow me to explain myself.

Like most children born in the 90s, much of my youth was spent daydreaming about the arrival of my Hogwart’s acceptance letter. As this dream dwindled with the hardships of adulting, I instead took comfort in carbs and magical movie marathons.

But, it didn’t take much for these childhood dreams to resurface. A trip to London was all it took to re-open the floodgates (literally).

Let me tell you: for a Harry Potter fan, there is no attraction on this Earth more overwhelming and amazing than the  Warner Bros Studio Tour London, (AKA London’s Harry Potter set tour), which brings you through the filming site for all 8 movies in the Harry Potter franchise.

In addition to sets, you’re also shown countless props, the best gift shop in the world, and even a chance to taste butter beer for yourself. Come on now, is it at all a surprise that I bawled when I got to the end?

Read onwards for important info to know about the tour, some tips to keep in mind and of course, a recap of the experience (with plenty of photos!) Be careful for this section, as spoilers are abound!

PS: Check out my full list of Harry Potter themed attractions and experiences in London for more nerdy goodness.

Basic information to know about the Harry Potter Set Tour

If you’re interested in booking the epic Warner Bros Studio Tour in London for yourself, then here are some basic must-knows.

Harry Potter Studio Tour Tickets Info:

I first visited this attraction in 2014 and it was a hot mess then, and has only grown in popularity in the past few years.

If this Harry Potter set tour is a must-do for you, then make sure you book your tickets WELL in advance or you risk not being able to go!

Luckily, even when tickets are sold out on the main site, there are tours you can book online that will have tickets available for sold out dates.

Sometimes, booking with a tour is worthwhile because you not only guarantee your tickets, you also get the convenience of private transport there, which is nice and much less stressful than using public transport yourself.

Here is a breakdown of different Harry Potter Studio tour options that include transport. For your convenience, I also lay out their costs and what they have to offer:

Tickets can also be purchased online from the studio itself  here.

How to Get to the Warner Bros Studio Tour in London:

Despite its name, the Warner Bros Studio London is actually located in Leavesden, which is northwest of London.

While booking a tour/private transport is the easiest and most convenient way to get there, it is still quite painless to reach via public transit, as a shuttle bus runs from Watford Junction railway station.

To get to the Watford Junction station, you need to make use of London’s overground system.

Not sure about the best route to get there? Check out this handy trip planner .  The tour’s website recommends that you arrive at Watford Junction 45 minutes prior to your tour time.  

Remember to bring change, as the cost for the shuttle bus is 2 pounds each way.

NOTE : Leave a lot of leeway for you to get there. We definitely got lost a few times due to the transfers, and were stressed to the max! For a more stress-free experience, consider prebooking a tour that comes with transport. Here’s one for under $100USD.

Tips for Doing the Harry Potter Set Tour Like a Pro

Having addressed the basics, here are some tips you should keep in mind when planning your visit:

1. Check on the Warner Bros Studio Tour website for special events

The studio tour often has special weeks during which there are specialized displays or demonstrations.

If you have quite some time in London, I suggest looking up when special events are happening and to plan accordingly.

I was luckily around for the beginning of Wand Week, so I got to see wandmakers do their thing and I even got to pose with some Death Eaters. Super cool!

2. Allow extra time for travel

Especially if you are new to London, trying to navigate the transit there can take time, so give yourself plenty of time to arrive at the studio.

That being said, do not hyperventilate if your ticketed time is fast approaching. While the reservation system does assign you a time, they won’t turn you away if you are a bit late.

3. Don’t forget to print your Warner Bros Studio Tour ticket

This will make the whole process smoother.

One girl that came with us didn’t print hers and upon arrival, she realized that her order never actually went through.

Luckily, even though they claim there is no box office at the attraction, she was able to purchase a ticket there, but do book in advance to save yourself the trouble.

4. Set yourself a budget for magical souvenirs

Trust me, when you enter the Harry Potter Studio Tour Shop for the first time, you will lose all sense of self control.

You will suddenly want all these things that you would never need.

Legit wizard robe? Okay!

Replica wand? Yes please.

There are so many amazingly crafted souvenirs for sale that you will easily empty your wallet.

For budget-conscious backpackers (like me) or large families with crying children, setting a budget beforehand is a must.

5. Grab yourself a free Warner Bros Studio Tour London passport

At some point during the tour, you might notice children getting awesome embossed stamps on a Harry Potter passport.

Uh, yeah, those are actually not just for kids!

I shamelessly (and sweetly) asked a staff member for one, and they kindly obliged.

Getting the stamps is fun and having a Harry Potter passport is pretty much the best souvenir ever.

6. Be sure to check out other Harry Potter filming locations around the UK too

If you’ve made it all the way to Leavesden, you’re actually pretty close to a variety of other Harry Potter filming locations!

While this set tour is of course incredible, there are dozens of other real-life filming locations scattered around the UK that you can visit for yourself. Click here for a full list.

Harry Potter Set Tour Recap with Photos

With those tips out of the way, I’d love to show you some photos and a brief overview of the experience from my visit in 2014. Note that they have added a lot since then, but still…

WARNING: spoilers, spoilers, spoilers. 

Some would say that the best way to experience this tour is by seeing everything first hand, but if you are curious to see photos and more, feel free to scroll further.

Your magical experience begins as soon as you walk into the building. All around the lobby are canvases with various Harry Potter characters, as well as props and other cool artifacts hanging off the walls.

Even the task of waiting in line (typically the most mundane thing ever) is a joy for this tour.

The queue moves very quickly and there is plenty for you to nerd out about as you wait.

Most notably, Harry’s  cupboard under the stairs , is right next to the queuing area, ensuring that you get a perfect view of this iconic set.

You’ll notice that groups are taken in based on their spot in line, rather than their timed reservation.

This is why there is some flexibility when it comes to your arrival time.

If you’re a few minutes late, no worries, just hop in the queue and you will make it in all-the-same.  

The tour begins with a brief video introduction to the franchise, followed by a preshow featuring Rupert, Daniel and Emma themselves.

As this preshow concludes, the screen reveals the doors to the  Great Hall!  During my tour, they invited any birthday kids to come up and help open the doors.

After  seriously  wishing it was my birthday, I bitterly watched two ecstatic kids live out their childhood dreams, revealing the first stop of the tour, the amazing…

1. Great Hall!

This is the the only part of the tour where your time will be limited, as they let tour groups in every few minutes.

As such, if you want photos, be sure to snap them  quickly !

Being in this room is an unreal feeling. In addition to the long tables, cutlery and elaborate set pieces, you also get to view costumes from students in each house, and important Hogwarts faculty as well!

2. The Big Room

After your time in the Great Hall, you are brought into the  Big Room , which houses a variety of sets, props and costumes.

Here, you are given free reign to explore for yourself and gawk at all the amazing pieces the room contains!

Highlights for me were definitely the  Potions classroom  (complete with a Snape costume on display),  the Gryffindor Common Room  and  the Weasley House .

Many of the sets also have interactive buttons where you can make objects move by pressing them.

This was especially cool in the Weasley kitchen, where the touch of a button could make an iron move on its own, make vegetables chop themselves, etc. Super neat!

For those seeking a sweet photo opp, there are several green screen opportunities to ride a broom as a Quidditch player and more! I didn’t wait in line for this bit, but it definitely looked like a lot of fun! Here are some photos from the Big Room:

3. The Backlot

After perusing the Big Room, you are brought outside to the  Backlot , home to a variety of sets including Harry’s  Privet Drive home , the  Hogwarts Bridge , the  Knight Bus  and of course,  the concession stands!  

It’s at this point in the tour that you can live out your childhood fantasy of sipping a nice, cold  butterbeer.  

Be sure to explore the bridge before you purchase a butterbeer, as no food or drink is allowed on that set. 

Now, while public opinion seems to be split on the taste of butterbeer, I have to say that  I. loved. every. single. sip.  

It’s very possible that I was blinded by the magic of my surroundings, but I would argue that it’s worth a try regardless!

NOTE: If you want to purchase a souvenir cup, remember to bring a bag or something to wrap it in, as that stuff can get mighty sticky. Here’s a sample of the cool things you’ll see in the backlot!

4. Art Department, Creature Effects and Diagon Alley

When you’re ready to go back inside, countless wonders from the  creature effects & art department  await you. Here, you really get to appreciate the depth of work put into creating a whole magical world.

I was really wowed by everything.

In this area, you will see masks, wigs, models and more of your favourite magical creatures.

In this second half of the tour as well, you get to walk through Diagon Alley. The details and work in the set will absolutely blow you away. The shops look so real, you’ll be tempted to go knocking on their doors.

5. Hogwarts Castle Model

And lastly, the grand finale of the Harry Potter set tour… The model of Hogwarts!

This one here is a real showstopper.

A walkway surrounding the model allows you to view it from all angles, taking in the fine details of this wonderful school.

For many Harry Potter fans, seeing the castle like this is a dream come true. Now, if only it were real!

At the end of the tour, just before the entrance of the Harry Potter Studio Tour Shop, you will see this wonderfully beautiful quote appear on the screen:

It was at this point that  I began to bawl.  I couldn’t help it!

Everything that I loved about the series had been shown to me in the past few hours, and for that short period of time, I got to live out my dream of seeing the magical world that made my childhood.

Messy and gross, I walked into the gift shop, which was a massive treasure trove of things you never knew you wanted or needed. Wands for every character? I’ll take 100.

And there you have it,  the most magical experience ever . One day, I  will   visit the Wonderful Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but until then, I think this tour has given me enough happy & geeky memories to last. …. At least for the next little while.

Any more questions about visiting the Warner Bros Studio Tour in London?

 Over to you – have you ever been to the Warner Bros Studio Tour in London? IF NOT, THEN WTF ARE YOU WAITING FOR? No jk, uh I meant to ask, which part would you most look forward to?!

My Go-To Travel Favourites:

🧳 Eagle Creek: My favourite packing cubes

💳 Wise: For FREE travel friendly credit cards

🍯 Airalo: My go-to eSIM

🏨 Booking.com: For searching hotels

📷 Sony A7IV: My (amazing) camera

✈️ Google Flights : For finding flight deals

🌎 WorldNomads: For travel insurance

🎉 GetYourGuide: For booking activities

7 thoughts on “A Magical Guide to the Warner Bros Studio Tour in London: Everything You Need to Know”

Enjoyed every bit of your blog article.Much thanks again. Really Cool.

Thanks for reading! 🙂

bookmarked!!, I like your blog!

thanks Jane!! 😀

Hi Christina! I’m going to be traveling alone to London this week, would the Harry Potter tour be fun for a solo traveler? Also, I was considering buying a groupon for a night tour, but the picture of you holding the butter beer appears to be outside? I guess we would be missing this part of the tour if I went at night then eh?

hi Lisa, I hope this comment isn’t too late! but YES YES YES the tour would 100% still be fun as a solo traveler (provided that you like Harry Potter haha). I didn’t realize they had a special night tour, but the butterbeer was outside in a special lot where they had lots of big props and set pieces (it’s part of the tour) so I can’t imagine they would leave it out for any reason. I have my fingers crossed for you!

Thank you for this article and the pics. I always need to take a peek of the atmosphere beforehand since I’m going solo. I hope they will let me use my selfie stick inside.

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Posted on 1st July 2021 Categories Things to do

By: Author Julianna Barnaby

Visiting the Harry Potter Studio Tour (+ Everything You Need to Plan Your Trip)

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Love Harry Potter? The Warner Bros. Studio Tour is an absolutely magical day out for children and adults alike. Here’s what you need to know before you go.

Harry Potter. You may have noticed that I’m low-level obsessed with both the films and the books. The story that captured our imaginations 20 years ago is no less magical today.

London is filled with Harry Potter spots – whether that’s filming locations, cool graphics stores or Potter-inspired bars , there’s plenty to keep your wands busy. Even so, the Harry Potter Studio Tour is phenomenal.

I’ll admit that I put visiting the tour off for a while because I never quite got round to booking my ticket. Mistake . Now that I’ve been I can say hand on heart that it is a must for anyone who loves Harry Potter.

I’ve written this step-by-step guide to help you understand what to expect, how to book your tickets, plan your journey and have a brilliant time. No pressure then…

OK, So the Big Question is… Are the Harry Potter Studios Worth the Money?

In short – yes. The Harry Potter Studios are worth the money.

It’s pretty much impossible to talk about why you should go on the Harry Potter Studio Tour without confronting the fact that tickets are hella expensive.

£47 for adults and £38 for children over 5 is no laughing matter – particularly when you add transport and (if necessary) accommodation to that too.

Even though the tickets are expensive, I’d say that the experience is absolutely worth it – it’s been brilliantly done – so much so that I know people who’ve been back a couple of times over the years.

Want to book a tour instead? Choose from these tours from London .

Exploring the Magical World of Harry Potter at the Warner Brothers Studio Tour in London: What to Expect

All eight of the films were filmed in the Leavesden Studios over a period spanning more than a decade.

There’s nowhere else that you can visit where you can see so many of the places, costumes and details that made the iconic films the biggest movie series in history.

How to Get Your Hands on Harry Potter London Tickets

Buy tickets on the website.

Now, I’m not going to lie – trying to get your hands on the Harry Potter studio tickets is like trying to conjure a genuine smile from Professor Umbrige. As in, it will take all of your wits and whiles to make it happen. Unlike trying to coax a smile from Umbridge though, it will be totally worth the effort.

First of all, let me be clear. You have to buy tickets in advance – there will be no turning up on the day and hoping to strike lucky.

That shizz just doesn’t fly (as in they don’t even sell tickets on the door, so you’ll have schlepped out to Leavesden for no reason – and I’ll warn you, apart from the studio tour, Leavesden isn’t the kind of place where you go to have a lot of fun).

So, you need to plan your trip in advance. Preferably as far in advance as you possibly can.

Tickets for the Warner Brothers Harry Potter tour sell like hotcakes – and months ahead.

Don’t be all blasé like me, hopping onto the website and thinking you’ll pick one up for the next day. I was totally sucker punched when I saw that tickets were pretty much booked out for two months in advance. That’s not a typo and yes you’re reading it right. Two months.

Now, there are a couple of workarounds, which I am going to go into more detail below but that is the standard position.

So if you’re thinking about taking a trip to London and you want to get a ticket, do it the moment you book your flights. I only wish I were joking.

Book Tickets Here

Sneaky Trick Number One for Getting a Ticket to the Warner Bros Studio Tour

Book a tour – or transport inclusive ticket from a tour operator.

I have to be honest – I am prettyyyyyy disorganised a lot of the time and I’ve often found that hunting around for a tour can mean that you can nab a last minute spot when all other hope is lost.

Have a look on Get Your Guide and simply work your way through the different operators until you can find one with a ticket for the date that you want. Simple and oh so crafty * cackles uncontrollably in the manner of Bellatrix Lestrange *.

PS – I talk more about tours and transport inclusive options in the How to Get to the Harry Potter Studios Section Below.

Sneaky Trick Number Two For Getting Your Hands on Harry Potter Studio Tickets

You’ll have better luck if you can visit on a weekday outside of school holidays, but as you’re likely to be grown-ass adults with actual jobs, whether you can do that depends on exactly how much magic you’re willing to practice to get yourself a spot.

Sneaky Trick Number Three for Nabbing Those Tickets

Now I know that I said that you have next to zero chance for nabbing tickets to Harry Potter land in London without booking them at least a couple of months in advance but guess what… I lied.

Well, kind of.

You can get last-minute tickets on the website if you’re willing to be flexible and just take whatever day and time is available. I booked my tickets on Tuesday to go on the Sunday of the same week – and was pretty lucky that the tour started at 2pm so I had loads of time to make my way around.

There were only a couple of tickets for the Sunday available – and a few more for the following Monday and Tuesday… after which the earliest I could book was 2.5 months later.

It’s a big gamble – definitely not one I’d recommend taking if you’re only in the country for a short period but it is always worth checking.

Read Next: The Ultimate Guide to London’s Magical Harry Potter Spots

Tips for Making the Most of Your Time in the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour

If you’re more of an adult than me and actually book your tickets far enough in advance that you get a choice about which slot to choose rather than having to take whichever one’s available because you’re trying to find a ticket for this weekend, I have a tip.

Go as early in the day as possible – and try and avoid the last slot or two.

Much as I’d love to pretend that these are sage words I winkled out of prophecy buried in that creepy vault in the Ministry of Magic, the boring truth is there are very good reasons for this advice.

One is that the tour is untimed. Once you’re in, you’re in for however long it takes you to make your way around.

Considering that some people (ME) literally won’t rest until they’ve read / played with / googled at / photographed / posed with every tiny little bit on every single set, you can understand how later slots can get pretty busy.

The second reason I say to go as early as possible is kind of the same – you want to make sure that you have all the sweet sweet time that you need to make your way around that tour.

They suggest three to four hours but who knows, you may end up taking more (particularly if you kick back with a butterbeer in Hogsmeade).

Someone once spent over thirteen hours in the tour, which seems a liiiitttttle excessive – what were they doing? Reenacting the films? Actually, that’s a brilliant idea.  

Either way, with the earlier slots you pretty much have all the time you want. It would be a real shame to have to rush any of the experience – you paid enough to justify squeezing every last second of pleasure from your well-spent galleons.

Wear Comfortable Shoes

Did you see that bit above where I said that the average person takes three to four hours walking around the studios?

Now imagine doing that in some flimsy-ass high heels that make you want to cast a spell and set your own feet on fire after half an hour and I think you’ll get my point about comfortable shoes.

Unless you have your own flying broomstick that is, in which case you can wear those heels as you zip around the tour with your cape billowing in the breeze behind you.

Dress Up (If You Want, but Why Wouldn’t You Want to…)

I have one regret about my trip to the making of Harry Potter and that is that I didn’t dress up. There were so many kids (and adults!) rocking cool Harry Potter attire that the moment I saw them, I knew that I a) wanted to be them and b) would feel so sad about it for the whole time I was there.

So dust off your capes, your house scarf, your Potter-style glasses etc with free abandon – ain’t no one going to judge you for it.

Swot Up on the Films (and the Books for Extra House Points)

This will only apply if you haven’t watched the film in a little while (in which case, who even are you?).

There are so many cool spots here but there’s no point if you can only dimly remember the films from some time a few years ago when you watched it as you did your knitting.

No. That is not good enough. You want to make sure that you’ve watched the films recently, that they’re fresh in your mind, that you recall every detail – and preferably you can do some short reenactments as you go around…

And, if you want to get extra mega-nerdy house points, breeze through the books so you can say sage things comparing the books to the films and the sets and totally blowing everyone’s minds with your crazy levels of knowledge.

Don’t Whizz Through the Great Hall too Fast – In Fact, Don’t Whizz Through Any of the Tour too Fast

The tour starts with a couple of short intros – one in a small room where you can see the cast on small screens above you and marvel at how much older they look. Then start thinking about how much older you must be too and actually get so wrapped up in this that you actually end up missing everything they say.

The second intro film is a much grander affair and in an actual cinema. Now, once you finish that second film, the doors beyond open and you’re let into the Hogwarts Dining Hall.

What do you get when you take lots and lots of very keen Harry Potter fans, lock them in a dark room and then let them loose onto one of the film’s most exciting sets?

I think mayhem is the word that you’re looking for. I had a whole family push into my photo, pretty much stampeding over me to nab a picture with a statue of Dumbledore.

No worries though, jokes on them because I just waited behind until almost all of the people had trampled their way through to the next room and quietly (and rather smugly, channeling my best Hermione knows it all face) took my pictures and had a nose around the now empty hall.

Don’t take too long though – you only have a certain period of time until the next group of people are released from the cinema room and into the frenzy.

That advice applies to all of the tour actually – unless you’re in one of the later slots you have all the time that you need to make your way around, take millions of pictures and absolutely live your best Harry Potter life.

There’s no need to rush that – if you do, you won’t have anything good to put into your pensieve.

Read Next: Mischief Managed: This is What it’s Really Like to Visit the Harry Potter Inspired Bar in London

Pick the Guides’ Brains

No, not literally. The guides in the Warner Bros studios take Harry Potter fandom to. another. level. You will bow in the face of their superior and all out geeky knowledge of the things on the set.

I totally encourage you to sidle up to one and ask a really niche question about a tiny piece of the set buried in the back of a scene, then watch as *poof* all their magical knowledge comes out. It’s BEAUTIFUL.

Do Fill in Your Making of Harry Potter Passport

You’re handed a Harry Potter Passport with your tickets. I tried to be all cool and dismissive about it – what do they think we are? Children who are going to run around getting stamps and filling in the questions in our magical books? Damned right we are.

Now is not the time to pretend that you’re in any way not excited about finding the 13 golden snitches that are hidden throughout the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour.

Finding those snitches and getting those stamps is better than that moment when everyone thinks that Harry’s dead and he bursts out of Hagrid’s arms to turn Voldemort into tiny pieces of ash. I shizz you not.

Highlights of the Warner Bros Studio Tour in London

Now that you’ve booked your tickets and are incredibly excited, I thought I’d help fuel the fire with a few sneak peeks at some of my favourite spots from the set 😀

The Great Hall

Feasts, howlers, ominous speeches – Hogwarts’ Great Hall has seen it all. It’s pretty cool to see the hall in real life (though if you’ve ever visited Christ Church in Oxford – another city with many Harry Potter filming locations , you’ll notice the strong resemblance).

I won’t let you in on all of the little secrets but you get to peek behind the scenes to find out how they created the floating candles and enchanted ceiling effects, plus there’s a cool display of the house uniforms and details on how they changed throughout the films.

The Gryffindor Dormitory

Lush velvet, wooden four poster beds – welcome to the Gryffindor Dorm. Biggest surprise? The beds are absolutely tiny as they were designed for the kids for The Philosopher’s Stone but ended up being used in all the films.

Dumbledore’s Office

So much wisdom, so little time.

The calm retreat in which many of the films’ most memorable scenes took place – Dumbledore’s Office is adorned with rows and rows of books and many portraits of former Hogwarts headmasters.

Though it brought up all the feels from that awful moment when Snape kills Dumbledore and you feel like your soul has been split in two.

The Potions Room

Press it, don’t squeeze it Hermoine. The potions room is lined with all manner of tinctures and strange ingredients – ready to be made into love potions or poisons… let’s hope it’s the first of the two!

The Forbidden Forest

The Forbidden Forest is a real eye opener – dark, ominous and more realistic than I’d like to admit, it’s crazy walking through the forest as giant spiders descend from the ceiling, accompanied by thunder and flashes of lightning.

Malfoy Manor

The ominous tone of Malfoy Manor is set by a dummy of Charity Burbage hanging over the long table at which the death eaters sit. Who can forget the poor teacher’s death – brutally attacked by Nagini while the whole table watched.

The Ministry of Magic

Glimpses of the Ministry of Magic peep out from the giant sets – one of the largest ever created for a film. The larger-than-life Magic is Might statue stands to remind Muggles of their rightful place. Creepy.

Read Next: The House of Minalima – Step into a World of Harry Potter in Soho

Platform 9 ¾

It’s real! All aboard the Hogwarts Express! Many of the scenes on Platform 9 ¾ were actually shot in King’s Cross (one of the filming locations in London) but part of the station was reconstructed in the studio – complete with a Hogwarts Express that you can jump aboard and trolleys buried in the walls for that iconic shot of you running through to the secret platform.

Diagon Alley  

Hop into Ollivanders and get your wand at the ridiculously lifelike set for Diagon Alley . The set changed significantly throughout the progress of the films – the final version is a cross between a Victorian shopping street and a weird, wacky emporium.

Hogwarts Castle

The last stop on the Harry Potter studio tour is IMHO the best – the scale model of Hogwarts Castle. Each of the films directors changed bits on the castle to suit the mood of their film – the result? An incredible sprawling model, complete with intricately-designed details. When can we move in?

What’s The Best Way to Get to the Harry Potter Studios from London?

Where is harry potter studios.

The Harry Potter Studios are actually situated just outside of London in Leavesden, Watford. There’s not too much to do in this area besides visiting the studio tour but there’s plenty to do inside, so you can still make a day of it.

Have no fear though – no matter which part of London you’re in, the Harry Potter Studios are pretty easy to get to. I’ve outlined the easiest ways for you below…

Getting to the Harry Potter studios isn’t difficult if you have a car. It’s about a 45 minute drive from Central London and parking is free.

Like many places outside of the city, Sat Nav does tend to lose its way a little when you put in the postcode, so you’re better off entering in Warner Bros Studios Leavesden to make sure that it takes you to the right place. We don’t want any Diagonelly / Diagon Alley mix ups here.

Make sure that you have your booking confirmation to hand as you go into the car park as they need to check it before you go in.

By Bus from London

Did I mention that the studios are kind of in the middle of nowhere? Upshot is that your options for getting to them are far more limited than for places in central London.

If you’re not driving, the easiest thing to do is to buy a Bus and Entrance Package. The package covers your bus from a central London location and your ticket for the tour. Mischief managed!

There are a few different operators offering buses from different London locations – t his one does them from Victoria coach station , or browse here for other options . Most bus and tour packages cost around £85 for adults.

On a Guided Tour

This is different (and a lot more expensive) to the Bus and Ticket Combos. I’m talking fully guided tours for those who want that next-level Harry Potter knowledge and aren’t afraid to make it rain pounds and pennies in order to get it.

This guided tour includes transport from London, a fully-guided tour around the studios plus re-entry to the studios so that you can go back and explore them at your own leisure before heading with your guide back to London again.

Book your spot for £89 pounds – and no, you can’t rob Gringotts to fund the cost of the tickets.

By Train (and Bus)

In my opinion, getting to the studios by train is the most awkward option, though it isn’t too bad. You need to hop on a train from London Euston to Watford Junction (this takes about 20 minutes) and then catch a bus (£2.50 extra – cash only) from Watford Junction to the Studios (this takes about 15 minutes).

In theory, you could do the trip in 35 minutes but everyone I’ve spoken to says it takes a bit longer and there’s the hassle of having to change at Watford Junction.

I’d rather hop on one bus to do the full journey but that’s just me. You don’t need to book ahead but check train times to make sure you’re not waiting around in Euston for the next one.

Hotels Near Harry Potter Studios London

Premier inn watford north (budget).

I tend to prefer Premier Inns over Travelodges but it’s the same deal – a comfortable budget option that’s only a short distance from the studios. Check availability.

Hemel Hempstead Holiday Inn (Budget)

The Hemel Hempstead Holiday Inn is everything that you’d expect from a Holiday Inn (as in basic but clean and comfortable). The real draw is that it’s less than a ten-minute drive (seven minutes to be exact) away from the Studios – particularly perfect if you’ve got an early morning start. Check availability.

The Grove (High End)

The Grove is hella pricey but what else do you expect when you opt to stay in a gorgeous country manor house? Stylish interiors, ridiculously snuggly beds and a fabulous in-house restaurant. Totally your pick if you really want to push the boat out. Check prices and availability.

Other Hotels in Watford

I should point out that there are quite a few hotels in and around Watford Junction, where it totally makes sense to stay if you are getting the train to the station but don’t want to hurry there and back the same day.

Compare prices and availability for hotels in Watford.

Harry Potter Studio Tour London Map

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Harry Potter Studio Visitor's Guide

The Short Guide to the Harry Potter Studio 

The complete guide to the harry potter studio.

Your Harry Potter Tour adventure kicks off as soon as you present your ticket, starting with a queue that features Harry’s iconic cupboard under the stairs, complete with toy soldiers. As you wait in line, you can brush up on your Harry Potter lore with inspiring quotes from various characters from the franchise.

Next up, you will proceed to a dimly-lit room with multiple screens, where you take a deep dive into the history of Harry Potter and the magic that awaits. In the next room which is set up like a cinema, you can watch a short film that succinctly covers key moments and behind-the-scenes footage from eight Harry Potter movies, along with interviews with cast members, crew, directors, and even J.K. Rowling herself.

This preliminary experience concludes after the film, with majestic doors opening to reveal the Great Hall of Hogwarts. Stepping into the Great Hall marks the true beginning of the tour, as you enter the magical world of Harry Potter!

Your journey at the Harry Potter Studio Tour starts with the opening of the Great Hall doors, inspired by Oxford's Christ Church college dining hall. Discover the hall’s authentic paving stone floor, as your guides share fascinating details.

The tour progresses, showcasing famous sets like the Gryffindor common room, Dumbledore’s office, Hagrid’s hut, and the Potions classroom. After this, the tour shifts to a self-guided format, offering you the freedom to explore these magical environments at your leisure.

This will allow you to experience the Forbidden Forest, complete with mist and spiders, and seize the chance to fly a broom (at an additional cost). You can also check out the famous Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 and ¾ for a serene photo opportunity, in contrast to the lively Kings Cross station in London.

As for outdoor experiences, these include the Knight Bus, Privet Drive, the unscathed Hogwarts Bridge, and Mr. Weasley’s flying Ford Anglia. Make sure you visit the meticulously designed Diagon Alley, especially Weasley's Wizard Wheezes – arguably one of the studio’s many highlights.

You will also have the chance to interact with various sets, like sitting on Hagrid’s motorbike, stepping into the Ford Anglia, and climbing aboard the Knight Bus. The outdoor area also presents prime photo opportunities, so it is important to take into account the weather when planning your visit. The tour also features an exciting Hogwarts Express simulation, where guests can board a replica carriage and embark on a journey filled with dementors and voice-over narration, offering a thrilling experience.

In the second part of the studio tour, the focus shifts to the filmmaking process, revealing the creation and effort behind the props and costumes. This section showcases an extensive collection of creatures, detailing the intricate and complex methods used to bring them to life.

Among the many things you will learn is that only the head of the basilisk was actually built. You can also explore a wide range of goblin and house elf masks, which offer insight into their design and how they were tailored to fit the actors.

Following the Creature Shop, the tour continues to the meticulously crafted Diagon Alley. This area is designed as a realistic alley, with each shop intricately decorated and featuring detailed displays, creating a genuine streetscape. Diagon Alley’s compact layout mirrors the film’s setting, offering a profound sense of realism and magical feeling of shopping for enchanted items.

During the studio tour, you also have the chance to go on a broomstick ride with the help of CGI and green screen technology. After donning your Hogwarts robes, you can mimic flying on a broom , while a screen projects scenes over London and Hogwarts. Staff members are on hand to help you out and make sure you get a striking pose.

Post-flight, you can choose from a selection of backgrounds, such as hovering over Hogwarts or flying along the Thames. You can even take a photo inside the Ford Anglia, simulating flight, or add a fun twist to your visit by posing as an Azkaban prisoner on a ‘Wanted’ poster.

The Harry Potter Studio Tour concludes with a spectacular large-scale model of Hogwarts Castle, which was previously used for film shots. This exhibit offers an impressive view of the castle from the Astronomy Tower to the lake shores, illustrating the iconic castle's scale and architecture.

The final room of the tour is home to a stunning 1:24 scale model of Hogwarts, a testament to extraordinary craftsmanship and attention to detail. The model, meticulously handcrafted with real gravel and plants for landscaping, radiates authenticity.

Equipped with over 300 fiber optic lights, the model simulates torches and lanterns that create the illusion of student life within the castle’s hallways. This masterpiece stands as a tribute to the talent and skill of the Harry Potter art department, crafted by a team of 86 people.

Footage of this model was skillfully combined with special effects to produce the realistic exterior views of Hogwarts in the films, often mistaken for real castles. This model serves as a phenomenal conclusion to the tour, leaving a lasting impression on visitors.

Classic film lovers: See James Dean’s apartment and more on new TCM tour at Warner Bros.

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In 2021, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour created new interactive exhibits focused on the company’s recent history, unveiling areas dedicated to the DC Comics universe and the “Harry Potter” franchise.

This week, the popular Studio Tour in Burbank is doubling down on its more distant past.

Warner Bros. is now offering a Turner Classic Movies-branded version of its studio tour that will bring guests to previously off-limit areas of the lot, including vintage animation buildings, a mini rose garden and an apartment that once housed James Dean. The 90-minute tram portion of the jaunt — about 30 minutes longer than the studio’s standard tram excursion — will allow guides to go deeper into the history of the studio’s catalog to deliver factoids related to such films as “Casablanca,” “My Fair Lady,” “Rebel Without a Cause,” “Auntie Mame” and many more.

“We’re off the leash,” says Brad Taylor, a 15-year tour guide veteran with Warner Bros., noting that the TCM excursion will include time for guides to chat with visitors about their favorite films.

“We get to talk to the guests and really hang out with people who have the same passion that we do,” Taylor says. “I find that ‘classics’ guests are less about behind-the-scenes and more, ‘I can’t believe this is where we are.’ It’s just the look on their faces when they realize ‘Casablanca’ filmed here, or James Dean stood right here.”

The launch of the TCM tour arrives during the network’s 30th anniversary and close to 12 months after classic film fans were given a scare. In June, Warner Bros. announced that layoffs would hit TCM, including some of the network’s top executives, prompting concern from prestige directors such as Steven Spielberg, Paul Thomas Anderson and Martin Scorsese. After garnering national attention, key cuts were reversed and Warner Bros. sought to assure fans that TCM would continue to be handled with care.

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TCM network hosts — Eddie Muller, Jacqueline Stewart, Ben Mankiewicz, Alicia Malone and Dave Karger — recorded new video segments for the outing. The tour will take guests into the lot’s Property House, an area not visited by the standard tour. Here, visitors can get glimpses of materials for a full set, including items for a complete Oval Office setting, but expect guides to highlight vintage items, such as a throne from the Errol Flynn pirate film “Captain Blood.”

Danny Kahn, vice president-general manager of the studio tour, says there have been numerous requests over the years from guests to delve a little deeper into the studio’s animation history. That’s why the TCM tour will for the first time take visitors to an area of the lot once known as “Termite Terrace,” which from 1955 to 1964, says Taylor, housed the animation department, a building with a sloped roof designed to capture sunlight. Animation legend Chuck Jones, says Kahn, had an office in the Termite Terrace area in the 1990s despite Warner’s moving animation production elsewhere.

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Another unique tour locale is the exterior of the Dean apartment. When Dean resided there during filming of “East of Eden,” it was actually across the street from the lot, the apartment nesting above a pharmacy. But gradual studio expansion has led to the area now being on Warner Bros. property.

“That was an actual drugstore with apartments, and the studio rented it for him,” Kahn says. “I think it was to keep an eye on him and keep him on a short leash.”

The tour will also give tram riders a look at executive life at the studio, allowing them to briefly walk around a rose garden. The manicured spaces once held a tennis court as well as offices and personal screening rooms for the likes of studio mogul Jack Warner, with many of the structures dating to the 1920s. “It’s a really historic area of the lot that hasn’t really changed a lot in all these years,” says Kahn, noting the area is still in use by studio principals. “Jack Warner, when he ran the studio, privatized the first floor. That was a massage parlor that he had beneath his office.”

TCM Classic Films Tour

Where: The Warner Bros. Studio, 3400 Warner Blvd., Burbank 91505

When: Most days, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Cost: $95 for adults; $82 for children. A SoCal resident discount is available for $75

Info: (818) 977-8687 or wbstudiotour.com

Staples of the tour, such as a journey around the backlot city streets, a visit to the “Friends” set and cafe and recent additions highlighting the studio’s modern franchise films are included in the TCM trek, as is a pre-tour reception with beverages and pastries. All told, expect the tour to last about 3½ hours. A tour spokesperson says the first TCM-branded outing is scheduled for Wednesday, with trams expected to depart daily after that date. Adult tickets are $95, but there is a Southern California resident discount available for $75.

“It feels so good to have TCM here,” Kahn says. “People understand that the TCM brand is synonymous with classic film.”

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Todd Martens joined the Los Angeles Times in 2007 and covers a mix of interactive entertainment (video games) and pop music. Previously, Martens reported on the music business for Billboard Magazine. He has contributed to numerous books, including “The Big Lebowski: An Illustrated, Annotated History of the Greatest Cult Film of All Time.” He continues to torture himself by rooting for the Chicago Cubs and, while he likes dogs, he is more of a cat person.

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I visited the 'Game of Thrones' studio 5 years after the series finale. The $37 tour reminded me why I love the show.

• I recently visited the Game of Thrones Studio Tour in Northern Ireland for $37.
• It offers an exclusive look at the HBO series , which spent millions of dollars on each episode.
• Even five years after the series finale, the studio is still a worthwhile experience for fans. 

It's been five years since the series finale of HBO's "Game of Thrones," but I'm as big a fan as ever.

When a work trip took me to Northern Ireland , I knew I had to detour to the Game of Thrones Studio Tour. By season eight, the HBO drama was spending $15 million per episode , and like any true fan, I wanted a behind-the-scenes look at where some of that money went — and what made the show so visually incredible.

The tour, located in one of the show's original filming locations , Linen Mill Studios, opened in 2022, and standard tickets cost £29.50, or about $37.

I wanted to see just how relevant the studio is today — especially in the lead-up to the new season of the "House of the Dragon" prequel series in June — and if the widespread passion of the fandom is still alive.

It felt like the studio was hidden in plain sight.

There's no onsite parking at the studio, so getting there felt like being escorted to some secret location. Luckily, the instructions were clear: Meet at The Boulevard, a large shopping district in Banbridge, Northern Ireland.

From there, a complimentary shuttle took me down a long, formal-looking driveway. It's easy to see how the studio remained low-key during its filming heyday — it's almost as if it's hidden in plain sight.

My excitement overflowed as I stepped off the bus to blasting theme music and a massive Game of Thrones Studio Tour sign. About 10 other visitors immediately began posing for photographs.

After the 10-minute shuttle ride, it took me a good five minutes to reach security and start the experience, but the atmosphere was already infectious. Even the staff seemed genuinely excited to greet me.

The impressive theming immediately drew me in.

After passing a dragon skull and armored "guard," the tour started with a green-screen photo while we waited for some dramatic doors to swing open.

A tour guide quickly explained the studio rules — mostly, no touching the exhibits (which were used during filming) and absolutely no photos of the pre-tour movie.

I won't spoil too much, but the short film gave me goosebumps. At the end, the screen parted, and we entered the studio from "beyond the wall."

The studio clearly takes immersion seriously.

On the other side of the screen, we were blasted by fog machines before standing toe-to-toe with the Wildlings. Everything was incredibly immersive.

This was one of my favorite rooms. It had elaborate costumes from the show , including coats laden with bones and oysters. I learned that some weighed up to 15 pounds.

I also caught a glimpse of Wun Wun — or, at least, the costume that 7-foot-1 Ian Whyte wore during filming. It supposedly took the actor three to five hours a day to transform into the giant.

It was fun to walk through the different memorable sets.

The studio is made up of a trail of set rooms, including Mess Hall in Castle Black, the Crypts of Winterfell, King's Landing, and the Great Hall of Winterfell.

Costumed mannequins stood in each room to mimic the real scenes from the show.

I learned a lot about the making of the show throughout the tour.

In addition to walking through the sets, I got an insight into the show's creation process.

The 30-foot dragon skull of Balerion the Black Dread took six weeks to make before being shipped to Spain for filming. While standing next to the masterpiece, I could hardly believe that something of its scale could be transported across Europe .

Equally staggering, we learned that the crew went through 52,000 bags of fake snow and 163 tons of propane (for pyrotechnic effects) throughout the series.

Hearing about these intense behind-the-scenes efforts brought the series' magic back to life and made the visit worthwhile for me.

Behind-the-scenes exhibits and interactive experiences made the experience even better.

Other rooms were dedicated to the show's costume design , music creation, and set design. There was even a sword display room that housed famous props like Arya's Needle.

I'd nearly forgotten about the significance of the show's many props before embarking on the tour. But I almost squealed at Jaime Lannister's golden hand.

There were activities throughout the tour, too, including adding your face to the Hall of Faces and creating your own sigil.

I was entranced up until the very end of the experience.

The tour finished at the Iron Throne, a dragon flitting behind the rubble on a digital back wall.

It was a fitting endpoint seeing as it was the location where Jon killed Daenerys, controversially culling her brewing tyranny and ending the series.

I don't think the "Game of Thrones" buzz is going to die down anytime soon.

The studio wasn't packed, but Northern Ireland tends to be a little quieter in February and busier during the Easter holiday and summer. Honestly, I was grateful I missed the heavier crowds.

Overall, the "Game of Thrones" fandom seems to be building momentum rather than slowing down — especially with the second season of "House of the Dragon" looming.

I saw plenty of visitors bringing their children, too, so love for the series seems to be getting passed down to the next generation.

Initially, £29.50 seemed steep to me. But comparably, it's cheap for a studio tour — the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London charges a base price of £53.50.

Plus, I thought it offered great value. It packed so much in and the staff's passion is evident, which makes all the difference for visitors.

• Main content

Universal Studios Hollywood Is Being Sued After Guests Got Stuck On A Harry Potter Ride, And It Sounds Like Hell

Guests are suing for injuries they claim they sustained on a Harry Potter ride.

Theme park attractions break down and that often leads to frustrated guests who either can’t experience certain rides, or get stuck on the ride that has broken down. It’s annoying, but there is usually no harm done. However, in one recent case, four people are claiming harm and are now suing Universal Studios Hollywood after they got stuck on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and honestly, I get it.

The incident took place in April 2022, when a power outage at Universal Studios Hollywood , froze both the Harry Potter ride and the Transformers ride. EW got a look at the lawsuit in which four guests who were on the ride at the time. Debra Biane, Gerald Scott Biane, Josh Taylorson, and Sami-Joh Goldberg are suing Universal Studios Hollywood for liability, negligence, and the infliction of emotional distress. 

According to the complaint, the four were on the attraction at Universal Hollywood’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter when the ride vehicle stopped in its tracks. The guests were stuck in the air at an angle that left them “tilted backward and to the right” for approximately an hour. The ride vehicle then moved enough to get the group upright, but they remained stuck in the vehicle for an additional 30 minutes before they were able to be evacuated.

This is literally my nightmare. Not because I have an issue with getting stuck on a theme park ride, I’ve been on enough rides that I’ve experienced my share of breakdowns, but Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is not my favorite attraction in the world when it is working properly-- never mind when it breaks down. The ride vehicle swings you at all sorts of unnatural angles and it gives me more motion sickness issues than most roller coasters. 

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Some people may have nightmares of getting stuck on It’s a Small World and hearing the song for an hour while they wait to be rescued, but I’d much rather do that than be stuck on Forbidden Journey. At this point, I only go on it when I start to wonder if maybe it’s not as bad as I remember. It is. It always is.

While the vast majority of people ride theme park attractions without incident, when you consider the millions who go on popular rides every year, there are going to be the occasional issues. We’ve seen ride breakdowns go viral on social media before and lawsuits certainly do happen when people claim injury on a theme park resort property. We rarely hear about these issues after the initial lawsuit filing, indicating that most often settlements are reached or cases are dismissed before they ever reach courtrooms.

Two years ago a California grandmother also sued Universal Studios Hollywood over the same Harry Potter attractio n, though in that case the woman was injured while in the queue, not on the ride itself.

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Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News

CinemaBlend’s resident theme park junkie and amateur Disney historian, Dirk began writing for CinemaBlend as a freelancer in 2015 before joining the site full-time in 2018. He has previously held positions as a Staff Writer and Games Editor, but has more recently transformed his true passion into his job as the head of the site's Theme Park section. He has previously done freelance work for various gaming and technology sites. Prior to starting his second career as a writer he worked for 12 years in sales for various companies within the consumer electronics industry. He has a degree in political science from the University of California, Davis.  Is an armchair Imagineer, Epcot Stan, Future Club 33 Member.

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Warner bros. studio tour hollywood and turner classic movies launch new tcm classic films tour.

The new TCM Classic Films Tour showcases the Golden Age of Hollywood through the 1970s.

BURBANK, Calif. , April 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood announces an exciting partnership with Turner Classic Movies (TCM) to launch a brand new TCM Classic Films Tour for TCM's 30 th anniversary this month.  Opening today, the enhanced tour will take guests on an incredible journey through the Golden Age of Hollywood , celebrating iconic movies featured on TCM as well as showcasing the breadth of the Warner Bros. library.

Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group's Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy said, "For 100 years, Warner Bros. has stood for the very best in moviemaking and TCM has continued to spotlight the legacy of the studio with incredible program offerings throughout its 30 years.  We are thrilled movie lovers from around the world can visit the iconic Burbank lot to experience the TCM Classic Films Tour and celebrate the rich history of the studio's contributions to cinema."

Guests will explore the historic Warner Bros. Studio backlot with a focus on the studio's early days, delving into the timeless allure of classic cinema and feeling the magic of Hollywood's rich history firsthand.

The new tour promises an entertaining journey that offers something different.  Guests can visit new points of interest including: the exterior of James Dean's apartment where he resided while working on the lot; the serene rose garden, which in the early years was Jack Warner's tennis court and was surrounded by talent dressing rooms; and the Eastwood Scoring Stage built in 1929 where countless titles have been scored.  Guests will have the chance to stop at the Property House, which houses over a half-million television and movie props, including the pirate chair from Captain Blood and even the breathtaking Tiffany's chandelier from The Letter .

Before stepping into the magic, guests will enter the state-of-the-art deluxe screening room, located at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood Welcome Center, to admire historical photographs from the Warner Bros. archive and enjoy a newly curated introduction video from the hosts of TCM: Ben Mankiewicz , Eddie Muller , Jacqueline Stewart , Alicia Malone , and Dave Karger .

While embarking into newly-themed TCM Classic Films Tour carts with their expert guide to take them around their 90-minute backlot tour, guests will hear from the TCM hosts to transport them into the heart of cinematic history and immerse them in iconic classics such as Casablanca , The Life of Emile Zola , My Fair Lad y, The Music Man , Yankee Doodle Dandy , Blazing Saddles , Giant , and more.

"The partnership with TCM solidifies our commitment to providing unforgettable entertainment experiences to our guests," said Danny Kahn , Vice President & General Manager of Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood.  "The TCM Classic Films Tour is a natural fit for the Studio Tour.  TCM showcases and preserves beloved classic films, and the Studio Tour offers our guests the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Hollywood legends and connect with their beloved titles."

The TCM Classic Films Tour lasts approximately three and a half hours, including 90 minutes with an expert Tour Guide and two hours of self-guided experiences.  The tour includes a visit to Stage 48: Script to Screen , an interactive sound stage highlighting different steps of film production and iconic sets, including the Central Perk Set from Friends and Leonard and Sheldon's apartment from The Big Bang Theory .  The tour's grand finale is Action and Magic Made Here, showcasing the DC Universe and Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series.  The tour concludes with a Celebration of Warner Bros., showcasing awards and original props and costumes from classic titles including Casablanca , The Music Man, and My Fair Lady .

Tickets, details, and availability for all tours are available at wbstudiotour.com .

About Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood gets you closer to the entertainment you love by taking you on the lot of a real working studio.  As a recipient of Trip Advisor's Travelers' Choice Awards and recognized as one of the Top 25 Attractions in the United States , the Studio Tour gives guests a revealing look behind the camera at how Hollywood magic is made.  From TV shows like Friends, Abbott Elementary , The Big Bang Theory, and ER to beloved films like Casablanca , Rebel Without a Cause, Batman, and Harry Potter , fans get to explore a studio over 100 years old as they touch, tour, and visit the real sets and soundstages on the iconic 110-acre backlot where the greatest names in entertainment made history. Also, the Warner Bros. Studio Store, offering exclusive merchandise, is open to the public and does not require a tour ticket to shop.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood is open Monday through Sunday, 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM , with studio tours departing every 30 minutes.  Advanced bookings are recommended, and children five years or older are welcome.  For the best value, book your tickets online at wbstudiotour.com  or by calling +1 818-977-8687.

About Turner Classic Movies (TCM) Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is a two-time Peabody Award-winning network that presents classic films, uncut and commercial-free, from the largest film libraries in the world highlighting "where then meets now." TCM features the insights from Primetime host Ben Mankiewicz along with hosts Alicia Malone , Dave Karger , Jacqueline Stewart , and Eddie Muller , plus interviews with a wide range of special guests and serves as the ultimate movie lover destination.  With more than two decades as a leading authority in classic film, TCM offers annual programming events like 31 Days of Oscar® and Summer Under the Stars.  TCM also directly connects with movie fans with offerings such as the TCM Wine Club, TCM Auctions and the TCM Library in addition to popular events such as the annual TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood and the TCM Classic Cruise.  TCM also produces the wildly successful podcast "The Plot Thickens," which has had more than 7 million downloads to date.  TCM hosts a wealth of material online at tcm.com and through the Watch TCM mobile app.  Fans can also enjoy a classic movie experience on the TCM hub on Max.

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SOURCE Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Date Harry chose to become US resident is a real kick in the teeth for Royal Family

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New documents have revealed that Prince Harry is now officially a US resident- and backdated his status to the exact day he and Meghan were turfed out of their home on the palace grounds.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex initially moved to California in 2020 after choosing to step down as working royals.

But according to documents filed for his eco firm Travalyst, Harry claims to have been a US resident since June 29 last year.

The same date that his father King Charles ordered him to return the keys to Frogmore Cottage , the royal property he had been living at since 2019 after it was gifted to him by the late Queen for his wedding.

Earlier this year, Harry said this year he has ‘considered’ US citizenship, which would mean renouncing his royal titles.

But the Prince has often given contradictory statements regarding where he considers his true home.

In January 2022, his legal representative said: ‘The UK will always be Prince Harry’s home and a country he wants his wife and children to be safe in.

However, just months later he told NBC that America was his home: ‘Home for me, now, for the time being, is in the States. And it really feels that way, as well. We’ve been welcomed with open arms and have got such a great community up in Santa Barbara.’

Prince Harry has also seen his visa application become entangled in a political debate, after Republican politicians took issue with him failing to declare admissions of drug-taking which he wrote about in his autobiography.

US presidential nominee Donald Trump warned : ‘If he lied they’ll have to take appropriate action.’

But while the US ambassador has admitted there is no chance that Harry will be deported from the US under Joe Biden’s administration, the situation may change if Trump is re-elected.

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams says this has caused Harry to keep a much lower profile than he did following the release of Spare in order to avoid attracting the ire of US authorities.

‘There’s been evidence recently that [Harry] has been more cautious in his appearances since Spare was released,’ Mr Fitzwilliams told Metro.

‘What was admitted in Spare- how he lost his virginity, the number of Taliban he killed in Afghanistan, the penile frost-bite and the discussion of drugs… all of this was undoubtedly very unwise, and this is what has led to calls for the application for his visa to be made public.

‘But it’s also been made absolutely clear that he won’t be deported, and so with knowledge of that he’s gone ahead and declared the United States his country of residence.

Harry, the fifth in line to the throne, has long bristled at his status of being the ‘spare’ heir, even naming his infamous autobiography after his perceived status in 2023.

But despite reports that the King has been looking to formalise his succession plan following his cancer diagnosis and potentially minimise Harry’s role even further, it appears that severing the royal link may be more difficult than it appears- regardless of their citizenship.

Although he has stepped down as a working royal, Prince Harry still remains a ‘Counsellor of the State’, which are members of the royal family who can officially carry out duties on behalf of the monarch if they are unwell or abroad.

Mr Fitzwilliams said that although only working royals can actually be called up as counsellors, removing them from the list requires approval by parliament- something neither the palace nor the government are particularly keen to do.’

He added: ‘The King didn’t want to stir up more trouble because if you actually asked parliament to remove Harry, that would be seen by many as provocation and would lead to enormous debate which they would want to avoid.

‘The issue with removing someone from the line of succession is that it puts that person in the middle of the parliamentary spotlight, where it will be debated, it will be embarrassing, it would highlight the reasons why this person is deemed to be unsuitable and that itself would raise further debate.

‘By bringing the issue to parliament it would draw attention to other issues which affect the monarchy which the palace would want to avoid.’

Royal author Phil Dampier told the Sun he believes the move is a sign that Harry has officially cut ties with the UK.

Speaking to the publication, Mr Dampier said: ‘As always with Harry a lot can be read into his actions.

‘Being ousted from Frogmore Cottage wounded him deeply.

‘Charles and William knew it had to be done to emphasise Harry and Meghan were outside The Firm but he probably still thought he could keep a base here. Now he’s shown he accepts his life in the US.’

The cottage is located within Frogmore Estate, which has 33 acres of private gardens adjacent to Windsor Castle in Berkshire.

Harry founded environmental charity Travalyst in 2019, and previously listed himself as a UK resident.

He is due to return next month for a ten-year anniversary celebration of his Invictus Games.

Last time the Sussexes arrived in the UK, they were forced to stay in a hotel, as they no longer have a legal residence in the country.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

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