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Get Tickets to Harry Potter Studio Tour If Sold Out

There are several ways of getting tickets to the Harry Potter Studio Tour if sold out. Since tickets offered directly from the Warner Bros Studio Website normally sell out months in advance, we’ve come up with a lifesaving guide with links to all the companies that offer Harry Potter Studio tickets with or without transportation from Central London. You can also get in touch  using the form at the bottom of this page. Tell us your travel dates, and we’ll let you know if any tickets become available through the suppliers we work with.

So make sure to carefully check all options to get your Harry Potter Studio Tour tickets….

How to Find Tickets:

The first place to look is here  and here .

You can choose your meeting point on the booking form. Some options include the possibility of collecting the tickets from the Studio Tour without taking the transportation. Please note that the ticket price will remain the same, even if you do not take the transport.

This is one of the major providers of Harry Potter Studio tickets and your tour includes entrance to the studios plus transportation from Central London. There are several departure times at 08.30, 10.30. 11.30 and 13.30. Price is £105 per adult and £100 per child.

STEP 2…

The second places to check for tickets are here and here

These are two Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio tours that also include a visit to Oxford.

Tours are available in smaller and larger groups and depart from Central London in the morning. There are often tickets available for these tours when other providers are sold out. On these tours, there is sometimes also an option to visit just the Warner Bros Studios without visiting Oxford. In this case, you would have to return to London from the Warner Bros studios independently. The ticket price is the same whichever option you choose.

STEP 3…

The third place to check for tickets is here ,

Use the search functions and include all possible travel dates to maximize your chances of success. GetYourGuide is a website where many different companies market Harry Potter Studio Tour tickets at varying prices and conditions. Some include transportation by bus, others by train and some with a private transfer. Some companies offer guided tours of the Warner Brother Studio whilst others simply provide a ticket which is self-guided.

STEP 4…

The fourth place to look is   here , here and here . This option includes pickup from Victoria Station.

Make sure to check tickets for all the different entrance times, and especially at 5pm or 6pm .  This is a major provider which might just offer a good way of getting to the Harry Potter studio tour when sold out. Tours are offered with return transportation to Central London and with departure times every hour from 9am to 6pm from London Victoria. Make sure to check this option regularly as last minute tickets do become available.

The fifth place to check is here , here , and here . These are the most expensive ticket options, which can be the last to sell out. Options include the only Fully Guided tour of the Studio, a Hotel pickup and dropoff service, and, on Friday evenings only, a visit to the Studio with a Champagne reception.

Step 6…

The sixth place to check for tickets is here and here  

Get a ticket and a hotel room from £125 per person.If you are planning on staying in a hotel during your trip, this is a very good way of getting tickets with transportation, which are normally sold out first. Hotel prices are very competitive, can be booked for up to 3 nights, and you’ll pay the regular cost of a studio ticket. It’s possible to stay in a number of 3* and 4* hotels located in Central London. You can see full terms and conditions on their website.

If you are visiting London and have already booked a hotel, you may be able to cancel your reservation for free. You could then book a hotel that’s included in this package.

Get In Touch:

Leave us your travel dates in the form below, and we’ll let you know if any Harry Potter tickets become available through Tourist England. Rest assured, our dedicated team is here to help!

Thanks a lot!! You are a lifesaver ! Got the required tickets for one of my dates 🙂 🙂    – Kirshna, Germany

Thank you so much! We have booked in for the 13:30 slot for 2 adults and 2 kids. I can’t thank you enough for your wonderful service!      – Esther, UK

You guys are amazzzzzziiinnngggggg – Mike, USA

If you’ve tried all the above options and still see that all Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour tickets are sold out then try the Warner Bros official  website . We’ve left this suggestion to last because they are normally the first place to get sold out, but it’s worth a go! (This option includes just the ticket to the studio tour, with no transportation to and from London.) If you find a ticket,   you can buy return bus transportation tickets to the Studios from Central London  here .

Step 8 – without transport

The eigth place to check for tickets is here .

These deluxe tickets are part of a VIP trip to the Harry Potter Studio Tour which sometimes has availability when other places are sold out. The VIP package includes a transfer from your hotel in Central London, a 2-hour fully-guided tour of the Warner Bros studio and re-entry into the studio for a self-guided visit. It also includes lots of extras such as a meal, Butterbeer and video of you flying a broomstick.

Step 9…

This voucher package starts at £99 per person. It includes a stay in a hotel and Studio Tour tickets. You can choose from a selection of different 3 and 4-star hotel options, and stay for 1-3 nights. Please note that only after purchase can you select specific dates. If the date you are looking for is sold out, you can cancel your voucher within 14 days to receive a 100% refund.

Similar Harry Potter Tours:

We understand that you might have planned your whole holiday around visiting the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London only to discover that tickets are sold out. But Tourist England offers several Harry Potter themed tours which are a great way to spend a day or two with the family!

• Harry Potter Bus Tour of London Locations  takes you around some of London’s most famous Harry Potter attractions. Highlights include the Ministry of Magic, Platform 9 ¾, the Knight Bus and the Leaky Cauldron
• Our Oxford & Cambridge day tour from London includes a visit to Christ Church College in Oxford. This is where Hogwarts Dining Room was filmed and gives you a good feel for the Harry Potter magic. The tour also goes to the university town of Cambridge.
• 2 Day Harry Potter Tour of England  is a two day fully customizable private tour which goes to the many places in England that were used in the filming of the Harry Potter movies. Highlights include Gloucester, Lacock, Oxford and London. The tour can be adjusted according to your tastes and wishes.

For more information about the Harry Potter Studio Tour from London, including descriptions of the attractions and sights, then check out our dedicated page here .

What’s included:

All Harry Potter Studio Tours from London include entrance tickets. From here, each provider will offer a slightly different product.

Some tour operators provide a shuttle bus transportation service from London Victoria Coach Station. This tends to be the cheapest way of getting from London to the Warner Bros Studio Tour. However, since it’s the cheapest, tickets also tend to get sold out first!

You might consider a more expensive option, which is to take a fully guided Harry Potter Studio Tour which includes escorted train tickets from London Euston Station. The great advantage of this option is that not only is it a fully guided tour, but you also get to stay on as long as you want after the official tour has ended, with time perhaps to check out the café and souvenir shop.

Another alternative is to purchase a hotel package , whereby tickets are included as part of a deal that includes a hotel pickup service directly from Central London. The service is offered for anyone staying in a hotel, apartment or accommodation within zone 1.

If this option is also sold out, then by far the most expensive option (and so with the best chance of success!) is to take a private taxi service from London. This service picks up from Baker Street and you get to enjoy the pleasure of a private car to and from the Studios. The price, of course, includes entrance tickets to the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studios.

One final option to consider is a full day tour that combines a visit to the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studios with a tour of Harry Potter locations in the university town of Oxford. The tour is not that much more expensive than the shuttle service and tends to get sold out only a week or two before the date of departure. The advantage of this tour is that you get a great full day out for all the family! The tour is available every Saturday, with Wednesday and Sunday departures available from April to October.

About Harry Potter Tour:

The best-selling Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour is a treat for any Harry Potter fan! You’ll get to go behind the scenes and discover how the 8 Harry Potter movies were created and came alive with special effects, incredible props and amazing sets! Make sure to plan your trip well in advance as Harry Potter Warner Studio Tour tickets are sure to get sold out well in advance!

Highlights:

• Be swept away into the world of Harry Potter with behind the scenes spectacular displays of how the movies were made
• Ride a broomstick!
• Discover the props and displays that were used in the movies
• Stand on platform 9 ¾ and take a selfie in front of the luggage trolley
• Go onboard Hogwarts Express

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Help! Harry Potter Studio Tickets are Sold Out for my London Trip Dates! 4 Ways to Buy

One very common question in my London tour groups is: “help! I can’t find Harry Potter Studio tickets for my dates!” 

This happens often because Harry Potter Studios – the Warner Brothers tour outside of London – sells out months in advance. For popular dates like Christmas time, Halloween, and school holidays, it can sell out even faster. 

It also happens because buying directly is the cheapest ticket. Harry Potter studio tickets directly from the Warner Brothers website start at £53.50.

Here are 4 ways to buy Harry Potter Studio tickets when they’re sold out on the website. 

This post may contain affiliate links for which I receive a small commission at no cost to you.

1. Purchase Harry Potter Studio Tickets Resale 

By “resale,” I mean tickets through a 3rd party retailer. There are tons of these companies that buy up tickets, or are allocated a certain amount for their business, and resell them. 

There is generally more availability with these retailers since it’s a bit more expensive than booking directly with Warner Brothers Studios. But many of them offer transportation included with the ticket, so it’s not a bad deal at all!

Here are the most trusted 3rd party retailers to purchase Harry Potter Studios tickets resale, according to travelers who have purchased before.

a) Tiquets : from £104

Tiquets is a reliable ticket vendor for tickets for Harry Potter Studios that offer either the basic entry ticket, plus transportation from Central London. Customers have said the buses are comfortable, have Wifi, and the 4 hour studio tour is well worth the price and it’s incredible.

b) Viator : from £104

Travel giant Viator usually has Harry Potter studio tickets available, and they too offer transport from Central London included with the ticket. Prices between Viator & Tiquets are usually about the same.

c) ⭐️ Get Your Guide : from £99 ⭐️

Get Your Guide is another reliable vendor for tickets for Harry Potter Studios, and they include comfortable coach transport from Central London. Harry Potter Studio tickets from Get Your Guide average about £5 less than Viator and Tiquets , though prices may fluctuate.  

d) Evan Evans Tours: from £105

Evan Evans tours is a London veteran who provide Harry Potter studio tickets resale, including return transportation from Central London. Tickets from Evan Evans are about the same price as Viator and Tiquets.

e) Golden Tours: from £105

Golden Tours is a popular UK tourism company and they offer Harry Potter Studio tickets from roughly the same price as the others.

2. Keep Checking the Official Harry Potter Studio Tickets Website 

Occasionally visitors need to change their tickets. The Studio explains their policy here . 

What does that mean for you? Tickets can pop up at any time! Keep checking several times a day. I’ve had many travelers report that their perseverance paid off big time when tickets magically appeared for their dates.

3. Have a Mastercard?

If you have a Mastercard, you can join Mastercard Priceless.

Priceless is Mastercard’s exclusive events and experiences platform, where tickets are released to Mastercard members before the general public.

20 tickets are released each day for 2-7 days in advance , so this is a great option if you need last minute Harry Potter studios tickets.

4. Harry Potter Studio Tickets Resale Are Too Expensive, and It’s Still Sold Out! 

There are so many ways to experience the magic of Harry Potter in London, and the studio isn’t the only place that the movies were filmed! There are a huge number of locations in London where you can experience Hogwarts in the Capital. 

You can go on a guided tour with Harry Potter experts, take yourself on a self-guided tour with my complete guide here , and don’t forget to take an iconic photo at Platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross. 

1. Guided Harry Potter Tours: See All The Filming Locations!

Lots of tour companies offer guided Harry Potter walking tours of London. But which is the best?

a) ⭐️ Get Your Guide: Magical London Harry Potter Walking Tour ⭐️

From £20pp you can explore the magic of Harry Potter in London with this interactive tour. You even get to hop on a boat and explore the Thames – this is really two experiences for the price of one!

b) Viator: The Original Harry Potter London Locations Tour

From £20pp you can test your Harry Potter knowledge with quiz questions as you stroll along the streets of Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square, seeing some of the iconic locations where the films were made!

c) Tiquets: Harry Potter Guided Film Locations Tour

This experience from Tiquets is on the pricier end (from £29pp) , but it’s the only Harry Potter tour that includes a visit to Platform 9 3/4. It’s also the longest at 2.5 hours, so it covers a lot that the other tours don’t.

2. Self-Guided Tours

Another alternative Harry Potter experience in London is to take yourself on a self-guided tour. I’ve written a guide to the most iconic and significant Harry Potter London locations here. Follow along – it’s free!

3. The Cursed Child

The Cursed Child is the never-before published story by JK Rowling, entering a brand new storyline in the Harry Potter Universe. This theatre production is absolutely MAGICAL.

I was absolutely blown away by the production value, the sets, the effects – it’s like you’re watching magic happen in front of your eyes. It’s not only a great way to experience Harry Potter in London, it’s also just a fantastic theatre experience.

Tickets vary in price, and they do sell out quickly, especially during peak times. There are a huge amount of vendors to choose from for tickets, but Ticketmaster sometimes has really great deals and promos.

4. Shopping

There are tons of shopping destinations for Harry Potter merch and memorabilia in London. My favorites are: Hamleys (Oxford Street), Forbidden Planet (Covent Garden), and the Platform 9 3/4 Shop at King’s Cross Station.

5. Visit Platform 9 3/4

Most visitors to London will find themselves at King’s Cross Station at some point. Don’t forget to visit the iconic photo stop! Sometimes it gets crowded and you’ll have to wait your turn in the queue. But it’s never more than 30 minutes or so.

Harry Potter World Tickets London: Did You Score?

If you found another way to score Harry Potter studio tickets resale or direct, please let me know! This is a huge problem for visitors to London and I want to help as many people find a way to get there as possible.

Email me at Jen (at) London in Real Life (dot) com. Thanks!

Tickets for Harry Potter Studios FAQ

Does harry potter sell out.

Yes! Harry Potter Studios London sells out very quickly, usually at least 3 months in advance, and sometimes longer.

Can you just turn up to Harry Potter studios?

No, you can’t. You must purchase tickets in advance as they are not available at the door.

What is the cheapest way to do the Harry Potter studio tour?

The cheapest tickets for Harry Potter Studios are directly from Warner Brothers. But they do sell out far in advance, so you may need to buy resale from another vendor. These are more expensive, but it may be the only option for your travel dates.

Do you need a whole day for Harry Potter studios?

Yes. The studio tour is 4 hours, and it takes at least 1 hour to get to the studios from Central London (usually more like 90 minutes if you’re taking a coach). That’s the majority of a day!

Is there a time limit to Harry Potter world?

Yes – your Harry Potter Studio tickets allow you entry for 4 hours. This is plenty of time to see everything inside.

Is Harry Potter Studio London worth it?

This is relative question – are you a big Potter fan? If you’re not, it may not be worth it. But if you love the films, it’s worth it to see so many original sets, costumes, and props from the films. It’s like stepping inside the films!

Is the Harry Potter studio tour all indoors?

Most of it is, but parts – like Privet Drive – are outdoors. No matter the weather, this is a really fun attraction!

Where to stay for Harry Potter studio tour?

You can easily stay in London for easy access to the Harry Potter studio. It’s an hour by train or 90 minutes by coach (and most tour companies provide transport). If you want to stay closer, Watford has a lot of affordable hotels to choose from.

Is Harry Potter World the same as Harry Potter Studios?

These two often get confused. Harry Potter World usually refers to the Universal Studios attractions- both in Orlando and Los Angeles. But often when you’re in the UK, people will refer to Harry Potter Studios as ‘Harry Potter World’ because it’s the largest Harry Potter attraction in the UK, and it’s like stepping into Harry Potter’s world!

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Get Last Minute Tickets to Harry Potter Studio Tour if Sold Out

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Are you looking for last minute tickets to visit the Harry Potter Studio in London and they’re sold out on the official website ? Don’t worry, we have a solution for you!

Read on for all the information you need, or click the link below to check what tickets are available right now.

• Harry Potter Studio Tour Tickets

How to get last minute tickets if sold out

As you have probably already seen on the official website , the tickets sell out very fast . Normally, you need to book them 3-4 months in advance.

However, the good news is that there are plenty of resellers and TourScanner aggregates them all so you can easily check the availability of Harry Potter Studio Tour tickets in one place.

• Find Harry Potter Studio Tickets

There are also tours that leave from Birmingham for those who plan to visit Studio Tour from the city.

If you don’t find anything available on TourScanner, it’s probably sold out everywhere. But you can always visit other places and landmarks in London where the movie was recorded , such as Diagon Alley, Platform 9 ¾, Gringott’s Bank, and more on Harry Potter landmarks walking tours . 

Another option is a tour of Harry Potter locations in Oxford if you already plan to visit this city. In fact, many scenes were shot at the University of Oxford.

Can tickets become available again in the next few days?

Yes, this is possible and happens quite often, especially on weekdays . These tickets become available if people cancel their visit a few days in advance (very rarely 1-2 days in advance).

If you can’t find anything at the moment , we recommend you keep checking in the coming days if last minute tickets are made available for resale. By using Tourscanner you will be able to check if something is available on different resale sites .

Are there cheap tickets or discounts?

You can find the cheapest tickets on the official website , but these are usually sold out. The second cheapest way to find a ticket for the Harry Potter Studio Tour is to compare all the resell ticket sites to find the cheapest deal, which you can do at Tourscanner . 

There aren’t 2-for-1 discounts, but there are offers for families . A family ticket includes admission for 2 adults and 2 children or 1 adult and 3 children. Also, there are special prices available on the official website for primary, secondary or college schools in the UK that follow the national curriculum. See the prices below.

If tickets aren’t available on the official site, you can find exclusive offers on other websites that resell them. These websites usually offer discounts or affordable ticket packages.

What to see at the Harry Potter Studio 

At the Warner Harry Potter Studios, you will delve into the world of Harry Potter and discover the magic hidden behind the most successful film series of all time. Perfect for family fun as well as for wizardry lovers, this behind-the-scenes walking tour takes you to:

• Stroll down Diagon Alley
• Past the shop of Ollivanders Wand Shop
• Flourish and Blotts
• The Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes
• Gringotts Wizarding Bank
• Eeylops Owl Emporium
• Check out Harry’s Nimbus 2000
• Hop on Hagrids’s Motorcycle
• Step into the actual Great Hall
• The Gryffindor common room
• Dumbledore’s office
• Try the popular beverage Butterbeer

Ticket Prices for Harry Potter Studio Tour in 2024

• Adult ticket (16+ years): from £53,50 (€63)
• Child (5-15 years): from £43 (€50)
• Family (2 adults & 2 children OR 1 adult & 3 children): from £172 (€201)
• 0-4 years: FREE
• Adult Complete Studio Tour Package: from £63,45 (€74). This package includes a Studio Tour Ticket, Digital Guide & Paperback Souvenir Guidebook.
• Child Complete Studio Tour Package: from £52,95 (€62). This package includes a Studio Tour Ticket, Digital Guide & Paperback Souvenir Guidebook.
• Package with transfers: from £105 (€123).
• Deluxe Package Tour: from £250 (€293). The Deluxe tickets include entry to the Studio Tour with a complimentary two-hour guided tour, designated parking, a souvenir guidebook, a Butterbeer, four free photographs and a video at one of our photo opportunities and a choice of hot meal and drink. If you are traveling by train, your Deluxe ticket will also include a return shuttle bus transportation between Watford Junction and Warner Bros.
• Other exclusive packages may be available on the official website.

How to get to the Studio Tour

Shuttle Bus

There are regular shuttle buses that run from Watford Junction to the Studio Tour, lasting around 15 minutes. Buses run every 20 minutes, starting at 9:20 AM. Note that the last return Shuttle Bus back to Watford Junction departs the Studio Tour when the Tour closes.

The nearest railway station to Studio Tour is Watford Junction. Direct services arrive there from both London Euston (20-minute journey) and Birmingham New Street (1-hour journey). Oyster cards are valid between London Euston and Watford Junction.

The Studio Tour is located 20 miles northwest of London and less than three miles from the M1 and M25 motorways. The postcode is WD25 7LR, as you approach the Studio Tour, brown signs labelled “Warner Brothers Studio Tour” which will help you get there easily.

The bus company Golden Tours offers a convenient return transfer and ticket packages on their buses. The transfer you from:

• London Kings Cross
• London Victoria
• Birmingham Coach Station
• Birmingham New Street
• London Bus Transfer Only

Are there tickets without transport? 

The official website’s standard entrance tickets do not include transport. However, it’s possible to book a ticket package with transfers .

The tickets from resellers include bus transport to the Studio. If you prefer to reach the Studio by car, you can still buy tickets including transportation and contact the tour operator saying that you will meet your guide directly at the Studio.

Remember to communicate this to the company so you can meet the guide at the Studio and receive your entry ticket. Unfortunately, there is no discount for not using the transport.

• Harry Potter Studio Tickets

What are the opening hours?

The Studio Tour opens at 9:30 AM and closes at 8 PM . The first tour begins at 10 AM, and the final tour begins at 4:30 PM.

Are there any special events?

Check the official website for special events that might be happening during the time of your visit. The studio puts on very special and exclusive events every month .

Don’t forget…

• Tickets must be purchased in advance . If the tickets are sold out on the official website, check the resellers with the help of TourScanner .
• The average visit lasts about 3.5 hours . The earlier you book your visit slot, the better, so you can spend as much time as you need in the studio. Wander, explore and see every minor detail!
• E-tickets are valid to show at the entrance
• To use the shuttle bus , you need a Studio Tour Ticket or booking confirmation for the date of travel. Otherwise, only cash is accepted.
• Oyster cards are valid between London Euston and Watford Junction railway stations.

I hope this comprehensive guide to everything you should know about the Warner Brothers Studio Tour London helps you. You can always leave a comment if you have any questions!

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He Illustrated the ‘Harry Potter’ Cover for $650. It Just Sold for $1.92 Million.

The watercolor cover art for the first edition of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” was painted in 1996 by a recent art school graduate from Britain who was working at a bookstore.

By John Yoon

The original cover art for the first edition of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” sold for $1.92 million at auction on Wednesday, becoming the most expensive item related to the series, decades after its illustrator was paid a commission of just $650.

The watercolor painting, which depicts the young wizard Harry going to Hogwarts from Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross station, was part of the private library of an American book collector and surgeon, Dr. Rodney P. Swantko, whose other rare items were auctioned at Sotheby’s in New York this week.

The year before the novel came out in 1997, its publisher, Bloomsbury, hired a 23-year-old from England who had just graduated from art school to design the book jacket, the auction house said. The artist, Thomas Taylor, would go on to establish the world’s conception of Harry Potter, with his iconic round glasses and lightning bolt scar.

“It’s kind of staggering, really,” he said about the sale of his painting in an interview on Thursday. “It’s exciting to see it fought over.”

Mr. Taylor was working at a children’s bookstore when he submitted sample drawings of wizards and dragons for the publisher in London to review, he said in a 2022 podcast interview . When he was selected, he said, “I was over the moon.”

The cover was Mr. Taylor’s first professional assignment. And, at the time, “J.K. Rowling was as unknown as I was,” he wrote in his blog , referring to the novel’s British author.

Because neither the author nor the illustrator was well-known, Mr. Taylor was paid only 500 British pounds, he said in the interview Thursday. To celebrate, he wrote in his blog, he probably bought some new pens and a bottle of Belgian beer.

As he prepared to draw the cover, Mr. Taylor read an incomplete manuscript, threw around different ideas and made several drafts before arriving on a final design with an editor, he said in a 2010 interview with The Rowling Library, a website focused on the writer’s oeuvre.

He drew the artwork on a sheet of roughly 16- by 11-inch watercolor paper, and signed and dated it on the reverse side, the auction house said. Today, there are faint color variations and tape remnants on the edges, it said.

“The final image — a pencil sketch, painted with concentrated watercolor and then outlined with a black Karisma pencil — took two days,” Mr. Taylor said in the blog, adding that he delivered the finished work to the publisher by hand.

The drawing sold on Wednesday included more detail than was reproduced in the published cover, the auction house said. Platform 10 is visible in the artwork, for example, and it also showed more of Harry’s clothing and the steam from the smokestack of Hogwarts Express.

The book took off rapidly. In 1998, it landed in American bookstores as “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” with a cover illustrated by another artist. In Britain, Bloomsbury moved on to more experienced illustrators, so Mr. Taylor’s drawing was his only contribution to the series, he wrote.

But he later negotiated a larger fee for the artwork, which was used for multiple overseas editions of the novel, he said. In 2001, when its film adaptation was being released, he decided to sell the illustration, thinking it would rise in value and fearing that he could not look after it properly and might spill coffee on it, he said. He sold it for about $100,000 at auction.

“I did make quite a lot of money in the end,” he said, adding that he was not upset that he missed out on the $1.92 million for which his drawing was sold more than 20 years later. “I’m just happy that I sold it when I did.”

Eventually, the novel became part of a world-famous series of seven books, translated into more than 70 languages, and the basis for some of the highest-grossing film franchises. This spring, Max, the streaming service from Warner Bros. Discovery, announced a television show based on the series.

“Harry Potter gave me a magical start to my career and I’m very grateful to him for that,” said Mr. Taylor, now an established author and illustrator of his own children’s mystery series called “Eerie-on-Sea.”

Just before the auction Wednesday, the artwork had been expected to sell for $400,000 to $600,000, the auction house said. It was eventually sold at Sotheby’s fine books and manuscripts sale in New York to an anonymous buyer.

John Yoon is a Times reporter based in Seoul who covers breaking and trending news. More about John Yoon

Up for Bids

Photographs. unforgettable outfits. whole estates. here’s a look at some of the most talked-about auctions of memorabilia..

William T. Sherman: Weapons from the battlefield, books inscribed by hand, and a family Bible are among the items belonging to the Civil War general  that went up for auction.

Norman Lear: The television producer’s prime pieces of artwork were featured in a special evening sale  at Christie’s.

Pattie Boyd: The model auctioned the handwritten messages she received from the rock guitarist Eric Clapton, which shed light on how he wooed her  away from George Harrison.

Neil Gaiman: The author decided to auction more than 100 collectibles and donate some of the proceeds to charity. In an interview, Gaiman pointed to some highlights .

‘The Crown’: In February, the auction house Bonhams offered hundreds of costumes and props from the show about the British royal family. These were some of the key lots .

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The Magical Harry Potter Studio Tour… and How to Get Resale Tickets!

Do you love Harry Potter? Then you need to visit the Harry Potter Studio and…

Do you love Harry Potter? Then you need to visit the Harry Potter Studio and go on a tour! Do you want more information about the Harry Potter Studio Tour? Are you looking for hotels near the Harry Potter Studio? Or do you need a Harry Potter Tour Ticket resale? Then read on and join us on our journey into the world of Hogwarts and Wizards on a Harry Potter Studio tour…

The Harry Potter Studio Tour is a must visit for all Harry Potter fans! The Warner Bros Studio in Watford is an immersive walk-through experience visiting some of the best-known sets, most-loved costumes, and gives a glimpse behind the scenes into the dazzling special effects of the movies!

Sneha has been a huge Harry Potter fan since being a child. And while Paul wouldn’t consider himself a super-fan, he has seen all the movies and read some of the books.

So we decided to take a trip tin the run up to Christmas when the Harry Potter Studio Tour has a Hogwarts in the Snow experience, with the sets dressed for the festive season…

Watch the highlights of our day...

The Great Hall of Hogwarts

The tour starts off at the only place it could... after a short intro movie in a theatre, the screen rolls up and reveals huge double doors. We all queue up excitedly, and as they're pushed open and we walk through, we step into the Great Hall of Hogwarts!

If you've seen the movies then this needs no introduction! Some of the most famous scenes from the movies are filmed here... where Harry and his friends are "sorted" into Gryffindor, where the Yule Ball and all of the celebrations and banquets take place, and where the winning house is announced at the end of each school year.

It's a huge cavernous hall with candles hanging from the ceiling. Long tables full of food and drink as if we've entered mid-feast. And beautiful Christmas trees and decorations for the festive period.

Once everybody is inside the hall, we all gather around one of the tables as the tour guide fires up the caldrons, and we feel like we should be wearing our Hogwarts robes to sit and enjoy the feast in front of us.

At the front of the Hall on stage all the teachers are there... Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall, Quirinus Quirrell, plus Hagrid and Filch!

It really feels like we've stepped into Hogwarts and the wizarding world of Harry Potter, and sets up the rest of the day perfectly!

Harry Potter Studio Tour Sets

We leave the Great Hall and by the doors near the stage, and we step into another even bigger space! 

Rather than being one large set like the Great Hall, this room is separated and has lots of small looking sets all around a huge studio, and it takes Paul a minute to realise that these are also actual sets from the movies! 

Walking around there's The Gryffindor common room, the Gryffindor boy's bedroom, Dumbledore's office, the Potions Classroom, plus many many more! They all look so cool!

And some also look tiny! The beds in the Gryffindor common room were built for the first movie when the actors were 11 or 12 years old. By the time the movies came to and end and the actors were in their early 20's, it was a quite a squeeze for them in the same beds!

As well as the many sets, there are costumes worn by the actors, props used, and everything is set up like a scene from the movies with mannequins dressed as the characters. Professor Snape in the Potions classroom, Hagrid in his hut, Dumbledore in his office, and of course Harry, Hermione and Ron in the Gryffindor common room. All so cool!

Green Screen Experience at the Harry Potter Studio Tour

Alongside the sets is also an immersive green screen experience. 

Sneha joins the line and gets a photo taken to begin with, before climbing onto a broom stick and flying through the streets of London to the Scottish countryside, all the way to Hogwarts!

It's a nice experience but the photos and video are very expensive to keep, so she decides to just treasure the memory instead!

The Forbidden Forest

After seeing more sets including parts of the Ministry of Magic and a gathering of the Death Eaters, next on the tour is the Forbidden Forest. And this is one of the highlights of the Harry Potter Studio Tour!

As we walk through the gates and enter the forest, the sky turns dark and a mist engulfs us, and we feel like we're really walking through the forest at night! Up ahead there's a Hippogriff in the trees, and having got one to look after in the game earlier, Sneha bows and befriends him!

We head deeper into the forest, ducking under trees and finding our way through the maze, until we attacked by giant spiders from all around! They come down from the overhead branches, they jump out from the tree roots, and we have to make our escape from the forest before they attack! (ok so this is a little exaggerated, it's all pretty slow and not as scary as it may sound!)

We take a break and regroup in a shop at the end of the Forbidden Forest, and prepare ourselves for the next part of the tour...

Platform 9 ¾ & The Hogwarts Express

We enter platform 9 ¾ (luckily not having to run through a brick wall to get there!) as the whistles blow on the Hogwarts Express, and we need to hurry as the train is about the leave! 

We rush down the platform and climb aboard just in time, being taken through a journey through the movies as each carriage is decorated to depict a scene from each. From carriages strewn with sweets and school clothes, to Ron's handprint on the window from when the Dementors attacked, fans will recognise the key scenes filmed on the Hogwarts Express.

There's another green screen experience here where you can sit in the carriages used to film some of the scenes, with the special effects added to show the scenery in the background.

The Backlot... Privet Drive & Professor Sprout's Greenhouse

The only part of the tour which is outside is the Backlot, where the houses of Privet Drive and Professor Sprout's Greenhouse are, along with Hagrid's motorbike, the Weasley's flying car, and the Knight Bus.

Sneha gets to ride Hagrid's motorbike and drive the Weasley's car (luckily it stays firmly on the ground!). We climb aboard the Knight Bus headed for London. And we go inside the Dursley's home full of flying letters for Harry... and we see Dobby!!

As we walk through Professor Sprout's Greenhouse we can hear the screams of the mandrakes, as people pull them out of their pots to reveal the baby-like plant hidden below the soil!

Gringots Wizarding Bank

One of the most amazing sets in the Harry Potter Studio Tour, and Sneha's favourite, is Gringots Wizarding Bank.

We walk into the grand banking hall, lined by giant marble columns, with 3 huge sparkling chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. It's enormous, and the attention to detail is incredible. Quills standing in inkwells, ledgers and coins, and goblins sat at the desks waiting for the next customer.

Sneha is mesmerised, and approaches the main tellers desk to ask for some Galleons, Sickles and Knuts.

It feels very royal to be in Gringots Bank, not like it's a movie set. Everything looks so real!

Further on in the special effects area, we also see the destruction of the Bank by a Ukrainian Ironbelly Dragon. The giant marble columns now lying broken on the ground, the huge chandeliers hanging off the ceiling, and the tellers desks collapsing as the Dragon fills the room with fire!

Gringots Vaults

After having asked the goblin bank teller very nicely, we're allowed to enter the Gringots Vaults before we leave!

But it looks like we're too late, and Harry, Hermione and Ron have beaten us to it! They're already going through the treasure of Bellatrix Lestrange's Vault, finding the Hufflepuff Cup!

Diagon Alley

Leaving Gringots Bank we step onto the most famous street in the wizarding world... Diagon Alley!

The small and ancient cobbled street, with wonky shops lining both sides, is a favourite of Harry Potter fans with them coming from all over the world to see real-life versions in The Shambles in York, Victoria Street in Edinburgh, and Cecil Court in London.

But nothing beats being able to walk along the actual Diagon Alley, complete with snow, and look at the shop windows of Ollivanders wand shop, Mr Mulpepper’s Apothecary, Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, and Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.

The last room of the tour is the Model Room, and we don't really know what to expect after having seen all of the wonderful sets from the movies.

But as we walk in, all we can say is WOW! The room is filled with a giant model of Hogwarts Castle, built at a 1:15 scale. The detail of it is amazing, and we learn that it was actually used for a lot of the external shots of the castle used in the movies!

Video screens tell us more info about different parts of the castle, and a film shows the model being filmed with a green screen, and then the transitions into CGI to make the final movie scenes... absolutely astounding!

Visiting during the festive season makes the experience even more magical... snow is falling covering the castle and grounds, the music playing as the lights go from night to day... truly magical!

It's the perfect way to end a great tour and day at the Harry Potter Studio Tour.

Harry Potter Studio Tour Costumes & Visual Effects

As well as seeing and being able to walk through all of the amazing sets, there is a separate section of the Harry Potter Studio Tour dedicated to the costumes and visual effects departments.

Here we get to see how some of the most magical creatures were created, from models used to generate CGI versions of some of the characters, to full size costumes worn by the actors.

Dobby is there, and Sneha gets to control him in front of an interactive screen with sensors picking up her movements and Dobby mirroring them on screen. There is a very realistic (and slightly scary!) Merpeople head straight from The Great Lake and the Triwizard Tournament. And Buckbeak is on show, a moving Hippogriff with a video telling the story behind how he was brought to life for the movies.

And no costume and visual effects area would be complete without the Goblins from Harry Potter! A whole area is dedicated to them, with the actual costumes which the actor Warwick Davis wore, the many different masks used, and videos showing the painstaking attention to detail and the make-up efforts required to create the Gringots Goblins onscreen.

Shopping on the Harry Potter Studio Tour

There are lots of shops around the Harry Potter Studio Tour, selling everything you can imagine though and more! Robes, school jumpers, wands and sweets. Chess sets, Quidditch games, mugs and Christmas decorations. If you want something, anything, Harry Potter themed, then this is the place for you!

with some themed for the area they're in, e.g. on Platform 9 3/4 the shop sells all Hogwarts Express memorabilia. This also means that some of the shops have exclusive items not available in the other shops.

TrovenTrippers Tip...

Not all of the shops sell the same things, so be sure to check them all out to see the full range. The main shop is in the lobby so it's worthwhile taking a look around before you start the tour, and then the tour ends in the shop too.

Where to get food on the Harry Potter Studio Tour

The cafés at the Harry Potter Studio Tour are surprisingly good! We started our day with breakfast in the main café, getting a breakfast muffin, with Paul getting a coffee from the same café but Sneha opting for one from the Starbucks stand there. And while eating breakfast, we also see Harry Potter himself enjoying breakfast!

Half-way around the tour is the Backlot Café. It's a good spot for lunch, serving hotdogs, festive chicken wings, and loaded fries. But the best part is we get Butterbeer!

While the quality of food is pretty good and the butterbeer is great, it is fairly expensive, but then what isn't these days! For the portion size and quality, it is similar as you'd pay in a city centre café so isn't too bad really.

The price of the Butterbeer includes a deposit for the branded butterbeer mug, meaning you can either take the mug home or return it for your deposit back. There is a washing station outside where some people dump their unwanted dirty mugs (presumably not realising they can return them for a deposit), so as long as you're certain they have been discarded then you can stock up and collect a full set of mugs!

Harry Potter Studio Tour Tickets & Resale

Tickets for the Harry Potter Studio Tour can sell out months in advance, particularly at peak times like school holidays or at Christmas like when we visited.

Our trip was quite a last-minute plan, and to our disappointment, the official website was completely sold out of tickets! Luckily, after some quick searching on Google, we found some Harry Potter Studio Tour tickets resale on GetYourGuide.com!

The tickets were the same price as they would have been from the official website, and they also include a boat trip on the Thames if you’re also visiting London. And it couldn't have been easier to get them, we were sent an email confirmation which we had to show at the ticket office at the entrance, and our tickets were ready and waiting for us in an envelope. Super easy and quick!

For direct tickets… Official Warner Bros Tour Website

For Harry Potter Tour Tickets resale… GetYourGuide Website

Harry Potter Studio Tour Opening Times

The Harry Potter Studio Tour Opening Times can differ slightly from day to day, but generally they are open 9.30am to 8pm on weekdays, and 8.30am to 10pm on weekdays and holidays.

But it’s best to check ahead to make sure using the link below…

To check opening times… Harry Potter Studio Tour Opening Times Website

What's On & the Best Time to Visit the Harry Potter Studio Tour

We visited the Harry Potter Studio Tour during the Christmas period and so the Hogwarts in the Snow experience was on. It was magical to see the sets in the snow and dressed for Christmas, but while this may be the best time to visit (in our opinion at least!), there really is no bad time to visit.

There are different themes running throughout the year, so check out the website for more details... What's On at the Harry Potter Studio Tour

Hotels Near Harry Potter Studios

The Harry Potter Studios are in Leavesden in Watford, around 1 hour from London.

There are many hotels near the Harry Potter Studios with Watford being quite a large town, so you’re sure to find a hotel for your needs whether you’re looking for budget friendly or something more luxurious.

We were only spending 1 night in the area and just needed a base to stay, so we opted for the budget friendly Leonardo Hotel London Watford.

The hotel is really nice for the price... clean, recently refurbished, and well positioned to walk into Watford for some food and only a 10-minute drive from the Harry Potter Studio. A great base to stay at!

To book the hotel directly… Leonardo Hotel Website

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Is Harry Potter: The Exhibition Worth It? Here's What You Need to Know

I planned an epic New York City adventure for my great-nephew (16) who was visiting from his home in north Georgia. Included were stops at the Empire State Building, NY Public Library, Times Square and a ride past the Statue of Liberty on the Staten Island Ferry.

I also wanted to include a Harry Potter activity since he’s a fan of the books and movies. I discarded the notion of attending the 3 1/2-hour Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Broadway show because I didn’t want to be cooped up inside in June. And, sadly, the Harry Potter retail store has ended its two amazing virtual reality experiences and is transitioning those spaces into areas for more merch.

Luckily, Harry Potter: The Exhibition was in town, nearing the end of its NYC run before relocating to Boston . Curated by a division of Warner Bros. Entertainment, the exhibit features many costumes and props from the HP and Fantastic Beasts films and plenty of behind-the-scenes stories to amuse Potter fans of all ages. Here’s what to know before you go.

Read More: Best NYC Hotels for Families

Harry Potter: The Exhibition

My daughter accompanied us to the NYC exhibit. She’s visited the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London and Universal’s Wizarding World . Although The Exhibition can’t compare to these awesome Harry Potter experiences, she found it entertaining enough to recommend to fans.

Visitors begin by creating their wizarding profile. You choose your Hogwarts house, wand and Patronus by tapping a wristband on a kiosk. Throughout the experience, you’ll tap on different activity consoles to collect points for your house by casting spells and concocting potions.

SheBuysTravel Tip: We had trouble getting our wristbands to connect. If you experience problems, remove the wristband and place it flat against the gold medallion readers. That worked better for us.

Since The Great Hall is the scene for so many memorable moments, I enjoyed stepping into a recreation of the Hogwarts dining room. Two tables were set for students beneath suspended ceiling candles while a background video showed seasonal representations of the banquet hall.

My daughter had a great time beating me and my great-nephew in Quidditch . No. You don’t ride on brooms, but you can hurl balls through goalposts. It’s harder than it looks. At least it was for me.

There are several opportunities to pose for photos. My great-nephew struck a Harry-esque pose on the under-the-stairs bed recreated from the Dursley’s home on Privet Drive.

Each of the exhibit spaces has fun facts about the costumes and props. For example, actor Daniel Radcliffe broke over 80 wands during film production by repeatedly drumming them. 

SheBuysTravel Tip: If your children are into the arts, they will be fascinated by the design process described in the placards and the ability to get right up close to see all of the details in the items. I left wishing I could go back in time and become a movie costume designer.

• Is the exhibition suitable for children? The exhibit is directed to Harry Potter fans, ages 5 and up. If your child loves the books and movies, then this experience will be a hit. If they’re not, then they’ll be bored. The sweet spot, I think, is 12+.
• How much are tickets and where can I buy them? Online tickets are available on the official website. They are offered at three price points: Timed Entry, Flex, and VIP. Timed entry tickets are tied to a specific date and 30-minute arrival window. Flex tickets permit entry during a period of dates for any time. VIP tickets offer the greatest entry flexibility and additional perks.
• What are the exhibition hours and location? In NYC, Harry Potter The Exhibition is open 7 days a week. Hours vary. The official website is the best resource for operating times.
• How long does the exhibition take to complete? The exhibit organizers suggest spending 60 to 90 minutes touring; however, you can spend as long as you like since this experience is self-guided.

Read More: Essential Guide to Driving in NYC

Tips for Your Visit

• If this is a must-see for you, purchase your tickets in advance . Although timed entry tickets for a set date are the least expensive option, consider flex tickets so you don’t have to worry about missing your entry slot.
• The exhibition involves walking, so comfortable shoes are recommended for adults and children. Strollers are not permitted; however, accommodations are available for guests with limited mobility.
• Although there is a retail space at The Exhibition, the large NYC Harry Potter shop has much more merch and a butterbeer bar. It’s about a 20-minute walk.

Things to Do Nearby

Harry Potter The Exhibition is located across the street from Macy’s flagship store in Herald Square. Operating in this spot since 1902, Macy’s has several on-site dining options, if you’re in the mood for a bite to eat. And take a ride up or down the historic wooden escalators.

You may not have the time to visit the roof of The Empire State Building , but definitely take a walk over to look up and see what was the tallest building in the world until 1971. Enter the lobby at 20 W. 34th Street to get the Art Deco feel of this landmark.

The Koreatown stop on the Red Loop of Big Bus Tours is located at 5th Ave. and 32nd Street. Riding the open-deck bus is a great way to see NYC from midtown to the Battery.

If Harry Potter is the theme for your NYC trip, add tickets to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway and a stop at the Harry Potter retail store next to the Flatiron building at 935 Broadway.

Read More: Perfect 3-Day NYC Itinerary

Harry Potter The Exhibition closes its NYC run on August 11, 2024. However, it will continue its US tour in Boston from September 13, 2024, through January 5, 2025. Booking tickets in advance is highly recommended.

The post Is Harry Potter: The Exhibition Worth It? Here’s What You Need to Know appeared first on She Buys Travel .

Get Tickets to Harry Potter Studio Tour if Sold Out

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• Gordon James

If you want to visit several Harry Potter locations in the UK, you might want to grab a ticket to the London tour as soon as possible. Bookings are already selling out fast, and some studios may even close early if they sell out.

Unless you live in London, you probably wouldn’t be able to get tickets to the first ever Harry Potter Studio Tour, which is due to open this November. That’s why, if you’re lucky enough to have already purchased your ticket, you’ll want to get your hands on a new batch as soon as they go on sale (if not sooner).

Visit to Harry Potter Studios

There are several ways to get tickets for the Harry Potter Studio Tour if they sell out. Since tickets offered directly on the Warner Bros Studios website tend to sell out months in advance, we’ve put together a rescue guide with links to all the companies offering tickets to Harry Potter Studios with or without transport from central London. You can also contact us using the form at the bottom of this page. Let us know your travel dates and we’ll let you know if tickets are available from the suppliers we work with.

So make sure you check out all your options for Harry Potter Studio Tour tickets……

How to find tickets

The first place to go is here. You can use transport from central London or buy your tickets directly from Studio Tour. The cost of the ticket remains the same, even if you do not use the transport.

They are one of the largest providers of tickets to the Harry Potter Studios and your visit includes access to the studios and transport from central London. There are different departure times: 08.30, 10.30. 11.30 и 13.30. The price is £99 for an adult and £95 for a child.

STEP 2…

The second place you can look is here and here. You can take transportation from London or pick up your tickets directly from the studio. Select a place in the booking form.

Please note the different access times, especially at 5pm or 6pm. This is a great seller and can be a good way to get to the Harry Potter Studios tour if tickets are sold out. Tours are to and from central London and leave from London Victoria every hour between 9am and 6pm. Check this option regularly as tickets may go on sale at the last minute.

STEP 3…

The third place to check ticket availability is here. Use the search functions and enter all possible travel dates to increase your chances of success. GetYourGuide is a website where many different companies sell Harry Potter Studio Tour tickets at different prices and conditions. Some include transportation by bus, some by train, and some with private transfers. Some companies offer guided tours of Warner Brother Studios, while others simply provide a ticket for a self-guided tour.

STEP 4…

The fourth place to check ticket availability is here and here. These are two visits to the Warner Bros Harry Potter studios that include a visit to Oxford. Tours are available in small and large groups and depart from central London in the morning. These tours are often still available, even when other providers are already sold out. These tours also include the option to visit only the Warner Bros. Studios, without visiting Oxford. In that case, you must leave the Warner Bros. Studios to return to London. The price of the ticket is the same, regardless of the option chosen.

**Harry Potter with return tickets from York – see here.

Step 5…

The fifth place to check ticket availability is here. These deluxe tickets are part of the Harry Potter Studio Tour VIP package, which is sometimes available when other seats are sold out. The VIP package includes transportation from your central London hotel, a two-hour tour of the Warner Bros. Studios and return to the studio for a free tour. It also comes with lots of extras like food, butterbeer and a video of you flying on your broom.

Receiver contact:

Enter your travel dates in the form below and we will let you know when Tourist England tickets for Harry Potter go on sale. Don’t worry, our team is always ready to help!

Fill out my Wufoo form!

Thank you. !! You’re a lifesaver! I have the necessary tickets for one of my appointments – Kirschna, Germany

Thank you. We booked tickets for 1:30pm for 2 adults and 2 children. I can’t thank you enough for your great service!      – Esther, United Kingdom

You guys are great – Mike, USA

If you have tried all the options above and still find that all Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour tickets are sold out, try visiting the official Warner Bros website. We saved this offer for last because they usually sell out first, but it’s worth a try! (This option only includes a ticket for the studio tour, without the return trip to London). If you can find your ticket, you can buy bus tickets back to the studios from central London here.

Step 7 – without transport

The seventh place to check ticket availability is here. Get your ticket and hotel room from £99 per person. If you plan to stay at a hotel during your trip, this is a good way to get non-transit tickets that are usually the first to sell out. The hotel rates are very competitive, they can be booked for up to 3 nights and you pay the normal price of a studio ticket without transportation. You can stay in various 3* and 4* hotels in the centre of London. You can view the full terms and conditions on their website.

Best advice: If you are coming to London and have already booked a hotel, you can cancel your reservation for free. You can then book the hotel included in this package.

Step 8…

This package starts at £99 per person. Included are hotel accommodations and tickets to the Studio Tour. You can choose from several 3 and 4 star hotels and stay from 1 to 3 nights. Please note that you can only select specific dates after purchase. If the date you want is sold out, you can cancel your voucher within 14 days and get 100% of your money back.

Harry Potter related tours:

We understand that you may have planned your entire vacation to attend the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London, but tickets are already sold out. But Tourism England has several Harry Potter themed tours that are a great way to spend a day or two with the family!

• The Harry Potter London Bus Tour takes you to the most famous Harry Potter attractions in London. Highlights include the Ministry of Magic, Platform 9 ¾, the Knight’s Bus and the Cauldron.
• Our day trip from London to Oxford and Cambridge includes a visit to Christ Church College, Oxford. The Hogwarts Dining Room was filmed here, where you can experience the magic of Harry Potter. The tour also includes the university town of Cambridge.
• The Harry Potter 2-Day Tour of England is a fully customizable, private 2-day tour of many of the locations in England used in the Harry Potter films. Highlights include Gloucester, Lacock, Oxford and London. The tour can be adapted to your taste and wishes.

Additional information:

For more information on the Harry Potter Studio Tour of London, including descriptions of the attractions and sights, visit our dedicated page here.

What’s included:

All Harry Potter Studios tours from London include tickets. In addition, each supplier offers a slightly different product.

Some tour operators offer a shuttle service from London Victoria bus station. This is usually the cheapest way to get from London to the Warner Bros Studio Tour. But because it’s the cheapest, the tickets are usually sold first too!

You can also opt for the more expensive option of a tour of the Harry Potter Studios, including guided train tickets from London Euston station. The advantage of this option is that not only is it a fully guided tour, but you can stay as long as you like after the official tour ends, with the option to stop at the café and gift shop.

Alternatively, you can buy a hotel package where the tickets are part of the offer, and transfers between the hotel and central London are also included. This service is available to anyone staying in a hotel, apartment or accommodation in Zone 1.

If this option is also exhausted, by far the most expensive (and therefore most promising!) option is to take a private taxi from London. This service will pick you up at Baker Street and you will be provided with a private car to and from the studio. Included, of course, are tickets to the Warner Bros Harry Potter Studios.

The final option to consider is a full day tour that combines a visit to the Warner Bros Harry Potter Studios with a visit to the Harry Potter film locations in the university city of Oxford. The tour costs little more than a transfer and is usually fully booked one or two weeks before the departure date. The benefit of this tour is that you get a great full day out for the whole family! The tour takes place every Saturday, and from April to October you can go up on Wednesdays and Sundays.

About the Harry Potter tour

The best-selling Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour is a treat for any Harry Potter fan! You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the eight Harry Potter films, with special effects, incredible props and stunning sets! Plan your trip well in advance, as tickets for the Harry Potter Warner Studio Tour are sure to sell out well in advance!

Highlights:

• Immerse yourself in the world of Harry Potter with spectacular behind-the-scenes demonstrations of how the films are made.
• Put the broom on!
• Explore the props and exhibits used in the films.
• On platform 9 ¾ taking selfies in front of the baggage car.
• To Hogwarts Express

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i get harry potter tickets when sold out.

If you are unable to get tickets for Harry Potter, there are a few options. You can try to buy them on the secondary market, or you can try your luck at the box office.

Are Harry Potter tickets transferable?

Yes, Harry Potter tickets are transferable.

Can I resell Harry Potter tickets?

No, you cannot resell Harry Potter tickets.

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Original ‘Harry Potter’ item fetches nearly $2M at record-breaking auction

• Published: Jun. 27, 2024, 6:30 p.m.

The watercolor artwork used on the cover of the first book in J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," sold at auction Wednesday, June 26, for nearly $2 million. AP

• Robert Higgs, cleveland.com

NEW YORK – The original illustration for the cover of the original book in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series sold Wednesday for a record-breaking $1.9 million.

The watercolor artwork was used on the cover of Rowling’s 1997 novel “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.” It was expected to fetch up to $600,000 at Sotheby’s in New York, but bidding surged to more than three times that amount, CNN reported .

It took nearly 10 minutes for the four-way bidding to conclude in New York on Wednesday, Sotheby’s told CNN.

The cover was the work of Thomas Taylor, 23, who was fresh out of art school in 1997 and had taken a train into London. Taylor dropped off some sketches of dragons at the offices of Bloomsbury, the publishing house, according to Sotheby’s . A week later, he got a call from the publisher, who had seen his sketches and asked if Taylor would like to do the cover for a book from an as-yet unknown author.

Taylor created the cover design in just two days, Sotheby’s said.

Taylor’s image shows Harry Potter – with his unmistakable dark, brown hair, round glasses and lightning bolt scar – getting ready to board the Hogwarts Express train for his first trip to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The image was used on the cover of Rowling’s books sold in the United Kingdom, and on several translated versions of the book, the auction house said. It was not used for the U.S. edition of the book, which was sold under the title “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.”

At the time of the book’s publication, Taylor worked in a bookshop. His colleagues in the store would inform customers that their local bookseller was the illustrator of the high selling novel, Sotheby’s said.

The illustration first went up for auction at Sotheby’s in London in 2001, selling for about $106,000 in U.S. dollars, according to Sotheby’s.

The record for an item related to the book series was previously held by an unsigned first edition of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” which sold for $421,000 at Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas, in 2021, Sotheby’s said.

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This Harry Potter Item Just Became The Most Expensive Ever Sold At Auction—By Almost 400%

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The original watercolor painting that was later used as the cover art for the first ever “Harry Potter” book shattered a franchise memorabilia record when it sold at Sotheby’s auction house in New York Wednesday for $1.9 million—almost four times as much as the previous record holder’s sale.

The cover art used for the first-ever edition of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone."

A watercolor illustration by Thomas Taylor, who was a 23-year-old bookseller when he first painted the work, sold for $1.9 million to become the most valuable Harry Potter item ever sold at auction.

The piece shattered expectations—it was expected to sell for between $400,000 and $600,000—and has increased in value more than 1,650% since it was first auctioned off in London for $108,280 (£85,750) in 2001.

Sotheby’s did not name the buyer.

The piece of art was featured on the first edition covers of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone" in 1997 and was again used last year when Bloomsbury Publishing ordered a commemorative reprint to mark the book's 25th anniversary.

The sale of a handwritten manuscript of “The Tales of Beedle the Bard,” a fairytale book referenced in “Harry Potter,” is expected to sell for between $250,000 and $350,000—bidding will close Friday.

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$421,000. That was the sale price for the previously most expensive Harry Potter item ever sold. The unsigned first edition of the first book in the series sold in Dallas three years ago. The artwork sold for 351% increase.

Key Background

The artist, Thomas Taylor, was working in a children's bookstore when he received his first ever professional commission from Bloomsbury Publishing to create the "Harry Potter" cover art . He became one of the first people to ever read the original manuscript for the book and, within two days, had painted a watercolor work of a young wizard with a lightning bolt-shaped scar on his head standing in front of the Hogwart Express train. The cover art was used by most international publishers for the book, but it was not used for the American edition.

An upcoming television adaptation of the Harry Potter series from HBO secured a showrunner and director on Wednesday. Mark Mylod, who directed several episodes of "Game of Thrones," "Succession" and the Golden Globe-nominated film "The Menu," is set to executive produce and direct several episodes of the still-untitled show, and Francesca Gardiner, a "Succession" and "His Dark Materials" producer, has been tapped as showrunner and will also executive produce. Little is known about the series so far other than that it promises to be a "faithful" adaptation of the books and will turn each of the original seven novels into a new season over the course of a decade. It is expected to premiere in 2026.

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The original watercolor illustration for the cover of Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone, the first book in author J.K. Rowling’s famous series, is now the most expensive piece of Potter-related memorabilia ever sold at auction.

The illustration was on the debut edition of the 1997 novel. It has now been sold for $1.9 million by Sotheby’s New York, but not before a four-way bidding battle that lasted almost 10 minutes.

Thomas Taylor was the artist who painted the image. It depicts Harry Potter on Platform 9¾, awaiting his first ride on the Hogwarts Express.

A first edition copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was the previous record-holder. It sold for $421,000 at Heritage Auctions in Dallas in 2021.

Taylor’s illustration sold for almost four-times the expected amount of between $400,000 and $600,000.

Sotheby’s said it was the “highest pre-sale estimate ever placed on an item of any Harry Potter-related work.”

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