This is the feedback thread for the super lucky MNers who attended the special Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter MN event on 23 March.
They say "We were delighted to welcome MNers and their little wizards to the Warner Bros. – Studio Tour London,. Here you can step on to authentic sets, discover the magic behind spellbinding special effects and explore the behind-the-scenes secrets of the Harry Potter™ film series. Visitors can tread the original stone floor of the iconic Hogwarts™ Great Hall, encounter animatronic creatures and wander down Diagon Alley™. Located at the Studios where all eight films were produced, the Studio Tour showcases the incredible British talent, imagination and artistry that went into making the impossible a reality on screen. Visitors will relive the magic through the eyes of the filmmakers who brought the Harry Potter film series to life".
MN attendees - please share your responses to the following questions....
What were your first impressions on arrival?
How were the facilities throughout the Studio Tour?
Were the staff friendly and helpful?
Did you and your family enjoy the experience?
Would you recommend other families visit the Studio Tour for a day out?
We'd also like you to include a review here.
Non MN attendees - if you've been to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter yourself, feel free to also share your overall thoughts on your tour experience on this thread.
All MNers who share their feedback of the Studio Tour and add a review will be entered into a prize draw where two lucky MNers will win a goody bag containing a Harry Potter wand, Fizzing Whizzbees, Peppermint Toads, Chocolate Frog and a packet of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans (worth £57.75).
Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ
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Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter - review thread - chances to win goody bags! NOW CLOSED
AnnMumsnet · 23/03/2016 13:22
First impressions:
Car park was really quiet with efficient and friendly staff, same for the entrance. I appreciate it is just a queueing area but the main entrance is pretty underwhelming - if you don't look up and notice the character photos you could be in a train station or airport. This might be intentional as it's an attraction not a theme park, I think it would be better for younger children (under 10) if it was a bit more impressive as you go in. Signposts about the queuing times would also be handy (in fact, a more effective queueing system full stop would be better!).
Facilities:
The facilities that we used were all clean and well maintained. Would be great if there were a few more seats around, I struggled to find somewhere to stop for a feed that was comfy (breastfeeding on a bench isn't ideal) and it probably hurried us along to the cafe quicker than we would have been otherwise. That said, I think they do have a feeding room but I didn't see it and didn't notice it when walking around - obviously I could have asked if I was really bothered!
Staff:
Excellent, really friendly and chatty. Complimented DD on her robes, engaged her in conversation about her favourite characters, all seemed like genuine HP fans.
Did we enjoy?
We had a brilliant time, it's an absolute must for any Harry Potter fans and I could easily have spent another couple of hours here - if it wasn't for those (my) pesky kids 
Love the Hogwarts building and could happily have spent most of my time sitting on the bench and watching the faces of kids - and some adults - as they walked in! If I worked in HP studios marketing team I would video that doorway and make it my next ad campaign.
Would I recommend?
Definitely. It's a great day out and one of the rare places that I think captures the imagination regardless of age. My 8 year old Potter mad DD had a super time, DP loved it and even my five month old seemed to really enjoy it.
Thanks so much MNHQ and Warner Brothers, we had a fantastic afternoon and it was an incredibly generous experience to offer to so many families.
What were your first impressions on arrival?
Very efficient parking, took the stress out of finding a space . We loved the chess pieces outside the building and couldn't help getting overexcited by the massive pictures . Inside, as the pp mentioned, is basically a big holding pen but the queue moved very quickly.
How were the facilities throughout the Studio Tour?
We used the loos when we first got there - very clean, although a bit of a surprise if you accidentally lean in front of the flush sensor mid-wee! The loos all seemed quite well spaced out as far as I could see. The cafe was clean and the staff friendly. The food was brilliant - the goujons were proper chicken, I'd be willing to assert that the macaroni cheese was a Charlie Bigham's one. Both came with a substantial salad. It was good to have a place to wash out our Butterbeer mugs before we stashed them.
Were the staff friendly and helpful?
Extremely so - even my 12 year old DS commented on how nice the shop staff in particular were. Everybody seemed enthusiastic and charming, and were certainly good ambassadors for the Studio Tour.
Did you and your family enjoy the experience?
Yes - we couldn't help but sing the Potter Pals Mysterious Ticking Noise song while we were waiting, we were so relaxed and among fellow Potterheads . We took a couple of hours, but had I been on my own, and had I not had to work tomorrow I could easily have spent longer.
Would you recommend other families visit the Studio Tour for a day out?
Absolutely! Even if you are not a Potter fan, the film making aspect of it is really interesting. Bring your £££ for the gift shop - yes, it's pricey, but it's not every day you go there!
Thank you so, so much Mumsnet and Warner Bros for this experience - we're all shattered but happy!
What were your first impressions on arrival?
Easy to find, smart and clean. We went straight into the tour so didn't really notice the foyer - although the reception desk gave a hint of things to come with its old-fashioned typewriter and leather-bound ledgers.
How were the facilities throughout the Studio Tour?
Good standard throughout, plenty of loos. A few more benches would be welcome. We enjoyed the food and drink in the Backlot Café - it's handily placed for a pit stop a couple of hours into the tour.
There were many photo opportunities too - trolleys on Platform 9 3/4, the Knight Bus etc.
Were the staff friendly and helpful?
Faultless - friendly, knowledgeable. One in particular showed us some really detailed packaging and in-jokes on items 'sold' in the Weasley's shop 
Did you and your family enjoy the experience?
The DC loved it, as did I. We had been before, when they were a lot younger, and they said that they'd enjoyed it even more today. I was amazed at how much we had remembered - it is such a unique experience that it sticks in the memory. We could easily have spent another hour or two pottering 
around absorbing all the tiniest details. For us the fascination was in the technical detail - green screens, model-making, prop, sets.
Would you recommend other families visit the Studio Tour for a day out?
Definitely.
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Message withdrawn at poster's request.
What were your first impressions on arrival?
Very positive - car park was quiet and easy to navigate. The lobby itself was grand - loved the huge pictures of the characters and the props on the admission desk. The staff were really helpful and sorted us out with our tickets straight away. We had to hand around for DH to arrive from work so had a drink in Starbucks, which was airy and clean.
How were the facilities throughout the Studio Tour?
Toilets were clean and plentiful. Didn't have to queue. DD (4) was particularly thrilled by the super efficient air blade dryers! The Backlot cafe was great - the macaroni cheese was really good and the staff was super helpful. To nitpick there could have been some washing up liquid at the butterbeer tankard washing station, but really this wasn't a huge issue!
Were the staff friendly and helpful?
Extremely - the tour guides were engaging a knowledgeable and everyone seemed to have a smile on their face (presumably a fun job!)
Did you and your family enjoy the experience?
We LOVED it. The children were fascinated by the sets, costumes and props (as were DH and I). DS (6) actually squealed in delight when he rang the bell on the Knight Bus in a way I haven't heard him since he was toddler! The model of Hogwarts at the end in particular really blew me away, it was awe-inspiring.
Would you recommend other families visit the Studio Tour for a day out?
I absolutely would. It is not a cheap endeavour and I'd advise allowing plenty of time to really make the most of it, but it's an incredible experience for HP fans (or even movie fans in general).
Thank you so much MN and Warner Bros for giving us the opportunity - I know it's a day we will remember fondly for ever. Little Harry and Hermione are tucked up in bed clutching their wands and doubtless dreaming of Hogwarts
What were your first impressions on arrival?
WOW! It was quite overwhelming. Lovely and clean and beautiful displays in the shop etc. Lots to look at in every direction. It felt very fancy and official having to have our bags checked :o I absolutely loved the desk they had for us to register - those big books and things made it feel so real!
How were the facilities throughout the Studio Tour?
Pretty good. The only issue I had was with the toilets - the automatic flush was a little overenthusiastic :o
Were the staff friendly and helpful?
Yes, and this is the main reason I am doing my feedback tonight, before I forget it all.
We were greeted by lots of different members of staff, every one of them enthusiastic and friendly.
I have an invisible disability and I had heard that I could ask for a folding chair as I often can't stand for very long. So I asked for one at the cloakroom, and they also immediately asked if I would manage the queue for entry, as it'd be about 20mins. I was unsure, so they said I could go in through a side door. I was able to sit and wait for the next group to go through instead of standing - this makes a massive difference to me. They even said, as we would miss the cupboard under the stairs bit by not queuing, that we could go back and look at it when we came out at the end (didn't actually have time for a proper look in the end, but they were perfectly willing to take us there).
The staff in the Backlot Cafe were fantastic. Plenty of people around to tell us where to use our food tokens etc. I asked on the off chance if any food was gluten free - DH is a coeliac and is well used to missing out. But they instantly knew that there was a gluten free option (with the hotdog) and gave us that. They also let DH swap the beer for a cider as that's GF too, and they told us that the butterbeer is GF before we even asked.
Another person came up to us as she'd found one of the Hogwarts passports on the floor and was concerned we'd dropped it, she was trying to track down the owner.
DH made a bit of a spectacle of himself by going arse over tit as he slipped by the mug wash thingy - staff were very helpful and lovely about it.
Every single encounter with a member of staff, whether in the shop, foyer, cafe etc, was very positive. Either they knew the answers or they offered to go and find out. Honestly, of all the tourist attraction type places I've ever been to, it's no exaggeration to say that this was the best customer service I've EVER had. And it wasn't just one example, it was every staff member we spoke to.
Did you and your family enjoy the experience?
YES! We are on a major high tonight, it was so fantastic. The green screen photos were great fun (we did the car and the DCs had a go on the broomsticks... another thing about the customer service is that they weren't at all pushy trying to get us to buy the extra photos) and it was lovely just being able to wander round and see all the different exhibits. My favourite was the model Hogwarts at the end. Dare I admit I got a bit tearful when we walked in and the music was playing too... wow. Was amazing to be able to actually walk through the Hogwarts Express too! And the half-trolleys on the platform for a free photo opportunity.
Would you recommend other families visit the Studio Tour for a day out?
Yes absolutely. I would tell them that it is a lot of money, as there were lots of other opportunities to spend (like the butterbeer, photos etc) - although that only adds to my amazement that we got to do all this for free thanks to MN :) we never could've done it otherwise. 
Most importantly - THANK YOU! We had an amazing day and can't thank you enough for this experience, we felt very spoilt and lucky.
What were your first impressions on arrival?
Very professional and friendly greeting. There was increased security compared to our last visit and I welcomed this as i struggle with crowds due to anxiety - this immediately relaxed me. The security staff were lovely..
How were the facilities throughout the Studio Tour?
Facilities were clean and there were enough throughout the tour, although would have liked toilets closer to the backlot cafe. Getting into the tour was very simple and really flowed well, despite there being loads of people we didn't have to do lots of queing. The same with the photos, efficient staff made it relatively stress free. I would have liked more time in the shop actually, but we probably should have gone in before the tour but wonder if it would be an idea to have the shop open until 8.30 to give the last people through enough time to browse. The food was really good and efficiently served. The Butterbeer had mixed reviews in our family, although i did see an awful lot of it being washed away!
Were the staff friendly and helpful?
Very much so - couldn't have been nicer, we were left with the impression that people like working there. We were made to feel quite special for being mnetters but on a previous visit we found the staff to be equally friendly and wanting you to enjoy the visit.
Did you and your family enjoy the experience?
It was fantastic, my dd keeps saying it was amazing and it really was. This was my second visit to the studio and i was blown away by the hogwarts express, in fact i felt quite emotional 
. The animatronics were out of this world and i couldn't tear myself away from buckbeak. absolutely stunning.
Would you recommend other families visit the Studio Tour for a day out? Absolutely, for any fan of Harry Potter it is a must, but even if you are not a HP fan per se it would have still been fascinating to see the amount of detail and complexity in the sets. I especially liked that they showed not only the impressive sets but the initial models that these were based upon. My only caveat would be that if i am very honest, you need deep pockets to visit as i do think that the shop was expensive, especially for things like chocolate frogs (£8.99!) but this isn't a major criticism as it is not somewhere you would expect to make many return visits to and lets face it, every tourist attraction has an expensive gift shop these days and the shop does have some amazing gifts. We spent £51 in the shop and £25 on a dvd but we treated ourselves to Hermione's wand and a pheonix so we were happy with what we came away with.
Once again, THANK YOU so very much for this, it is just what we needed. I felt quite overwhelmed by the freebies actually and extremely lucky. Thank you mumsent and Warner Brothers - you are all stars.
Glad it wasn;t just me that kept setting off the automatic flush - thought it was my ample backside!!
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