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Original poster

Help with Warner Bros Studios

34 replies

ThaQuilomum · 28/12/2023 18:38

Was gifted a trip to Warner Bros Studios for Christmas for the whole family. I'm slightly worried about the timing of same. We arrive in London Heathrow at 9:15am and our slot for HP is 10:30am. I'm looking at travel time between the two at that time of day and it is saying approx 35 mins. What is the best way to travel to the Studios. Can I walk out of the airport and get a taxi for 5 people with ease. Should I book in advance and if so any recommendations for a cab company? Appreciate analysis tips also. Thanks in advance. The trip is next Thurs, 4th of Jan.

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Mindfullisa · 19/01/2024 15:47

ThaQuilomum I've been reading through your post with interest we're travelling to London Heathrow next month and have travelling to HP studios for midday tour. Lovely to see your trip went so well and timings worked out well. Was your prebooked cab expensive?

Original poster
ThaQuilomum · 07/01/2024 13:42

MaryShelley1818 · 04/01/2024 20:39

Brilliant! Thought your timings were spot on! Glad you enjoyed it 😊
We arrived for 12.10pm (tour slot at 12.30) on Tuesday, and didn't leave until 8.45pm! Nearly 9hrs and it was my 8th trip...managed to have lunch, ice cream/cakes and pizza for tea there! 🤣🤣

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Brilliant Mary Shelley. We just loved it. Hard to explain to people who haven't been. It was just magical. My second best memory of adventures we've had with the kids in 12 years 😍

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MaryShelley1818 · 04/01/2024 20:39

ThaQuilomum · 04/01/2024 20:07

Just to update this post. We had the most amazing day ever. All the timings worked out perfectly. Despite our flight from Ireland being delayed by over half an hour, we still reached Warner Bros Studio at 10:36am. My ticket time was 10:30. It took literally 5 minutes to get from the plane in Terminal 2 to the arrivals hall. No checked bags. We pre booked a cab and the driver was waiting for us in arrivals. Time to get from Heathrow to the studio was just under 30 mins. Stayed for almost 5 hours which I felt we needed every bit of. Back to Heathrow for 4pm. Time for dinner and then flight home at 6pm. Just a magical experience all round. Kids are 12, 10 and 8 and all 5 of us had the best day. Thanks for all the advice.

Brilliant! Thought your timings were spot on! Glad you enjoyed it 😊
We arrived for 12.10pm (tour slot at 12.30) on Tuesday, and didn't leave until 8.45pm! Nearly 9hrs and it was my 8th trip...managed to have lunch, ice cream/cakes and pizza for tea there! 🤣🤣

boysmuminherts · 04/01/2024 20:38

Sounds fantastic OP

RampantIvy · 04/01/2024 20:37

So glad you had a brilliant time @ThaQuilomum

BlowDryRat · 04/01/2024 20:35

Thanks for updating OP. I'm glad you had a great time.

Original poster
ThaQuilomum · 04/01/2024 20:07

Just to update this post. We had the most amazing day ever. All the timings worked out perfectly. Despite our flight from Ireland being delayed by over half an hour, we still reached Warner Bros Studio at 10:36am. My ticket time was 10:30. It took literally 5 minutes to get from the plane in Terminal 2 to the arrivals hall. No checked bags. We pre booked a cab and the driver was waiting for us in arrivals. Time to get from Heathrow to the studio was just under 30 mins. Stayed for almost 5 hours which I felt we needed every bit of. Back to Heathrow for 4pm. Time for dinner and then flight home at 6pm. Just a magical experience all round. Kids are 12, 10 and 8 and all 5 of us had the best day. Thanks for all the advice.

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PomsRun · 29/12/2023 15:25

Oh and you can take snacks on with you. Plus the Christmas themed shopping was 30% off - some lovely things to purchase.

Original poster
ThaQuilomum · 29/12/2023 15:06

RampantIvy · 29/12/2023 09:13

What time is your flight back? If you are trying to get back to Heathrow during the rush hour you will have to factor the extra time it takes in traffic.

Thanks for that. Flight back is 6:05pm. Planning on leaving HP studios at 3:30pm. Return journey now Friday evening is saying 45 minutes. So figure if it takes an hour and a half that I will still have an hour with no bags, online checkin, etc. But maybe I'm under estimating.

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RampantIvy · 29/12/2023 09:13

What time is your flight back? If you are trying to get back to Heathrow during the rush hour you will have to factor the extra time it takes in traffic.

Lindy2 · 29/12/2023 09:09

There's a coach company called RailAir that looks to run regular coaches from Heathrow to Watford Junction. You can then get a Harry Potter shuttle bus from Watford Junction to the studios.

Unless money is no object I'd look at that option. They have the journey time from Heathrow to Watford Junction as 1 hour which is realistic.

Lindy2 · 29/12/2023 09:01

I'd allow at least an hour for that journey. There would have to be no traffic at all for it to take 30 minutes and that's unlikely.

It's a fairly straightforward journey around the M25 but a taxi will be expensive. It's quite a distance.

BlowDryRat · 29/12/2023 08:56

We were there last week - really beautiful and the DC (similar ages to yours) loved it. I agree though, there are photo/video stops and gift shops scattered throughout and they're absolutely extortionate. £40 for one photo and one video at the broomstick riding area! Fun to have a go and see eachother on the screens though.

You'll be fine with the timings. Even if you're late, you won't be turned away. The staff check your tickets before you get into the building and then you're free to go into the tour whenever you're ready.

I recommend booking a taxi. A black cab will be a lot of money if you get stuck on the M25. I use booking.com to book airport transfers at work and it's always been fine.

m00rfarm · 29/12/2023 08:51

I have lived in the area between HP and Heathrow, and would never assume that I would be able to get from one to the other in less than an hour and probably more.

Original poster
ThaQuilomum · 29/12/2023 08:47

MaryShelley1818 · 28/12/2023 20:38

With no bags and domestic arrival you should be fine to just grab a taxi but as others have said I really wouldn't worry too much about being late for your slot.
Have an amazing time, we're there on Tuesday (7th visit) and Hogwarts in the Snow is spectacular.

I actually can't wait. All 5 of us are massive HP fans. I just worry a little about getting where we need to be on time and if a booked cab will turn up when it should etc. But I know once we're there we will all have the most amazing time. Hope you enjoy Tuesday too. We've been rewatching the movies over Christmas.

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Original poster
ThaQuilomum · 29/12/2023 08:45

BibbleandSqwauk · 29/12/2023 08:41

I've been several times and agree that the staff there are really lovely and would not turn you away if you were late. It's brilliant but be prepared for v v expensive food and drink and things like photos on broomsticks costing £20

Thank you for the tip. Going to have a chat with my gang here aged 12, 10 and 8 and explain this to them in advance. They're fairly good for understanding these things.

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BibbleandSqwauk · 29/12/2023 08:42

Oh and the butterbear is vile. Worth buying one so you can keep the plastic tankard as a souvenir but don't get one each to drink.

Original poster
ThaQuilomum · 29/12/2023 08:42

SaucepanRattle · 28/12/2023 20:34

10.15 is a preferred arrival time but if anyone queried why you were later than your slot and you said you flew in from X country arriving at 9.15am that morning I don't think any staff member would turn you away for missing your slot.

Thanks. This is what I was hoping 🙏

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BibbleandSqwauk · 29/12/2023 08:41

I've been several times and agree that the staff there are really lovely and would not turn you away if you were late. It's brilliant but be prepared for v v expensive food and drink and things like photos on broomsticks costing £20

Original poster
ThaQuilomum · 29/12/2023 08:40

ChorizoDog · 28/12/2023 20:04

Don't mean to be doom and gloom but I don't think you have any time of getting there on time..

Yeah I don't know. When I look it up on google maps, it says 28 minutes by car and I figure without bags and coming from Ireland we should be out of the airport within 30 minutes surely?

Help with Warner Bros Studios
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Original poster
ThaQuilomum · 29/12/2023 08:35

PuttingDownRoots · 28/12/2023 20:05

International or domestic flight?

From Ireland.

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Original poster
ThaQuilomum · 29/12/2023 08:34

welshweasel · 28/12/2023 20:01

As in you land in Heathrow at 9.15?

Yes.

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PomsRun · 28/12/2023 21:04

I think the staff there are really flexible and would be accommodating if you were a little late.
Have a fabulous time and I recommend the ice creams 😊

MaryShelley1818 · 28/12/2023 20:38

With no bags and domestic arrival you should be fine to just grab a taxi but as others have said I really wouldn't worry too much about being late for your slot.
Have an amazing time, we're there on Tuesday (7th visit) and Hogwarts in the Snow is spectacular.

SaucepanRattle · 28/12/2023 20:34

10.15 is a preferred arrival time but if anyone queried why you were later than your slot and you said you flew in from X country arriving at 9.15am that morning I don't think any staff member would turn you away for missing your slot.