Harry Potter World

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Posting here for traffic!
Thinking of heading to Harry Potter World (from outside the UK) next March or April.
Hoping to do an overnight probably in London, has anyone any tips for where to say and for things to do that we can fit into day 2, (will probably do HP the day we arrive) will have luggage of some sort with us. DH, DS12 and I.
Thanks

Book it way in advance, check travel plans with dates available- its some distance from London so plan the travel to and from accordingly
It's a brilliant day out, I worked there never lost the appeal or the thrill.
Hope that helps

What time do you land?

As it’s in Watford so not that close to central London or the main airports

Staying in central London will be expensive. Look at a Premier Inn neer Watford so convenient for HP World but also easy to catch train for central London tourist attractions. Milton Keynes would be another possibility, check Trainline for services to Watford Gap for HP.

Watford Junction is the station for Leavesden Studios, not Watford Gap!
I think there are buses but we're very local to it and can drive within minutes.

Thanks, haven't booked anything yet, just trying to figure out the best way to do it.
Is transport good between Watford & London?

Get an early slot, there is so so much to see, I've been twice and spent all day there both times (booked first entry slot of the day) and they've added more since then. I wouldn't try and do the studio tour on your arrival day as if your travel is delayed you'll miss your slot and won't be able to go in on a later one. I'd swap so you do central London stuff on your arrival day and then out of London early doors to Watford for the studios on day 2. If you want to keep to the Potter theme then I'd suggest a visit to the House of MinaLima in Soho - the graphic design team who did all the films, it's a shop/gallery. Also I think there's a Potter photographic exhibition in Covent Garden but not sure when that finishes.

Don't buy butterbeer on the tour. Butterbeer is disgusting, but butterbeer ice-cream apparently is nice.

www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/getting-here/

This page has all the info about travel.

I agree that a hotel in Watford will be cheaper and pretty easy to get into central London (Watford Junction to Trafalgar Square would take about 40 minutes). But nicer to be staying in the centre to go out to supper or a show in the evening.

There are buses that run between the studio tour and kings cross station

Advice about booking as early a slot as possible is excellent as the later you go you end up stuck in the backlog of slow moving visitors who arrived before you.

I reccomend the Travelodge at Euston (which is where the train to Watford goes from) but then you have central London on your doorstep too. This is assuming you plan to visit London, not just HP world. If it's the latter the Holiday Inn Express next to Watford Junction station or Jurys on Clarendon Road Watford. Then get the HP bus from Watford Junction Station.

Train from Watford Junction to Euston is about 20 minutes from memory - maybe a bit longer if it is a non express service.

We stay in St Albans when we go and make a weekend of it, the arboretum in St Albans is beautiful

The Studios book up months ahead so have a look at your dates now to get a morning slot so you can spend the whole day there. From London you would get the train from Euston, there are regular trains. I wouldn't take luggage to the Studios. Not sure if they have storage facilities there, can't you drop off at the hotel first? Or go on the second day so it's not a huge rush?

What are the flight times like? You'll need to land super early to do HP day 1 as it's definitely a whole day thing. You'll all be knackered from an early flight though.

Can you do two nights, stay in London, mooch around day 1 afternoon, travel out to Watford day 2 and not be stressed about making a flight and a bit more London day 3 before home.

The main thing to know is that it is in (well just outside I guess) Watford. And not in London. Cannot emphasis enough.

Watford - station is Watford Junction - is nowhere near Watford Gap either.

Also defo get a morning slot.

Going against the grain but I think 4 hours is enough. We got a 5 pm slot and it was enough time for the 9pm or 10pm finish. Probably wouldnt book a slot after 5 though ideally but 2, 3 4 o'clock would be fine imo.

It’s great! Book way in advance to get the earliest slot you can, plan to spend lots at the gift shop.

It’s only 40 min drive from Harry Potter to Legoland, I chose to stay at a hotel half way and do Legoland the second day before going home.

Ps I could have stayed all day there (am huge HP fan and film geek!) but my DD8 was only mildly interested in HP and she was bored of it 2 hrs. There is a lot of staring at things that were used in the film but not so much interactive stuff.

It's actually not in London...

You can stay in central London, get the train from Euston to Watford Junction - there is a train that does no stops that will get you there in 20 or so minutes, there is another that has lots of stops and will take over an hour so make sure you get the quick one. The studios do their own bus that is a couple of pounds return per person from outside the station! Have been a few times and done this way of getting there and it was great :)

Thanks all, lots to think of.
Trying not to do more than one night, as have other younger children that need to be minded with family. So trying to take the piss!

Thanks for all the tips!