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Original poster

Harry Potter practical advice

28 replies

Achoopichu · 23/04/2017 20:17

I'm travelling from up north to London for 3 nights with 2ds's, and thought we'd go to Watford to do HP first before checking in the London hotel. Should get there for 12.30. Does anyone know how much left luggage costs? Will we have enough time to make the most of it if we only get there after lunch? It will be a Wednesday in summer hols. I'm thinking will book a late tour in case our train is late.

Is ir best to do the tour first or last? Is there plenty of opportunity to wander around as well as the tour?

Thanks!

OP posts:
bigchris · 23/04/2017 20:18

Tour first, wander around afterwards , you can spend hours looking in the giftshop and marvelling at the prices

Original poster
Achoopichu · 23/04/2017 20:19

Hmmm might need to temporarily lose my credit card Smile

OP posts:
PerspicaciaTick · 23/04/2017 20:19

The WB website say that they have a cloakroom where bags can be left for free during your visit. I suppose it may depend on whether you are planning to turn up with a moderate size backpack each or a selection of huge suitcases.

hugoagogo · 23/04/2017 20:20

Have they changed it? When we went it was all just wander around avoid people taking selfies

PerspicaciaTick · 23/04/2017 20:21

Only the first, short section is a formal tour as such. Once you leave the Hogwarts Hall you are free to wander where you will and spend as much time in each area as you want.

Original poster
Achoopichu · 23/04/2017 20:21

If tour is best first, might save for last day coming home so not as much risk of train delay

I dont want to waste a London day doing HP if that makes sense

OP posts:
Original poster
Achoopichu · 23/04/2017 20:22

I will have one biggish suitcase

OP posts:
PerspicaciaTick · 23/04/2017 20:23

Some people claim to storm through in two hours, other to have spent all day until late into the night. Most people seem to spend 4-6 hours going around.

LIZS · 23/04/2017 20:23

There isn't really anywhere to wander except in the themed shop or cafe. Exhibits are all within the tour (bit of a misnomer as only the first section inside the great hall is guided and access time restricted). Beyond you can take your time and looking round can take 2 hours plus.

Earlybird · 23/04/2017 20:24

If at all practical, I'd drop your cases at the London hotel first. You really don't want to be dragging cases onto the train to Watford, walking to the studio coach, getting off coach and walking into studio dragging cases, etc.

It is not a difficult trip from London (at all), but much nicer not to be loaded down with luggage. Also iirc, the studio is open quite late in the summer (maybe 21.00?), so you'll have plenty of time to see everything, even if you arrive mid afternoon.

PerspicaciaTick · 23/04/2017 20:24

Maybe call the visitor services team 0345 084 0900 and ask about luggage?

hugoagogo · 23/04/2017 20:24

That's how I remember it too perscipacia
But now there is the forbidden forest too

JennyOnAPlate · 23/04/2017 20:25

The tour is just for the beginning bit (not optional) and then you wander where you like. We've been twice and totalled about 4 hours including a stop for lunch. I would have been there for much longer if it wasn't for young dc though!

Original poster
Achoopichu · 23/04/2017 20:26

Thanks for that, I think I will give them a ring . I didn't realise it opened so late.

OP posts:
PerspicaciaTick · 23/04/2017 20:26

hugoagogo - I can't believe I am actually planning a return visit especially for the forest. I have been well and truly bitten by a very large spider the bug.

QueenDork · 23/04/2017 20:27

I think you have misunderstood; there's not a specific tour. When it's your time slot, there's an intro section and then when they let you into the studio you can wander around as much as you want for the rest of the day.

QueenDork · 23/04/2017 20:28

Sorry, I see now that several others have said the same while I was reading the thread!

rollonthesummer · 23/04/2017 20:31

If the entry times are staggered, does that help stop it getting too busy?!

HP in Florida at Universal is totally amazing but it was so busy-queues coming out of every (tiny) shop door and the 'streets' jam-packedtotally shoulder to shoulderwhich made it really hard to actually see anything.

PerspicaciaTick · 23/04/2017 20:41

Entry times are staggered, and the tickets for each entry time are pre-booked. So I think WB are on top of the numbers of people going through as they never have more than a certain number of people going in at a certain time.

QueenDork · 23/04/2017 20:57

It does get busy, but not intolerably so and never as you describe it being in Florida. It's quieter first thing in the morning and gets busier through the day as more people arrive (you are not limited to staying a certain number of hours so most people spend quite a while there). It thins out a bit in the evening again.

Original poster
Achoopichu · 23/04/2017 21:11

Thanks all this has been really helpful

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Earlybird · 23/04/2017 21:15

rollonthesummer - isn't HP in Florida an amusement park with rides, etc.? Very different to the studio tour, which is a walk through the sets used for filming the movies.

Iamastonished · 01/05/2017 22:06

The WB Studios is nothing like the HP stuff in Florida. Both are equally awesome, and the attention to detail is staggering. The WB Studios are the actual film sets and props used for making the films, not a theme park. Small children would find it rather boring.

rollonthesummer · 01/05/2017 22:30

rollonthesummer - isn't HP in Florida an amusement park with rides, etc.?

No, not really. There is one ride in Universal-the Escape from Gringotts, but the rest is all Diagon Alley /Knockturn Alley streets to walk through, with shops etc

Iamastonished · 01/05/2017 23:34

There are a couple of HP rides in Islands of Adventure as well, plus Hogsmead, and the Hogwarts Express that goes between the two parks.

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