Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter - review thread - chances to win goody bags! NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

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
Standard Insight T&cs apply

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.

On arrival (despite being held up by ridiculous traffic), we were greeted by some super friendly helpful car park attendants. We were quickly shown to a parking space close to the entrance and we were in the main building within minutes. When we walked int the building, we went straight to the info desk and got our tickets straight away and asked to go and queue up for our tour time. Everyone was really friendly. All of the facilities in the tour were brilliant. Everywhere was clean, the queues, although some long, moved very quickly and efficiently. Whenever we asked for help we received friendly staff going out of the way to help us and give us hints and tips. We all thoroughly enjoyed the experience and had so much fun. I'm already thinking I need to go back and look at all the other things in more detail. I'd recommend to any Harry Potter fan to go and see. We visited Florida and went to the Harry Potter places in Universal Studios and I think (although there were great rides) this was better. A thoroughly enjoyable visit and I will definitely return.

“I was picked by MNHQ to review this product/ service, which I received for free. This review is in my
own words and reflects my true opinion.”

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!

First impressions on arrival?
Car park staff probably the most helpful and nice I have ever come across - a real bonus- especially as we were so relieved to get there in time after ghastly traffic problems. Entrance was swift and efficient but hallway didn't inspire any wows.

Facilities were plentiful and well signed, was hoping to find Moaning Myrtle in one of the ladies but perhaps that would be too creepy. Bit more orientation as to how much there was left to see / what things you could go back to would be good.

All staff were super friendly and helpful, really impressed with them all

We enjoyed the experience - but not sure we'd go back, and tbh not sure if I would recommend other families visit the Studio Tour unless they were real Harry Potter fanatics.

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.

As we walked in we were greeted by friendly staff who helped us get our tickets. Staff throughout the experience were very helpful and friendly.
The queue was long but seemed to move pretty quickly. Facilities throughout the tour were good. Easily accessible, clean.
We all had an amazing time even my dh who was not into Harry Potter had a great time. My dd has already asked when will we be going again. I am already planning for us to visit again!
I would recommend families to visit HP studios as it is a family friendly attraction where kids and grown ups have a magical time.

Thank you so much MNHQ.
“I was picked by MNHQ to review this product/ service, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion.”

What were your first impressions on arrival?

Very organised and friendly, the main entrance could be more lively, maybe some actors doing some role play or playing some movies until the actual tour begins.

How were the facilities throughout the Studio Tour?

Very good facilities, clean and enough of them.

Were the staff friendly and helpful?

Staff was extremely friendly, helpful and organised, impressed with how helpful they were at all times.

Did you and your family enjoy the experience?

Loved it!

Would you recommend other families visit the Studio Tour for a day out?

Yes fully recommend it more so if you are Harry Potter obsessed. It is quite pricey but if you are a fan then you don't go there everyday.

Thank you mumsnet and Warner Bros for the experience!

What were your first impressions on arrival?

Once through the queue, it was wonderful. But they really could do little better with the queuing. It takes quite a while and feels a bit like you are going nowhere. The staff were lovely though.

How were the facilities throughout the Studio Tour?

Excellent. A free cloakroom is fabulous. The toilets were clean (and I used a few!). Having some benches and seating around everywhere was very good too.

Were the staff friendly and helpful?

Extremely! Surprisingly so! Helpful, friendly. They never seemed to slip up at all.

Did you and your family enjoy the experience?

We thoroughly enjoyed it. There were 5 of us: me, dh and 3 boys aged 14, 11 and 7. There was something for all ages and every one of us enjoyed it. We could have done with more time there but had to get the bus back to the station.

Would you recommend other families visit the Studio Tour for a day out?

Yes I would. I have nothing negative to say about it at all. However, I do think you need to be pretty wealthy to go as a family of 5. I added up everything we would have spent today not including our train journey. It came to £310. This was all the stuff we got free but would have cost: the bus form the station, the entry tickets, the souvenir guides, the free food and drink and the family photo. That would have been a hugely expensive day out for a family. That is my only negative thing to say.

Thank you to MN and also HP Studios as it really was a wonderful day out.

What were your first impressions on arrival?
The parking attendents were friendly and helpful. We were excited to see the huge chess pieces outside whilst we were queuing. The security staff were thorough (which was reassuring) and friendly.

How were the facilities throughout the Studio Tour?
We thought the facilities were great. There were frequent toilets and the backlot cafe was well placed about halfway through the tour. The food was tasty and we enjoyed trying the butterbeer.

Were the staff friendly and helpful?
All the staff were friendly and helpful and regularly asked how we were enjoying the day.

Did you and your family enjoy the experience?
Absolutely! We thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We particularly enjoyed appearing the flying car film and flying on a broomstick!

Would you recommend other families visit the Studio Tour for a day out?
Yes we would. This tour is interesting for Harry Potter fans and film fans. It was interesting to see how the props and costumes came together to make a magical film. Do take enough money with you as the gift shop is extensive and exciting but rather pricey.

Thank you Mumsnet and Warner Brothers for a fabulous product test.
"I was picked by MNHQ to review this product/ service, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion.”

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

Mumsnet visitor from today here;

What were your first impressions on arrival?

We liked being able to see the big posters on the side of the building as we drove in, and the huge chess pieces are great (and looked even cooler later when we left in the dark, as they are lit up and make fab shadows). Staff were helpful and efficient, no problem parking. Music playing might be a good addition?

How were the facilities throughout the Studio Tour?
Seemed to be plenty of toilets which were all clean. A water fountain would have been good. The cafe was being kept pretty clean and had good recycling as well as a handy place to rinse the souvenir butter beer mugs which is a great idea. A sign saying do not sit on the Potter house wall would save the attendant's voice, they had to tell several people while we were out there! Food was good, DD was especially impressed with her vegetarian hot dog. She liked the butter beer, DS and I didn't (though to be fair we knew that from Orlando)

Were the staff friendly and helpful?
Yes, definitely, everyone had a smile and even the very busy servers in the cafe were helpful and good natured.

Did you and your family enjoy the experience?
Yes, and interestingly DD did more than DS and he was the bigger fan going in - he enjoyed it a lot though, I just think some of it was newer for her and a bit more "wow" iyswim. I thoroughly enjoyed it, there were surprises around every corner and up above you too.

Would you recommend other families visit the Studio Tour for a day out?

Yes, though we didn't take the full 3 hours they suggest - we were out in 2.5, including eating. We could have taken longer but realistically this was about DS's limit in terms of interest. We didn't do the green screen car photo though as there was quite a queue and neither child was interested.

What were your first impressions on arrival?
Really helpful car park attendants guided us in and then gave useful advice on whether to take our coats with us or not! It's what I would expect from the outside, with the impressive chess pieces from the first film.
When we first walked inside the building it was then that I realised that the studio was about more than just the films. Seeing the huge pictures of the cast around the room with Daniel Radcliffe as an 11 year old and then a 20 year old, makes you start think of the legacy that JK Rowling and all the people involved have created.
How were the facilities throughout the Studio Tour?
Everything was clean and accessible and big enough to cope with the volume of people.
Were the staff friendly and helpful?
I don't think that I've ever been to a tourist attraction that has such a team of genuinely happy and enthusiastic staff, right from the very first car park attendant to the tired shop staff ushering us out of the door at 8pm after a long day we couldn't have felt more welcomed. By far the best customer service I've experienced.
Did you and your family enjoy the experience?
Myself and my two sons aged 7 and 9 have all read the books (the 7 yr old is on number 4!) and have only got as far as the first three films, we all love Harry Potter and absolutely loved the tour, I don't want to go into detail in case it ruins any surprises for people, but we certainly very happy with everything and don't think that anything was omitted.

Would you recommend other families visit the Studio Tour for a day out?
I would definitely recommend this as a day out, but only if you are a fan of the Harry Potter franchise. I would also advise saving up before you go, there are several wonderful photo opportunities that are hard to resist, but are costly when purchasing the official photo and it's impossible to not get seduced by all the amazing merchandise in the gift shop. I do think that the gift shop is over priced which was my only disappointment of the visit, otherwise it was an outstanding visit, thanks Mumsnet.

What were your first impressions on arrival?

We came by train, and got the shuttle bus, so our first impression was of the bus - it was great to be on a themed bus and helped to get us in the mood before we even got there. Pulling up to the building was great, we were upstairs on the bus so had a lovely view of the large cast photos and spotted the chess players.

The foyer was a bit bland (although the props at the information desk were a nice touch) but the queue moved quickly and we got to see the cupboard under the stairs in detail while we were queuing up.

How were the facilities throughout the Studio Tour?

There appeared to be plenty of loos & between me and the DC, we used them three times but none of us had to queue. They were clean and appeared well maintained. I did notice the mother and baby room (I assume that was for feeding if you wanted privacy to do it), but didn't have cause to use it.

The backlot cafe was fine - I would have appreciated more comfortable seating than benches but I'm quite elderly It was nice to be faced with more options than endless chips for DC. Can second that the chicken gougons were very tasty. The area to clean up the butterbear mugs was very welcome.

Were the staff friendly and helpful?

Absolutely! Everyone we spoke to was so friendly and really, really enthusiastic - not just the people who knew we were MNers doing a review, but a cleaner in the loo, the staff in the shop, staff members dotted around the tour. Everyone. It was so, so nice to see.
Did you and your family enjoy the experience?

Yes. Me and DD were already big Harry Potter fans (books and movies) so we both loved the behind the scenes stuff, as well as all the sets. DS isn't so much of a fan, but he really enjoyed learning about the technical aspects of making the films. We all had a great time.

Would you recommend other families visit the Studio Tour for a day out?

Definitely. However, I'd recommend a 3pm tour or earlier just so that you can really amble around and take things in. We were there for 3 hours 40 minutes in total, but could easily have spent another couple of hours there.

Thanks so much Warner Brothers and Mumsnet - we've had a great day.

What were your first impressions on arrival?
It was very exciting and we were very impressed with the huge chess pieces at the front. We arrived at approximately 4.30pm and needn't have to queue for long. The staff and security guards were extremely friendly and amicable. It was also very organised and the foyer was clean and spacious.

How were the facilities throughout the Studio Tour?
Fantastic. Lots of toilets at various points of the tour. Everything was very clean. The Backlot café was located halfway through the tour. The food was delicious and we enjoyed our hot dogs and mac 'n' cheese. We all loved the butterbeer with the added bonus of keeping the little beer mugs!

Were the staff friendly and helpful?
All the staff we met along the way were very enthusiastic and friendly and many asked how we liked the tour so far. They were all very knowledgeable about the studios. They even gave us hints and tips about the best places to see etc.

Did you and your family enjoy the experience?
We absolutely loved it! Thank you so much to MN and Warner Brothers for picking us. It was a lovely afternoon out and you made a Harry Potter crazy family very happy. It was a magical experience for us all.

Would you recommend other families visit the Studio Tour for a day out?
Absolutely. It is a fantastic day for any Harry Potter fan. Although it is pricey for a family, it is perfect as a birthday treat or a special occasion. It's also very educational to see how the film was made and to see all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes - the sets, props, sets, the make-up and prosthetics, costumes and CGI. The final huge model of Hogwarts at the end was the pinnacle of the tour. It was breath-taking and magical! I could have easily spent another few hours here, but it was getting late.

We really appreciate being chosen for this event and cannot thank MN and Warner Brothers enough.

What were your first impressions on arrival?
The car park was manned by a number of helpful attendants who directed us to parking spaces close to the entrance. There were a large number of disabled bays if you should need them.
There is a cloakroom, toilets and reception desk in the entrance before you reach the tour.
How were the facilities throughout the Studio Tour?

Every was clean and looks quite new. There was good access, but I wouldn't take pushchairs to the till in the gift shop as it was very narrow and hard to navigate.
Were the staff friendly and helpful? Yes, everyone was very helpful and knowledgeable. The levels of customer service were closer to what I have experienced at theme parks in the US than the UK.
Did you and your family enjoy the experience?
I took two 8 year old boys and they loved it! Neither of them have seen all of the films, but that didn't matter. The food area was quite busy, but the queues moved quickly and I thought there was a good selection of hot and cold options. As an adult I would consider revisiting without the children as I didn't get a chance to read everything!
Would you recommend other families visit the Studio Tour for a day out?
Yes! I wouldn't take children much younger than 8, but I think tweens upwards would love this. You can do the tour in three hours, but if you wanted to read everything it could be most of the day. My only gripe is that it would become very expensive, very quickly as there are photos though out the tour and the gift shop is pricey.

"I was picked by MNHQ to review this product/ service, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion.”

What were your first impressions on arrival?

We've been before when the kids were much littler (about 3-4 years ago) so knew what to expect. Love the chess pieces at the front - and unlike some people I like the foyer pictures. Carpark seemed very empty and easy to get a good space near the doors!

How were the facilities throughout the Studio Tour?

Seemed well maintained - loos were very clear (although I agree with someone else that the didn't seem very themed - I know that sounds picky but given the attention to detail elsewhere, on reflection thats an area that could be more involving. If you want to be involved whilst having a wee...) There seemed to be a few chairs around, especially in spaces where you would want to sit and take things in (e.g. at the castle)
The cafe is again quite functional - my mac n c was a bit gloopy, but the kids chicken was nice; ds drank 2.5 glasses of butterbeer as neither me or dd liked it that much - but it was great fun, foaming and making moustaches! Loved the butterbeer glasses which were a lovely touch.

Were the staff friendly and helpful?

They were all really great, but a massive thank you to the guy in the monster room who spent ages with ds (who wouldn't open his eyes in the monster room last time we went) - he chatted away for ages, showing the dcs particular things; talking them through some of the tricks and was immensely engaging and knowledgable. Very sensitively handled, and it meant that this was ds's favourite room overall. I'll check his name with ds in the morning as ds thinks he deserves a promotion ;-)

But as others have said, ALL the staff were really great - helpful engaged with the kids and with the subject, friendly and 'nothing too much trouble'

Did you and your family enjoy the experience?

Very much so - dd is a huge fan, so loved seeing everything for real; ds is less of a Pottered, but adored the technical aspects and seeing how the magic is made real. Watching video clips from the film next to the sets was great for all of us!

Would you recommend other families visit the Studio Tour for a day out?

Absolutely. I do think it suited my kids ages (just 10 & 12) - when we went a few years ago, they did enjoy it, but rushed through more - we could have spent longer this time - they got so much out of all the little details. I'd agree with others that arriving late isn't ideal - although I loved seeing some of the stuff on the backlot in the dark - the knight bus especially. Although they had visited before there was lots that was new and exciting (train; sorting hat; the 'have a go at a wand duel) - or that they had forgotten. And some moments just feel really magical I think (the end of the cinema; the castle; walking into the great hall.... etc)

A big thank you to Warner and MN for a fabulous opportunity.

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.

Forgot to say the food itself was nice. I liked my mac n cheese, and the butterbeer was nice - I'd been a bit concerned as I'd heard rumours that it was horrible! But we were chatting to one staff member who said it seems to be a fifty fifty split, love it or hate it :) nice to keep the mugs too. I'd been expecting that the 'free taster' would be like a little shot glass size so it was amazing to have a whole mug each!

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.

Back.....will review properly tomoz as at work early.Was BRILL! Proper review tomorrow.Thank you Mumsnet and WRner Bros....I want to live or work there!

Glad it wasn;t just me that kept setting off the automatic flush - thought it was my ample backside!!

twice here LEM :o

The other thing I forgot to say was that it's really great that you get a digital download of your photo as well as a paper one :)

Here's our review!

What were your first impressions on arrival?

Very impressed on arrival. Well manned car park with easy to see car park attendants who were helpful and very cheerful. Really made us feel that we had arrived at a special event. Very efficient staff at every corner including the thorough security people carrying out bag searches and metal detector scans. The staff at the information desk were really knowledgeable making the checking in process very smooth. We had a wait of about 15 minutes before the tour started which seemed to pass quickly as there are things to see whilst in the queue.

How were the facilities throughout the Studio Tour?

We found all the facilities clean and not too crowded. The place has a spacious feel to it so never felt like we were being controlled and we were not rushed through at any point. The food on offer was tasty with a good range to suit all. It's pricey but what you would expect at a tourist venue. The butter beer was delicious and the take home glasses a nice touch.

Were the staff friendly and helpful?

The staff really do add to the whole experience. Everyone was so positive, cheerful and helpful. You really do get the impression they enjoy being there and my children both said how nice the staff were. I found the staff in the food hall to be excellent.

Did you and your family enjoy the experience?

We loved it! I would say you need to be a Harry Potter fun to fully appreciate it and our visit has now inspired us to watch the films again from the beginning. I think some more 'hands on' type activities for younger visiitors may be an idea as it is very much like a museum. Also I could see an Imax type cinema experience fitting in well to add to the day.

Would you recommend other families visit the Studio Tour for a day out?

Yes I would definitely for anyone interested in Harry Potter. I'd say kids would at least need to have read one of the books or seen one of the films to really appreciate everything there is to see.

Thank you Mumsnet for choosing us. We felt very lucky to get the chance to attend.