Harry Potter Tour - what is the best cheapest hotel nearby? any other tips?

[pinkunicornsarefluffy]

Looking to go to HP world in September with friends, so 3 adults, 3 children. Looking for closest but cheap hotel , so Travelodge, Holiday Inn etc, with restaurant on site, any recommendations?

Looking at the website, the weekend we want to go, now only has a tour at 6.30pm on the Saturday so may have to change our date, but how long does the tour take and how long do you spend there overall?

We would be coming into London by train, and probably arrive at Paddington around midday, so want to know that we would have enough time at the studio. We can't do a late tour on the Sunday, as would have to travel back that day.

TIA for any help/advice!

I would allow at least 3 or 4 hours. We are going net month, but driving. You will need to allow time to get from Paddington to Euston and then a train from Watford. If you go into google map it will give you travel times depending on which mode of transport you use.

There are shuttle buses between the station and the studios.

Watford Central Travelodge? You can get a bus from the station to the studios.

The closest hotels to the junction would be the Holiday Inn on Clarendon Road, or there's another Holiday In Express near that, or the Jury's Inn. Never had to stay at any of them though because, well, I lived in Watford, so slept in my own bed. All near the town so easy access to restaurants if theirs is bad.
Closest and cheap to HP world is probably the King's Lodge, and that is crap, and still a long way if you're on foot. Like, so crap that I am taking the time to call it out. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.
The shuttle doesn't stop anywhere, so if you want to stay closer to the studios than the station, it'd be a local bus. There's a Premier Inn on StAlbans road that would be roughly halfway between the station and HP world, but def not walkable.

I spent 90 minutes when there with husband, more like 2 1/2 hours when there with kids.

I stayed at Jury's Inn when I took my son. The hotel itself was standard and nothing special but the staff were, without exception, really fabulous, best I've ever experienced.

I'm sure our tickets were for around 3.30 and we didn't leave until 8 (3 adults). It can take as long as you want or be as quick as you like! We were staying in central London so got the train to Watford Junction then the shuttle bus.

Thanks for replies.

I've booked the 6.30 tour, and my friend has booked Holiday Inn. It says HP is open til 10, so hopefully we will have plenty of time after the tour? Looks like the tour is half an hour ? But I expect we will get there well before 6.30pm.

Is Holiday Inn walkable? It says .87 of a mile from HP. How safe is the area if walking back at night?

Holiday Inn near the station do you mean? I don't think there is one near HP?

Watford Junction , it says it's within a mile of HP.

There is a v short guided but at the start which is probably about 30 mins,but I was in there forbetween 4--5 hours....

Walking to HP World is a bit loopy IMHO; isn't the shuttle bus from Watford Junction free? HP World is on a former industrial estate in a residential area and not really designed for pedestrian access. If you are anywhere in Watford and can get to a bus stop both the 142 and 258 go to the Junction although you need an Oyster or contactless card to pay as they are cashless (only under 11s are free and don't need a pass).
The 'tour' is an introduction to the experience after which you are free to wonder the sets - there are two huge aircraft hangars as well as another area with models and info about the SFX. I would say 3-4 hours.
Other feedback which is plentiful online is that there are limited food options there - take your own and that the shop is busy/extortionate and so set a budget.
Enjoy!

The tour lasts about 30 minutes the rest of the time is wondering round. We were there for five hours on our two previous visits - I didn't want to leave.

Top tip - deep pockets or avoid gift shop at the end it is ridiculous £££

If I remember rightly the shuttle bus is £2.50 for a return.

Watford Junction is about 2.5m - 3m from the site. You could walk it, but it's a fair trot through some not necessarily great parts of town, and not really intended to be walked. The easiest thing is to stay by the Junction and take the shuttle there and back. Holiday Inn is right by the station, you shouldn't have any issues walking back from the bus stop.

Thanks for all the tips. Really useful. Getting into Paddington at 1.15, can't check in til 3 so will have lunch then check into HInn then go to HP early so can check gift shop

Think will have to get oyster or something as will need to tube it from Paddington to Watford?

I'm a country girl so not used to all this public transport . We have to drive everywhere here. I've only been to London around 6 times in 30 years! and then never Watford .

HP closes at 10 so will only have 3 hours there After the tour. I wouldn't have booked it so late but friend wanted to go that weekend and it was only one left.

So if we go a bit early we can look at some stuff before the tour.

Is it the Holiday Inn right by Watford Junction station? That's 2.8miles from the HP studio, and like everyone says, just catch the special HP shuttle bus from just outside the station.

You won't be let into HP before your 6.30pm slot to see some of the attraction - there is a one way route round it, starting with a short film and talk (that's the 'tour' you are talking about), then you get let in to the Great Hall and the rest of the exhibition. It's not possible to go straight to the exhibition. But you should be fine with a 6.30pm ticket.

You can use a contactless debit card on the tube from paddington, and from Euston to Watford J. Just make sure you take a London Midland train to Watford (takes 15-20 mins), maximum stops: either direct or up to 3 stops) NOT London Overground train (about 25 stops, takes 50 mins).

You can also use Oyster both on the tube and train, but if you have a contactless card then don't bother getting an Oyster card specially.

Yes, you can use either contactless or Oyster on the train to Watford. You'll be charged the same price as a normal ticket. Definitely don't take the tube all the way to Watford: 1) it takes forever, 2) the tube station is in a completely different and inconvenient place to the train station, with no HP shuttle, as sixinthebed says.

Yes, make sure you go mainline Euston to Watford Junction.

The station is very near to the hotel, and it's fine to walk from the bus stop late evening.

You can get into the shop and cafe, before your tour, but the tour itself is a timed ticket. We've been a couple of times, probably around three hours each time.

When we went we actually got into an earlier tour (they announced on the tannoy you could go through) so might happen and therefore another reason to arrive a bit early

Brilliant tips re trains and shuttle etc. Will make notes and tell my friend so we don't go wrong.