Harry Potter Studio / London

[Zombiemama]

I'm hoping to take DD to Harry Potter Studio in December for her birthday.
We are travelling from Northern Ireland and had been looking at packages for HP studio passes and accommodation in Watford. But would also like to do a few festive things in Central London.

Can anyone recommend would we be better staying in Watford for the 3 nights and just taking the tube from there to Central London and back. Is there much to do around HP studios to occupy a second day?

Any help or advice would be amazing. Thanks

I used to live near HP Studios and there is nothing else there to occupy a second day. You could spend a couple of hours looking round the shops in Watford, I suppose, but it’s not the best area and if you want retail therapy then you’d be far better off going to the west end of London (Oxford Street, Regent Street etc).

However, it might be a fair bit cheaper to stay in Watford and just travel into London on the days you want to be in London. I guess that depends on whether cost is a factor. Otherwise I’d suggest using London as your base.

There is nothing around the HP Studios, it’s off the outskirts of a small village / suburb of Watford. Watford isn’t going to entertain anyone for a whole day either.

We stayed in Hemel Hempstead at the Holiday Inn. It was great and had a pool. It's a short drive/ taxi to the studio.

Easy to get the train into London too.

I wouldn’t bother staying in Watford. Stay somewhere central and train it on the day. When I last went there was a special shuttle bus service that goes regularly from the station to the studio so very easy to get there.

Euston is a good choice. There's a Premier Inn not far from Euston Station. https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/greater-london/london/london-euston.html

You can go to Watford from there.

For clarity - there are several railway stations in Watford. The Harry Potter shuttle bus leaves from Watford Junction, which is also the station on the mainline to Euston for access to central London. Trains from the tube station (Watford) take ages to get into London - the mainline trains from Watford Junction are the best option.

Watford is not going to keep anyone interested for more than a day (if that). Either stay a bit further out of London, which will be cheaper and which might have more things to do, or stay in central London.

Hemel Hempstead has an indoor snow centre. Milton Keynes has a big indoor entertainment centre - Xscape snow centre, cinemas, bowling, sky diving - next door to the indoor shopping centre. Both are on the mainline to Watford Junction (for HP) and on to Euston for a day trip to London.

I’ve been to the studios many times and usually stay near Euston station and take the train to Watford Junction. It takes about 20 minutes, if you avoid the train that stops everywhere and takes double that!

The shuttle bus to the studios is frequent, and you just need to show your tickets for the studios to get on the bus.

They ask you to arrive at the studios no earlier than 20 minutes before your ticket time. It’s all very well organised when you get there.

I would allow at least three hours for a first visit as there is so much to see! They have really expanded the cafes there and there’s much more choice than there used to be - the Back Lot cafe is about halfway through the tour and is a great place to stop for refreshments.

I was just there last week and already I’m jealous that you’re planning a trip!

But yeah - don’t stay in Watford. 😄

not what you asked at all! But Oxford is lovely and I think they do a Harry Potter tour of locations and inspiration. You can mix a bit of retail therapy with the indoor market and the tour?
Oxford centre is not what it was, but it’s still beautiful

Kew garden Christmas lights are just beautiful, it’s a lot of walking (especially if getting there by public transport), it’s well worth it though.

Don’t stay in Watford! Stay in London and go out to Watford.

Stay in central London and book an early slot at the studio tour. Train straight from Euston to Watford then the Knight bus to the studio tour. Will make it much easier to do festive bits around it

Kew is nowhere near HP Studios

How are you getting to London - plane, train, car?

I know. But it is easily commutable from London, where op said she was going to do Christmas stuff.

Thank you all so much for this! Central London looks to be my best option.