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Get Tickets to Harry Potter Studio Tour If Sold Out

There are several ways of getting tickets to the Harry Potter Studio Tour if sold out. Since tickets offered directly from the Warner Bros Studio Website normally sell out months in advance, we’ve come up with a lifesaving guide with links to all the companies that offer Harry Potter Studio tickets with or without transportation from Central London. You can also get in touch  using the form at the bottom of this page. Tell us your travel dates, and we’ll let you know if any tickets become available through the suppliers we work with.

So make sure to carefully check all options to get your Harry Potter Studio Tour tickets….

How to Find Tickets:

The first place to look is here  and here .

You can choose your meeting point on the booking form. Some options include the possibility of collecting the tickets from the Studio Tour without taking the transportation. Please note that the ticket price will remain the same, even if you do not take the transport.

This is one of the major providers of Harry Potter Studio tickets and your tour includes entrance to the studios plus transportation from Central London. There are several departure times at 08.30, 10.30. 11.30 and 13.30. Price is £105 per adult and £100 per child.

STEP 2…

The second places to check for tickets are here and here

These are two Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio tours that also include a visit to Oxford.

Tours are available in smaller and larger groups and depart from Central London in the morning. There are often tickets available for these tours when other providers are sold out. On these tours, there is sometimes also an option to visit just the Warner Bros Studios without visiting Oxford. In this case, you would have to return to London from the Warner Bros studios independently. The ticket price is the same whichever option you choose.

STEP 3…

The third place to check for tickets is here ,

Use the search functions and include all possible travel dates to maximize your chances of success. GetYourGuide is a website where many different companies market Harry Potter Studio Tour tickets at varying prices and conditions. Some include transportation by bus, others by train and some with a private transfer. Some companies offer guided tours of the Warner Brother Studio whilst others simply provide a ticket which is self-guided.

STEP 4…

The fourth place to look is   here , here and here . This option includes pickup from Victoria Station.

Make sure to check tickets for all the different entrance times, and especially at 5pm or 6pm .  This is a major provider which might just offer a good way of getting to the Harry Potter studio tour when sold out. Tours are offered with return transportation to Central London and with departure times every hour from 9am to 6pm from London Victoria. Make sure to check this option regularly as last minute tickets do become available.

The fifth place to check is here , here , and here . These are the most expensive ticket options, which can be the last to sell out. Options include the only Fully Guided tour of the Studio, a Hotel pickup and dropoff service, and, on Friday evenings only, a visit to the Studio with a Champagne reception.

Step 6…

The sixth place to check for tickets is here and here  

Get a ticket and a hotel room from £125 per person.If you are planning on staying in a hotel during your trip, this is a very good way of getting tickets with transportation, which are normally sold out first. Hotel prices are very competitive, can be booked for up to 3 nights, and you’ll pay the regular cost of a studio ticket. It’s possible to stay in a number of 3* and 4* hotels located in Central London. You can see full terms and conditions on their website.

If you are visiting London and have already booked a hotel, you may be able to cancel your reservation for free. You could then book a hotel that’s included in this package.

Get In Touch:

Leave us your travel dates in the form below, and we’ll let you know if any Harry Potter tickets become available through Tourist England. Rest assured, our dedicated team is here to help!

Thanks a lot!! You are a lifesaver ! Got the required tickets for one of my dates 🙂 🙂    – Kirshna, Germany

Thank you so much! We have booked in for the 13:30 slot for 2 adults and 2 kids. I can’t thank you enough for your wonderful service!      – Esther, UK

You guys are amazzzzzziiinnngggggg – Mike, USA

If you’ve tried all the above options and still see that all Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour tickets are sold out then try the Warner Bros official  website . We’ve left this suggestion to last because they are normally the first place to get sold out, but it’s worth a go! (This option includes just the ticket to the studio tour, with no transportation to and from London.) If you find a ticket,   you can buy return bus transportation tickets to the Studios from Central London  here .

Step 8 – without transport

The eigth place to check for tickets is here .

These deluxe tickets are part of a VIP trip to the Harry Potter Studio Tour which sometimes has availability when other places are sold out. The VIP package includes a transfer from your hotel in Central London, a 2-hour fully-guided tour of the Warner Bros studio and re-entry into the studio for a self-guided visit. It also includes lots of extras such as a meal, Butterbeer and video of you flying a broomstick.

Step 9…

This voucher package starts at £99 per person. It includes a stay in a hotel and Studio Tour tickets. You can choose from a selection of different 3 and 4-star hotel options, and stay for 1-3 nights. Please note that only after purchase can you select specific dates. If the date you are looking for is sold out, you can cancel your voucher within 14 days to receive a 100% refund.

Similar Harry Potter Tours:

We understand that you might have planned your whole holiday around visiting the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London only to discover that tickets are sold out. But Tourist England offers several Harry Potter themed tours which are a great way to spend a day or two with the family!

• Harry Potter Bus Tour of London Locations  takes you around some of London’s most famous Harry Potter attractions. Highlights include the Ministry of Magic, Platform 9 ¾, the Knight Bus and the Leaky Cauldron
• Our Oxford & Cambridge day tour from London includes a visit to Christ Church College in Oxford. This is where Hogwarts Dining Room was filmed and gives you a good feel for the Harry Potter magic. The tour also goes to the university town of Cambridge.
• 2 Day Harry Potter Tour of England  is a two day fully customizable private tour which goes to the many places in England that were used in the filming of the Harry Potter movies. Highlights include Gloucester, Lacock, Oxford and London. The tour can be adjusted according to your tastes and wishes.

For more information about the Harry Potter Studio Tour from London, including descriptions of the attractions and sights, then check out our dedicated page here .

What’s included:

All Harry Potter Studio Tours from London include entrance tickets. From here, each provider will offer a slightly different product.

Some tour operators provide a shuttle bus transportation service from London Victoria Coach Station. This tends to be the cheapest way of getting from London to the Warner Bros Studio Tour. However, since it’s the cheapest, tickets also tend to get sold out first!

You might consider a more expensive option, which is to take a fully guided Harry Potter Studio Tour which includes escorted train tickets from London Euston Station. The great advantage of this option is that not only is it a fully guided tour, but you also get to stay on as long as you want after the official tour has ended, with time perhaps to check out the café and souvenir shop.

Another alternative is to purchase a hotel package , whereby tickets are included as part of a deal that includes a hotel pickup service directly from Central London. The service is offered for anyone staying in a hotel, apartment or accommodation within zone 1.

If this option is also sold out, then by far the most expensive option (and so with the best chance of success!) is to take a private taxi service from London. This service picks up from Baker Street and you get to enjoy the pleasure of a private car to and from the Studios. The price, of course, includes entrance tickets to the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studios.

One final option to consider is a full day tour that combines a visit to the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studios with a tour of Harry Potter locations in the university town of Oxford. The tour is not that much more expensive than the shuttle service and tends to get sold out only a week or two before the date of departure. The advantage of this tour is that you get a great full day out for all the family! The tour is available every Saturday, with Wednesday and Sunday departures available from April to October.

About Harry Potter Tour:

The best-selling Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour is a treat for any Harry Potter fan! You’ll get to go behind the scenes and discover how the 8 Harry Potter movies were created and came alive with special effects, incredible props and amazing sets! Make sure to plan your trip well in advance as Harry Potter Warner Studio Tour tickets are sure to get sold out well in advance!

Highlights:

• Be swept away into the world of Harry Potter with behind the scenes spectacular displays of how the movies were made
• Ride a broomstick!
• Discover the props and displays that were used in the movies
• Stand on platform 9 ¾ and take a selfie in front of the luggage trolley
• Go onboard Hogwarts Express

more things to do

Dark Arts at Warner Bros. Studio Tour, 13 September to 10 November 2024

Hogwarts in the Snow, Warner Bros. Studio London

How to Get to Harry Potter Studio Tour from London

A Celebration of Slytherin at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - until 15 Sep 2021

Help! Harry Potter Studio Tickets are Sold Out for my London Trip Dates! 4 Ways to Buy

One very common question in my London tour groups is: “help! I can’t find Harry Potter Studio tickets for my dates!” 

This happens often because Harry Potter Studios – the Warner Brothers tour outside of London – sells out months in advance. For popular dates like Christmas time, Halloween, and school holidays, it can sell out even faster. 

It also happens because buying directly is the cheapest ticket. Harry Potter studio tickets directly from the Warner Brothers website start at £53.50.

Here are 4 ways to buy Harry Potter Studio tickets when they’re sold out on the website. 

This post may contain affiliate links for which I receive a small commission at no cost to you.

1. Purchase Harry Potter Studio Tickets Resale 

By “resale,” I mean tickets through a 3rd party retailer. There are tons of these companies that buy up tickets, or are allocated a certain amount for their business, and resell them. 

There is generally more availability with these retailers since it’s a bit more expensive than booking directly with Warner Brothers Studios. But many of them offer transportation included with the ticket, so it’s not a bad deal at all!

Here are the most trusted 3rd party retailers to purchase Harry Potter Studios tickets resale, according to travelers who have purchased before.

a) Tiquets : from £104

Tiquets is a reliable ticket vendor for tickets for Harry Potter Studios that offer either the basic entry ticket, plus transportation from Central London. Customers have said the buses are comfortable, have Wifi, and the 4 hour studio tour is well worth the price and it’s incredible.

b) Viator : from £104

Travel giant Viator usually has Harry Potter studio tickets available, and they too offer transport from Central London included with the ticket. Prices between Viator & Tiquets are usually about the same.

c) ⭐️ Get Your Guide : from £99 ⭐️

Get Your Guide is another reliable vendor for tickets for Harry Potter Studios, and they include comfortable coach transport from Central London. Harry Potter Studio tickets from Get Your Guide average about £5 less than Viator and Tiquets , though prices may fluctuate.  

d) Evan Evans Tours: from £105

Evan Evans tours is a London veteran who provide Harry Potter studio tickets resale, including return transportation from Central London. Tickets from Evan Evans are about the same price as Viator and Tiquets.

e) Golden Tours: from £105

Golden Tours is a popular UK tourism company and they offer Harry Potter Studio tickets from roughly the same price as the others.

2. Keep Checking the Official Harry Potter Studio Tickets Website 

Occasionally visitors need to change their tickets. The Studio explains their policy here . 

What does that mean for you? Tickets can pop up at any time! Keep checking several times a day. I’ve had many travelers report that their perseverance paid off big time when tickets magically appeared for their dates.

3. Have a Mastercard?

If you have a Mastercard, you can join Mastercard Priceless.

Priceless is Mastercard’s exclusive events and experiences platform, where tickets are released to Mastercard members before the general public.

20 tickets are released each day for 2-7 days in advance , so this is a great option if you need last minute Harry Potter studios tickets.

4. Harry Potter Studio Tickets Resale Are Too Expensive, and It’s Still Sold Out! 

There are so many ways to experience the magic of Harry Potter in London, and the studio isn’t the only place that the movies were filmed! There are a huge number of locations in London where you can experience Hogwarts in the Capital. 

You can go on a guided tour with Harry Potter experts, take yourself on a self-guided tour with my complete guide here , and don’t forget to take an iconic photo at Platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross. 

1. Guided Harry Potter Tours: See All The Filming Locations!

Lots of tour companies offer guided Harry Potter walking tours of London. But which is the best?

a) ⭐️ Get Your Guide: Magical London Harry Potter Walking Tour ⭐️

From £20pp you can explore the magic of Harry Potter in London with this interactive tour. You even get to hop on a boat and explore the Thames – this is really two experiences for the price of one!

b) Viator: The Original Harry Potter London Locations Tour

From £20pp you can test your Harry Potter knowledge with quiz questions as you stroll along the streets of Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square, seeing some of the iconic locations where the films were made!

c) Tiquets: Harry Potter Guided Film Locations Tour

This experience from Tiquets is on the pricier end (from £29pp) , but it’s the only Harry Potter tour that includes a visit to Platform 9 3/4. It’s also the longest at 2.5 hours, so it covers a lot that the other tours don’t.

2. Self-Guided Tours

Another alternative Harry Potter experience in London is to take yourself on a self-guided tour. I’ve written a guide to the most iconic and significant Harry Potter London locations here. Follow along – it’s free!

3. The Cursed Child

The Cursed Child is the never-before published story by JK Rowling, entering a brand new storyline in the Harry Potter Universe. This theatre production is absolutely MAGICAL.

I was absolutely blown away by the production value, the sets, the effects – it’s like you’re watching magic happen in front of your eyes. It’s not only a great way to experience Harry Potter in London, it’s also just a fantastic theatre experience.

Tickets vary in price, and they do sell out quickly, especially during peak times. There are a huge amount of vendors to choose from for tickets, but Ticketmaster sometimes has really great deals and promos.

4. Shopping

There are tons of shopping destinations for Harry Potter merch and memorabilia in London. My favorites are: Hamleys (Oxford Street), Forbidden Planet (Covent Garden), and the Platform 9 3/4 Shop at King’s Cross Station.

5. Visit Platform 9 3/4

Most visitors to London will find themselves at King’s Cross Station at some point. Don’t forget to visit the iconic photo stop! Sometimes it gets crowded and you’ll have to wait your turn in the queue. But it’s never more than 30 minutes or so.

Harry Potter World Tickets London: Did You Score?

If you found another way to score Harry Potter studio tickets resale or direct, please let me know! This is a huge problem for visitors to London and I want to help as many people find a way to get there as possible.

Email me at Jen (at) London in Real Life (dot) com. Thanks!

Tickets for Harry Potter Studios FAQ

Does harry potter sell out.

Yes! Harry Potter Studios London sells out very quickly, usually at least 3 months in advance, and sometimes longer.

Can you just turn up to Harry Potter studios?

No, you can’t. You must purchase tickets in advance as they are not available at the door.

What is the cheapest way to do the Harry Potter studio tour?

The cheapest tickets for Harry Potter Studios are directly from Warner Brothers. But they do sell out far in advance, so you may need to buy resale from another vendor. These are more expensive, but it may be the only option for your travel dates.

Do you need a whole day for Harry Potter studios?

Yes. The studio tour is 4 hours, and it takes at least 1 hour to get to the studios from Central London (usually more like 90 minutes if you’re taking a coach). That’s the majority of a day!

Is there a time limit to Harry Potter world?

Yes – your Harry Potter Studio tickets allow you entry for 4 hours. This is plenty of time to see everything inside.

Is Harry Potter Studio London worth it?

This is relative question – are you a big Potter fan? If you’re not, it may not be worth it. But if you love the films, it’s worth it to see so many original sets, costumes, and props from the films. It’s like stepping inside the films!

Is the Harry Potter studio tour all indoors?

Most of it is, but parts – like Privet Drive – are outdoors. No matter the weather, this is a really fun attraction!

Where to stay for Harry Potter studio tour?

You can easily stay in London for easy access to the Harry Potter studio. It’s an hour by train or 90 minutes by coach (and most tour companies provide transport). If you want to stay closer, Watford has a lot of affordable hotels to choose from.

Is Harry Potter World the same as Harry Potter Studios?

These two often get confused. Harry Potter World usually refers to the Universal Studios attractions- both in Orlando and Los Angeles. But often when you’re in the UK, people will refer to Harry Potter Studios as ‘Harry Potter World’ because it’s the largest Harry Potter attraction in the UK, and it’s like stepping into Harry Potter’s world!

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How to Get Last Minute Tickets to Harry Potter Studio Tour When Tickets Are Sold Out

February 3, 2024

Anna Hammerschmidt

Are you planning a trip to London and can’t get tickets to the Harry Potter Studio Tour? Perhaps you are planning a last-minute trip and are hoping to add on a visit to the studio. Or you didn’t realize that Harry Potter Studio Tour tickets sell out well in advance . I know the feeling; I completely sympathize with how you are feeling. I have been in your position, and it’s a really disappointing feeling. You finally figure out your itinerary for your trip to London and sit down to book tickets, and boom , you realize that the Harry Potter Studio tickets are sold out for the next two months. 

Before you panic, stress, or cry over the devastation of not being able to visit the Harry Potter Studio tour, I have some tips for getting last-minute tickets to the Harry Potter Studio Tour . This guide covers the best ways to get last-minute tickets to the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London, including resale tickets, the official website, and alternate options if you cannot get tickets.

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission when you purchase a product or book a stay through these links at no extra cost to you.

Table of Contents

Help! Harry Potter Studios Tour Tickets are Sold Out

If you’re reading this guide, chances are you discovered that Harry Potter Studios Tour tickets are sold out on the day you planned to visit. Unfortunately, tickets do tend to sell out well in advance. Tickets for the Harry Potter Studios sell out weeks to even months in advance . While tickets on the official website do sell out, there are options for getting last-minute tickets.

In a Hurry? Harry Potter Studio Tour Availability

This guide highlights all the options for getting Harry Potter Studio Tour tickets. Yet, this is one of the best options. This tour has great reviews and tends to have the most last-minute availability. 

How to Get Last Minute Tickets to Harry Potter Studio Tour London

These are a few options for getting last-minute tickets when the Harry Potter Studio Tour is sold out, including from the official website and getting resale tickets to the Harry Potter Studio Tour.

Last Minute Harry Potters Studio Tour Tickets from the Offical Website

Keep checking the website.

Tickets are sometimes rereleased due to ticket changes and cancellations. When this happens, those tickets are re-released. Don’t go crazy checking this every day, but if you are visiting London in the next couple of months, you may consider revisiting the website to check for tickets . It only takes a couple of minutes to check if any tickets have become available, and tickets may magically appear for the day of your visit.   

Check For Tickets the Week Of Your Visit

If you are flexible on if you visit the Harry Potter studio tour, consider checking for last-minute tickets on the official website. Tickets are re-released , if available, one week before the date on the official website . 

This tip worked for me on my last trip to London. I decided I wanted to revisit the studio tour and looked up tickets a few weeks before my trip. And, of course, everything was sold out. There were zero tickets available for the entire week I was in London. Instead of giving up, I checked the website daily starting the week before my trip. Tickets are re-released, if available, one week before on the official website.

If your heart is absolutely set on visiting the studio tour, this option might not be the best for you. Waiting until the very last minute could cause some pre-trip anxiety. Also, you will be disappointed if you cannot secure last-minute tickets and all the tours sell out.

Harry Potter Studio Tour Resale Tickets

You’ll find Harry Potter resale tickets available on various platforms. Most of these tickets are at a higher price point than the official website, yet usually include transportation from London. While there are a handful of sites where you can purchase your tickets, I highly recommend booking from a reputable site like Get Your Guide . Get Your Guide typically allows you to cancel any of their tours for a full refund up to a certain number of days leading up to your trip (make sure to check the cancellation policy before you book).

Book a Harry Potter Studio Tour with Transport

This option for securing last-minute tickets to the Harry Potter Studio tour is the most expensive, but it is also the least stressful. Many people choose to book one of these tours, regardless if tickets are available on the official website. Booking one of these tours is great because they include transport from London. That means you don’t need to worry about navigating public transportation to Watford Junction.

These tours below usually have last-minute tickets to the Harry Potter Studio Tour. However, you may need to compare a couple of these tours to find the best date for you.

Warner Brothers Studio Tours with Bus Transfers

These two tours are essentially the same. They include a bus transfer from Central London to the Warner Brothers Studio and allow you four hours to explore the studio. Both of these tours have fantastic reviews, so I would suggest comparing the dates available and the prices of each tour.

Book this Tour :  Warner Brothers Studio Tour including Transportation

Harry Potter Studio with Private Transfer from Central London

This might sound like a bougie option, and it is if you’re traveling solo (but it is also good for you if you can afford a private transfer for yourself!) But if you’re traveling with a group of at least four people, a private transfer is cheaper than if you all bought an individual ticket with a bus transfer. These private transfers can accommodate groups of up to eight people. The Harry Potter Studio Tour with private transfer  is a great option if you’re looking for last-minute Harry Potter Studio Tickets for a group.

Book this Tour :  Harry Potter Studio Tour with Private Transfer

Harry Potter Studio Tour with Oxford Day Trip

This tour allows you to have four hours at the Studio Tour and visit Oxford in one day! This is a long day trip, but it is well worth it as you can see Oxford University, including the Harry Potter filming locations in Oxford.

Book this Tour :  Harry Potter Studio and Oxford in one day

Harry Potter Studio Resale Tickets Still Too Expensive?

If one of these guided tours to the Harry Potter Studio is out of your budget and you can’t find tickets on the website, there’s really not much you can do besides wait. I suggest scheduling loose plans that you’re okay with changing for the day you hoped to get tickets to the Harry Potter Studio Tour. You might luck out, and tickets will become available a few days or even the day before your visit.

I f you’re not able to visit the Studio Tour, you can still enjoy some Harry Potter things to do in London, including:

Visiting the House of MinaLima

The House of MinaLima is a shop and gallery owned by graphic designers Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima. This duo created the graphic art and various props used throughout the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts movies.

Running through Platform 9 ¾

You can snap a photo at Platform 9 ¾ at Kings Cross Station. This is one of the best free Harry Potter Things to do in London . After you get your iconic photo, there is a small Harry Potter shop where you can look for souvenirs. 

Checking out Harry Potter Filming Locations in London 

There are various Harry Potter Filming locations in London. You can either venture out on a self-guided tour or explore these sites with a Harry Potter Walking Tour in London .

Last Minute Tickets to Harry Potter Studio Tour: Wrap-up

I hope this guide helped you and you were able to get tickets to the Harry Potter Studio Tour. To wrap everything up, don’t lose hope if you aren’t able to buy tickets from the official website. Either keep checking back on the website for tickets or reduce your stress by booking a tour with transportation before they sell out. 

For more travel inspiration, check out these posts: 🧙‍♂️ 5 Free Harry Potter Things to do in London ✨ 6 Magical Reasons to Visit the House of MinaLima in London 🚂  How to Get to the Harry Potter Studios from London ✨ Ultimate Harry Potter London Itinerary | Magical Harry Potter Trip to London 🪄 Leadenhall Market Harry Potter Film Location | Entrance to the Leaky Cauldron  ✨ 10+ Best Harry Potter Tours in London  For more UK travel, check out my UK section !

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Harry Potter London Ticket Resale: everything you need to know to get tickets to the studios

Want to visit the Harry Potter Studios Park in London but fear tickets will fly out before you can buy them? Here's how you can get them before they sell out and what alternatives you have.

Isabel Catalán

Harry Potter Studios Park | ©Karen Roe

Since opening its doors in 2012, Harry Potter Studios Park has welcomed thousands of Potterheads from all over the world every year, who travel to London specifically to see the studios where their favourite films were made. This means that tickets to the Warner Bros. studios are highly coveted .

On certain occasions it may even seem that you can only get them by magic, but nothing could be further from the truth. In this post I tell you how to buy tickets to Harry Potter Studios Park before they sell out, avoiding resale , so you can enjoy J.K. Rowling's saga to the fullest.

How to get tickets to Harry Potter Studios before they sell out?

The key is how early you buy your tickets. Harry Potter Studios Park is one of London's most popular tourist attractions and receives thousands of visitors every day, so if you know you want to visit the Warner Bros. studios where some of the films were filmed, it's best to book your tickets as soon as you know when you're coming to the British capital.

Buying tickets with Harry Potter Studios transfers online in advance will allow you to book a specific date and time to visit the studios. This will ensure you secure your place at a specific time, as seating is limited and if you leave it to the last minute it's likely that there will be no tickets left.

The first place most Potterheads look for tickets is the Warner Bros. website , which means that demand there is extremely high and tickets sell out quickly as if by magic (no pun intended!).

Book tickets to Harry Potter Park

What to do if Harry Potter tickets are sold out

But don't be discouraged, because this is not the only option to get tickets to Harry Potter Studios Park.

Don't despair if there are no tickets available on the Harry Potter Studios Park website for the date you want - all is not lost!

Sometimes visitors make a last minute change to their plans and decide to pay an additional £10 fee to reschedule their tickets depending on studio availability, so if you visit the website frequently you may be able to find tickets available for a day that was previously listed as full.

Book tickets with transfers to Harry Potter Studios Park and avoid headaches

If even by keeping a close eye on the Warner Bros Studios website you still can't find tickets available, don't worry, because there is another option that will help you fulfil your dream and that is to book them through an organised tour to Harry Potter Studios Park .

Unlike tickets on the Warner Bros website, where people usually just buy tickets, on websites like Hellotickets you can book your tickets with transfers to Harry Potter Studios Park which includes both access and bus travel to the studios in Leavesden (Hertfordshire), 20 miles northwest of London.

In my opinion, this really is the most convenient option for visiting Harry Potter Studios Park, especially if you don't want to deal with London's public transport or if you're travelling with your family, as you'll be heading straight to the studios and the journey won't be too difficult for the kids.

Simplifying the organisation of the logistics will make the experience much more enjoyable. You won't have to worry about having to transfer between different means of transport, nor will you have to keep track of timetables to get there on time.

I can't find tickets, should I go to a reseller?

There are times of the year such as Christmas in London or summer in London when demand soars and finding available tickets to Harry Potter Studios Park seems like mission impossible.

This can lead us to contemplate other options that we would not normally consider, such as resale in the vicinity of the attraction or on websites selling second-hand goods.

However, resale is not the best place to get tickets because there are risks involved in buying them from a stranger. These are discussed below.

Dangers of buying Harry Potter Studios Park tickets from resellers

• You may be given a fake ticket that will prevent you from entering the park.
• You may receive a duplicate ticket because many copies of the original ticket have been made for resale, so that only the first visitor to arrive at the site will be allowed in and everyone else who also has a duplicate ticket will be locked out.
• You pay an exorbitant price for a ticket , especially for popular attractions such as Harry Potter where there is a huge demand to attend.
• The reseller sends you the tickets "in extremis" . When you buy them on second-hand websites you often have to wait almost with your heart in your fist for them to be sent to you and depending on the formality of the seller this can take a long time. If they ever arrive.

Alternatives to enjoying Harry Potter in London if you can't get tickets

If you still can't get tickets to Harry Potter Studios Park, either on the Warner Bros. Studios website or by booking a place on an organised bus tour , don't be discouraged because there are other ways to enjoy the magical world of Harry Potter in London and have a great time.

Take a Harry Potter locations tour of London

The British capital is packed with locations that were used as backdrops for the Harry Potter films. So if you love the young wizard's saga, a great thing to do in London is to take a guided tour of all these locations to relive some of the most iconic scenes from the films.

If you fancy doing this as an alternative to visiting Harry Potter Studios Park, the Harry Potter film locations in London post will show you some of the saga's locations for you to explore on your own by tube.

However, to get the most out of the experience I recommend you to join a guided tour of locations , as you will be accompanied by a professional guide who knows a lot of interesting facts about the filming of the movies, about the saga and about the city itself. You will see the difference!

I leave you the options of tours that Hellotickets has for you to book the one that best suits you:

• Harry Potter London Tour
• Private driving tour of Harry Potter's London
• Thames River Cruise and Harry Potter locations cruise

Go shopping at Harry Potter shops in London

On your trip to London you must visit one of the Harry Potter shops in the city to pick up that Harry Potter souvenir you've always wanted to get for your collection.

There are so many of them and they all sell something different! From clothes, mugs, cuddly toys and board games , to traditional sweets, stationery, gadgets and special editions of the novels.

If you want to pop into one of them to buy some gifts, check out the post The best Harry Potter shops in London where you'll find several places in the city that you'll love.

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Harry Potter Studios Tickets with Transfer from Victoria in London

About this activity.

• Your booking is confirmed instantly
• This activity is in your language
• This option has FREE cancellation: book it without any risk!

Experience Highlights

As you might expect, this experience is magical. Whether you are a Harry Potter devotee or not, the Harry Potter Tour at the Warner Brothers’ movie making studio in London will take you to a wondrous and wonderful world of make believe. And if you are a fan of Harry, this is your magical mecca. Each and every part of the tour is perfectly conceived, bringing together now famous sets, stunning costumes, and props that will take you back into the many chapters of the Harry Potter saga. You’ll get to stroll up Diagon Alley, stand on Platform 9 and ¾, hang out in the Great Hall, and much, much more. The selfie opportunities are limitless. No need to bring your wand. And to make it even better, your ticket includes round trip air conditioned bus ride from central London (20 miles to the Studio).

What’s included

• This ticket includes entrance to the Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio and a guided tour
• Round trip transportation by air-conditioned coach from/to London
• A digital guidebook is available for rental on the Studio Tour
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off

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Step by step.

Since the Warner Brothers Studio and the Harry Potter Tour is located about 20 miles outside of London, this ticket includes air-conditioned bus travel to and from central London. Plan on a total of 7 to 8 hours, including transport. While food is not allowed there are several food options at the Studio. The four hour guided tour will immerse you in the magical world of Harry Potter. You’ll move from spectacular set to spectacular set, taking in the props, the costumes and learning how the special effects were achieved that brought the Hogwarts creatures to life. Some of the most famous and realistic sets to visit include the Great Hall, Platform 9 and ¾, Hogwarts Express and Diagon Alley. Hagrid's motorbike is on display, but sorry, no rides allowed! You can take pictures in the luggage cart as it disappears into a wall, or enjoy a short flying broomstick ride thanks to the green screen technology.

• D D. 5 (0 Reviews) 100% recommended for any Harry Potter fan.
• A A. 5 (0 Reviews) Very satisfied with this service and will probably return to this park at some point.
• V V. 5 (0 Reviews) There is a recreation of Ron's brothers' store and I found it hilarious to be able to see the distinctive doll they have at the entrance.
• M M. 5 (0 Reviews) I quite liked the display of the outfits because you can see how well made they are, especially Moody's.

Other Things You Should Know

• All bookings are subject to availability. Alternative buses may be used during peak periods.
• Check-in is 30 minutes before the booked tour start time.
• A fee is charged for children 3-4 years old for transport only, as they require a seat on the bus.
• The entire experience, including transport, takes approximately 7.5 to 8 hours (subject to traffic conditions); the studio tour takes 4 hours.
• No outside food or drink is allowed but there are plenty of food options on site.
• Sorry, this experience is not wheelchair accessible
• A variety of special effects (including sudden loud sounds and strobe lighting) can be used in some areas of the excursion.
• It is accessible with strollers.

Cancellation Policy

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• Harry Potter Studios

Harry Potter Studios tickets and tours

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Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter with luxury coach transfer

Book your tickets now and relive the magic of the Harry Potter™ film series! Travel by luxury coach from central London and explore original film sets.

Warner Bros. Studio Harry Potter tickets from Russell Square

Walk in the footsteps of Harry Potter and explore the wonders of the wizarding world. This tour of the Warner Bros. Studio from Russell Square will leave you spellbound!

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter tickets with transport

Book the Warner Bros Studios London tour with transfer included, and enter the magical world of the Harry Potter films and sample the legendary Butterbeer!

Warner Bros. Studio tour London - The Making of Harry Potter (from King’s Cross St Pancras)

Book your tour of Warner Bros. Studio - The Making of Harry Potter return from King's Cross St Pancras. Travel by luxury coach to see the world of Harry Potter.

The Making of Harry Potter - Warner Bros. London Tickets and Transfer

Get transported to the magical realm of Warner Bros. Studios to see The Making of Harry Potter and to discover behind-the-scenes filming secrets.

The Making of Harry Potter Guided Tour of London Warner Bros. Studio

Book your fully-guided tour at Warner Bros. Studio tour in London - The Making of Harry Potter and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Guided Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter

Book your unique fully-guided tour at Warner Bros. Studio tour in London - The Making of Harry Potter and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The Making of Harry Potter Entry Ticket with Escorted Train Transfer

Embark on an extraordinary adventure with this self-guided tour of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter.

Harry Potter Warner Bros. Tour from London Victoria

From London: Warner Bros. Studio tour London - The Making of Harry Potter entry ticket and escorted train transfer

Step into the magical world of Harry Potter with timed entry to Warner Bros. Studios and explore iconic sets, props and costumes at your own pace.

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The inside story

London has always been a central feature of the Harry Potter empire, whether it be as inspiration for JK Rowling’s imaginings, a backdrop in one of the popular films or the Warner Bros. Studios , where all eight films were produced.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter , is a permanent exhibit offering an authentic behind the scenes peek at life-like sets, props and costumes. The tour allows visitors the unique opportunity to see soundstages, original sets, animatronic creatures and breath-taking special effects. Explore the detailed scenes used in the films and learn how the popular films were made from the interactive features and guides.

Discover the Great Hall and the Forbidden Forrest before boarding the original Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 ¾. Walk down Diagon Alley home to Gringotts Bank and the dusty Ollivanders wand shop. Don’t forget to stop at one of the Studio shops to get your very own wand or relax at one of the Studio Cafés and enjoy a glass of the famed butterbeer !

Popular with both adults and children, immerse yourself in the wizardry and wonder of Harry Potter as you explore one of the highest rated attractions worldwide. Tickets must be purchased in advance and sell out quickly so make sure to plan your visit ahead of time.

An ideal day out for any Harry Potter fan, a visit to Harry Potter Studios is sure to be a magical one!

How to get there

Warner Bros. Studio Tour

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The journey from Victoria Coach Station to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter takes between 1 - 1½ hours, depending on traffic. Inside the Studio Tour we spend up to 4 hours, followed by a return journey to London of approx 1 - 1½ hours. Therefore we advise passengers to factor in about 7 hours for the whole experience. Itinerary including finishing point is subject to change.

Although Warner Bros. Studio Tour London is wheelchair accessible, the transport coach to get there is not, therefore we can only accommodate wheelchair users who are able to board and alight the coach on foot and who have a folding wheelchair.

TRIP ITINERARY

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter provides an amazing opportunity to explore the magic of the Harry Potter™ films – the most successful film series of all time. Enjoy previously unheard anecdotes from the expert guides before taking a unique walking tour that takes you behind-the-scenes and showcases a huge array of beautiful sets, costumes and props. It also reveals some closely guarded secrets, including facts about the special effects and animatronics that made these films so hugely popular all over the world.

Here are just some of the things you can expect to see and do:

• Step inside and discover the great hall. Listen to previously unheard anecdotes
• Explore Professor Dumbledore’s™ office and discover never-before-seen treasures.
• Step onto the famous cobbles of Diagon Alley™, featuring the shop fronts of Ollivanders wand shop, Flourish and Blotts, the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, Gringotts Wizarding Bank and Eeylops Owl Emporium
• Head to Platform 9 ¾™ and ride the Hogwarts Express™
• Step into Gringotts Bank™
• See iconic props from the films, including Harry’s Nimbus 2000 and Hagrid’s™ motorcycle.
• Rediscover other memorable sets from the film series, including the Gryffindor™ common room, the boys’ dormitory, Hagrid’s™ hut, Potion’s classroom and Professor Umbridge’s office at the Ministry of Magic

DARK ARTS: 13 th  September – 10 th  November 2024

Step into the iconic sets from the Harry Potter film series in a spooky setting with dim lights, and set the stage for Halloween! With floating pumpkins, and Death Eaters and Dementors roaming the studio you are in for a scary treat.

HOGWARTS IN THE SNOW: 16 th  November – 19 th  January 2024

You are invited to a very 'Harry Christmas'! Celebrate the most magical time of the year when the studio is dressed for the festive season with a blanket of filmmaking snow. Experience the Forbidden Forest, Diagon Alley, The Great Hall, and more with stunning Christmas decorations and displays.

Inclusions:

• Entrance to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
• Round trip from Central London in air-conditioned coach
• Services of a professional representative at the Studios

Exclusions:

• Food and beverages

Please note:

• You will be given approximately 4 hours for the visit inside the Studio Tour
• Tour includes return transfer from Central London, guaranteed entry to the Studio Tour and the services of a professional representative
• 45 GBP applies for children aged 3 to 4 for transportation only as they require a seat on the vehicle
• Infants 2 years and under are free of charge however still require a ticket so we do need to be notified
• No refund is given once booking is confirmed.
• Youth and Child must be accompanied by at least one Adult.
• For the safety of the public and the protection of the Studio Tour, visitors may be subjected to a bag and/or personal search on entry. Certain items are prohibited from entering the tour including knives and bladed weapons, alcohol or illegal drugs, CS / pepper spray or anything which could be considered a security risk.

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• Evan Evans Tours
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Harry Potter Studio Tour - The Making of Harry Potter

Visit the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, The Making of Harry Potter, the perfect way to experience the wizarding Harry Potter World. It is one of our highest-rated tours and is available daily from Central London with comfortable return transportation.

Book the Harry Potter Studio Tour London experience, discover Hogwarts's wonders and secrets, and get a glimpse behind the scenes. Step through the spectacular Great Hall doors into the dining room, where the Sorting Hat famously sorted Hogwarts students into their houses. Come face-to-face with Aragog , the terrifying Acromantula , in The Forbidden Forest , stop for a photo with the Hogwarts Express by Platform 9¾ , and so much more!

Harry Potter World London is the making of the Harry Potter movies and is one of the most visited attractions in the world. The Warner Bros. Studios are located just outside London. Travel onboard our tour coaches, who provide free Wi-Fi, comfortable seats, USB chargers, and air conditioning.

From the Evan Evans office (nearest tube station Victoria):

From outside Blooms Cafe, 51 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0DG (Nearest tube station Russell Square):

All tours are daily (until 31st December 2024) except for closeout dates. Please check the calendar.

Please be at the location 30 minutes before departure.

Get ready for Hallowe’en with a visit to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London during the Dark Arts feature.

Step into the iconic sets from the Harry Potter film series in a spookier setting as we dim the lights and set the stage, especially for Hallowe’en. Here’s a taste of what you can expect to see during your visit… Hallowe’en at Hogwarts

Experience Hallowe’en as if you were a Hogwarts student by stepping into the Great Hall with over 100 pumpkins floating above a spooky feast, as seen in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. During filming, the Propmaking Team carved the pumpkins, each with its unique design. Dare to Encounter Death Eaters and Dementors

Look out for the Death Eaters’ procession through the Studio Tour in a menacing display, showcasing the authentic costumes and sinister choreography seen on-screen.

You’ll also be able to learn duelling techniques in our Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom and put your spell-casting to the test against the Death Eaters! New for 2024, ominous Dementors will also lurk throughout the Studio Tour, so keep a cautious eye out for them cloaked in darkness.

Dementors will be floating in the Forbidden Forest and moving towards visitors passing through the area. If you wish to avoid this on your tour, please speak to a team member who will gladly show you an alternative route. Follow The Dark Mark

The symbol of Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters will be projected throughout the Studio Tour for you to discover during your visit. Remember to collect your Studio Tour passport upon arrival to join the hunt for the Dark Mark.

Great Hall Step through the doors of the spectacular Great Hall into the dining room, where the Sorting Hat famously sorted Hogwarts students into their houses. The two huge centrepiece tables are set for dinner, and costumes of students from each Hogwarts house can be seen dotted around the room.

The Forbidden Forest Come face-to-face with the terrifying Acromantula, Aragog, in The Forbidden Forest - the filming location of some of the scariest scenes from the movie trilogy.

Platform 9¾ Stop for a photo with the Hogwarts Express, the famous locomotive that transported hundreds of students Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. 

Diagon Alley Take a stroll down the cobblestoned alley and shopping area located behind the Leaky Cauldron pub. This iconic street is home to Gringotts Bank, Mr Mulpepper’s Apothecary and Ollivanders wand shop, where Harry’s wand famously chose him. 

Step into the enchanting world of Harry Potter as you embark on a behind-the-scenes journey to explore the meticulously crafted wardrobes of your beloved characters . Marvel at the iconic Quidditch robes donned by Harry Potter and the Gryffindor team, each thread woven with the spirit of competition and camaraderie.

Immerse yourself in the splendour of the Yule Ball as you behold magnificent dresses fit for royalty and the elegant uniforms of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic , each garment a testament to the artistry and imagination that brought J.K. Rowling's beloved saga to life on the silver screen.

Peer into the Potions Classroom , adorned with over 950 potion jars brimming with unique props, from baked animal bones to shrunken heads, lining the walls like relics of ancient magic.

Venture further into the enchantment as you step inside Professor Dumbledore’s office , where the Memory Cabinet stands as a testament to the power of remembrance. Here, catch a fleeting glimpse of the Pensieve , a magical vessel that allows one to peer into the depths of memories past, just as Harry Potter did on his journey of self-discovery.

Famously run by Goblins, Gringotts Wizarding Bank is the only bank in the wizarding world. Discover the grand banking hall, adorned with three magnificent crystal chandeliers and l ined by towering marble pillars finished with real brass leaves.

Discover the costumes and prosthetics belonging to Bogrod, Griphook, and many other goblin bankers and tellers. Their desks are furnished with inkwells, quills, ledgers, and piles of Galleons, Sickles,  and Knuts.

Once through the banking hall of Gringotts, you will enter the depths of the Lestrange vault, which was used to store Bellatrix Lestrange's treasures, including the Sword of Gryffindor and Helga Hufflepuff’s Cup, one of Voldemort’s many Horcruxes. During filming, 38,000 pieces of rubberised treasure, including 7,014 Hufflepuff Cups, were created for the Lestrange vault.

Don't miss the unique photo opportunity inside the Lestrange vault , where the treasures of Gringotts Bank will surround you.

London Victoria Train Station - Your Tour will finish outside London Victoria Train Station, centrally located and easily accessible by national rail and underground, it is serviced by the Victoria, District and Circle Lines and is in Travel Zone 1.

The Russell Square departure ends back at Blooms Café.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• 1 pm departure from Russell Square: Please meet outside Blooms Cafe, 51 Bedford Way, London, WC1H 0DG.
• 9 am, 11 am, 1:30 pm & 2:30 pm from Victoria: Please meet at Evan Evans Tours, Vauxhall Bridge Road, Victoria, London, SW1V 1BS.
• Please note you will have approximately 4 hours at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour
• This is not an escorted tour; our price includes coach transfers and entry to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
• TM & © 2024 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry Potter Publishing Rights © JKR
• We encourage guests with e-tickets to bring these on their smart devices
• Our coaches are operating at normal capacity
• Please visit our Travel Health page before travelling
• Group Cancellation Policy: Groups of 10 passengers or more - A date change or refund can be made without charge up to 30 days before travel date; cancellations made within 30 days of travel date are payable at 100% ​​​

PACKAGE OPTIONS​​

Harry Potter Studio Tour from London Victoria:

• Warner Bros. Studio Tour London entry
• Departure from the Evan Evans office

Return travel on a fully-electric zero-emission coach with free Wi-Fi and USB charging on board

• 4-hour stay at the Studio Tour
• Guest Service Assistant on site

Harry Potter Warner Bros. Tour from Russell Square:

• Departure from outside Blooms Cafe, 51 Bedford Way, WC1H 0JR (nearest Underground Station 'Russell Square')
• See the breathtaking sets, including the Great Hall, Forbidden Forest and Diagon Alley
• Explore the collection of authentic and iconic props
• Step on board the Hogwarts Express
• Discover original costumes, including the uniforms from the wizarding sport of Quidditch
• Visit the special and visual effects department
• Comfortable and convenient return transfers to the studio from London on a superior coach

What's Included

Harry potter studios entry, what's excluded, hotel pick-up & drop-off.

• No Cancellation Fees
• No Change Fees
• No Booking Fees
• Your Money is Protected - Free cancellation up to 48 hours before the day of departure
• Before travelling, please refer to our Travel Health
• For full terms, see Our Flexible Promise to You

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• Warner Bros. Studios is located 20  miles  outside of Central  London  in Leavesden, Hertfordshire.
• The duration of the tour is approximately 7 hours with approximately 4 hours at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
• With Evan Evans, Return coach travel from central London with reclining  seats & FREE Wi-Fi on-board
• On the Harry Potter Studio Tour, you'll have the chance to explore iconic film sets, see props and costumes used in the films, visit the Special Effects department and learn how the films were made.
• The Studio Tour is a 4 hour, self-guided tour of the behind-the-scenes world of the Harry Potter films. Visitors can purchase a Digital Guide and Souvenir Guidebook for a more immersive experience.
• By Coach (45 minutes - 1.5 hours)

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‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ opens soon in Chicago, a third and final version of the epic sequel

C HICAGO — In the theater, success typically is associated with expansion, with going bigger, broader, grander. And yet with the theatrical sequel to J.K. Rowling’s stunningly successful series of novels about a bespectacled boy-wizard and his dramatic school friends, the British director John Tiffany has, at first glance, gone in precisely the opposite direction as he has journeyed from London to Chicago. An all-new and radically shorter version of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” opens at the Nederlander Theatre on Sept. 26.

When “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” opened in London in 2016, it came in two parts, needing a pair of separate tickets and lasting the best part of six hours, all said and done. It was not a problem. Potter mania was still at a peak, audiences embraced the festival-like ethos that had been in Tiffany’s head, the plot revelations of the new, yet-to-be-published play devised by Jack Thorne, Tiffany and Rowling herself were enough to elicit audible screams of surprise and, from the moment when young Albus Potter articulated his worry that he might hate his father’s beloved Hogwarts, or that the Sorting Hat might put him not in his dad’s beloved Gryffindor but in Slytherin, the hours flew by. Audiences were amazed to be watching not just a sequel about a second generation of wizards but a play that actually unlocked some of the remaining mysteries of the novels themselves.

Anyone there saw that those first audiences easily intuited the main theme: It’s not easy living up to your parents. Especially when your dad was the famous Harry Potter, someone had to learn how to be a father without ever having parents of his own.

All the faithful had to do to know that this show was in sync with their world was to hear Rowling refer to it as the eighth (and final) “Harry Potter” story and, once at the theater, listen to the onstage portrait painting of Dumbledore when it spoke its truth: “Perfection is beyond the reach of humankind, beyond the reach of magic. In every shining moment of happiness is that drop of poison: the knowledge that pain will come again.”

“You are not safe and must live your life accordingly” is the core of the Potter message throughout all of seven of the books; fans of the show were happy to “keep the secrets,” exactly as the buttons being handed out in the lobby of the Palace Theatre in the West End demanded. And most of the muggles who walked through the theater’s door soon found out that the category no longer applied to them.

Then came Broadway in 2018 . The show was every bit as good but the ticket prices were higher, the people more stressed. Donald Trump was in the White House, Slytherin appeared ascendent and Obama-era critical thinking was on the wane. Phones had wreaked more havoc on attention spans.

Then the pandemic closed everything down. Even the son of Harry Potter had no spell for that.

When “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” returned on Broadway in 2021, the two shows had been scrunched into one: 3 hours and 30 minutes meant a faster trajectory and Tiffany and his team were faced with cutting as much as creating. But he wanted the show to thrive as a single-ticket attraction. And the switcheroo proved a savvy Stateside bet. The one-show version is still running on Broadway and doing well.

Now, Tiffany and his choreographer are about to create a third and, he says, likely final version of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” with a Chicago opening night on Sept. 26. Tiffany has not given any interviews about “Harry Potter” for more than two years, feeling he had nothing left to say. But he agreed to let a visitor into rehearsal and to talk at length. And length is on his mind: the goal for the new national touring production, he says, is to come in at under three hours.

Although the run in Chicago will last through Feb. 1, this is to become the template for all national and international touring versions. For anyone who has seen the previous versions of “Cursed Child,” which features a bevy of magic tricks and a technical rig that can send scary Dementors all the way up to the balcony, the challenges of creating a version of the show that can expeditiously move by truck will be self-evident.

But that’s Tiffany himself, not an assistant, sitting in the theater for a late August technical rehearsal at the Nederlander Theatre, And by his side is the revered choreographer (and high-school classmate) Steven Hoggett. Both men, who live in London, are massively in demand for new projects and have plenty of access to associates and assistants. Why are they both in Chicago for weeks on end?

“One of the inspirations for the original two-parter was the incredible experience you’d have at festivals, watching a full day of ‘The Oresteia’ or ‘The Mahābhārata,'” Tiffany says over lunch. “I always thought there was something almost religious about that. The idea was we would recreate that in the West End. We had a very strong idea about how we would end Part One and that became where we focused our energy and it worked.”

The “it” (and that would be a spoiler) still works in London where, as Tiffany points out, “You can still see both shows for 30 quid.” But as time and geography changed, there has been a reality check. So what was it like coming up with something not much more than half the length of the original staging?

“Not easy at first,” Tiffany says. “It was a strange thing for me to do, wasn’t it? After I had got a whole team excited about this big event. But we also understood the practicalities of it. Ultimately, we want the work to be seen by as many people as possible. Each time, it has taken a second for me to realize that I do have the energy to do this, that I do have another version inside of me.”

The two-shows-to-one change on Broadway, though, was done somewhat under duress, within the context of the pandemic. In Chicago, Tiffany and his team have in someways started again from scratch but the environment has been much freer.

“This is the first time since the very first production I have been involved in the process from day one to opening night and it has been an incredible artistic challenge,” Tiffany says. “This is a company of actors who have not worked together before and it has been an absolute delight from start to finish. It’s also meant that we have had to reinvent all the production elements because much of what we have in London and New York cannot tour.”

Tiffany grew up in Northern England and, as a young person, saw his theater in the provinces. “This is the version that I would have seen,” he says. “It would have had to tour to me if I was ever going to see it. I’m massively behind this because of all the kids that we will be able to reach now and who would never have otherwise been able to see this show. That has become far more important to me that being precious about any particular element of my original production.”

Hoggett, watching a rehearsal that afternoon, makes the same populist argument in a slightly different way. “The literacy rate among boys in rural America went up massively when the Harry Potter books first came out,” he says. “This is about access . It’s about taking the show to an audience that can’t necessarily go to Broadway and pay all that money there to see it.”

“And just look at this theater,” Tiffany says, clocking how well the show likely will sit in the fantastical former Oriental Theatre auditorium.

“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” has been singularly slow to roll out its tour. Attention was focused first on international productions in Australia and Japan, given the books’ global appeal, mostly put together by associates. San Francisco was chosen as the first U.S. city outside New York to get the show, despite Broadway in Chicago’s best efforts to persuade the producers otherwise. (“Hamilton,” by contrast, chose Chicago and moved far more quickly.)

But “Cursed Child,” it was clear from the start in London, had a huge Asian following and San Francisco was perceived as geographically closer to those markets and, of course, also was filled with members of that demographic. But even a decade on from its bow, huge swaths of the country never have seen the show — before Tuesday night’s first preview in Chicago, there only had ever been two U.S. cities to host the show.

“It’s still the full Harry Potter experience,” Tiffany says. “Ninety-five percent of the illusions are still in there and when it comes to the other 5%, we have found new and sometimes better ways of doing them. I think we have created something every bit as powerful and effective and dramatic as the the three-and-a-half hour version but that is a bit more user-friendly for families. People have time to have dinner now. Three-and-a-half hours was just a very big ask.”

He pauses for a moment.

“This has taken 10 years of my life, almost full time” he says. “But I just couldn’t bear for this not to be done well in Chicago. And the best chance it has got is with the original creative team. I’m incredibly proud of it.”

In terms of theater technology, 2016 was the dark ages compared to 2024. But whatever digital temptations might now exist have been resisted. Rather, a visit to a technical rehearsal suggests, the process has been about finding new ways to execute the illusions when every stage floor and every theater is different. Trapdoors can no longer be relied upon to be in the same place, if they are present at all.

Have people moved on from Harry Potter? Rowling, of course, has become a controversial Twitter activist in the area of gender identity, to the chagrin of some of her fans even though others have come to her defense. (“I understand you are a journalist and you have to ask but I just don’t talk about it,” Tiffany says. “It is not something that feels part of the show at all.”) And, of course, there are now no new movies to be released each year, although a TV series is planned, themed around the existing stories. One more piece of evidence of waning Pottermania was the decision of Britain’s Network Rail to this month end its long-standing, back-to-school tradition this year of a live announcement of the Hogwarts Express from Platform 9 3/4 at London’s King’s Cross Station. But that decision was greeted with howls of dismay.

“The books are no less popular now,” Tiffany says. “New generations seem to be as taken with the books as when we were much younger. And we were always much closer to the books than the movies. We didn’t take any of the music from the films or even any visual reference whatsoever, really.”

Indeed not. When Albus Potter and his second-gen schoolmates gets their first glimpse of Hogwarts, they see a theater, not a historic building repurposed for cinematic use.

Tiffany, who also directed “Once,” is well known for his affection for Chicago actors, several of whom are in the show, including Larry Yando as Albus Dumbledore, Amos Diggory and Severus Snape. (Some were in the Broadway production, too.) “There is such a dedication in actors here,” Tiffany says, eyes lighting up. “Such craft and also a sense of humor.”

“What theater can do, especially with an adult Harry, even more than the books, is take an audience to a really dark place,” he goes on. “Harry can tell Albus he wishes he was not his son and Albus hears he wishes he had never been born. Imagine what that does to a 15-year-old boy. That was a bit too much for some of the Harry fans who didn’t think that Harry ever would say that. But we have a journey to go on here and what I love about fantasy is that it’s exciting and theatrical, but also that it gets to the heart of the human experience even more than realism. Harry can say the unsayable to Albus, his son. And Albus almost destroys the world because of the chaos in his mind. Because he does not feel safe.”

One begins to see why Tiffany is still here, still directing another version of the same story. Even now, it’s hard to find another that compares. “I’ve done a lot of new plays in my career,” he says. “No one is ever interested in a new play before it opens,” he says. “With this one, everyone knew the characters. And everyone cared.”

He spoke about what qualities he looks for in actors who audition for the adult Harry. “Experience with Shakespeare really helps,” he says, simply enough. “The ‘Harry Potter’ world is very similar.”

Tiffany heads off into rehearsal.

“You have to remember Harry is the savior,” he says before he goes, his voice underpinned with emotion. “So, for Albus, it’s like being the son of Nelson Mandela. And the question for us was, what would it like to be that son if you don’t thrive within that circumstance? And if you’re the famous Harry Potter, and you think you have finally achieved a stable family, what would it be like not to understand why it all goes wrong?”

“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” opens Sept. 26 and runs through Feb.1, 2025, at the Nederlander Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St.; www.broadwayinchicago.com .

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