Harry Potter/Warner Bros Tour in London...

[madmumof2]

The other thread reminded me to post what I keep meaning to ask!

The kids don't know we're going yet so I'm trying to come up with ways to reveal when I came across this...

http://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/?utm_...m_term=harry+potter&utm_campaign=harry+potter

This is perfect!! We can say we're going to London (flying from Gatwick) to go on this tour, which looks amazing. Not sure how we'll explain suitcases but we can get by that. They will LOVE this. Can say at the end I'm too tired to come back so we'll stay overnight in a hotel...then instead of going home say 'why not go for breakfast in the airport'..then 'ooh lets watch planes take off, we'll have to go through check in to see them'...then wait until they realise we're going when they call the flight! lol


BUT, and it's a bit but...I don't know London and looking at the maps it seems impossible to get there!

Am I missing something? Google says is 58 miles from Gatwick. We're coming from Leicester way so no idea where we'd even get off the train to get to Gatwick? Then somehow get there without a car?

So does anyone who knows London know the best way to get from Gatwick (or wherever on the route from Leicester will be best) to the studio and back again?

I would LOVE to do this, even if it's too difficult for the night before the flight, we'll go another time, but since we're surprising them I can't think of a better idea!

 

[queendisney]

if I read this correctly...are you staying at a hotel in/by Gatwick? Well if so you can get the Gatwick express train from right next to the terminal, near to where the shuttle train between the terminal runs from. The Gatwick express goes into London Victoria Station which is where , I believe, you can catch a coach to the Harry Potter experience. BUT.....the experience actually starts near Watford and thats a bit of a way out of London. Its a bit like saying London Gatwick when Gatwick isn't really London!!! To be honest I think you will all be knackered if you try and cram this in from Gatwick! Hope that helps.

 

[Brandis]

There is a coach transfer from Victoria station 3 times per day, with Golden Tours.

Nearest railway station to the studios is Watford Junction, there is a shuttle transfer from there. Trains run from London Euston and Birmingham New Street.

 

[madmumof2]

if I read this correctly...are you staying at a hotel in/by Gatwick? Well if so you can get the Gatwick express train from right next to the terminal, near to where the shuttle train between the terminal runs from. The Gatwick express goes into London Victoria Station which is where , I believe, you can catch a coach to the Harry Potter experience. BUT.....the experience actually starts near Watford and thats a bit of a way out of London. Its a bit like saying London Gatwick when Gatwick isn't really London!!! To be honest I think you will all be knackered if you try and cram this in from Gatwick! Hope that helps.

Yeah we're in the Day's Hotel (used to be Skylane) which is about 5 minutes from Gatwick. We get a free bus from Gatwick to the hotel and back again in the morning.

I was dying to go but after seeing all the travelling thought the same, too much in a short space of time, but was hoping there was an easier route that I didn't know about?

 

[Brandis]

Oh, and by the way, you have to pre-book your tickets, they don't sell tickets at Warner Bros. Leavsden.

If you use the coach transfer from London Victoria, the return ticket for the transfer includes admission at the Studios.

 

[madmumof2]

There is a coach transfer from Victoria station 3 times per day, with Golden Tours.

Nearest railway station to the studios is Watford Junction, there is a shuttle transfer from there. Trains run from London Euston and Birmingham New Street.

See lol I don't know any of these places! lol

So Gatwick terminal, shuttle to Victoria station, train to Watford, then shuttle to the studios??

Sounds tiring but how long would that actually take?

I'm guessing it would be around 3 hours from here to Gatwick by train? If we leave at 9am, which isn't even that early, we'd be there for 12. Last tour is 4pm. We can leave a lot earlier than 9 if we need to though, my train station (Oakham, Rutland) is a 2 minute walk from me

 

[madmumof2]

Oh, and by the way, you have to pre-book your tickets, they don't sell tickets at Warner Bros. Leavsden.

If you use the coach transfer from London Victoria, the return ticket for the transfer includes admission at the Studios.

I knew you had to pre book but does that mean I can't book online if I use the shuttle?

Can I not just get on the shuttle and tell them I already booked online?


Another option is driving down, there may be an easier route from here by car? That would probably mean another night (I can get it free with airmiles) at a hotel the day we get back or I'll be too tired to drive 3 1/2 hours back after already travelling from Florida! lol

 

[Brandis]

I think it's not too bad if you would take the coach from Victoria, then you don't have to worry about getting on the right train, getting off at the right stop and needing another transfer from there.

If you would like to use the coach, then you'd have to book through the tour company, as their tickets include both the transport and admission at the studio.

http://www.goldentours.com/partner/wbsstudiotour/

They say the tour at the studio takes about 3 hours, don't know, how long the drive is, but I'd say, if that's the only thing you do that day, it should be doable.

Also being tired at the end of the day isn't a bad thing if you have a long flight ahead of you the next day, you can sleep in the plane...

 

[Brandis]

According to Google Maps, it takes about 45 min. from London Victoria to Leavesden Studios.

 

[madmumof2]

I think it's not too bad if you would take the coach from Victoria, then you don't have to worry about getting on the right train, getting off at the right stop and needing another transfer from there.

If you would like to use the coach, then you'd have to book through the tour company, as their tickets include both the transport and admission at the studio.

http://www.goldentours.com/partner/wbsstudiotour/

They say the tour at the studio takes about 3 hours, don't know, how long the drive is, but I'd say, if that's the only thing you do that day, it should be doable.

Also being tired at the end of the day isn't a bad thing if you have a long flight ahead of you the next day, you can sleep in the plane...

Ahhh ok, so I can get a shuttle to Victoria from Gatwick, then a coach directly to the tour?

And the same back again at about 7-8pm?

That sound easier at least! lol

I still have no idea what stop I'm supposed to get off on a train but guessing there'll be an announcement unless there's more than one stop to Gatwick?

Should definitely be the only thing we're doing that day.

I can't see me sleeping on the plane, we'll have a 23 month old with no seat! We must me mad! lol The kids might though if they're tired enough

 

[madmumof2]

According to Google Maps, it takes about 45 min. from London Victoria to Leavesden Studios.

Ahh that's not too bad! Is it a short journey from Gatwick to Victoria? Just checking what time tour we could do, could even do the 2pm instead?

 

[Brandis]

Gatwick Express takes 30 mins. from Gatwick to Victoria. Trains run every 15 min. and are non-stop, if I'm not mistaken.

http://www.gatwickexpress.com/

 

[queendisney]

just remember one thing.......

TRAFFIC TRAFFIC TRAFFIC.. in and out of London to Watford and back can be hell on the roads..so the times stated are not strictly true if you hit peak hours in the week. They also want you at the attraction 1 hour before your tour starts. Also add up the price of the Gatwick Express (not cheap) and then the Coach from Victoria with the entry price for you all, add on the food and souvenir...its going to be a fortune. Would be wonderful if you do it though. I am def going tobe doing it at some point in the summer.

 

[Brandis]

It's also something I'm thinking about, we often visit London in Spring for an extended weekend, seeing a musical or two and this would be something new to see.

Too bad they don't sell butter beer in the studio restaurant, at least they don't mention it, I guess Universal has a monopoly on that.

 

[madmumof2]

Gatwick Express takes 30 mins. from Gatwick to Victoria. Trains run every 15 min. and are non-stop, if I'm not mistaken.

Brilliant! So an hour and 15 minutes, say up to 2 hours including possible wait times/delays. Add on about an hour to get the 5 minute shuttle from gatwick to the hotel and back, dropping bags off, freshening up etc.

Meaning we can arrive at the latest 1pm to get to the 4pm tour? Ish? lol So leaving Oakham at 9am should be plenty of time or am I being too optimistic with it being busy London? lol

 

[madmumof2]

Missed the last couple of posts, I was worrying about the traffic! lol

I've just added it up and it's going to be a few hundred £££ :S

I think I'm going to find out the best way to get there, then really think about whether it's worth it the day before, or to go another time...

Definitely want to go, it looks so amazing!

 

[queendisney]

just did a quick calculation and it would cost you approx £276 for the trains, coach and entry for all of you...

I think it would work out so much cheaper to do it another time and just drive there from your home and so much less stressful.....

 

[Brandis]

I'd try to get to the hotel as early as possible. While they might have no rooms ready for you then, I'm sure they have a luggage room where you can store your stuff.

How do you get from home to the hotel? And how long does it take?

For the 4 PM tour at the studios, you have to check-in at the coach at 1:45 PM the latest and the coach then leaves at 2 PM. Just make sure you arrive at Victoria with time to spare so you can figure out where that coach leaves. I think it's near where the Green Line coach to Luton stops (but that probably doesn't help you). But when you book, I would ask them for a detailed description how to get to them from Gatwick Express at Victoria station.

Then, after the tour, you have to be back at the coach at 7:15 the latest and they leave at 7:30 PM.

 

[madmumof2]

I think it's going to be too hard Just looking at train times and prices and the prices change each hour, massive changes as well! I can't look beyond March but it's gone from (Oakham to Gatwick) £210 for all of us at 9am with 3 stops, taking 4+ hours, to £99 at 12pm with 1 stop taking 2 hours!

Makes no sense but I don't like not knowing, and I think it'll be very close to the date before the times are released :S

Then there's the coach, shuttle and tour cost...

I think I may have to do it another time as I think it'll be too stressful to enjoy it properly If I can go though I will! You never know, once it's opened it might become an offer on airmiles/tesco points so might not have to pay! lol I have thousands of miles I never use. One can hope!

 

[Brandis]

Even if you don't do the Harry Potter tour, just to get to the airport, did you check if there might be a coach service from where you live to Gatwick or perhaps London? I know National Express, but there might be others as well.

While my UK visits most of the time were limited to London, we sometimes visit a friend who lives near Basingstoke and I noticed that getting there by coach was usually a lot less expensive then by train.