WB Studios London

[blueshell]

Hi! I’m hoping to do the Harry Potter WB Studios tour on one of our free days before the London ABD trip begins. If anyone has done this from the Kimpton Fitzroy hotel, I’d love to hear how you got there! It seems like it’s about an hour away from the hotel. Would an Uber be very expensive? I see there’s a bus that can be booked through the WB Studios site, but we’d still have to get from the hotel to the pickup spot on our own. Hoping to hear how others have done it Thank you!

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Taxi or UBER would be very expensive. Ive been there a few years ago. The best way is using the Tube.

Kimpton Fitzroy hotel is at Russel Square, which is on the Piccadilly Line Tube.

You need to take the Piccadilly Line Tube to Piccadilly Circus, then change onto the Bakerloo Line to Harrow and Wealdstone, then change to the Overground train to Watford.

Once you exit Watford, there are signs for the Harry Potter Studios Tour Bus. This is a free shuttle bus for anyone who has a paid in advance ticket for the studios.

 

[blueshell]

Taxi or UBER would be very expensive. Ive been there a few years ago. The best way is using the Tube.

Kimpton Fitzroy hotel is at Russel Square, which is on the Piccadilly Line Tube.

You need to take the Piccadilly Line Tube to Piccadilly Circus, then change onto the Bakerloo Line to Harrow and Wealdstone, then change to the Overground train to Watford.

Once you exit Watford, there are signs for the Harry Potter Studios Tour Bus. This is a free shuttle bus for anyone who has a paid in advance ticket for the studios.

Thank you so much for this! I also saw that Golden Tours has a partnership with the WB Studios to provide bus transportation- the two pick up areas are listed as being:

Baker Street Visitor Centre
144 Marylebone Rd, London NW1 5PH, UK

London Victoria - Bus Stop 1 Bulleid Way
Bulleid Way, 123-151 Buckingham Palace Rd, Victoria, London SW1W 9SR

Would one of these be easy to get to from the Kimpton?

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

We've done the Golden Tours bus to WB Studios from Victoria Station. It (Victoria Stn) is very easy to get to by tube -- you can use the TFL (London transport) app for directions -- it's excellent. We have also hired a private driver for transport both ways (it wasn't too bad since I booked in advance); they picked us up at our hotel and met us when we had finished at the studios.

 

[Poohlie]

We have done this a few times and each time took a Midland train from Euston Station. The last time was in 2022. I recommend using Google Maps or Citymapper and the Tfl Go (London Transport) app while in London. It looks like Euston Station is a 15 minute walk from your hotel (or you could Uber there). We always purchased tickets for the first HP studio tour entry time to beat the crowds inside (better and easier pictures!). My recollection is that the commercial bus services either didn’t get there early enough and/or you had to stick to their schedule for your return.

My notes are below:

Getting to Studio Tour from London by Train & Bus:

The nearest train station is Watford Junction which has a direct train from London Euston station taking 20 minutes. There are several trains per hour.

Take the Tube and get off at Euston. Go upstairs (just a few stairs and then 2 escalators) and you go straight up into the station. Ahead of you is a huge departure screen showing all the trains leaving in the next hour or so. Look for a London Midland train which shows that it stops in Watford Junction. Don't look at London Overground trains. They are too slow. London Midland trains with the destination of Tring, Milton Keynes, Northampton, or Birmingham will stop at Watford Junction, and will get you to Watford Junction in 20 minutes plus or minus. Always check the departure board to make sure of the Watford Junction stop. Use your Oyster card, or you can buy tickets from the ticket office, but expect a queue.

When you get to Watford (depend on which service how many stops, no more than 3) follow the crowd to the front of the station. Go outside and just across the drive, just to the left is the stop for the bus to the studio. It is very clearly marked, and when the bus arrives it will be very well marked, and you won't be the only tourists heading for it.

From here, there is a shuttle bus run by Mullany’s Coaches which goes from Watford Junction Station to the studios. The journey takes about 15 minutes.

Shuttle buses run at least every 30 minutes from 8.15 am when the first tour is at 9 am.

It’s recommended to arrive at Watford Junction Station 45 minutes before your tour begins.


This is the information from the WB Studios website:

GETTING HERE​

SHUTTLE BUS FROM WATFORD JUNCTION​

Your journey to the Studio Tour is carbon-free as our buses are powered by electric. This journey is included as part of your entry ticket.

Regular shuttle buses operate from Watford Junction to the Studio Tour with a journey time of around 15 minutes. Buses run at least every 30 minutes from 9.20am (with additional services available from 8.15am when the first tour is at 9am). The last return shuttle bus back to Watford Junction will depart the Studio Tour when the Tour closes. For more information regarding this, please see the opening times calendar.

Please note, e-scooters are not permitted on our shuttle bus or on-site at the Studio Tour.

---

TRAVELLING BY TRAIN​

The Studio Tour’s nearest railway station is Watford Junction and direct services arrive there from both London Euston (20 minute journey) and Birmingham New Street (1 hour journey).

Other non-direct train services operate from London Euston, but please be aware that these may take longer to arrive at Watford Junction. Oyster cards are valid between London Euston and Watford Junction.

 

[abdgeek]

Hi! I’m hoping to do the Harry Potter WB Studios tour on one of our free days before the London ABD trip begins. If anyone has done this from the Kimpton Fitzroy hotel, I’d love to hear how you got there! It seems like it’s about an hour away from the hotel. Would an Uber be very expensive? I see there’s a bus that can be booked through the WB Studios site, but we’d still have to get from the hotel to the pickup spot on our own. Hoping to hear how others have done it Thank you!

I second what @Bad Pink Tink 2.0 said. I went to the HP Studios the last time I was in London pre-Covid. I was staying at the Royal Garden Hotel. I just researched how to take the tube and regional train to Watford. Once there, I believe you go to the left when you exit the station and the free bus to the studios is there. Research the times the bus picks up beforehand so that you don’t have to wait long for it. That way you can coordinate which train you want to take. It was super easy to do and I did the reverse to get back to London.

 

[blueshell]

Thank you all!

 

[sayhello]

We have done this a few times and each time took a Midland train from Euston Station. The last time was in 2022. I recommend using the Google Maps app and the Tfl Go (London Transport) app while in London. It looks like Euston Station is a 15 minute walk from your hotel (or you could Uber there). We always purchased tickets for the first HP studio tour entry time to beat the crowds inside (better and easier pictures!). My recollection is that the commercial bus services either didn’t get there early enough and/or you had to stick to their schedule for your return.

My notes are below:

Getting to Studio Tour from London by Train & Bus:

The nearest train station is Watford Junction which has a direct train from London Euston station taking 20 minutes. There are several trains per hour.

Take the Tube and get off at Euston. Go upstairs (just a few stairs and then 2 escalators) and you go straight up into the station. Ahead of you is a huge departure screen showing all the trains leaving in the next hour or so. Look for a London Midland train which shows that it stops in Watford Junction. Don't look at London Overground trains. They are too slow. London Midland trains with the destination of Tring, Milton Keynes, Northampton, or Birmingham will stop at Watford Junction, and will get you to Watford Junction in 20 minutes plus or minus. Always check the departure board to make sure of the Watford Junction stop. Use your Oyster card, or you can buy tickets from the ticket office, but expect a queue.

When you get to Watford (depend on which service how many stops, no more than 3) follow the crowd to the front of the station. Go outside and just across the drive, just to the left is the stop for the bus to the studio. It is very clearly marked, and when the bus arrives it will be very well marked, and you won't be the only tourists heading for it.

From here, there is a shuttle bus run by Mullany’s Coaches which goes from Watford Junction Station to the studios. The journey takes about 15 minutes.

Shuttle buses run at least every 30 minutes from 8.15 am when the first tour is at 9 am.

It’s recommended to arrive at Watford Junction Station 45 minutes before your tour begins.


This is the information from the WB Studios website:

GETTING HERE​

SHUTTLE BUS FROM WATFORD JUNCTION​

Your journey to the Studio Tour is carbon-free as our buses are powered by electric. This journey is included as part of your entry ticket.

Regular shuttle buses operate from Watford Junction to the Studio Tour with a journey time of around 15 minutes. Buses run at least every 30 minutes from 9.20am (with additional services available from 8.15am when the first tour is at 9am). The last return shuttle bus back to Watford Junction will depart the Studio Tour when the Tour closes. For more information regarding this, please see the opening times calendar.

Please note, e-scooters are not permitted on our shuttle bus or on-site at the Studio Tour.

---

TRAVELLING BY TRAIN​

The Studio Tour’s nearest railway station is Watford Junction and direct services arrive there from both London Euston (20 minute journey) and Birmingham New Street (1 hour journey).

Other non-direct train services operate from London Euston, but please be aware that these may take longer to arrive at Watford Junction. Oyster cards are valid between London Euston and Watford Junction.

This is what I've done the couple of times I've gone. It works very well.

Sayhello

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Make sure your dates are available to purchase, the tour can sell out several months in advance. You book for specific time entry slots and the shuttle bus is designed for pick ups based on that timed entry, the return journey you just hop on.

We went May 2024 and just took the train ride from our hotel I just don't remember the exact ones.

I loved the audio part where we did the headphones to listen to things at specified stops and then we did the stamps they had sprinkled throughout. I know we spent a few hours there. They should be rotating an exhibit every so often, when we were there a special Dark Arts exhibit had been added with sets from the Ministry of Magic.

 

[blueshell]

We've done the Golden Tours bus to WB Studios from Victoria Station. It (Victoria Stn) is very easy to get to by tube -- you can use the TFL (London transport) app for directions -- it's excellent. We have also hired a private driver for transport both ways (it wasn't too bad since I booked in advance); they picked us up at our hotel and met us when we had finished at the studios.

Would love to know who you used for the private driver for transport so I could get a price on that to compare

 

[Momtastic]

I’m so glad someone asked this question! And thank you to all who answered this, it’s very helpful . We are doing the same adventure and are also thinking of doing the WB studios prior to our adventure. I’m debating whether to book ours on the day of the welcome dinner, vs the day before. We get in early in the morning the day before the adventure starts, so leaning heavily towards booking on the welcome dinner day in case we are too jet lagged to do anything on arrival day.

 

[Steven G]

I did this, and I was not comfortable trying to take the public transportation options.

I can say that Uber is useless for this purpose. It is almost impossible to get anyone to accept the drive in London to WB Studios. We had so many drivers cancel us.

I ended up having to take a taxi both ways, which was very expensive, but we really wanted to see the studios, and we had paid for it already.

I would recommend what the above posters suggested or using the bus option offered by WB Studios. If I do this again, I would use the bus option.

 

[sayhello]

The one thing I will mention about the bus option is that I believe you have to catch a particular return bus at a specific time to return to London. So you don't have the flexibility to leave whenever you'd like as you would if you took the train to Watford Junction and the shuttle to the Studios. Make sure you understand how that works for whatever bus service you book.

Sayhello

 

[stevelle]

I second buying your tickets early. They sell out quickly. We had to do the Golden Tours package once because that was the only way we could get admission tickets, we never even took the tour bus back. We stayed so long that we took the free shuttle and the train back afterwards, the tour didn't really allot us enough time. I'm going with my daughter in August and will probably buy tickets this week just to avoid having to take the tour bus again.

 

[blueshell]

So good to hear the pros and cons on the bus and Uber and taxi options! I was able to book the studio tickets for a 9:00 entry (1st entry of the day). Now I’m trying to figure out what time I would need to leave the Kimpton if we use the public transportation route. As suggested above, it seems to be a 15 minute walk to Euston Station - and it sounds like I would want to look for a midland train to Watford Junction (not an overground train)? Is there signage directing towards the midland trains? I’m unclear on how I’ll know how to find a midland train vs an overground train Also, I’ve tried searching for train time schedules but haven’t had luck finding how often the trains run to Watford. I’d love to hear any suggestions you may have on what time I would want to be at Euston to catch a train that would get us to Watford in time for the 1st Harry Potter shuttle that arrives at 8:15am. I’m sure this is probably going to be a lot easier than it sounds in my head, but there seem to be a lot of moving parts in order to get there on time, and I’m having a hard time trying to figure out the logistics of it all! Your advice is so appreciated!
Thank you!

 

[Mathmagicland]

Also, I’ve tried searching for train time schedules but haven’t had luck finding how often the trains run to Watford.

I’m sure locals will weigh in, but here is a link to the UK rail system journey planner site. You can put in Euston and Watford, your desired departure date, and get all of the rail schedule times. It currently only goes out to the first week of May, so if you are later in the summer you could check out schedules now a similar day of the week for a general idea and get the actual schedules when they are released.

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/jour...gHour=00&leavingMin=30&adults=1&extraTime=0#O

 

[blueshell]

This is so great! Thank you so much!!

 

[abdgeek]

So good to hear the pros and cons on the bus and Uber and taxi options! I was able to book the studio tickets for a 9:00 entry (1st entry of the day). Now I’m trying to figure out what time I would need to leave the Kimpton if we use the public transportation route. As suggested above, it seems to be a 15 minute walk to Euston Station - and it sounds like I would want to look for a midland train to Watford Junction (not an overground train)? Is there signage directing towards the midland trains? I’m unclear on how I’ll know how to find a midland train vs an overground train Also, I’ve tried searching for train time schedules but haven’t had luck finding how often the trains run to Watford. I’d love to hear any suggestions you may have on what time I would want to be at Euston to catch a train that would get us to Watford in time for the 1st Harry Potter shuttle that arrives at 8:15am. I’m sure this is probably going to be a lot easier than it sounds in my head, but there seem to be a lot of moving parts in order to get there on time, and I’m having a hard time trying to figure out the logistics of it all! Your advice is so appreciated!
Thank you!

If the HP shuttle leaves at 8:15am, you would want to arrive at Watford Junction at 8 am at the latest. That means you would need to take the express train from Euston that leaves no later than 7:30 am and only takes 20 minutes to get there. There is another train you can take, but it takes about an hour or more to make the journey. If you decide not to buy your ticket in advance, you will still need to look online for the train times so that you know what time the train will leave. You would then buy your ticket from the ticket machine at the station or if it’s open, the ticket booth. You also need to see what time the return trains leave so that you know what time to leave HP to get the shuttle back to the station to catch the train back.

 

[Rowlf the Dog]

The one thing I will mention about the bus option is that I believe you have to catch a particular return bus at a specific time to return to London. So you don't have the flexibility to leave whenever you'd like as you would if you took the train to Watford Junction and the shuttle to the Studios. Make sure you understand how that works for whatever bus service you book.

Sayhello

Exactly this. My colleague did it last year and booked the bus option and they had to take specific busses both ways. For them the time wasn't enough, they had to rush through the last sections and couldn't visit the shop.

 

[pjacobi]

I did this, and I was not comfortable trying to take the public transportation options.

I consider part of the European travel experience is learning to use the excellent public transportation system. If millions of European can use it, then so can I learn to use it. In Europe, I travel the European way and do not try to force the American way of travel.


-Paul