Getting to Harry Potter Studios by public transport from London
Where are the Harry Potter Studios?
Warner Bros Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter is not in the centre of London, it is located just outside London at Leavesden, Watford. The nearest railway station from London is Watford Junction from where an official shuttle bus (which you pay for) runs to the Studio.
For those staying in Central London you need to allow at least an hour to get there by public transport. Furthermore, this page explains your train travel to Harry Potter Studio options including Oyster card, Travelcard options, peak and off-peak. Additionally, how to save 1/3 on rail tickets from Euston to Watford using GroupSave if you are a group of three or more adults.
If you are looking for answers to questions such as How long does it take to do the Harry Potter Tour in London?, or What will I see? then, we have a page answering these and more questions, from our experience of visiting.
Warner Bros Studios London – a first hand review
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London by tour/shuttle bus
Other options are available; for instance, if you do not wish to make your way to the Harry Potter studio independently. Tour options combine transport from centrally located locations in London (Victoria, Kings Cross), with entrance tickets to Warner Bros. Studio. Consequently this saves you the hassle of finding your own way there.
At present there are three operators to choose from:
Golden Tours, Premium Tours and Evan Evans Tours all operate regular shuttle buses daily between Central London (usually Victoria) as well as the Warner Bros. Studio Tour. All offer the same package of coach plus Warner Bros. Studio Tour tickets.
However, if you already have Warner Bros. Studio Tour London tickets we can provide you with a bus shuttle only option.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London bus shuttle only tickets
If you’ve already bought your tickets for the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London and are just starting to realize how far the Studios are from Central London, you can opt for transport-only tickets to get there.
Features
- Adult from £44
- Up to 10 shuttles per day
- Pick up from Victoria or Baker Street
- Return luxury air-conditioned bus transportation from London with free Wi-Fi
- Bus only – purchase Harry Potter Studio tickets separately
Private transport to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
Experience the luxury of your own private vehicle as you journey from central London to the enchanting Warner Bros. Studio, where a captivating tour awaits you.
If you’ve already bought your entrance tickets and are looking for an easy round trip to the studios, consider booking a private transfer with our friendly drivers who are ready to assist you.
Following a personalized meet and greet at your desired pick up point, you can sit back, relax and avoid the hassle of muggle infested public transportation all together!
Features
- Choose your own pick-up and drop off point in London, for up to 8 people
- Round trip private transfer – London to/from Warner Bros. Studio
- Professionally cleaned vehicle
- Flexible pick up time
Harry Potter Studios, London by public transport from Euston
Central London – Watford Junction
Watford Junction Railway Station is the closest that public transport from Central London will get you to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London. You will find it marked on the London Underground map in the top left.
There are various permutations you can get to Watford Junction from the London area but from Central London the fastest and simplest option are trains running from Euston Railway Station.
How long will I need to allow for travel from Euston to Watford?
There are two types of train that travel between Euston and Watford Junction. The trains that are part of the London Overground whose trains stop at every station that take around 50 minutes and the trains that belong to the national railways (Midland Railways) where Watford Junction is often the first stop and trip duration being 15-20 minutes.
Using tickets between different trains
Tickets are interchangeable between the two types of trains so you can use tickets issued by the railways or use the Oyster Cards, Travelcards and other fare payment options you use on the London Underground and buses.
This makes things very complicated choosing whether you buy train tickets from the national railways or use Oyster Cards or Travelcards like you use on the London Underground, (see the discussion below).
If you have an Oyster Card, the default transport pass in London, you can use that to pay for the fare to Watford Junction.
Be aware. Watford Junction is outside of the TfL fares zones 1-9. Most leisure visitors typically only get a zone 1-2 Travelcard.
London fare payments – Oyster Card, Travelcards or contactless cards? – full details
Catching the Harry Potter shuttle bus leaving from Watford Junction
Your ticket includes a free official shuttle bus (electric) that operates every 20 minutes. It travels from the bus station in front of Watford Junction Railway Station to the studios, taking approximately 15 minutes.
Plan to arrive at Watford Junction 45 minutes before the time stated on your ticket and have your ticket or booking confirmation ready when boarding the shuttle bus.
Shuttle buses run every 30 minutes from 9.20am (with additional services available from 8.15am when the first tour is at 9am).
Note. You will not be able to board the bus without a Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter entrance ticket.
About train travel between central London & Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
You have the option to purchase individual train tickets for your trip from Euston to Watford Junction; however, you can also opt for Oyster Cards or credit/debit cards that allow contactless payments. Moreover, many travellers in London prefer using these convenient payment methods.
Cheapest or easiest rail fare from Euston to Watford and Harry Potter Studio?
It can be complex which option is best for you. If you are comfortable with understanding the comparisons between Oyster and national rail tickets you will be able to make the right choice for your needs.
However, as we note below, the simplest option as a visitor might be to bypass Oyster and just buy simple Travelcards for an additional cost of 60p per person for a return ticket.
Free travel for kids under 11
On the London Underground, London Overground and London’s red buses, kids under 11 travel free without a ticket. On the national railways only kids under 5 travel free.
With both London Overground and Midland trains of the national railways both running along the same track an exception has been made that kids under 11 can travel free on Midland trains between Euston and Watford Junction only.
Midland trains or the London overground trains – Midland trains are faster
Whilst you can use either the London overground trains or the Midland trains, the Midland trains are much faster than the London overground trains that stop at every station between Euston and Watford Junction.
You can use either railway tickets or London public transport tickets like Oyster on both trains. The key point for those travelling to Watford Junction is that you can use Oyster cards and Contactless cards on the fast Midland trains.
Using Oyster or contactless cards between Euston & Watford Junction
What you need to know about using Oyster cards in London
What is a “daily cap”?
The Oyster daily cap is a daily ceiling on your expenditure on fares when using an Oyster Card. If you just travel in the centre of London (zones 1-2) this maximum is £7.70, by travelling out to Watford Junction you will increase substantially the daily cap figure.
A feature of the fare structure on the London Underground is that you can make multiple train changes and be charged for one journey. The fare is calculated from the fare zone of the departure station to the fare zone of the destination station.
Remember to swipe…
To interconnect at Euston between the London Underground and the trains to Watford Junction you have to exit the Underground system and swipe your card again when entering the railway system.
You need to make the connection between swiping out of one system at Euston and swiping your card to enter the other system within 15-30 minutes for your journey to be calculated as one fare. Otherwise you will be charged for two separate journeys.
Oyster fares between Euston London and Watford Junction for Harry Potter Studio
Adult Oyster Fare one-way Euston – Watford Junction – Peak: £10.10 / Off-peak: £6.60
Adult Oyster two singles – Euston – Watford Junction – Peak: £20.20 / Off-peak: £13.20
(The peak fare only operates in the morning in the Watford to Euston direction and in the evening in the Euston to Watford direction. Peak times are 06:30 – 09:30 and 16:00 – 19:00.)
The Oyster Daily Cap Euston – Watford Junction – £20.00
The Oyster Daily Cap London Zone 1-2 Only – £7.70
Buying train tickets between Euston & Watford Junction 2024 – a simple solution
Oyster Cards generally offer the cheapest train fares when in London, however as Watford Junction is on the farthest edge of London for Oyster use, you will find they are a little more complicated to use for the Warner Brothers Studio.
A simple option would be to pay a tiny premium over the cost of two single Oyster trips (there and back) and buy a return ticket on the railway. This return ticket will cost £13.00 off-peak (against £12.40 for Oyster off-peak return – see above) which is anytime at weekends and after 9am Monday-Fridays.
If you already have an Oyster Card you can of course use this and save a small amount of money, but you will need to swipe out of one system at Euston and enter the next within 15-30 minutes to stay within one fare.
For the visitor to London, the train fare is far simpler to use at a tiny additional cost.
Return adult train tickets Euston – Watford Junction – Euston
Anytime Return train ticket – £21.00
Cheapest off-peak Day Return train ticket to Watford and the Harry Potter Studio – £13.80
You can use off-peak return train tickets anytime at the weekends.
From Monday to Friday in the first (of the fast trains) you can use off peak day returns on leaves Euston at 9.23am, due Watford Junction at 9.37am. There is also an option to use the off-peak fare on the 9.15 train but this is a much slower train and will get you in just after 10am.
Use GroupSave tickets to save even more for travel by train to Warner Bros. Studio
GroupSave fares are available as a discount from 3-9 people, saving up to 34%. Tickets are available from 09:30 Monday to Friday and at any time at weekends and Bank Holidays.
They are available for adults only – however, children aged between 5-15 can travel with an Adult GroupSave ticket as long as the group size is still between 3-9.
For example: three adults can benefit for a return fare of £27.30 off-peak (compared to £41.40 for standard off-peak rail tickets – 2024 prices).
You can also use railcards on these fares and realise the usual extra 33% discount.
Promotional advance purchase tickets are also not unknown.
Check the link below to see prices and schedules available for your dates.
TRAIN TICKETS & TIMETABLES
Book train tickets in advance, save money
- Full timetables & journey planning
- Identify the best fares, including advance fares
- Purchase e-tickets or collect tickets at station
Georgian House Hotel near Victoria – with Wizard Chambers
For Harry Potter fans catching the bus from Victoria to the Harry Potter Studio, check out this 4-star hotel featuring fun Wizard chambers, decorated in a style reminiscent of the dormitories at Hogwarts. Chambers sleep up to 6.
This unique, award-winning property offers the charm of an English country hotel in the city – just a 10-min walk from London Victoria Station. Beautifully and individually styled rooms feature modern comforts, such as rainfall showers, large flat screen TVs, a choice of delicious refreshments and The White Company toiletries. Enjoy an award-winning breakfast daily, with a focus on locally sourced, artisan ingredients.
Facilities include • Free Wi-Fi • Award winning restaurant • On-site coffee house • Bar • Family rooms & Wizard Chambers available • 24-hr front desk • Special diet menus
Nearest tube: 10-min walk to Victoria
Harry Potter themed tours & activities in and around London
Tours from London including warner bros. studio tour
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour + Central London coach transfer
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour + pick up from your London hotel – International Friends
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour + Oxford walking tour – International Friends
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour shuttle from Central London (transport only)
London hotel & ticket packages
Harry potter tours within London
- Harry Potter Muggles walking tour of London – most days, 2 hours, am + pm
- Harry Potter film locations walking tour of London & fish and chips
- Harry Potter private London black taxi tour of London
- Harry Potter three hour bus tour of London