Tickets sold out? Here’s exactly how I still got in without changing my travel plans.
Planning a trip to London and seeing that the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter is completely sold out? Same.
Our dates were locked. We even had a train booked to Paris, so changing our travel plans wasn’t really an option.
Instead of skipping the studio tour, I started looking for another way in. That’s when I discovered something I wish I had known before booking: hotel packages can still have Harry Potter Studio Tour tickets even when the official website shows sold out.
We initially tried booking directly through the official Warner Bros. Studio Tour website, but there was absolutely no availability for our dates. Since everything else about the trip was already booked, I kept digging.
After some deep-dive research, I found Holiday Extras’ Warner Bros. Studio Tour packages. These packages combine a hotel stay with studio tour tickets, and they had availability when the official site didn’t.
That was the workaround. We didn’t have to move our London dates, cancel our plans or give up on seeing the studio. We just approached the booking differently.
How the Hotel Package Worked
The important thing to understand is that a hotel package isn’t necessarily pulling from the exact same availability you see when searching for standalone tickets on the official website.
That means you can sometimes see Harry Potter Studio Tour tickets sold out on the main ticket page while a hotel and ticket package still has availability.
That’s exactly what happened for us.
We found a package through Holiday Extras that included a hotel stay and tickets to the studio tour. The hotel didn’t have to be right next to the studio either. We were more interested in finding somewhere that worked with the rest of our London plans and made getting around by public transportation easy.
We booked Holiday Inn Express Earls Court for one night at 295 North End Road, London W14 9NS.
Before booking, we looked at the hotel’s location in relation to central London and the route to the studio. Since we weren’t driving, access to public transportation mattered much more to us than being right next to the attraction.
That part matters. If you’re using a hotel package to get Harry Potter Studio Tour tickets, don’t automatically choose the hotel that’s closest to the studio. Look at your entire itinerary. A hotel that works better for your London plans may make the overall trip much easier.

How We Got From London to the Harry Potter Studio Tour
| Time | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 9:57 AM | Tower Hill | Started the journey after a short walk from The Tower Hotel |
| 10:07 AM | District Line | Train toward Wimbledon |
| 10:47 AM | West Brompton | Changed to Southern Railway |
| 11:21 AM | Watford Junction | Arrived at the station |
| 11:30 AM | Studio Shuttle | Took the branded shuttle bus directly to the studio |
Getting From Central London to the Harry Potter Studio Tour
Once we had the tickets sorted, getting to the studio was surprisingly straightforward.
We started at Tower Hill, took the District Line toward Wimbledon and then changed at West Brompton for the train to Watford Junction. When you arrive at Watford Junction, the studio shuttle is easy to spot. It’s covered in Harry Potter branding and takes visitors directly to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour.
The whole journey sounds more complicated when you write it down than it actually felt. Once we were on the train, we just followed the route and eventually ended up at the studio.
For us, the best part was knowing that we had figured out a way to keep the original trip intact. We didn’t have to rearrange our London itinerary just because the official ticket page said sold out.
What We Did After the Harry Potter Studio Tour
After spending the day at the studio, we headed back into London for dinner. We picked up our bags from The Tower Hotel and then checked into Holiday Inn Express Earls Court.
The hotel worked well for what we needed because the goal wasn’t to spend the night at the hotel. We needed somewhere practical that fit into the larger London itinerary and allowed us to keep moving.
Was the Hotel Package Worth It?
If the choice is “Don’t go at all” or “Book a hotel package,” the package gave us a way to make the studio tour happen without changing our trip.
For us, that mattered more than finding the absolute cheapest way to visit. We already had flights, hotels and a train to Paris planned around specific dates. The hotel package gave us another option when the official ticket inventory was gone.
So if you’re searching for Harry Potter Studio Tour tickets when sold out, don’t immediately assume your trip is over. Check hotel and ticket packages as another possible route.
Availability can change, so I would still check the official website first. But if your dates are fixed and the tickets are gone, this is one workaround that worked for us.
Harry Potter Studio Tour Sold Out FAQ
Can you still get Harry Potter Studio Tour tickets if they are sold out?
Sometimes. When the official website shows no availability, hotel and ticket packages may still have availability. This worked for us when our London travel dates were already fixed.
How can I get Harry Potter Studio Tour tickets when they are sold out?
Check hotel and ticket packages in addition to the official Warner Bros. Studio Tour website. Availability can vary between booking options, so it’s worth checking multiple sources before giving up on your dates.
Do Harry Potter Studio Tour hotel packages include tickets?
Some hotel packages combine accommodation with Warner Bros. Studio Tour tickets. Check the specific package details carefully before booking to confirm exactly what is included.
How do you get from London to the Harry Potter Studio Tour?
One option is to travel to Watford Junction and then take the studio’s shuttle bus to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour. We traveled from central London using the Underground and train before taking the shuttle from Watford Junction.
How far is the Harry Potter Studio Tour from central London?
The studio is outside central London in Leavesden near Watford. Travel time depends on where you’re staying and the connections you use, so check the route from your specific hotel before booking.
