harry potter studio tour vegan

‘The Making of Harry Potter’ Studio Tour Now Has Vegan Afternoon Tea

The studio tour offers a few different vegan options, including dairy-free butterbeer.

By Charlotte Pointing

2 Minutes Read

Hogwarts fans can now enjoy a vegan afternoon tea at Warner Bros’ “The Making of Harry Potter” Studio Tour in Watford in the UK. The new option includes several sandwiches, like Vegan Smoked Salmon with Vegan Lemon Butter, as well as a Greek Style Feta Envelope, a Herb Crusted Vegan Sausage Roll, Vegan Scones, Chocolate Frog Brownies, and more. Warner Bros revealed the new plant-based option on its Instagram account earlier this week with the caption: “Immerse yourself in the wizarding world as you feast on an inspiring selection of magical treats.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Warner Bros. Studio Tour (@wbtourlondon)

The vegan wizarding world

It’s not the only vegan option the Studio Tour offers. In 2020, it launched a vegan version of Butterbeer , the butterscotch-flavored drink enjoyed by Hogwarts students in both the books and the subsequent movie franchise. Prior to the launch, Evanna Lynch—a vegan activist and actor who played the character of Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter films—called on Warner Bros to offer a vegan version of the popular beverage. She said back in 2018: “I’ve been a member of the vegan community for the past five years and the Harry Potter community for most of my life, and nothing makes me happier than when these two worlds intersect.” “I genuinely can’t imagine a lovelier day out than going to The Wizarding World to enjoy a butterbeer with my vegan friends. I will be first in line when that day comes.”

Lynch also hosted a podcast called The Chickpeeps with actor and fellow Harry Potter star Robbie Jarvis, as well as Momoko Hill and Tylor Starr. Each episode discussed topics relating to veganism, including animal advocacy, farming, and activism. There was also a crossover with MuggleCast , a podcast dedicated to Harry Potter.

Series three of The Chickpeeps came to a close last year, and while a fourth season was mentioned at the time, nothing has been announced since. 

harry potter

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The Autho r

Charlotte Pointing

Charlotte writes about sustainable beauty, fashion, and food. She spent more than 4 years editing in leading vegan media, and has a degree in history and a postgraduate in cultural heritage.

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Vegan Guide to Harry Potter Studio Tour London

Vegan food at theme parks can be so hit or miss. I lose count of the amount of times where I’ve just had a coke and fries for lunch because I couldn’t get anything else, even when I was vegetarian. But over the last few years as the vegan movement has become more mainstream, theme parks have started to change. They are finding themselves not just  having  to move with the times but are happy to do so. And the Harry Potter Studios is definitely one of those places! Here’s your vegan guide to  Harry Potter Studio Tour London  (it even includes butterbeer!).  

The Food Hall

Let’s start from the beginning, The Food Hall! Situated in the Studio Tour Hub, The Food Hall serves breakfast, hot and cold dishes and sandwiches. They also have a wide selection of drinks and a full bakery.  

It’s a great way to start your day as you can grab food here before your tour begins. It also wets your appetite (sorry – shameless food pun!) for the Harry Potter mania that will ensue. It’s laid out just like the Grand Hall in Hogwarts with refectory style benches and candles dangling from the ceiling. Just think of it as more of a ‘down-to-earth’ muggle version though 😉    

Vegan options at The Food Hall include: 

• Vegan Breakfast  
• Your choice of muffin  
• Smashed Avocado with chopped tomato, lemon, mint and chilli  
• Korean pulled oats  
• Vegan ‘fish and chips’ with tartare sauce  -Vegan Beetroot and Falafel Burger served with lettuce, tomato, onion, gherkin, tomato relish and chips 
• Stone Bake Pizza with roasted vegan mozzarella and rocket 
• Extra sides include: peas and carrots and garden salad with fresh herb dressing 

As you can see, there are loads of vegan food options to choose from! There are even a few theme park classics such as fish and chips and pizza.  

I opted for the Vegan Breakfast as it was the closest thing I’d seen to a proper fry up in forever! I had vegan bacon (a first – and it was amazing!), scrambled tofu (another first – tasty and the exact texture of eggs), tomato, mushroom and fried potatoes. It really set me up for the day having a proper hearty breakfast. It also ensured that I wasn’t hungry at an awkward part in the tour where I’d have to wait until lunch to get something.  

The Food Hall menu is served from the opening of the tour until 8pm so is also a great option if you want to get dinner before your journey home. 

The Chocolate Frog Café  

Also located in the Studio Tour Hub we have The Chocolate Frog Café. Inspired by the iconic chocolate frog boxes in the Harry Potter series (of course!), The Chocolate Frog Café serves hot chocolate, ice cream and a range of cakes. Unfortunately, despite how delicious and instagrammable they look, nothing in the café is vegan. 

I know, I know: “Mel what’s the point in mentioning it then?” The reason is simply so you don’t get your hopes up. Note to the studio: vegans love dessert too!  

The Backlot Café

Next up we have The Backlot Café. It’s located about halfway through the tour so is the perfect place for a spot of lunch to recharge your batteries.

You can enjoy a hot meal, sandwich or snack with seating areas both indoors and outdoors. The coolest thing about The Backlot Café is that is comes with views of all the popular exterior sets and props from the Harry Potter movies such as the Knight Bus, Privet Drive and the Hogwarts Bridge.  

They have plenty of vegan options on their menu including:   

• Spiced Chickpea Burger (made vegan on request)  
• Seasonal Soup  
• Vegan ‘Chicken’ Wrap 
• Sweet Potato, Hummus, Falafel and Beetroot Wrap  
• Indian Superfood Wrap  
• Fruit Pots 
• Crudite and Hummus Pots 

You can also order vegetable ‘chicken’ strips with crunchy lettuce, tomato and salsa in a soft tortilla. This is off the kids’ menu but I can’t see anyone demanding to see your imaginary child in order to request it! Bear in mind the portion size is a lot smaller with it being intended for kids so you’ll need to order something else with it.  

I opted for the Spice Chickpea Burger with chips and it was really good. Obviously, the excitement of the day amplified my hunger like the big kid I am so I was starving by midday! It’s a chickpea burger on a bed of lettuce, tomato and red onion in a brioche bun. Delish! 

Is butterbeer vegan?

As well as having a tasty vegan chickpea burger at The Backlot Café you can also get yourself a butterbeer. For those that aren’t Harry Potter fans (I presume you are as you’re reading this post – but just in case!) butterbeer is a butterscotch flavoured non-alcoholic drink that Harry and friends drink in their local at Hogwarts. A kid-friendly version of actual beers if you will…and they are delicious! 

If you have a big sweet tooth like me, you’ll love butterbeers. And the great news for vegans is, without the cream butterbeers are vegan! They’re not as nice without the cream but as a vegan you take what you can get, right guys? They’re still really good though and at least you can join in on the fun just like you’re in The Three Broomsticks with the HP gang.  

Sweets and chocolate

Sorry to say guys I couldn’t find a  thing  in the confectionery section of the gift shop that was vegan. I checked the Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans…Beeswax. I checked the Chocolate Frogs (wishful thinking)…dairy. I checked the Sherbet Lemons…beeswax again. Honeydukes you have failed us.

But despite not finding any vegan sweets or chocolate to take home it didn’t effect the day. I got some cute artwork to hang up in my flat instead.

Last thoughts

In one word: Fantastic! There are clearly marked vegan options in every eatery at the Harry Potter Studio London. They are also varied and tasty too which is a refreshing change for a theme park.  

I really enjoyed my time on the tour and had an awesome day geeking out at all the sets, stories and effects. The fact that you don’t have to settle for fries and a coke at lunchtime will make your day so much more enjoyable!

The only downside is that desserts are not only lacking but non-existent at the Harry Potter Studio London. Despite this, it’s hands down the most catered for I have felt visiting a theme park. I would highly recommend it to other vegan Harry Potter super fans who are preparing to pack a lunch. Don’t worry, you don’t have to!   

I hope you enjoyed this Vegan Guide to the Harry Potter Studio Tour London. Now go get your house scarf and wand and I’ll see you on the backlot with a butterbeer.

If you’d like to find out more about vegan travel check out more posts here .

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Magical Harry Potter Studios Afternoon Tea in London Review (2024)!

By: Author Sophie Pearce

Posted on Last updated: February 18, 2024

Categories ENGLAND , HARRY POTTER , LONDON

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for details.

Hey witches and wizards, did you know that one of the magical new additions to the Warner Brothers Studios Tour is their officially licensed Harry Potter afternoon tea?!

It’s a wonderful experience where you get to sit underneath the floating candles of the Hogwarts Great Hall, sip a hot drink, and enjoy some tasty treats worthy of Honeydukes!

I’ve had Harry Potter-inspired afternoon teas in London before but I was very excited to see what the Warner Brothers Studio team had to offer on my most recent visit.

So, in this Harry Potter Studios afternoon tea review, I’ll go through what’s included, how much it costs and whether it’s worth your Gringotts Galleons! 

What’s included in the Harry Potter Studios afternoon tea experience? 

Those who have visited the Harry Potter Studios in London will remember that their Food Hall had floating candles overhead that made you feel like you were dining in The Great Hall.

Well, now this has been exclusively reserved for those who have booked one of the Harry Potter Studios afternoon tea experiences. You’ll have 90 minutes to enjoy your afternoon tea. 

As part of the experience, you’ll get to dine in this exclusive area, sip on your choice of tea and coffee, and be served a Hedwig’s cage of savoury and sweet treats.

You’ll have three tiers that include finger sandwiches, pastries, sweet treats, and glittery scones with jam preserve and clotted cream!

Have any allergies? Make sure to contact the team at least 24 hours in advance so they can accommodate you!

Harry Potter Studios Afternoon Tea in London Review

You’ll be seated under the floating candles.

What I loved about the Harry Potter studios afternoon tea was the wonderful setting under the floating candles of the Great Hall.

You’ll get to choose a booth or one of the round tables that are in the middle. I’m always a booth girl so we decided to sit there to get some great pictures of our tea with the floating candles. 

We sat at the very end and I think we made a great choice as it meant more candles to capture behind us. Our booth also had this super cool wall art of a cauldron too! 

It’s good to note that this afternoon tea area isn’t a separate/private room, it’s just a sectioned off area of the lobby in the studio tour. 

This means that you’re seated right beside the Chocolate Frog café and Food Hall so it can be a little noisy. 

There will be people looking in and walking around as you’re having your afternoon tea but I wouldn’t say we noticed all that much. It was still really special.

Treat yourself to tea/coffee

When you’re seated, you’ll be given a menu where it will tell you what your Harry Potter afternoon tea includes.

You’ll get to choose a loose-leaf tea and you have a choice of English Breakfast, Earl Grey and Green Tea. I personally went for Earl Grey as it’s one of my faves. 

If you’re not a tea person, you can choose coffee that comes in a cute gold cafetière. I had one after my tea and it was quite strong but I think I needed it after my long drive to London.

Don’t like tea or coffee? The staff has a wide range of water, juices and soft drinks to offer you as an alternative. 

A Hedwig’s cage of treats!

After you’ve sipped on your drinks, you’ll be served your delicious afternoon tea on a Hedwig-style gold birdcage as well as some glitter scones.

The birdcage has three cake tiers/layers that are laden with magical sweet and savoury treats;

Finger Sandwiches 

You get a selection of four-finger sandwiches on your bottom layer. 

These are cucumber and cream cheese, ham and mustard, coronation chicken, and smoked salmon. 

These were all really tasty and we didn’t find we liked one more than the other. Coronation Chicken is one of my favourite sandwich fillings so I saved this until last. 

Savouries 

The second layer is a selection of savouries. You get an envelope of cheese and jam quiche, a brie and cranberry envelope, and a smoked salmon scotch egg with caviar. 

I have to admit this wasn’t our favourite layer. The envelope was really greasy and the scotch egg was a strange texture. We tried bits of them and left most of it. 

Magical Sweets 

This is always my favourite layer of any afternoon tea. I have an insatiable sweet tooth and these Harry Potter cakes were extra delightful!

First, we had a Golden Snitch Choux Bun that had cream inside and chocolate wings that was really light and tasty. 

Then, there was a Chocolate Frog cookies and cream cheesecake that was a bright pink and yellow with a glitter chocolate frog on top. To me, this was a little tasteless but my Mum loved it. 

I thought the Luna Loaf was really cool. It had a generous helping of blue and pink icing and a chocolate garnish with her iconic Spectrespecs on top.

Lastly, there was a Raspberry and White Chocolate Macaron that had gold leaf on top! It was bright pink and green like the colours of Honeydukes. It was delicious.

Glittery scones with clotted cream and jam

Is it even afternoon tea if you don’t get scones? But, make them extra magical as it’s a Harry Potter afternoon tea! 

Instead of just being a plain scone, it has edible glitter on top! So, you’ll see them sparkling in the light as you cut into them.

The scones come with two little copper dishes of clotted cream and strawberry jam to put on top.

Although we were pretty stuffed after all the food, we just about managed to eat these miniature scones to finish off our tea. 

Everything about this afternoon tea was so magical and I would highly recommend booking it if you’re a Potterhead visiting the studio tour!

How much is the Warner Brothers studios afternoon tea in London?

The Harry Potter Studios afternoon tea costs £60 for two which I thought was a bargain for a London afternoon tea. They do have a Vegan option that is the same price.

This can be upgraded to a champagne afternoon tea (either regular or vegan) for £90 for two but we just didn’t think the extra £30 was worth it for one glass of bubbles. 

The only thing you have to keep in mind is that you do have to have a valid ticket to the Harry Potter studios tour in order to have the afternoon tea experience. 

It’s only available to purchase as an extra add-on when you book your regular tickets to the studios. 

So, although the afternoon tea is £60 for two you will have to add on an extra £49.95 per person. 

This makes the total price of your studio tour visit and afternoon tea for two £159.90!

Click here to book your studio tour and afternoon tea experience

Harry Potter Studios afternoon tea times

The Harry Potter studios afternoon tea is served from 11 am and has slots to reserve every half an hour until 4 pm. 

You’ll get 90 minutes to enjoy your afternoon tea under the floating candles but I’m pretty sure we spent a bit longer than that! 

As you’ll need to book your Harry Potter studios tour slot separately from your afternoon tea slot, make sure to leave enough time before/after your tour to enjoy your tea without rushing.

For example, if you’ve booked a Harry Potter Studio tour slot for opening time at 10 am, I would book an afternoon tea slot for around 3 / 4 pm to make sure you have enough time inside the tour. 

This leaves you at least 4-5 hours to enjoy it. Honestly, you could spend all day inside there and not see everything as there is so much to do!

Personally, we thought it would be easier to have our afternoon tea first and then go inside the studio tour afterward. 

Then, we knew we wouldn’t be rushing to the exit for our tea and could stay inside until closing.

Is the Harry Potter Studios Afternoon Tea worth it? 

100% YES! Personally, I think it’s the perfect addition to make any Warner Brothers Studio tour visit extra magical.

Although it can seem expensive, the price is on par with many London afternoon tea offerings you can find in the city. 

In fact, for two, this was cheaper than the Harry Potter-inspired afternoon teas in London. But, you do have to take into consideration that you’ll be paying for studio tour tickets as well.

I thought it was great value for your Galleons as you get lots of amazing officially licensed Harry Potter treats that you can’t get anywhere else in the world. It’s perfect for Potterheads! 

We were absolutely stuffed after our visit and are already plotting how we can go back for another. It was such a magical time and we made some great memories. 

What else is new at Harry Potter Studios in London?

So, there are lots of new additions to the Harry Potter Studio tour this year which makes it worth another visit.

The changes are mainly in the Backlot area where you’ll find the Hogwarts Fountain from the courtyard in the movies.

There is also the Weasley’s Burrow model and an extended 4 Privet Drive where you’ll see Aunt Majorie blown up from the Prisoner of Azkaban.

My favourite addition however has to be Professor Sprout’s Greenhouse! Here, you can pull out your very own mandrake under her strict instructions. It’s a great photo/video opportunity.

For extra Hogwarts House points, make sure to bring a pair of ear muffs so you don’t get knocked out by their crying!

Click here to read my complete review of Professor Sprout’s Hogwarts Greenhouse

What else is there to do at Harry Potter world in London?  

The Harry Potter Studios tour in London is a must-visit for any Potterhead and it’s the perfect place to visit all year. 

It has thousands of props, costumes, and sets that were used in all eight of the Harry Potter movies.

They are also constantly adding new pieces to the exhibition and switching things around throughout the year. So, there’s always a reason to go back.

Don’t miss special events that take place throughout the year like their Dark Arts event for Halloween and the Hogwarts in the Snow at Christmas. 

Here is a small selection of the magical things you can see and do at the Warner Brothers Studio Tour in London;

• Visit Hogwarts Great Hall
• Bow to Buckbeak in the Forbidden Forest
• Walk down Diagon Alley
• Fly on your very own broomstick
• Visit Snape’s Potion’s Class
• Board the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 3/4

• Drink Butter Beer
• Walk down Gringott’s Bank 
• Pull out a Mandrake with Professor Sprout
• Explore 4 Privet Drive
• Visit Bellatrix’s Vault 
• See the Hogwarts Castle replica used in the movies
• Go shopping for souvenirs and sweet treats!

How to reach Harry Potter studios in London 

If you’re driving, the Warner Brothers Studio tour can be found in Leavesden which is near Watford.

You can easily drive here from London by taking the M4 or M1 motorway and then switching to the M25. There is free parking available for everyone who booked a tour.

If you’re not driving, you can take the  Warner Brothers Studio shuttle bus  from Watford Junction station. 

Take a train from London Euston (20 minutes) and then the shuttle bus from Watford Junction (15 minutes) to the studios! 

The postcode for Harry Potter Studios for SatNavs is WD25 7LR.  Click here for a Google Pin!

Looking for more Harry Potter locations in London? 

There are plenty more locations and experiences that you can seek out if you’re a Potterhead in London! You can visit King’s Cross Station to see Platform 9 3/4 and the Harry Potter Shop. 

Plus, there are many Harry Potter locations in this area. You can head on to Claremont Square which was the  Order of the Phoenix HQ or the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel where Ron flies his Ford Anglia!

Then, I would recommend heading over to Soho to visit. The Harry Potter  Photographic Exhibition  is in Covent Garden nearby which is home to  London’s only Butterbeer Bar . 

There is also the  House of MinaLima  and The Cursed Child performances at the Palace Theatre. Or, you can visit some of the inspirations for Diagon Alley like  Cecil Court  and  Goodwin’s Court.

Talking of Diagon Alley, one of my favourite locations I visited has to be  Leadenhall Market . A gorgeous Victorian wonder that featured as the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley.

You can head into St Paul’s Cathedral to see their Geometric Staircase which was the Divination Stairwell at Hogwarts. 

I would then catch the tube over to the River Thames to see sights like the  Millennium Bridge , Tower Bridge, London City Hall, and Borough Market which all featured as filming locations.

You could go for a Harry Potter afternoon tea at Cutter & Squidge and then finish the day off with immersive experiences like magical cocktails at  The Cauldron.

Click here to read my complete guide on London Harry Potter locations

Save time and book a tour!

Book tours & tickets for London!

• Harry Potter guided walking tour
• Harry Potter Studio tour with transfer
• Tower of London & Crown Jewel tickets
• Thames River Cruise

Read more of my Harry Potter travel guides

Visit the Deathly Hallows filming location at Malham Cove

Harry Potter filming locations in Oxford

How to visit Hogsmeade Station in real life

How to spend a night in Hagrid’s Hut

How to visit the real Godric’s Hollow in Lavenham

A complete Forbidden Forest Experience review

Harry Potter locations in Lacock

Harry Potter filming locations in Alnwick Castle

Harry Potter locations in Edinburgh

All the Harry Potter filming locations in Scotland

Where to find Harry Potter in York

How to find the Harry Potter Tree at Blenheim Palace

The Shop That Must Not Be Named Review

How to find Dobby’s Grave in Wales

Harry Potter filming locations in Gloucester Cathedral

How to see the Hogwarts Express in Scotland

How to visit Dumbledore’s Grave in Scotland

Visiting Malfoy Manor in Real life! 

Where to find Tom Riddle’s grave in Edinburgh

Visiting the Quidditch Town of Tutshill Tornados

Harry Potter locations in Exeter  along with  Gandy Street  and the  Room of Requirement

Virginia Water – the Other Hogwarts Lake

Instagram locations at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

How to visit Hagrid’s Hut in Scotland

How to visit the Harry Potter Waterfall in Scotland

Harry Potter filming locations at Durham Cathedral

Celebrating Back to Hogwarts Day at King’s Cross Station

Save this Harry Potter Studios Afternoon Tea review for later!

Friday 23rd of December 2022

This was seriously the most thorough and helpful review – I don't usually comment on blog posts but felt like this was a must!! I was trying to search for the best timing for the afternoon tea to still get the most out of the tour, and this was the only post out there that gave a really helpful, clear answer! Thank you for taking the time to share so much. We are so excited to book our studio tour now!

Sophie Pearce

Saturday 24th of December 2022

Hi Tori, thanks so much for reading! Yes, it's definitely important to book the right time as you don't want to rush through. Most of the time when I visit the Harry Potter Studios I stay all day it's that good! I hope you have a magical time :) Sophie x

The Ultimate Guide to the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London (2024)

Are you a potterhead visiting london soon then no doubt you are going to the wb harry potter studios before you go, here is everything you need to know..

I had been dying to go to the Harry Potter Studio tour since it opened, and last Christmas, Vince made my wish come true and took me to see Hogwarts in the Snow at the Warner Bros Studios, The Making of Harry Potter. Located in Watford, the studios is home to most of the sets used in the movies and offers a magical tour. You will discover everything from the props to the creatures!

Visiting the Harry Potter studios requires a bit of a planning. It’s a very popular attractions and it can get busy. In this article, we tell you everything you need to know to plan your visit at Harry Potter World London.

Tickets Without Transport

Getting there by public transport, what to expect.

The Harry Potter studios are, first and foremost, where most of the Harry Potter films were filmed. Unlike the Orlando Wizarding World of Harry Potter , the Harry Potter Studios in London is more like a Harry Potter museum, not a theme park. The vast site is full of sets, props, costumes, hair & make-up and other memorabilia from the Harry Potter franchise. It is extremely informative and definitely all very entertaining, so be sure to allow LOTS of time to ensure you see and experience everything.

There are a few ways you can book your Harry Potter Studios tour – mostly varying on whether you book them with or without transport.

The Harry Potter Studios are not located in Central London. They are based in Watford which is just outside North West London, so if you have been staying more centrally, you will need to make your way there somehow.

Tickets With Transport

Some tickets offer coach transfers included in the price which can be a real time saver if you don’t want to try and navigate the London train and bus system by yourself. Also handy on days where there are train strikes! The tour starts at Victoria Station, in central London. You will meet with the group and go to the studios directly (by coach). These tickets also include a skip-the-line feature so as soon as you arrive at the studios, your tour can begin. You will spend 4 hours at the studios which is enough time to see everything before heading on the coach back to Victoria Coach Station. The tour lasts about 10 hours in total, including travel, so prepare for a big day out.

One of the added benefits of tickets such as these is that you can book them with short notice, something that is very tricky if booking directly on the Warner Bros website.

If you plan to make your own way there, you can buy your entrance tickets directly through the official website . The prices start at £47 for adults and £38 for children. You can also buy extras and take the gift option.

If you buy a ticket for yourself, you will need to pick a date and a time.

Gift tickets do not require a date. They are valid for a year and can be sent directly to the person of your choice. Once they get their ticket, they can call the studios directly to book their tour.

It’s definitely best to plan your visit a couple of months in advance. The Harry Potter studios are a very popular attraction in London and can be fully booked very quickly. I would recommend booking at least 2 months in advance, especially if you are planning to visit at a busy or themed time of year, such as Christmas or Halloween.

Tips for Booking Tickets

• Book in advance! We went for Hogwarts in the Snow and Vince had to book months in advance to ensure we got a slot.
• Book the earliest slot you can! You could easily spend all day here, especially if you have children or people who are huge Harry Potter fans. We spent nearly 5 hours here, including time for food, and still felt like we missed some bits so I’d reserve the whole day.
• Book a tour with transport if you want to book last minute

How to Get To Harry Potter Studios

As I said, Harry Potter Studios is located in Watford, which is just outside North West London. It is easy to reach by public transport (providing there are no strikes), but you can also book a tour which includes a coach transfer from Central London.

The nearest train station is Watford Junction , a station on the London Overground (orange line). It is really easily accessible from central London, especially from London Euston . The train journey takes between 20-30 minutes. Once you arrive at Watford Junction, literally as you step out of the station, you’ll see Harry Potter themed buses – these are the shuttle buses that will take you to the studios. The shuttle bus is free as long as you have a booking for the studio tour. Have this to hand as you will need to show it to the driver.

What to See at Harry Potter Studios

Everything you can think of from the awesome film series is in the studios. It was honestly like being transported to Hogwarts and there were hundreds of people actually walking around in robes and Hogwarts merchandise, making you feel like a real student! As you wander around the studios, you will see sets, props, costumes, sketches, videos, and so much more. There are also interactive aspects, where you can press buttons and get parts of the sets to move or make noises just like they did in the movies! Here are some of my favourite spots throughout the tour;

• The Great Hall
• The Dungeons/Potions Room
• Platform 9 3/4
• Gryffindor Common Room
• Dumbledore’s Office
• The Weasley’s
• Hagrid’s Hut
• The Dursley’s
• Forbidden Forest
• Diagon Alley

It is mind-blowing just how many props went into making the Harry Potter films. Everything from broomsticks to Harry Potter’s scar, from wands to potion bottle labels. When you look at the sets, there’s often videos to the side explaining how sets and props were put together to make sure that things felt truly real and the level of detail was unbelievable. Did you know that some of the people who appear in the famous moving paintings that line the Hogwarts corridors are actually paintings of some of the behind the scenes cast?!

These costumes bought the characters that we so dearly love (or hate!) to life and you can learn so much more about them throughout the tour. Speaking to the various guides and experts around the tour, I learned so much about the costumes of characters that I would have never picked up on when watching the films. For example, Voldemort’s flowing cloak slowly changes into a lighter shade of green each time a Horcrux is destroyed, demonstrating his slow demise and the fading of his power. Who would have known?! You can also learn a lot about the painstaking process of how the amazing make up artists made prosthetics for characters such as Mad-Eye Moody, Griphook and the other Goblins and Professor Quirrell.

Top Things to Do on The Harry Potter Tour

Whilst a lot of the tour is simply just soaking in the amazing sets, props, costumes and vast amount of information surrounding you in these magical studios, there are also lots of additional extras you can opt to do along the way to really make Hogwarts come to life. Here are just a few I would strongly recommend;

• Have a Butterbeer! They offer a vegan version too and I found it delicious. You also get to keep the cup as a souvenir!
• Get involved with some of the green screen activities for a fab photo opportunity!
• Wander through the Forbidden Forrest
• Catch the Knight Bus
• Buy some Bertie Bots Every Flavour Beans or a Chocolate Frog from Platform 9 3/4
• Visit the gift shop at the end for some amazing memorabilia

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should i spend at harry potter studios.

Honestly? All day. I would allow bare minimum 4 hours to ensure that you can see everything and really experience the tour, but as long as you can is probably best in my eyes! I would easily spend all day there if I could.

What are the facilities like?

There are a lot of good facilities on site to make your experience as easy as possible. Firstly, in the reception area, is a free cloakroom and toilets. I would recommend using the toilets here before you set off as there aren’t any more until you reach half-way. At the half-way point is a lovely cafe which serves a great variety of food, catering for all dietary needs. The vegan food is actually really good – I wasn’t expecting much but Vince had a vegan burger and fries, whilst I had the loaded vegan fries and it was all delicious. It also was very reasonably priced for this type of attraction so I was impressed. Note: This is the ONLY place you can buy a Butterbeer!!

Who is Harry Potter Studios suitable for?

EVERYONE. I think anyone, young or old, who is interested in Harry Potter or anything magical will really enjoy this experience. Be prepared to be on your feet a lot, but I think that the sets are very accessible for any wheelchair users or people with mobility difficulties as well. All facilities are accessible too. We saw lots of young families with children of all ages and everyone we spoke with said just how fabulous it was for children. Just note that it is a very big site and there’s not one clear path around the different sets, so be sure to keep an eye on your kids!

What Should I Wear?

Whatever you feel comfortable in! I would definitely recommend some comfy shoes as you will be doing a lot of walking. 90% of the tour is inside, with only the Knight Bus, Privet Drive and the Hogwarts Greenhouse being outside. If there is a chance of rain, bring an umbrella for these parts. If you’re feeling very magical, don your Hogwarts robes , wands , scarves and wear your hats to complete the look!

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New Vegan Options Debut at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Plant-based guests at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter have found the available vegan options during their visits to be less than magical. But now, the Universal Orlando Resort just launched four new plant-based menu items at select restaurants and food stands around the theme park.

Beneath the massive wizarding school, guests will be able to find multiple vegan-labeled menu items throughout the Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley areas. The restaurant The Leaky Cauldron will feature two vegan menu items including a Shephard’s Pasty Pie featuring meatless beef crumbles within a veggie stew hand pie served with apple beet salad, creamy stone-ground mustard, and potato wedges; and an Irish Stew filled with potatoes and vegan beef. The stew will be served with rustic bread and cucumber, radish, and tomato side salad.

In Hogsmeade, guests can find a vegan Mushroom Pie Platter at The Three Broomsticks. The platter features a mushroom and stewed jackfruit pie alongside a tomato and cucumber side salad coated in a lemon-thyme vinaigrette. Outside of The Three Broomsticks, people can head to The Magic Neep to grab a handheld Shepherd’s Pasty Pie with a flaky, savory pie crust that’s stuffed with beef crumbles and a vegetable stew.

“For years, Harry Potter fans, Universal Orlando Vegans group members, and The Protego Foundation have been asking for vegan options inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme parks,” President of The Protego Foundation – a Harry Potter-themed animal-rights group – Tylor Starr told VegNews . “While The Protego Foundation will continue pushing for vegan Butterbeer through our VeganButterbeer.com petition, we are taking a second to celebrate this groundbreaking moment to indulge in magical treats that are better for the planet, our health, and the magical creatures we share this planet with.”

Founded in 2015 by a coalition of Harry Potter fans, the Protego Foundation aims to empower fans to fight for animal rights, promoting plant-based policies and developments in everything related to The Wizarding World. In 2018, the organization launched a campaign that demanded Universal Studios make the theme park’s acclaimed Butterbeer – the butterscotch-flavored drink featured in the novels and movies – vegan. The petition gained above 7,700 signatures.

Universal Studios has yet to address this petition within the United States, but in 2020, the film studio company released a bottled vegan Butterbeer in the United Kingdom. Since then, Warner Bros. launched the bottle vegan Butterbeer Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, The Making of Harry Potter, and the Platform 9 ¾ Shops at King’s Cross Station in London, along with Heathrow and Gatwick airports. The bottled vegan version is also available for online purchase.

Orlando’s Theme Parks Go Vegan

Right next door, Disney World's vegan development is way ahead of the curve. Since 2019, the "Most Magical Place on Earth" has accelerated its plant-based campaign to provide all guests with healthy, delicious vegan options at all five theme parks. Now, Disney World Features more than 400 vegan options, featuring everything from Impossible Chili Burgers to specialty fish-free sushi.

"At the end of the day our goal was to ensure that our guests, whether they were living a vegan lifestyle, looking to eat a little bit less meat, or wanting to try new and different things, would be able to find fun and flavorful plant-based menu items across our parks and resorts," Registered Dietician from Walt Disney’s Health and Wellness Department Cheryl Dolven told Yahoo Life. "We didn't just want it to offer a few basic things — we really wanted those plant-based options to be plentiful and an integrated part of our guest experience."

To explore the vast options at Disney World, check out The Beet's  guide to eating vegan at Disney World .

The 6 Best Fast Food Chains With Plant-Based Options on the Menu

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• How to get to Harry Potter Studios from London

Are you wondering how to get to Harry Potter Studios from London? I’ve done it twice so far and it’s super easy!

Visiting the Harry Potter Studios is the best Harry Potter-related attraction in the United Kingdom. You can see original movie props and you get a look behind the scenes how the movie and the special effects were made.

I love Harry Potter and I’ve been to the Harry Potter Studios three times already, once by car and twice from London by public transport.

It’s very easy to get to the studios by public transport, but if you don’t want to take the train and change you can also get a Harry Potter tour which includes the transport from London.

Table of Contents

How far is Harry Potter World from London?

The Harry Potter Studio is not in London itself but just outside Watford, which is about 32 kilometres or 20 miles north of central London.

There is a big car park just outside the Warner Bros Studio but because of traffic, it’s best to take the London public transport and not a car.

The best and cheapest way to get from London to the Harry Potter Studios is by public transportation. You only have to get one affordable train ticket. It’s not necessary to get a guided tour to the studios.

Don’t forget to book your Harry Potter Studios tickets way in advance. The best place to book them is on the official Warner Bros Studio Tour London .

How to get from London to Harry Potter Studios by public transport

The cheapest way how to get to Harry Potter World from London is by train from London to Watford Junction and from there by a free Harry Potter coach.

Train from London to Watford Junction

The train sets off at London Euston . There are two different kinds of trains, fast trains with no stops in between which take about 20 minutes and slow regional trains with many stops in between take about 50 minutes.

The regional train might be a good option if you’re staying in the North of London and you can get on at one of the smaller stops. Stops after Euston are South Hampstead, Kilburn High Road, Queens Park, Kensal Green, Willesden Junction, Harlesden, Stonebridge Park,…

The last time I visited the Harry Potter World UK I stayed at an Airbnb close to Kilburn High Road, so I just took the slow train from there instead of going to Euston station first.

If you board the train at London Euston anyway taking the fast train is your best option.

Either way, you can use your Oyster card or contactless bank card to get from London to Watford Junction. You just need to tap on when you enter and don’t forget to tap off when you leave the train station.

Bus from Watford Junction to Harry Potter World

Once you leave the train at Watford station you’ll immediately see signs pointing toward The Making of Harry Potter.

Just outside the train station in Watford is a bus stop with signs clearly stating that it’s the Harry Potter bus . The bus is free, you just have to show your entrance ticket to the Warner Bros Studios.

The bus ride takes about 15 minutes and they go every 20 minutes.

How to get to Warner Bros Studio from London by tour

Even though it’s very easy how to get to Warner Bros Studio London by train you can also book a tour which includes the transport from London .

But to be completely honest, I don’t think a tour with includes transportation from London is necessary. Since getting there by public transport is way cheaper and also more flexible, you can stay as long as you want without having to worry about missing your bus back.

The only reason for taking a tour in my opinion is if the normal entrance tickets are sold out. That being said, this Harry Potter Tour of Warner Bros. Studio with Luxury Transport from London is one of the most popular ones.

🤩 Check Prices and Availability!

Tips for visiting Harry Potter Studios London

Visiting Harry Potter World London is an incredible experience and it’s always good to be prepared, so here are a few tips on what to expect at the studio tour:

• Buy your Harry Potter Studio tour tickets way in advance
• If the official tickets are sold out, you might still get some through a tour company
• Get there before your time slot, even the entrance hall is amazing and worth looking around in
• If you brought a heavy backpack or thick jacket, leave it in the cloakroom
• Before you get to walk around on your own, you listen to an introduction and watch a short movie
• There are one restaurant, one cafe and one snack shop at the entrance and one restaurant in the middle of the tour
• The restaurants have good options, even labelled vegan options, but the queues are very long
• Butterbeer in the bottle is vegan but at the restaurant, they put non-vegan cream on top
• There is an amazing Harry Potter gift shop at the end, think beforehand about how much you want to spend max

Other Harry Potter attractions in London you shouldn’t miss

Visiting the Wizarding World at the Warner Pros Studios is the best Harry Potter-related thing to do in London. But there are also so many other things to do.

I really enjoyed watching the theatre Harry Potter and the Cursed Child , I’ve seen it twice already and I liked it, even more, the second time.

There are many Harry Potter filming locations in London and even more locations which inspired J.K. Rowling in creating the magical world of Harry Potter.

London also offers a wide range of Harry Potter activities, like a Harry Potter afternoon tea . I had one of those for my last birthday and it was amazing.

Upgrade to a full day of Harry Potter magic

If you’re short on time you can combine your visit to the Harry Potter studio tour with other Harry Potter activities in an epic day tour.

The best option is to combine the Making of Harry Potter with a trip to Oxford since you can see many real-life filming locations in Oxford and doing those two things outside of London on the same day saves you a lot of time.

Another great option is to combine the studio tours with a visit to the London Harry Potter filming locations .

The Making of Harry Potter & Oxford

✅ Walking tour in Oxford

✅ Entry into the Warner Bros Studio Tour included

✅ Transport by mini-coach

Film Locations in London and Harry Potter Studio Tour 

✅ Harry Potter walking tour London

Hotels near Harry Potter World

To make your Harry Potter holiday complete you can even stay in a Harry Potter-themed hotel in London or in Watford.

The best Harry Potter-themed hotel in London is the Georgian House Hotel . They have a few special Harry Potter rooms. So make sure when you book the hotel that you book a Wizard Chamber or an Enchanted Chamber.

You can also get a Harry Potter afternoon tea at the Georgian House Hotel.

There are also two Harry Potter-themed apartments in Watford. Harry’s House is great for groups of up to 6 people and Hagrid’s Hut is for up to 5 people.

FAQ about how to get to Warner Bros Studios London

Do you have to pay for the harry potter shuttle bus.

The shuttle bus from Watford Junction Railway Station to the Harry Potter Studios is included in your entrance ticket, there is no additional charge.

How do I get to Harry Potter World from Central London?

You can get the train from London Euston to Watford Junction, there you have to change to the free Harry Potter shuttle bus to Harry Potter World.

How long do you spend in Harry Potter Studios?

You can spend as long as you want in the Harry Potter Studios, the average visiting time is between 3 and 4 hours.

Can you use Oyster to Watford Junction?

Yes, you can use an Oyster card from London to Watford Junction, you can also use a normal contactless bank card.

Are there rides at Harry Potter World in London?

No, there are no rides at Harry Potter World in London, it’s not an amusement park. You can see original movie props and the ideas behind the movies.

Final thoughts: Harry Potter World London

In 2023 I spent a whole month in London in August and September and in that time I visited Harry Potter World twice with different friends and family coming to visit me. And even though twice in one month is a bit much, I still enjoyed both visits!

And even just writing this article makes me want to go back again.

Read more about London:

• 21 Best Things to Do in London in August
• 15 Amazing Things to Do in Soho London

Best Fully Vegan Restaurants in Soho London

• 21 Magical Harry Potter Locations in London
• 13 Magical Harry Potter Things to Do in London
• 10 Most Magical Harry Potter Shops in London

Do You Tip in London? All You Need to Know

• The Best Oxford and Cambridge Tours from London
• Top 10 Most Vegan Friendly Cities in Europe You Should Visit

Pin it for later:

Tina Riegelnegg is the founder of Veganderlust. She started this blog in 2022 to share her experiences in order to help other travellers have the best experience and find the best vegan food while travelling. So far Tina has been to 31 countries on 5 continents.

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Universal Studios

The Ultimate Vegan Guide to Universal Studios

Accio plant-based here’s where to get vegan food at the universal studios hollywood and orlando theme parks..

by Tanya Flink

October 6, 2022

For movie buffs and adrenaline junkies who prefer more than It’s a Small World-level thrills, Universal Studios is the theme park of choice. From the iconic backlot tour to the death-defying drop at the end of Jurassic World—The Ride, Universal offers a full day of entertainment value for film enthusiasts and thrill-seekers. And let’s not forget, Universal is the mecca of all things Harry Potter fandom. However, when you’re standing in line for an hour waiting to ride the Hogwarts Express, it hits you. You’re hungry, and you need more than a Kind Bar from Starbucks . Up until very recently, vegans were out of luck when it came to fun theme park food at Universal; we survived off fruit cups, sad theme park salads (hold the meat and cheese), and whatever plain bagel or oatmeal the in-park Starbucks had on offer. As of spring 2022, vegans can enjoy Universal Studios with a full belly (although, maybe hold off until after you ride the somewhat nauseating 4D rides– The Simpsons one in particular). From, vegan Butterbeer to an English pasty, here is your vegan guide to Universal Studios Hollywood and Orlando.

Universal Studios Hollywood

Just off the 101 freeway, you’ll find the original Universal Studios. The studio campus was established in 1915, followed by the theme park decades later in 1964. The park underwent major renovations in the years prior to 2015 when it debuted The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and premiered massive updates to its aging rides. This reboot installed 4D experiences to many of its attractions, updated the Jurassic Park ride to include characters from the most recent Jurassic World film franchise, and revamped the narratives on the famous backlot studio tour. 

The vegan options at this park have massively improved in recent years, but not quite to Orlando standards. The good news is: there’s enough to satisfy you during the day, and three fabulous vegan-friendly restaurants ( SunCafe Organic , Vegetable , and H.O.P.E ) are just across the 101 and open for dinner. 

Note: this guide does not include CityWalk—the shopping, dining, and entertainment precursor to the park. We would still prefer to go across the freeway to a vegan restaurant for dinner, but we can’t fail to mention Voodoo Doughnuts here. From frosted cake options to voodoo-shaped, yeasted, and jelly-filled, this pink sweet shop is a must whenever visiting Universal Studios Hollywood. 

Vegan food options: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

While the Florida-adjacent park celebrated a vegan menu update in the spring of 2022, these options weren’t adopted by its California counterpart. According to the Universal Studios Dietary Food Guide, the only vegan entrée option at The Three Broomsticks is the Asparagus Platter. Thankfully, there’s more to it than just asparagus. The plate consists of jumbo seared asparagus, mashed potatoes, cabbage, minted peas, and roasted tomato. Note: when ordering this or any other option at the park, specify that you’re vegan. If you’re looking for just a snack, the fresh fruit, corn on the cob (request no butter), and garden salad are also vegan here. 

Within the Three Broomsticks and at the Hog’s Head stand, you’ll find Pumpkin Juice, Gilly Water, Pumpkin Fizz, and chilled Butterbeer. In Muggle terms, Pumpkin Juice is a sweet, chilled beverage made from apple juice, pumpkin purée, apricot purée, and natural flavors. The Pumpkin Fizz is the same thing, only carbonated. Gilly Water is essentially premium-priced bottled water—the park just adds coloring and a hint of natural flavors. Thanks to efforts by the Protego Foundation, Butterbeer can finally be enjoyed vegan when when ordered in its chilled application. Cheers!

Vegan food options: Upper Lot

The Upper Lot is a vegan’s best bet for food options at the Hollywood Theme Park. Of course, there’s Starbucks, but you’ll also find snacks and sandwich options at a number of the Upper Lot venues. Two restaurants offer a vegan Beyond BBQ Cheeseburger (yes, made with dairy-free cheese), and Krusty Burger offers a more vegetable-forward Mother Nature Burger. A word of caution: the fries at this park are not vegan-friendly. Universal says they are vegetarian, which leads us to believe that they are coated in a dairy-derived artificial or natural flavoring. You can enjoy your burger with a fruit cup at most of these establishments. 

Cocina Mexicana also offers sustenance by way of chips, guacamole, and Beyond Meat al pastor. Ask for the Taco Platter with the Beyond Meat option, no queso fresco. 

For a sweet treat, unfortunately, Lard Lad’s Donuts is out of the question, but the Spiced Cashew Brittle served at City Snacks and Cocina Mexicana is animal-free. You’ll also find a satisfying soft pretzel (salted or cinnamon) at the Universal Snack Shop. 

Vegan food options: Lower Lot

Remember this: you will have to walk back up these stairs eventually. Universal’s Lower Lot is 345 steps (or 18 stories) below the Upper Lot. Some pass holders even use these steps for a daily workout. Vegan food options are slim down here—we suspect the herbivorous dinosaurs from Jurassic World are hoarding them all. However, this portion of the park does offer a fun island-themed getaway that serves over-the-top alcoholic beverages. Isla Nu-Bar is the place to park it if you’re in the mood for a tiki-themed cocktail. 

Food-wise, Studio Cafe serves up a decent Vegan Bahn Mi along with cool fruit-based popsicles and Minion cotton candy. The Jurassic Cafe also offers a Beyond Meat patty, though the accouterments are not vegan-friendly. When all else fails (or you just need a caffeine boost to get up those stairs), the Lower Lot Starbucks will provide.

Universal Studios Orlando

Orlando seems to be the vegan testing ground for many theme parks. Like Disney World, Universal Orlando tends to debut plant-based items before they eventually make their way over to the West Coast. This guide specifically covers Universal Studios and Universal’s Island of Adventure. To prevent this from becoming an encyclopedia, we’ve left City Walk and Volcano Bay out. 

Vegan food options: Universal Studios Florida

It’s 7am and you’re so excited to get to Universal Studios that you forgot to eat breakfast. Before you fast-track it onto a ride, swing by the TODAY Cafe for vegan options far more exciting than a fruit cup. The morning show-themed eatery offers vegan croissants, overnight oats, towering avocado toast, and a vegetable-forward vegan panini called the I Heart Vegan. Al Roker is looking out for the vegans!

If you’re here for Harry Potter, you’re in luck, because the theme of witches and wizards extends throughout Universal Studios and Island of Adventure. Stop by the Leaky Cauldron for Hearty Irish Stew or a flaky Shepherd’s Pasty Pie. Each entrée comes with its own vegan side, and we highly recommend completing the meal with a tall glass of Pumpkin Juice . A Shepherd’s pie made with Beyond Meat is also on offer at Finnegan’s Bar & Grille. 

Once you’ve ridden Escape from Gringotts to your heart’s content and you’ve ventured out to other areas of Universal Studios, check out the many vegan options scattered throughout the campus. Thanks to Executive Chef Ron Cope, hearty dedicated vegan options are available at most park restaurants. In the mood for something carb-heavy and satiating? Lombard’s Seafood Grille offers a solid vegan noodle option by way of Golden Gate Noodle Bowl (request vegan modifications). Craving Italian? Louie’s Italian Restaurant offers meaty spaghetti bolognese, spaghetti marinara, and minestrone soup. You can also order a whole vegetable pizza for the table and request no cheese. Note: this move also works at Luigi’s Pizza. 

If you’re in town for Horror Nights, don’t miss a taste of the seasonal classic: Vegan Pizza Fries at KidsZone Pizza. Yes, they’re just what they sound like: French fries topped with marinara, vegan cheese, and plant-based pepperoni. Visitors take note: KidsZone Pizza is only open for special events, such as Horror Nights and Mardi Gras. 

For a standard Beyond Burger, Mel’s Drive-In and Richter’s Burger company all offer this reliable vegan option. While not a burger, The San Francisco Pastry Company offers a substantial vegan sandwich and even vegan croissants. Similar plant-based croissants and a vegan brownie are also available at Croissant Moon Bakery. 

Looking for just a snack to get you through a particularly long line? Most stands offer refreshing fruit cups at the very least, and Fast Food Blvd near the Simpsons even carries hummus. Like Universal Studios Hollywood, there’s always Starbucks. 

Vegan food options: Island of Adventure

Ready to try something … adventurous? This is the theme park to do it. You won’t find Pizza Fries, but you will find a plethora of satiating vegan options to fuel your jam-packed day of thrills. Below, we’ve broken it down by quick service, carts, and sit-down dining. 

Quick service

When you’re at a theme park and aren’t fortunate enough to hold a season pass, you want to get the most out of your time there. Quick service is the way to go if you identify with this scenario. For quality Italian-inspired eats that don’t require a waiter, check out Cafe4. The menu offers vegan spaghetti bolognese, eggplant parmesan, and breadsticks with marinara. The Green Eggs and Ham Cafe isn’t quite Italian, but the Vegan Pizza Tots do come with melty vegan cheese and marinara. 

Prefer a handhold? Embrace your inner Marvel superhero at the Captain America Diner. The Beyond Burger patty comes with Follow Your Heart cheese and a schmear of vegan garlic aioli on a plant-based bun. And here’s the best part: in Orlando, these fries are vegan! A (vegan) cheesy veggie burger is also on the menu at Wimpy’s. 

On a rare chilly day in Florida, the Comic Strip Cafe has the thing: vegan tofu ramen. The spot also offers marinara with breadsticks and yucca fries with plant-based mayo ketchup. Odd assortment, we know, but at least there’s something for every craving. 

For Mediterranean-esque meals, stop by Doc Sugrue’s Desert Kebab House. The menu offers a Vegan Meatball Kebab plate as well as a hummus appetizer served with vegetable crudite and pita bread. Fire Eater’s Grill offers a similar Mediterranean-inspired menu with its Falafel Gyro (hold the tzatziki). 

To satisfy the healthy eater in your group, check out the menu at Thunder Falls Terrace. The Rice Bowl served with jackfruit and no cheese is a nourishing and filling bowl of rice, beans, jackfruit, plantains, and salsa. 

Missing Harry Potter? Head to the Three Broomsticks. The eatery offers vegan breakfast options by way of porridge (aka oatmeal, ask for no butter croissant) and modified English breakfast items such as baked beans, grilled tomatoes, sautéed mushrooms, and breakfast potatoes. For lunch and dinner, tuck into the Mushroom Pie Platter and enjoy a frosted vegan Butterbeer for dessert. Note: the chilled Butterbeer at this park is vegan if ordered without the foam topping. The warm Butterbeer; however, contains traces of dairy. 

Carts and stands

The window service spots and carts throughout the park are ideal for snacks and sweets. On a hot day, vegan park-goers should turn to Chill Ice Cream for a refreshing Dole Whip (in a cup, the cones are not vegan). The various concession stands that line pedestrian paths also carry this irresistible pineapple sorbet as well as a selection of chips, soft pretzels, ICEEs, and roasted nuts. 

Sit-down dining

Mythos Restaurant is an establishment we’d patronize even if it was outside of the theme park. The solid menu offers a good amount of vegan options from appetizers to mains. Start with the Lemon Hummus or Mezze Platter then move to the vegan-friendly Souvlaki Couscous Bowl or Vegan Pad Thai. Specify that you’re vegan when ordering so the kitchen knows to make the appropriate modifications (removing the feta and tzatziki, swapping in vegan peanut sauce). 

Confisco Grille offers similar vegan options to Mythos in a table service setting. The Lemon Hummus appetizer and customizable vegan pad thai are both available here, though the Udon Noodle Bowl with Tofu (request no egg) is unique to this spot.

For more on vegan theme parks, read:

• The Complete Vegan Guide to Disney World
• A Vegan Guide to Disneyland
• Disney’s New Vegan Cruise Will Offer Vegan Options at Every Restaurant

JUMP TO ... Latest News | Recipes | Guides | Health | Shop

Tanya Flink is a Digital Editor at VegNews as well as a writer and runner living in Orange County, CA.

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Floating candles, vegan Butterbeer coming to Harry Potter attractions in US and UK

Words:  Bea Mitchell

| 2 min read

Vegan Butterbeer is available at Universal’s US parks , and floating candles are arriving in London .

Universal’s Wizarding World is now offering vegan Butterbeer, and the Harry Potter studio tour in London will soon feature more than 400 floating candles.

Available at both Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood , the vegan version of the Butterbeer beverage comes in cold and frozen.

The drink has the same butterscotch and shortbread taste as the non-vegan Butterbeer, and is topped with a vegan-friendly froth.

At Universal Orlando , the non-dairy Butterbeer is available at the Three Broomsticks restaurant in Hogsmeade and the Leaky Cauldron restaurant in Diagon Alley.

At Universal Studios Hollywood, vegan Butterbeer can be purchased at the Hog’s Head pub and the Three Broomsticks restaurant.

In response to Universal’s decision, PETA’s executive VP, Tracy Reiman , said: “There’s magic in the air at Universal, now that vegan visitors and everyone else can enjoy frothy, non-dairy mugs of iconic Butterbeer.

“PETA is hopping to it to send Universal Studios a box of vegan chocolate frogs in thanks, and we encourage all Harry Potter fans to give the cruel dairy industry a dark mark   by saying, ‘Accio vegan Butterbeer!’ every time they head to the park.”

The Protego Foundation , an animal rights organisation inspired by the Wizarding World, has been fighting for vegan Butterbeer since 2018. 

Kathryn Henzler , the executive director of the Protego Foundation, said guests can now enjoy “the most iconic Wizarding World treat without contributing to the cruelty that mother cows and their calves face in the dairy industry”.

Elsewhere, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London is adding more than 400 floating candles to the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall set for the first time since filming.

New magical experiences

The magical experience is part of a new display called ‘Discovering Hogwarts’, which will unveil behind-the-scenes secrets about how the castle came to life on screen.

For the candles feature, the special effects department will use a lighting effect to make the candles seem like they have real flickering flames. To give the illusion of floating, they will be hung with more than three miles of wire.

Discovering Hogwarts will also reveal how Professor Flitwick’s ‘Wingardium Leviosa’ scene was created for the film franchise .

In addition, the display offers a live demonstration of how the special effects team handled Hagrid’s height. As teased in a news release, it involved the help of 6’10” rugby player Martin Bayfield and a prosthetic head.

Elsewhere, Universal Studios Japan’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter will soon be home to a host of new magical creatures .

Images: Wizarding World

• Universal Studios
• Attractions management
• UK Experience
• Attractions technology
• Attraction design
• Food and Beverage
• Attractions business
• Harry Potter

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Harry potter tour revenue surges past $1 billion.

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The Harry Potter tour in Leavesden is a big money spinner for Warner Bros.

Britain's Harry Potter movie tour has generated more than $1 billion of revenue since it opened 12 years ago according to its latest financial statements which show that sales doubled to a record $184.4 million (£149.1 million) in 2022 as the end of pandemic restrictions cast a powerful spell on the attraction.

The tour is set inside two cream-coloured cavernous soundstages at Leavesden Studios on the outskirts of London. Owned by media giant Warner Bros. Discovery WBD , Leavesden was originally an aircraft factory before it was converted into a movie studio in 1994 so that James Bond flick GoldenEye could film there.

Warner bought Leavesden in 2010 making it the first studio to have a permanent European base since Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in the 1940s. Leavesden re-opened in 2012 after Warner invested more than $123.7 million (£100 million) in the site. Since then it has been home to well over 50 productions including all eight Potter films, the three Fantastic Beasts spin-offs and last year's highest-grossing movie, Barbie .

The studio generates 39.7% of Leavesden's total revenue which rose by $87.5 million (£70.7 million) to a record $305.8 million (£247.2 million) in the year to 31 December 2022 as we revealed in Britain's Sunday Times newspaper. The increase was entirely driven by the tour as studio revenue dipped 2.9% to $121.3 million (£98.1 million).

Revenue is increasing at Warner Bros' Leavesden studios

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Over the past few years soaring inflation and the cost of living crisis has caused consumers to cut streaming subscriptions leading to studios scaling back the number of shows in production.

It didn't stop there as Leavesden faced the challenge of strikes in Hollywood when actors and writers downed their tools for more than six months last year in a bid to boost the royalties they receive. Warner is still counting the cost of this and on February 23 announced that revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023 was down 7% to $10.2 billion partly driven by strike-induced production delays. On the day of the announcement its shares closed 10% down at $8.61, almost the lowest price since the group was created by the merger of AT&T’s T WarnerMedia and Discovery Inc in April 2022.

The impact is being felt far beyond the studios as special effects firm Framestore, which created the spellbinding visuals in the Potter movies, said it expects margins "to be impacted" by the strikes in 2023.

In contrast, the tour behind the scenes of the Potter movies has been a dream ticket for Warner. Leavesden's net profit more than doubled last year to $87.8 million (£71 million) which was largely driven by the tour given that the studio's revenue reversed. Since 2012 Leavesden has generated total net profits of $589.6 million (£476.7 million) and paid $289.4 million (£234 million) of dividends to Warner.

Guests can wander through recreations of classic Harry Potter locations (photo by Andrew Aitchison / ... [+] In pictures via Getty Images)

Since it opened 12 years ago more than 18 million people have streamed through the tour's turnstiles generating a total of $1.2 billion (£935.8 million) of revenue – 67.5% more than the studio has made.

The tour is filled with props and sets from the movies with the latest addition being Professor Sprout's Greenhouse which opened in summer 2022. From the outside, the giant greenhouse appears to be in the grip of a giant vine which covers the walls inside. Its tendrils spread into flower boxes where plants seem to sprout from them. Visitors can uproot them to reveal a squealing shrub as Harry and his chums did in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets .

As we recently revealed , the tour has been so successful that Warner has invested more than $115 million in its first overseas outpost which opened in Tokyo last year and is 50% bigger than its British counterpart.

Leavesden operates the Japanese facility as well as the wildly popular chain of Potter shops and the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child stage show which premiered in London in 2016 to critical acclaim. Since then it has expanded to five other countries and is still growing as the financial statements reveal that "in 2022 the company invested in another production of the stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child ."

The company also produces the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child stage show (Photo by Sam ... [+] Tabone/WireImage)

Despite the logjam in Hollywood, Leavesden too is expanding. Last year it announced plans to build 11 new sound stages which will increase production capacity by more than 50% and will create 4,000 direct and indirect jobs. It is expanding to stay in the game in the face of increasing competition.

Britain has become a popular location for filming thanks to its generous fiscal benefits which give studios a reimbursement of up to 25.5% of the amount they spend in the country. It explains why Shepperton Studios, just outside London, is planning a 1.2 million square feet expansion which will make it the world's second-biggest studio.

Likewise, nearby Pinewood plans to spend $1.6 billion (£1.3 billion) on new facilities including a studio tour which will put it in even more direct competition with Leavesden. Over the past 80 years Pinewood has been home to everything from the Pink Panther and Paddington to Superman and Star Wars so it may take more than the wave of a magic wand to beat.

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Harry Potter’s bulging Aunt Marge appears above Tower Bridge as six-metre replica promotes new studio tour feature

• Tom Malley , Foreign News Reporter
• Published : 12:45 ET, Apr 30 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

LONDONERS were left bemused after a 19ft replica of Harry Potter's bulging Aunt Marge appeared above Tower Bridge.

The giant inflatable was suspended in mid-air as part of a stunt to promote a new feature at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London on the 20th anniversary of the third Harry Potter film.

The hefty replica played on the comical scene in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, where Harry unintentionally casts an inflating charm on his Aunt Marge, causing her to inflate like a balloon and float away.

Weighing a staggering 95kg, with a circumference spanning 38ft, the bulging Aunt Marge appeared to be hovering in front of the iconic landmark.

Coming in at 21ft high, it took 40m3 of air to inflate the colossal figure – enough to fill 140 standard party balloons.

The skilled recreation took a total of 264 hours by a dedicated team of 16 people, including expert designers, artists and seamstresses.

A staggering 46 hours were spent during the initial design and sketch process.

A further 18 hours were also spent painting her head and hair, along with 32 hours on stitching and sewing her clothes.

The inflatable was launched into the ether to mark the unveiling of a new Return to Azkaban feature at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter.

Laura Sinclair-Lazell, head of show experience at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, said: “Many fans are surprised to learn this popular scene wasn’t created using CGI in the films but in fact was created by our incredibly skilled filmmakers.”

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During the films original production, the cast, camera and lighting departments, stunt players, make-up and special effects teams worked tirelessly together to create the magic that was the iconic floating departure of Aunt Marge from Privet Drive.

The costume department created 38 different tweed suits of varying sizes and shapes and there were four separate make-up stages as Aunt Marge got bigger.

Actress Pam Ferris, who played Harry's grumbling aunt and is also known for her role as Mrs Trunchbull in Matilda, spent over five hours in the make-up chair to prepare for the scene.

Her costume consisted of two bodysuits weighing 50 pounds each which were pumped by air tubes, paired with inflatable gloves and legs.

The actress and her body double were fitted with a flying harness suspended on two wire rigs that could lift, flip, and raise her with a separate rig to spin her around.

The special feature will be running from May 1 to September 4 and is included in the ticket price which must be prebooked in advance.

Laura Sinclair-Lazell added: “We’re thrilled that visitors can now come to the Studio Tour and learn more of the behind-the-scenes magic from the third film in the Harry Potter series.”

• Harry Potter