Harry Potter London vs. California
 

My girls are really into Harry Potter. We will be in London for 2 days. We live 6 hours away from Universal Studios with Harry Potter in California. We haven't taken them there yet.

I am struggling with taking them to London highlights verses Harry Potter. I appreciate your insight into the differences. Opinions of how to spend our time welcome. Thanks

You only have 2 days in London -- which is really <i> no time at all</i>. You won't have time to see/do much. Certainly only a FEW of the highlights. Now, if you were in London a week, then I'd recommend seeing the London version -- it was the first and is the grand daddy.

But since you will have the chance to visit the one in CA - I'd skip doing it in London (it would take almost an entire day)

I agree! London has so much to offer it will be a challenge to pick and choose but I would focus on sites unique to London!

I think Harry Potter is a site very unique to London. And one of London's highlights! As a family outing, you'll never forget sharing their joy. I doubt they'd get the same joy as seeing Big Ben or Buckingham Palace.

I went with my daughter (ok, she was 30) but we still talk about it. We actually were moved to tears near the end. (Can't give it away).

My son was at the Harry Potter in London a couple of days ago and he thought it was brilliant, we've been to Harry Potter at universal in Florida and he enjoyed it but for me it was an excuse to flog all things Potter.

>>he thought it was brilliant, <<

It is -- and is definitely a highlight. My concern is that with just 1 day free for the rest of London, how would one choose which 2 or 3 sites to visit.

Is there a chance you will visit London again?

Most of my info is from our kids and grandkids. The Warner Brothers studio tour outside London (must be booked in advance) includes a number of the actual sets used to film the movies and lots of interactive things. In London itself there are Harry Potter walking tours that take you to King's Cross station, etc.

The Universal Studios Harry Potter experience recreates a number of the sets, Diagon Alley where you can buy "stuff", Hogsmeade village where you can eat and drink butter beer, the Hogswart Express which travels between parks, a Gringott's bank thrill ride. Well, you can make your own comparisons online.

So, the Warner's Studio is more "authentic" and friends have said the Hogwart's dining hall is pretty amazing. Our kids thought Universal Studios was really well done and the grandkids, while they say that are not that "in" to Harry Potter, loved it.

London Harry Potter is the "real" thing. It's the original sets, it's the original locations

There are also lots of Harry Potter sites in London

We took a Harry Potter walking tour who h was fun. It is a tour of all the places in London where they did filming. But I would skip it if you onlu have two days in London. We werent able to do the Warner Bros Studii. It is apparently located some distance out of London and reservations are required I believe.

Thanks for the input. I decided to book it mostly as it's about the girls. I also extended our stay in London a day so we could go to more sights. I want to go to V&A, British Museum and Tower of London.

Sadly as I was researching St.Paul's will be under construction and the 2 domes are closed. Not sure if that will be worth 39 pounds to visit.

See my post on your other thread. The domes being closed would not impact a visit to St Paul's. you woukdnt even see those parts until you are climbing up the stairs inside the domes.