Harry Potter experience in Watford

skateykatey

Hey, looking for some advice. We've booked a visit to London for the weekend of 10 October and the plan was to go to London on the Saturday to see the poppies and then spend Sunday at the Harry Potter experience in Watford.

The only issue is that the HP exp only has booking slots from 16.30. Has anyone been and can offer advice on whether it will still be worth us going at that time or will it be really rushed. We'll need to be back on the road home for about 19.30 at the very latest and it's only me and hubby going. We're not really bothered about having a butter beer or spending a wodge in the gift shop so it will be just looking at the set.

Thanks in advance

Edited to add that I've also posted in the families board as that gets more traffic.

wallbash

Three hours for a visit is fine, if your not dedicated huge fans.

( funny enough posting on Trip advisor only this afternoon, on the same subject, but the visit was by big fans, so I advised a rethink .
Trip advisor / Herts )

ps I liked the Butter Beer. But its not to everyone's taste.

skateykatey

Thanks v much; you've basically confirmed what I was thinking. I'm a big fan but hubby not so much. I think we'll risk it and if it's that good I can come down again with the mother in law who is a massive fan!

Never thought to check trip advisor for timings so thanks for that little gem too.

wallbash

mother in law who is a massive fan!

Well I have two daughters who grew up with the books and films.
They actually won a personally signed book each from JK , signed at 4 am at the Natural History Museum on the day of release.

So for the last book , they bought a copy at midnight at Waterstones , received a 'free' copy at 4am ( 2 daughters = 4 copies)
Two weeks later dad is off on hols and had to BUY a 5th copy because the girls refused to lend!!! JK , is a rich lady.
Also managed to grab some tickets for the very first morning at the studio's ......which was their second visit as youngest managed to do some holiday work at the animal centre on the site, and had un official tour.

dreamylittledream

The butter beer was awful - really truly, honestly revolting.

My wife and I are massive fans so we dedicated the day to it and loved it but for those less enthralled 3 hours would be sufficient

Posiekins

I really liked the Butterbeer!

Agree with other posters - have read all the books and seen the first three films. OH has seen all of them so some of it was more relevant to him.

It's one of those places where you can rattle through in a couple of hours and still see a lot or you can stop and look at every detail and spend a whole day.
There is A LOT of fine detail to take in so you might not see every little thing in the time.
It depends on your level of interest. There's not much to actually DO there, it's more things to see so you can take as long or not as you like each time.

Also, you might be lucky that as it's the later slot, it might be a bit quieter as coach trips etc will be long gone, so you won't be struggling to look at things.
I'd go for it - you can always go back if you feel you missed out.

susancs

When we went they let us in about an hour before our time slot, so may be worth going earlier. We did it in about 2 hours but tend to rush around. I agree that although it is a must have item, butter beer tasted awful.

skateykatey

Hi, thanks to all. I've booked it and we're in for the 16.30 slot.

As mentioned, it might actually be a tad better as will hopefully be a bit quieter so we can check everything out properly without all the jostling.

Can't wait now, and I'm now also tempted with the butter beer...

We're also going to turn up earlier and, you never know they may let us in earlier, if not we'll just go to the gift shop.