Athenaeum Hotel London has Magic Access to Harry Potter’s World

Get the hottest and most magical ticket in town — Warner Bros. Studio Tour, The Making of Harry Potter — with a stay at The Athenaeum, one of our favorite London family-friendly hotels.  While tickets to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour are sold out months in advance, The Athenaeum Hotel will guarantee tickets to the tour when you book an overnight stay at their hotel.

Not a theme park with rides, but a fully immersive experience, The Making of Harry Potter takes place at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, the production home of the Harry Potter films for over 10 years. Visitors get to see what the camera doesn’t show by going behind the scenes and viewing many of the 588 sets, costumes, props and visual effects, all originals used in the eight films. The actual Hogwarts Bridge, audio guides, souvenir books, yummy vanilla-flavored Butterbeer drinks and a huge gift shop are only part of the self-guided tour. Fans can try out the green screen visual effects setup to record themselves flying on a broomstick playing Quidditch. For the 2016 anniversary of the release of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” (2001), count on special screenings, filmmaker visits, more restored sets and other events that capture the artistry and technology that brought the books to life.

The Spellbinding London offer begins at £370 (approximately US$530) for a superior room (which sleeps two) and the package includes tickets to the Harry Potter studio tour, a full English breakfast for two, plus complimentary drinks and snacks from the mini-bar, free WiFi, full use of the hotel spa, gym and hot tubs.  And, of course, kids 12 and under dine for free at their restaurant. One of the Athenaeum’s swank Family apartments, which sleeps 2 adults and 2 children, can be substituted for this offer at a rate of £625 (approximately US$895) including VAT. Both offers are subject to availability and must be booked 14 days in advance. A non-refundable deposit of £150 (approximately US$215) must be made at the time of booking.  

If you’ve had enough of Harry Potter (is there ever enough?) and just want to enjoy London, make the amazing family apartments your base. These elegant homes can accommodate two adults and two children.

Special offers include a 15% discount when booked in advance through the website, and a 3rd Night Free special when booking two nights between March 24-April 10, 2016.

For the Harry Potter offer, the Athenaeum’s reservation team will be in touch directly with you to arrange ticket dates and times, so you can plan your London sightseeing schedule. And, the hotel’s crack concierge team can assist with transportation to and from the studio. If you’re not traveling altogether, or just want some extra pampering at the airport, book the hotels’ London VIP Chauffeur package, so that your party of up to 7 can be greeted at the jetway, escorted through Customs, and transported directly to your Athenaeum domicile; rates vary according to vehicle required for your group.

For those of you not familiar with The Athenaeum, it is a family-owned and family-friendly, five-star hotel known for its gracious, friendly service, and its exterior vertical garden. Centrally located in Mayfair, just steps from Buckingham Palace, Green Park and great shopping destinations, the hotel has 164 bedrooms including 12 suites, and 18 apartments. Dining and drinking await in The Restaurant, the Whisky Bar and Garden Room (home to the property’s afternoon tea service awarded “Top London Afternoon Tea 2012” by The Tea Guild). Arranging for babysitting is no problem at all at The Athenaeum.

Please note that until summer of 2016, renovation and refurbishment work will be going on throughout the hotel and public spaces, though management promises to cause guests as little disruption as possible. For more information and booking, visit The Athenaeum Hotel, or call toll-free at 800/335-3300.