If you’re a fan of TV and film then a visit to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour is a can’t miss LA experience! You’ll get up close with historic backlots, step onto iconic sets and explore soundstages where legendary scenes were filmed. But that’s not all. Read on to find out what you’ll see and do on the tour, plus a few tips to make your visit better than ever.
Before we get started, here are some of our highlights:
- Dine at The Central Perk Cafe
- Snap a picture on the couches from Friends and Big Bang Theory
- Step into the world of Chicago and New York City
- Get sorted into your Harry Potter house
- Pose on the gazebo from Gilmore Girls
- Marvel at the costumes from some of your favorite superheroes
How To Have The Best Warner Bros. Studio Tour Experience
Let’s start with booking your experience. Book tickets online in advance. Tickets start at $76 and while that may seem like a lot, this tour is definitely worth the price. You’ll also have to pay for parking, unless you snag one of the free spots on the way into the lot (though these technically have a two hour limit and you will likely be at the studio past that limit).
There are numerous tour times to choose from, though, please note that if you arrive early, you can get started early. I was killing time nearby since I arrived in Burbank early. come to find out that I could’ve started the tour whenever I arrived. Dress comfortably as you will be stepping on and off of the shuttle and walking through parts of the tour. You should probably bring a jacket as LA weather can be unexpectedly chilly at times.
While there is a tour that focuses on classic films with TCM, I chose to do the regular studio tour as I wanted to hear as many facts as possible about more recent productions that have taken place on the lot. I did not do the Studio Tour Plus because I do not believe additional time with the guide is necessary, nor is lunch. As I mentioned, I wanted to hear as many facts as possible about more recent productions, including Gilmore Girls. At the start of your tour, your tour guide will ask about your favorite shows. Make sure you do a little research so you are familiar with which of your favorites have filmed here.
No matter which tour you book, there is an opportunity to grab something to eat. When you stop at Stage 48, you can order a snack or a drink. Pro tip: place your order and then amble through Stage 48 while your food is being prepared. PS, there’s also a Starbucks in the lobby where you can grab a drink or snack before and/ or after the tour. Whether you plan to grab coffee or not, you don’t want to skip Starbucks is you’re a Harry Potter fan. There’s a giant Tri-Wizard Cup you can snap a picture with.
Documenting Your Experience
Speaking of pictures, you are not allowed to take videos while on the tram portion of the tour. But here’s another pro tip: set your photos to live so you can make them into videos if you plan to edit a reel highlighting your experience.
You can take your own photos anywhere on the tour. And, if you want official photos on sets and in iconic spots, you can buy photos (and videos) as well. Photo ops include: Central Perk, the couch from Big Bang Theory, Harry Potter’s cupboard under the stairs, the gazebo from Stars Hollow, the Friends fountain and more. There’s also an opportunity to buy videos of yourself in green screen scenes where you can ride a broomstick over Hogwarts, race through Gotham on the Batpod, create a Harry Potter Most Wanted poster and more.
What Else Happens On The Tour
Storytelling Showcase
You begin at the Storytelling Showcase. This is a simply a museum style room that has plaques and info about the Warner Brothers, props from popular shows and information about how the studio has grown over the past 100 years. When you’re ready, you will head into a small theater to watch a short video about the studio.
The Cart Tour
After watching the video, you will board the open air cart to drive around the lot. On this part of the tour, you’ll see different style of streets that will have you feeling like you are in Chicago, New York, the Midwest and more. You may see sets from current productions you know and love, like Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage and Abbott Elementary. Depending on when you are there, some studios may even be in use (when I was on tour, the Jennifer Hudson show was recording live).
Highlights of this portion of the tour, for me, include seeing the orphanage from both Annie movies, the fire escapes where cast members hung off of while singing the opening song in Rent and the fire escape from the most infamous Spider-man scene. And that’s not all. You’ll see the spot where Phoebe did her crazy run in Friends, Merlotte’s Bar from True Blood, the Growing Pains house and, more recently, the studio from The Studio. But the ultimate best sights for me on the tour are the Gilmore Girls locations, including Luke’s Diner, Lorelai’s house, Sookie’s house, the gazebo and more. I even spotted the “secret bar” from A Year In The Life.
You’ll also learn fun facts about how movies are made and see where and how props are constructed, costumes are stored and see Studio 16, one of the world’s largest, tallest (98 ft) soundstages, famously featuring a massive, two-million-gallon underground water tank. This is where they filmed the pirate ship scenes in Goonies!
Stage 48
Stage 48 is where you will find Central Perk and a gift shop stocked full of Friends memorabilia. In this area you’ll also find costumes, props, photo-ops, sets and hands-on interactive experiences. The Central Perk photo op is here as well as set ups from The Big Bang Theory.
Friends Couch and Fountain
From here you will hop back on the tram to head over to take a picture with the fountain from Friends. You may spot a few other familiar sets like the recreation of the painted lady house from Full House (used in Fuller House) and the garage where Luke was storing his boat on Gilmore Girls.
Action and Magic Made Here
This tour ends with a huge superhero display featuring the universe of DC Super Heroes and Super-Villains and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts. Enjoy interactive exhibits like posing with Wonder Woman’s wings, crawling into Harry Potter’s cupboard under the stairs, replanting a mandrake, learning wand choreography and , most importantly. getting sorted into your Hogwarts house. Proud Gryffindor reporting for duty!
A Massive Gift Shop
I couldn’t spent another hour alone in the gift shop. As a Gilmore Girls fan, finding that merch was a dream come true. I was also tempted by the Ted Lasso swag. Though the amount of Harry Potter items is the most impressive.
Some Warner Bros. Studio Feature Films and TV Shows:
- Abbot Elementary
- Annie
- Batman
- Big Bang Theory
- Bob Hearts Abishola
- Casablanca
- Dukes of Hazzard
- ER
- Friends
- Full House / Fuller House
- George and Mandy’s First Marriage
- Gilmore Girls
- Gremlins
- Growing Pains
- Lois and Clark
- PeeWee’s Big Adventure
- Pretty Little Liars
- Shrinking
- Shameless
- Spider-Man
- The Goonies
- The Greatest Showman
- The Music Man
- The Studio
- True Blood
- Young Sheldon
Of course, there are MANY more things that have filmed on the lot. You’ll find a lot of them listed here.
One Last Tip!
Keep your eyes peeled for a celebrity. You never know who you might see! When I toured, I spotted Matthew Rhys as well as the parking spots for Mindy Kaling and Jason Segel.
