We've booked Norway for Summer '22 and are going to have a couple of days in London before plus a few days in Paris after.
For London, we definitely want to do the Harry Potter tour (I'm not sure who is the bigger fan, me or our 12 yo). I'm planning to buy tickets for the earliest time available the day after we arrive, as we will try the "stay awake as late as we can" thing upon arrival (fortunately we don't arrive until mid-afternoon), so we'll probably be up at 4am. If we take the train to/from, how many hours total should we plan for? Since this is our only full day in London before flying to Norway, I want to pack in as much as we can - ideally do some walking to see sights or perhaps spend a little time at the Tate or British Museum.
For Paris, we also plan to spend a day and a half @ Disneyland Paris as we are Disney parks addicts. The DL hotel is under renovations- does anyone have a recommendation on what their 2nd choice would be?
For the Harry Potter tour, it depends on where you are staying, it can take around 45 minutes or an hour to get there. The train from London Euston train station to Watford Junction takes about 20 minutes, then there is a shuttle from the train station to the Studios that takes around 15 minutes. Add transfer times, and whatever time it takes to get from your hotel to London Euston train station. I'd plan on at LEAST 3 hours actually there, then the same time going back. So minimum 5 hours. Honestly, I spent 5 hours at the Studio, so 7+ hours total, but I'm a real geek and a huge Harry Potter fan and I love to read everything.
ETA: Note, there is a London Euston tube station, and then London Euston train station. They're about a 5 minute walk from each other. You want the train station to catch the train to Watford Junction. The trains run frequently.
You do have to purchase your Studios tickets in advance; they can sell out early depending on the date, and they don't sell them at the door.
They do have a cafeteria you can eat at before or after the tour, in the main lobby, and there's an area maybe 2/3 of the way through the tour that sells butterbeer stuff plus some food.
ETA: I just looked at the website, and they have a couple of additional food venues now. I'd check them out to know what you want to do about food (eat before you head to the train, eat once you get there, or what).
I do highly recommend the 'stay up as late as possible' strategy, but after the studios tour, I'd recommend a nice long walk along the Thames, maybe a ride on one of the boats, something outdoors. A museum might do you in.
Let me know if you have any other questions about London. I'd be happy to help where I can!
When I did Disneyland Paris, it was an add-on, at the DL hotel, so I can't help you with alternatives to that.
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