Warner Brothers Studio in Hollywood, Los Angeles, has been entertaining the world for almost a century now.
The studio lot is on 110 acres, and houses sound stages, production offices, post-production facilities, and other film and television production support services.
The Warner Bros Studios Tour hosted by their expert guide is the best way to explore one of the world’s busiest working studios.
The tour includes visiting the Batcave from the Batman films; the Central Perk set from “Friends,” and the streets of the fictional town of Stars Hollow from “Gilmore Girls,” among other attractions.
In this article, we share everything you must know before booking your Warner Bros Studios Hollywood tour.
Top Warner Bros. Studios Hollywood Tickets
# Warner Bros Studio tour
# The Golden Age of Hollywood Classic Tour
# Warner Bros Studios tour discount
Table of contents
What to expect during the studio tour
During the Warner Bros Studios Hollywood tour, an expert guide takes you behind the studio’s scenes, entertaining the world for over 95 years.
As a working movie and TV studio, backlot sets and sound stages get occupied due to production requirements, so the tour’s route varies daily to accommodate the shooting schedule.
Backlots & Soundstages
Visitors walk the backlots as part of the tour, which have been the exterior sets for classic films and TV shows such as Casablanca, Batman, Gilmore Girls, Friends, etc.
The tour guide will also take you to one of the soundstages to see where some current hit shows are produced.
DC Universe: The Exhibit
In this part of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour of Hollywood, you go through the interactive DC Universe.
Don’t miss out on the latest Aquaman section, which brings to life the visually breathtaking underwater world of Atlantis.
And the Wonder Woman section, where you see the set design and wardrobe from the movie.
Wizarding World: Harry Potter & Fantastic Beasts
During this part of the studio tour, you enter the wizarding world and see the real costumes and props from the original Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films.
Don’t miss out on the original storyboards and authentic props such as Dobby the House Elf and the Sorting Hat.
Batcave – Batmobile Collection
The Batcave features the authentic cars Bruce Wayne drove, as seen throughout Batman’s cinematic history of nearly 30 years.
You will see Bathammer, Batpod, Tumbler, etc., and learn all their design and functional features.
Script to screen at Stage 48
This self-guided part of the Warner Bros Studio Tour happens in Stage 48.
Visitors understand the complete movie-making process by exploring the exhibits and the interactive tools on display.
Warner Bros Studio’s expert tour guides are always on hand to share the Hollywood production process’s secrets.
Here are some of the highlights of Stage 48:
- See the capsule used in the Academy Award-winning film Gravity
- Ride Harry Potter’s Firebolt
- Cruise through Gotham on the legendary Batpod
- Find out how the stylish fight sequences in The Matrix were shot
- At ‘Art of Sound,’ learn how sound engineers make a film come to life
Central Perk Set
Fans of the hit sitcom Friends love this part of the tour because they get to see the studio’s production soundstage featuring the real Central Perk cafe Set.
This is part of the self-guided tour in Stage 48 but is so popular that it finds a special mention.
The best part is that it is a working replica, which means you can sit down and enjoy a cup of Central Perk coffee.
The Big Bang Theory Set
This latest addition to the Warner Brothers Studio in Los Angeles uses the real set of the popular sitcom The Big Bang Theory.
Here, you can:
- Take a seat in Sheldon’s spot in apartment 4A
- Recreate Sheldon’s signature knock or take a photo in front of the infamous broken elevator
- Look into the Caltech physics department cafeteria where Leonard, Sheldon, Howard, and Raj eat together
Warner Bros Studio tour Tickets
This section explains the two kinds of experiences Warner Bros. Studio offers – the Hollywood Tour and the Hollywood Classic Tour.
But before that, know a few things about studio tour tickets –
Cancellation policy: Tour tickets can be canceled up to 24 hours before receiving a full refund.
Mobile tickets: The tickets get emailed to you, and on the day of the visit, you can show them on your mobile and walk in. You don’t have to take printouts.
Purchasing your tickets for Warner Bros Studio Tour online is a better experience for three reasons:
- Online tickets are cheaper than the price you will pay at the entrance
- You don’t wait in the ticket counter queue and waste your time and energy
- Tickets on-site are sold on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Booking your tickets online (and in advance) ensures a slot on the tour
Warner Bros. Studios Hollywood Tour ticket
Of the two tours on offer, the Warner Bros. Studios Hollywood Tour is more popular because it focuses on all the movies made at the studios.
The first two hours of the tour are guided, and for the next 60 to 90 minutes, you explore some of the best movie props and movie-making experiences by yourself.
This ticket also gets you a discount on merchandise at the Warner Bros. Studio Retail store.
Ticket price
Adult ticket (11+ years): $69
Child ticket (5 to 10 years): $59
Kids aged 4 years and younger are not permitted.
The Golden Age of Hollywood Classic Tour
This tour focuses on the Golden Age of Hollywood, featuring award-winning movies and TV Serials stretching from 1900 to the early 1970s.
The Hollywood Classic Tour is also three hours long, with a 2-hour guided and 1-hour self-guided portion.
After your tour, you can visit the Warner Bros Studio tour shop and receive a discount on merchandise with your voucher.
Ticket price
Adult ticket (13+ years): $69
Child ticket (8 to 12 years): $59
Warner Bros Studios tour discount
The best way to get a discount on Warner Bros Studio Tour tickets is by booking them online in advance.
The ticket prices at the gate are at least a couple of dollars more than what’s available online.
Kids between 5 to 10 years also get a significant discount – they pay only $59 as against the adult ticket price of $69.
Warner Bros Studio for free
If you are in Los Angeles for over a week, Go Los Angeles All-Inclusive Pass is a great way to save money.
When you purchase this Pass, you get free entry to more than 40 top attractions in the city, including the Warner Bros Studio.
The Pass is available for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7 days and when you opt for a 3, 5, or 7-day Pass, you also get a free ticket to Universal Studios Hollywood.
How to reach Warner Brothers Studio
The Warner Bros Studios tour center is 3400 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505. Get directions.
It is 3.2 km (2 miles) from Griffith Park and 6.5 km (4 miles) from the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Warner Studios by public transport
North Hollywood is the closest subway station to Warner Brothers Studios in Hollywood.
It is best to board a Red Line train from Downtown Los Angeles’ Union Station. The journey lasts 30 minutes and 13 stops.
From just outside North Hollywood station, take Bus 501 to Warner Bros Studios.
The bus departs approximately every 15 mins, so you won’t have to wait long.
For more train options, check out LA Metro’s website.
Many other buses can also get you to Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood, and we list some of them.
| Bus No. | *Boarding Point | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Bus 222 | Hollywood / Highland | every 40 mins |
| Bus 155 | Universal City | every 40 mins |
| Bus 501 | North Hollywood | every 15 mins |
| Bus 501 | Pasadena / Del Mar | every 15 mins |
*Hollywood / Highland, Universal City, and North Hollywood are Red Line subway stations, while Pasadena / Del Mar is a Gold Line subway station. You will find the buses just outside the stations.
All these buses drop off passengers approximately 400 meters (a quarter of a mile) from the Tour Center.
Driving to Warner Studios
Los Angeles has many cars, and traffic can be messy, so we don’t recommend driving to the Warner Bros Studios tour.
However, if you must, the easiest way to get there is by using Google Maps.
Enough parking for Studio Tour guests is underground for $15 per vehicle.
Follow signs for Tour Parking on the Southside of Warner Blvd.
Click here to know more about the nearby parking lots.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour hours
The first Warner Bros Studios Tours starts at 8.30 am, and the last tour begins at 3.30 pm.
A new tour starts every half hour.
On holidays, the studio tour is available for extended hours. However, the attraction remains closed on Christmas.
The tour stands closed on 13 and 14 June.
How long does Warner Bros. Studio Tour take?
Warner Bros. Studios Hollywood Tour is a three-hour-long experience.
The Studios Tour’s guided portion lasts two hours, and the self-guided walk-through of ‘Stage 48: Script to Screen’ lasts approximately an hour.
The second (and not so popular) Warner Bros Classics Tour also lasts three hours.
Note: It would be best to arrive at the Tour Center at least 20 minutes before the scheduled time because each guest must pass through a metal detector and show legal photo identification before entering the premises.
Know before your visit
You must know four critical things before booking your Warner Studios tour.
Photo ID Card
All guests 18 years and above must show valid government-issued photo identification for security purposes.
The three types of photo IDs accepted before visitors are allowed to join the Warner Bros Studios Tour are:
- A valid government-issued driver’s license
- A valid passport
- A valid state-issued identity card (acceptable only for US guests)
Smaller kids are not allowed
Only kids eight years and older are allowed to join the studio tour.
Yes, that’s right!
Children under eight can’t join the Warner Brothers studio tour.
An adult must accompany visitors aged 8 to 17 years.
Taking photos and recording videos
Since Warner Bros is a working studio, movie and TV production continue even as you go about your tour.
And since the production unit doesn’t want their secrets out in the open, recording video is NOT permitted.
Even photography is allowed only during certain parts of the tour.
The expert guide keeps the tour participants updated on when it is OK to take photographs.
Tip: The studio’s tour happens on a tram-like vehicle, but portions of the 110-acre backlot tour include walking. We recommend walking shoes/sneakers, loose-fitting clothing, and hats for the tour’s outdoor parts.
Food at Warner Bros Studios
During the first two hours of the guided Warner Bros Studios tour, you can’t stop for a bite because you will be part of a group.
But after that, you are on your own and can stop at any of the three dining options.
Starbucks
A full-service Starbucks in the Tour Welcome Center is open from 8.30 am to 5 pm.
It is a great option if you want to re-energize before the start of your tour.
Central Perk Cafe
Approximately two hours after your studio tour starts, you will reach Stage 48: Script to Screen.
Here, you will find a working replica of the Central Perk Cafe, as seen in the famous sitcom Friends.
Besides excellent coffee, they also offer various Sandwiches, Salads, Pizza, Grilled Cheese, Hot Dogs, etc.
Warner Bros. Studio Plaza cafe
The Studio Plaza Café is open for breakfast and lunch from Monday through Friday.
It opens at 8 am, closes at 2.30 pm, and remains closed on weekends.
Sources
# Wbstudiotour.com
# Wikipedia.org
# Studiooperations.warnerbros.com
# Tripadvisor.com
The travel specialists at TheBetterVacation.com use only high-quality sources while researching & writing their articles. We make every attempt to keep our content current, reliable and trustworthy.
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