Warner Brothers Studio Tour Hollywood Review: Is it worth the price tag?
Los Angeles is known as the entertainment capital of the world. We’ve got movies, television, game shows, talk shows, and so much more all filmed here.
Naturally, one of the most unique things to do in Los Angeles is to tour an actual studio and see a behind the scenes of where the magic happens. There are a few options, but one of the best is the Warner Brothers Studio Tour in Burbank, just 10 miles north of Hollywood.
In this Warner Brothers Studio Tour Hollywood review, I’ll share my experience so you know exactly what the tour entails, what you’ll see, how much it costs, and everything else you need to know before visiting.
Summary
🛎️ Where to stay nearby: Hilton Garden Inn ($165+ per night) — great location in Burbank, walkable, easy access to freeway so you can get around
🎢 While you’re in the area: Universal Hollywood theme park — there’s a different studio tour in the theme park
What makes this studio tour special?
I recently visited the Harry Potter Warner Brothers Studio Tour in the UK, which was where the Harry Potter movies were filmed. That studio tour focuses entirely on the Harry Potter franchise and while it was absolutely incredible, the studio tour here in Burbank is very different.
The Warner Brothers Studio Tour Hollywood is an active studio. That means productions are currently being filmed there every day. Not to mention, this studio is historic. It was built in the 1930’s for classic movies and has elements that cannot be found anywhere else – like the Jungle Lagoon!
It’s also a studio for a range of networks and their productions. That means it’s not just known for one thing. It’s been used for shows like Friends, Big Bang Theory, Shameless, Gilmore Girls, Pretty Little Liars, Abbott Elementary, All American, and so many more.
It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime thing to do in Los Angeles and a must to get a glimpse of the city’s role in Hollywood productions!
Where is the Warner Brothers Studio Tour Hollywood?
Much like how the London studio tour is not actually in London, the Hollywood tour is actually in Burbank, not Hollywood.
It’s actually closer to Universal Studios in Universal City, which is where another studio tour is (although you can only access it via the theme park).
How to get to the Studio Tour in Burbank
Car
The easiest way to get there is by car. The Studio Tour is right off the 134 freeway. If traveling westbound, you’ll get off at S Avon St and if traveling eastbound, you get off at Warner Blvd.
Public transit
Public transit is another option depending on where you’re traveling from. For example, from downtown Burbank, you can take the Metro Pink bus line to Olive/Hollywood. From the Hollywood Walk of Fame, you can take bus 222 to Hollywood Way/Alameda.
The trickiest part of public transportation is that it can take a long time, just because of how large the city is.
Review of the Warner Brothers Studio Tour Hollywood
Flow of the Warner Bros Tour
The general flow of the tour is a 1 hour guided portion through the Backlots, which are active sets, then 2 hours of a self-guided tour through some sets, exhibits, and interactive displays.
My Experience
Storytelling Showcase
Before you begin your tour of the backlots, you start at an exhibit called the Storytelling Showcase to learn more about Warner Brothers studios including the founding, iconic movies and television shows that the studio produced, and the legacy that the studio is known for.
I loved seeing all the franchises that Warner Brothers has had a hand in including so many that you probably haven’t thought about like Mars Attacks!, A Clockwork Orange, Gilmore Girls, and more!
There’s an introduction video that will get you totally hyped to start your tour!
Backlot Tram Tour
To tour the backlots, you join a guide on a tram tour. They’ll take you through sets to get a true behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood films. They’ll ask you what TV shows and movies you love so they can be sure to point out fun facts and sets that are relevant, so don’t be shy!
This space is over 110 acres and features 10 backlots where every tour experience is different because filming is actually happening daily. For example, when I visited, we couldn’t film videos of our experience on the backlot, because the TV show All American was filming that day.
You start at the Jungle Lagoon, which is the only existing set of its kind. It was used for filming in Pretty Little Liars, True Blood, and Jurassic Park! They can fill their pond with over 200,000 gallons of water to create a swamp.
You’ll see New York Street, which was originally built for 1930’s gangster films starring Humphrey Bogart among other stars. In modern productions, it was used in A Star is Born, Shameless, and ER.
Right next to this area is the Embassy Courtyard and New York Park. If possible (depending on current filming schedules), you’ll stop here and get out of the tram to take photos with the original fountain from Friends. They have a sculpture version of the iconic orange couch seen in the theme song.
This area is also where the exterior shots are for Abbott Elementary.
You’ll proceed to Warner Village and Midwest Village, aka Stars Hollow. Yepp, that Stars Hollow, from Gilmore Girls! I loved seeing the iconic gazebo, which was also used in Hart of Dixie and Pretty Little Liars. You can see the set used for the entire city including Luke’s Diner, Sookie’s house, and Lorelai and Rory’s house.
Your tram tour will also take you through the maze of soundstages, which are used for filming of talk shows and anything with large interior sets. Be on the lookout for the plaques on the exterior of various buildings that commemorate significant productions filmed there – like Big Bang Theory and Friends.
One thing I love about this studio tour is how different each experience is. On my tour, we went inside the stage of Jennifer Hudson’s talk show. We got to walk on the actual stage, since it wasn’t filming that day.
I also really appreciated all the behind-the-scenes facts and tidbits provided by our tour guide. I loved learning about how they found all the kid extras for Abbott Elementary, how much they transform the same building to give it a different look, and how the same things appear over and over again.
Self-Guided Tour at Stage 48
From Script to Screen
This self-guided part of the tour takes you to Stage 48, a soundstage converted into exhibits. From Script to Screen guides you through the movie making process starting with pre-production. This includes storyboarding to map out the story, casting (spot old headshots of your favorite actors here), and costuming, hairstyling, and makeup.
I loved seeing costumes from my favorite films and especially loved the black and white dresses from My Fair Lady.
Next, you learn about the post-production of a film including special effects, greenscreens, and sound editing, which is one of my favorite parts of how movies are made.
I especially love foley artists. These people create the sounds in movies including ambient background sound and major sounds. Think lightsaber sounds, heels clacking on a floor, different levels of a rainstorm, and everything in between.
You can try your hand at foley artist work and Automatic Dialogue Replacement, where dialogue is re-recorded for better sound.
Friends and Big Bang Theory Sets
Also at Stage 48 are two major sets preserved from their use in their respective independent soundstages on the Warner Brothers backlot – Friends and Big Bang Theory.
You can take photos at each, sitting on the actual couches!
DC and Harry Potter Exhibits
As a proper fangirl, I loved this next section so much (who’s shocked?). To wrap up the tour, you’ll explore costumes, props, behind-the-scenes, and sets from the DC and Harry Potter franchises.
In the DC section, you’ll see the Batmobile, Arkham Asylum gate set, Wonder Woman 1984’s gold winged costume, and so much more!
There’s some great photo ops here so you can insert yourself into the costumes by standing in front of them and using props.
In the Harry Potter section, there are also some super fun photo ops including one where you can attempt to grab a letter to Hogwarts, brew a potion, try on the sorting hat, pop out of Newt Scamander’s trunk, and pull out a mandrake from a pot.
Of course in both of these sections, there’s behind-the-scenes info on everything so you can learn as you interact!
The tour ends in a shop where you’ll find exclusive merch like Loungefly bags, prints, mugs, and more!
Overall, I absolutely loved this studio tour. Not only do you get a true look at actual backlot sets and soundstages, but you get an inside look at places you thought were fictional. There’s something special about seeing something on TV right in front of your eyes! Plus, the exhibits are truly interesting.
A note that the studio tour is meant to be informative, not strictly for entertainment, especially since productions are filming there constantly. Please do not visit expecting a theme park level of entertainment…this is not that.
More FAQs
When to book tickets
The Hollywood Studio Tour does not usually sell out in advance, so you can book your tickets online ahead of time or in person. However, it’s possible that walk up tickets may be limited, so I recommend purchasing them ahead of time, especially during holidays and summer.
Ticket types and cost
There are a few ticket types:
- General admission ($73): 1 hour guided tour of Backlot + ~2 hours self-guided exploration of Stage 48
- TCM Classic Films tour ($95): 3.5 hours of guided and self-guided experiences including access to unique areas of the backlot featured in classic movies
- Studio Tour Plus ($160): 2 hours guided tour of the Backlot + ~2 hours self-guided, pre-tour lounge access, lunch at Central Perk Cafe
- Deluxe Tour ($330): Studio Tour Plus experience plus additional hour of Backlot tour time, fine dining lunch, and snack at Central Perk Cafe (instead of lunch as in Studio Tour Plus)
Parking at the Studio Tour
There is a parking garage for visitors, which you can access at this address:
3400 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505
Parking costs $15 per vehicle.
One insider tip that was shared with me from a guide is that the best view of the entire studio is from the top story of the parking garage! Take a minute to see it before leave!
Places to eat at the Hollywood Studio Tour
In the lobby before starting your tour (or at the end), there’s a Starbucks on site.
The main place to eat though is the Central Perk Café at Studio 48. They have a full New York inspired menu with pizza, hot dogs, hot and cold sandwiches, and Friends inspired drinks and desserts including Rachel’s Thanksgiving trifle (free of meat).
Is the tour self-guided or on your own?
No matter which version of the tour your book, there are guided and self-guided portions.
How long does the tour take
The general tour lasts about 2-3 hours where the guided portion is one hour. The self-guided portion usually takes about 1-2 hours, depending on how in depth you go.
If you opt for the other longer tours, see the above section for details on the timing.
Where to stay nearby
Burbank is actually a great place to stay when visiting Los Angeles. It has a vibrant dining and shopping scene with beautiful rolling hills with scenic drives, hikes, and mountaintop bars.
I’d go with the Hilton Garden Inn. It’s in a good walkable area and away from the Burbank airport, so you can avoid the loud planes.
Bathrooms at the Backlots
One note before I wrap this up is that before you go on the Backlot tram tour, there are no bathrooms available. You’ll need to be bathroom-free for the hour, so go ahead of time and take note if you have kids or disabilities that require proximity to a restroom.
So, is it worth the price tag?
Yes, I definitely think it is, at least once in your life! Not only can you step behind-the-scenes to one of the most iconic studios in Hollywood, but it’s a solid half-day activity or longer if you really take your time.
I don’t disagree that the $73 price tag is hefty (especially once you add in the $15 parking charge), but to see real, active sets is something you can really only do in Los Angeles. It’s magical to step foot on these backlots, within the soundstages, and within inches of real Hollywood artfacts.
If you’re looking for more of an entertainment factor and less educational, you can always opt for Universal Studios, where they have the tram backlot tour as a ride. It takes you through some sets where you can learn a bit, then spend the rest of your time at the theme park.
Spending more time in Los Angeles? Read these:
- How to spend 5 days in Los Angeles
- How to spend only 1 day in Los Angeles
- Los Angeles budget travel guide
- What to do in Universal CityWalk Hollywood
- Top Instagrammable places in Los Angeles
- Guide to Griffith Observatory (just 15 minutes from the Studio Tour)
- How to tour the oldest home in Los Angeles
- Guide to Grand Central Market in DTLA
- Visitors guide to the Aquarium of the Pacific
- Disneyland in a day itinerary
- Disneyland Park versus Disney’s California Adventure
- Best beaches in Los Angeles
- 25 Los Angeles museums to add to your bucket list
- Most beautiful gardens in Los Angeles
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- Booking.com – This is my favorite hotel search aggregator, specifically for reading reviews. On Booking.com, the reviews can be searched for keywords like WiFi, breakfast, pool, amenities, etc.! So helpful!
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- Staycation Idea – Check out Resort Pass, which gives you day passes to resorts so you can use their pool, spa, and fitness center, a great staycation idea!
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