Which Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone recording should you buy?
The newest and most-asked version of this question. There are now two full Harry Potters on the UK store at almost exactly the same length, and they are completely different propositions.
J.K. Rowling · 2 recordings on Audible UK
Short answer
If you have never heard it, Stephen Fry — it is the recording a generation of British listeners grew up with and he reads all seven. The full-cast edition is genuinely excellent and worth having second, especially on a re-listen, but it is an ensemble production rather than someone reading you a book.
Every recording, compared
| Narrator | Length | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Fry Our pick | 8 hrs 25 mins | Unabridged | The long-standing UK reading. Fry narrates the complete series, so you can carry one voice all the way through. |
| Full cast — Hugh Laurie, Matthew Macfadyen, Riz Ahmed, Cush Jumbo, Michelle Gomez, Indira Varma and others | 8 hrs 41 mins | Full-cast edition | Note the length: this is not an abridgement. It is the whole book with a large cast and sound design — a different experience at the same scale. |