Are you a Harry Potter fan? If so, Edinburgh is a place for you! Although the series was not filmed in Edinburgh, JK Rowling lived there when she wrote the Harry Potter series, so she took a lot of inspiration from this historic city. In this post, you’ll discover real-life Harry Potter Edinburgh locations you’re able to visit.
From the cafés where J.K. Rowling penned the early books to the streets and graveyards that inspired Hogwarts characters, Edinburgh is a must-visit for Potter fans. Whether you’re hoping to snap photos of iconic Harry Potter locations, explore attractions with a magical twist, or follow a self-guided Harry Potter tour through the city, this guide will show you the best spots, hidden gems, and practical tips to make your visit unforgettable. Step into the wizarding world and discover Edinburgh through the eyes of a true Potterhead.
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Harry Potter Edinburgh Locations You’ll Want to Visit
Below, I’ll share all you need to know about Harry Potter and Edinburgh. Including the spots that inspired JK Rowling, plus some fun Harry Potter in Edinburgh activities.
We did a Harry Potter Edinburgh walking tour and really enjoyed it. With this post, you’ll be able to do your own self-guided tour if you wish.
The Elephant House Cafe
The Elephant House Cafe is one of the most famous Harry Potter Edinburgh locations and has called itself the place where Harry Potter began. If you’re a big fan, like me, you may know, the idea for Harry Potter came to Rowling on a train ride from Manchester to London.
So Harry Potter didn’t technically begin here, as the sign on the door says. However, when working on the earlier books, Rowling used to sit in here and write.
The toilets have become a shrine to the Harry Potter series, so make sure to check them out!
We visited here for breakfast and the food was really good!
The Balmoral Hotel
The Balmoral Hotel is one of the lesser-known Happry Potter spots in Edinburgh. It is actually the place where Harry Potter was finished. By the time JK Rowling was working on the last books, she was far too famous to sit in a cafe. So she went to the Balmoral Hotel. She planned to stay for a night and ended up being there for about 4 months!
There is even a JK Rowling suite, the exact one she stayed in! This, of course, does come with quite a large price tag!
BOOK YOUR STAY AT THE BALMORAL HOTEL
Edinburgh City Chambers
In 2008, Rowling was awarded the Edinburgh Award for writing the Harry Potter series. Her golden “Hollywood Style” handprints can be found outside to prove it.
You’ll find this place located just off the Royal Mile, and it is free to view!
Victoria Street
This historic street is thought to have been part of the inspiration for Diagon Alley. I loved Victoria Street because it has two levels. You can walk along the street or above it by the row of shops!
It originally had an old broom shop and a joke shop, just like in Harry Potter. The broom shop has rebranded itself as a Harry Potter merchandise shop, and sadly, the joke shop has closed.
I have also done a London Harry Potter walking tour and was shown the inspiration for Diagon Alley there as well. In my opinion, the one in London looked more Diagon Alleyesque, but I do believe she would have taken inspiration from more than one place.
Even if you’re not a Harry Potter fan, this is a beautiful street to check out!
Greyfriar’s Kirkyard
Greyfriar’s Kirkyard is essentially a graveyard. Apparently, Rowling used to walk through this spooky location fairly often, and this is where she found the names of some of the characters. These include Tom Riddle, Moody, and McGonagal.
The Kirkyard is free to enter but, it might take you a while to find the graves if you’re not using a walking tour guide!
Potterrow Port
In my opinion, this is quite an ugly underpass. It is said that Rowling and David Yates visited Scotland, including Edinburgh, to look for location inspiration for the film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Potterrow Port is thought to be the inspiration for the underpass that Harry and Dudley were in when the dementors attacked them. Supposedly, the underpass had to be recreated in the studio as the Scottish weather was too poor to film in.
The fact that it is called Potterrow is thought to be a coincidence!
Edinburgh Castle
The walking tour didn’t feature Edinburgh Castle. But, I don’t think Rowling could have lived in Edinburgh and not taken at least some inspiration from the glorious castle when thinking of Hogwarts. We visited the castle, and it gave me such Hogwarts vibes!
Again, I do believe she will have taken inspiration for Hogwarts from multiple places. Of course, will be her own invention!
Harry Potter Attractions in Edinburgh
I already mentioned we did a Harry Potter walking tour while in Edinburgh. This was great for showing us all the sights that inspired the series.
You can also ride the Hogwarts Express, from Edinburgh to the Scottish Highlands. We didnt do this as you have to be above age five, and we visited with our two-year-old, but this is certainly something that is on my bucket list!
Thank you for reading my post on Harry Potter locations to visit in Edinburgh, Scotland. I hope it has helped you find some interesting places to see on your trip.
Happy Travelling,
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