Must-See Harry Potter Attractions in Edinburgh
Discover the Best Harry Potter Locations and Attractions in Edinburgh
It is probably no mystery to the people that know me well that I love Harry Potter. I think I have probably read the entire series upwards of four times — something even I find surprising to look back on. The magic woven through the books, is something that people only readers can understand. That is not to discredit the movies though, I still love them and even recently made my boyfriend watch the series with me (a feat that did not come without complaint).
Edinburgh is often thought of as the birthplace of Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling wrote much of the series in this city, often in various cafés and hotels. The architecture and atmosphere of Edinburgh are said to have inspired many of the places in the books, which is not hard to believe after spending time here.
Read along to see some of the Harry Potter themed highlights I saw during my time in Edinburgh and a few spots I wish I got to see!
The Night Bus
Jordan and I started off our day catching the bus into Edinburgh town, which felt like the night bus from the movies, the only thing missing was the animated head. The bus constantly lurched every which way, standing on one of these buses is a feat that I have not yet mastered. Jordan and I exited the bus at the Potterrow stop, which felt very on the nose considering what our plans were for the day.
Victoria Street
Victoria Street is said to be the inspiration for Diagon Alley, with its winding road, the colorful shops and mismatched rooftops. It’s not too hard to see the resemblance to Diagon Alley, although to me a lot of streets in the UK have looked straight out of Harry Potter, especially shambles street in York.
Nonetheless, the street was absolutely stunning and worth checking out!
Museum Context
Nestled on Victoria Street is the Museum Context, a Harry Potter themed shop thats less of a museum but so fun to walk around. This multi-story shop is filled with wands, house-themed merchandise, and other magical trinkets. Plus on the top floor there is a desk and a sorting hat that you can take a picture with to pretend you’re a student at Hogwarts!
Butterbeer at Elephant House
Jordan and I actually walked past the original Elephant House on George IV Road, and it was closed until further notice due to a fire in the building! It was quite sad, because not only is this one of the places that JK Rowling wrote books, but Alexander McCall Smith was also a well known patron.
After the fire, they opened a second location on Victoria Street right next to Museum Context, so after we had finished in the shop, we headed over to the cafe for a bite to eat! Jordan and I got a cheese platter and a glass of their house butter beer spiked with a shot of whiskey which was delicious.
Even though this place has been open a short while, it is good to see that it carries the tradition of the Harry Potter graffiti in the bathroom.
Tom Riddle’s Grave
A short walk from Victoria Street is the Greyfriar’s Kirkyard, a historic graveyard that holds a special place in the hearts of Harry Potter fans. Here, you can find many tombstones with familiar names. Most notable, attracting many visitors, is the grave of Thomas Esquire Riddell and his son Thomas Riddell. Although spelled differently, the name is eerily familiar to the dark lord’s.
There graveyard also features other names that may ring a bell including George McGonnagal and Elizabeth Moodie, which may have given Rowling inspiration for some of her characters.
Here is a pin for where Riddell’s gravestone is, it can be quite hard to find if you dont know where you’re going. The cemetery itself is beautiful and atmospheric, making it worth a visit even if you aren’t hunting for Harry Potter names.
George Heriot’s School
Right beside the Greyfriar’s Kirkyard is George Heriot’s School, a beautiful building that bears a resemblance to Hogwarts. While you can’t explore the grounds (it’s still an active school), you can catch a glimpse of it through the gates on Lauriston Place. The connection to Harry Potter doesn’t stop at the architecture—the school has four houses, and students compete for a house cup, just like at Hogwarts!
JK Rowling’s Handprints
At the city chambers you can find handprints of JK Rowling, and many others who received the Edinburgh Award for their contribution to the city.
Chess pieces at National Museum of Scotland
Fans of the Harry Potter movies will love the Lewis Chessman at the National Museum of Scotland. These ancient chess pieces bear an uncanny resemblance to the Wizard Chess pieces in the movie. While they’re not officially connected to the series, it is cool to see the resemblance in person.
Edinburgh Castle
Although not explicitly Harry Potter related, the castle on the hill is an imposing characteristic of the city that can be seen almost everywhere in the city. In my opinion it could definitely be part of Hogwarts, even Rowling said “I’ve come to live in the shadows of what could be a lot like Hogwarts, except Hogwarts has a lake.”
The Writer’s Museum
The writer’s museum does not have anything that is explicitly Harry Potter related, but if you’re a fan of literature it is worth visiting. I really enjoyed learning about Robert Louis Stevenson while at the museum having just read Treasure Island and am perpetually reading the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Rowling was even featured as a temporary exhibit at one point.
We had a great day walking around and seeing all of the Harry Potter attractions here. Edinburgh is such a beautiful city and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to stay here for two whole weeks! Even if you’re not coming for the Harry Potter attractions, Edinburgh should be on your list of places to visit!
xx abby