Introducing; A Self Guided Harry Potter Tour of Edinburgh.
- Duration: 2 Hours
- Difficulty: Moderate (some stairs, but all paved walkways)
- Cost: Free!
I’ve lived in Edinburgh my whole life and I’ve been a Harry Potter fan for just about as long. So it’s surprising that its taken me this long to write a self-guided Harry Potter tour of Edinburgh.
As I walked around the city recently, I realised that Potter-mania isn’t slowing down any time soon. There are more shops, cafe’s and Harry Potter inspired Edinburgh “landmarks” now than there was when the books or films were released.
Part of me cringes at how many people have cashed-in on the fact the Harry Potter books were written by a local and inspired by Edinburgh. And part of me kind of loves that something so globally loved comes from my hometown.
So, if you’re headed to Edinburgh any time soon, now you can get a piece of Potter Mania too!
I’ve put together a free Harry Potter trail through Edinburgh. Now you can walk it yourself without being restricted to a tour group’s walking pace, or the tourist-prices that come along with it.
Now lace up your boots, or hop on your brooms and check out this Self Guided Harry Potter Tour of Edinburgh.
- Starting Point: The Balmoral 1 Princes St, Edinburgh EH2 2EQ
The Balmoral
1 Princes St, Edinburgh EH2 2EQ
The Balmoral is a great place to start this self-guided Harry Potter walking tour. It’s right in the city centre, beside the main train station (Waverley) and on the main shopping strip (Princes Street).
The Balmoral is where J K Rowling finished her final books. She booked out a suite in 2007 to complete the series. Since then, her room has been transformed into the “J K Rowling suite“. And for a small £1600 per night, you can stay there too!
However, if this falls a little outside your budget, snap some pics of the gorgeous building from the outside, then head on your way…
Cockburn St
Self guided Harry Potter walking tour directions
- Walk west on Princes St towards W Register St
0.1 mi - Turn left onto Waverley Bridge
0.1 mi - At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Cockburn St
404 ft
Cockburn street looks like it fell straight from the pages of the Wizarding World. Twisty streets, tall buildings, curious store fronts. The number one spot on this street to check out on your Edinburgh walking tour is Museum Context.
Selling both Officially Licensed Harry Potter products and a wide array of other curious gadgets and nik-naks. This is certainly one way to recreate the Diagonal Alley shopping experience.
Museum Context has a second store which you’ll pass later in the tour. So you may wish to browse now and buy later to avoid carrying too many bags around with you.
City Chambers
253 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1YJ
Self guided Harry Potter walking tour directions
- Walk east on Cockburn St towards Anchor Cl
- Turn right onto Anchor Cl
- Take the stairs
- Turn right onto High St
- Destination will be on the right
The City Chambers in Edinburgh is a working building for Edinburgh Council. It is also home to the Golden Hands of JK Rowling in its front courtyard.
The Golden Hands walkway is an ode to the Hollywood Walk of Fame stars. But instead, this one honours famous and successful Scots by memorialising their hand prints in gold in the slabs.
Diagon Alley (Victoria St)
Self guided Harry Potter walking tour directions
- Walk west on High St towards Writers’ Ct
- Continue onto Lawnmarket
- Turn left onto George IV Bridge
- Turn right onto Victoria St
As close to Diagon Alley as you’ll ever be (unless you’re actually a wizard that is). Victoria Street in Edinburgh is arguably one of the most picturesque places in Edinburgh too. This winding, cobbled street with its colourful store fronts is a must see. Take a stroll down Victoria Street, snapping some pictures and browising the curoous artifacts for sale in many stores.
Check out the second branch of Museum Context. Or pick yourself up some magic tricks at the Ah Ha Joke shop, claimed to be inspiration for JK Rowling’s Zonko’s joke shop.
Greyfriar’s Kirk
Self guided Harry Potter walking tour directions
- Walk north-west on Candlemaker Row
- Enter Greyfriar’s Kirk just past the Roundabout (on the right)
What self-guided Harry Potter Tour of Edinburgh would be complete without a visit to the famous graveyard?
The Greyfriar’s graveyard is home to a number of tomb stones made famous by JK Rowling. It fascinates me to think about who these people were in real life, and to imagine your name becoming famous centuries after you’ve died.
Among the most “famous” names in the graveyard are Tom Riddle and McGonagle.
Directions To Tom Riddle’s Tomb
- Follow path up through graveyard and pass through Flodden Wall’s archway on your right.
- Walk back down the hill once on the other side of the wall
- Riddle’s grave is at the bottom corner.
Directions To Mcgonagle’s Grave
- From Riddle’s tomb, follow the wall back up the hill.
- At the top of the hill, take a right.
- Walk along the top path, until you reach a gate.
Hogwarts (George Heriot’s)
While at McGonagle’s grave, take a peep through the gates for the best view of the school that inspired Hogwarts. George Heriots School is a working private co-ed school in Edinburgh. Like Hogwarts, they have 4 houses (although not Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin and Hufflepuff!)
You can peep a view of the front of the school by walking around to Lauriston Place.
The Elephant House Cafe
21 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EN
Self guided Harry Potter walking tour directions
- Exit the graveyard by walking past the Kirk (church)
- Turn left onto Greyfriars
- Turn left onto George IV Bridge
After all this walking, it’s about time you treat yourself to a rest, some food and (unless you visited on the one sunny day of the year) so warmth! What better place to refuel of your Harry Potter Tour of Edinburgh than the place where it all began?
There are a number of cafe’s in Edinburgh that claim to be spots where JK Rowling penned her early books. It makes, since most of us visit more than one cafe in the city. However, it’s fairly undisputed that Joanne spent a decent amount of her early writing career in this cosy cafe. If you’re lucky enough to get a table through the back, the views of Edinburgh castle and rooftops are enough to inspire you to pick up a pen immediately.
I love the Elephant House Cafe for not completely losing it’s original style, despite the mass popularity it has received. There is a spot at the front where you can pick up some potter memorabilia. However, the majority of the decor is still unchanged and Elephant-inspired.
National Museum of Scotland
Chambers St, Edinburgh EH1 1JF
Self guided Harry Potter walking tour directions
- Walk south on George IV Bridge towards Chambers St
- Turn left onto Chambers St
- Destination will be on the right
The National Museum of Scotland is an excellent (FREE!) place to spend hours on any trip to Edinburgh. However, for the purposes of the Self Guided Harry Potter Tour of Edinburgh, you should pop in to see one particular cabinet.
The medieval chess pieces from the Scottish island of Lewis. The chess pieces date back to Late 12th – early 13th century and look like they’re straight out of the Chamber of Secrets. Claimed to be inspiration for Wizarding chess, and you can see why, these artefacts are a fun look back in time to ancient Scottish History.
According to the museum website they are currently on display in the Kingdom of the Scots, Level 1.
The Department Of Magic
9 Blair St, Edinburgh EH1 1QR
Self guided Harry Potter walking tour directions
- Walk east on Chambers St towards W College St
- Turn left onto Guthrie St
- Turn right onto Hastie’s Cl
- Take the stairs
- Turn right onto Cowgate
- Turn left onto Blair St
- Destination will be on the left
The final stop on your Harry Potter walking tour of Edinburgh is a full activity in itself. The Department Of Magic is a bar and escape room experience.
If you have time during your trip to Edinburgh, make a reservation for an escape room challenge to conclude your walking tour. The Department Of Magic have 2 (unofficially) Harry Potter themed Escape Rooms; Prophecies Quest and Dark Lord Resurrection. Both take around an hour and involve solving a number of clues and puzzles to find prophecies or battle the Dark Lord.
If you’re a little more pushed for time, check out their Potion Making bar. The cocktail menu is one of a kind! Each drink comes with a parchment “recipe” and requires you to brew the potion before you sit back, relax and enjoy your well earned drink.
Check out the Department of Magic website to book spaces for the Escape Rooms or a table for Potions Making.
And this it! You’ve made it to the end of your Self Guided Harry Potter Tour of Edinburgh! I hope you loved it. Please drop me a message if you completed it or have ideas of how to make it even better!
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