A Harry Potter Edinburgh Guide | 10 Must-Visit Spots

See my Harry Potter Edinburgh guide to reveal all the must-visit Harry Potter locations and attractions. Bring the magical world to life with creepy graveyards, imposing castles, colorful Harry Potter shops, streets that inspired Diagon Alley, potions cocktail classes, and more! Coming from a fellow (slightly obsessed) HP fan, I'll make sure you see all the top spots!

Edinburgh is a dream come true for any Harry Potter fan. It brings the wizarding world to life. Scotland's capital is actually one of my favorite cities to visit with its historic look, cobblestoned streets, charm, friendly locals, and the obvious Harry Potter ties. 

J.K. Rowling wrote the majority of the series while living in Edinburgh and confirmed that this city provided inspiration for many aspects of the books.

The moment you arrive and begin to wander, you'll immediately begin to see the similarities between Edinburgh and the fictional world of Harry Potter. 

Get in touch with your inner witch or wizard and follow my Harry Potter Edinburgh guide for all the must-visit sights!

This map shows everything listed in this Edinburgh Harry Potter Guide. Click the icon in the very top left to see a list view of each pinned location. Click the top right button to enlarge the map. Click the star to save to your own Google Maps account. To access this map once saved (after clicking the star), open Google Maps (on your phone/computer/tablet), click the menu button, go to "your places", select "maps", and you will see this map listed.

• Black - Harry Potter locations in Edinburgh
• Purple - bars and experiences

Harry Potter EDINBURGH Guide | 10 Must-Visit Locations

1. Victoria Street and Candlemaker Row – Diagon Alley

This is one of my favorite Harry Potter locations in Edinburgh. Several streets (most notably the split-level Victoria Street and Candlemaker Row) are believed to have inspired Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade.

The cobblestoned streets, colorful and narrow buildings, and pointed rooftops will have any HP fan reminiscing about these famous wizard shopping areas.

Additional Edinburgh blog posts:

WHERE TO STAY IN EDINBURGH | TOP AREAS + HOTELS

BEST COFFEE SHOPS IN EDINBURGH | TOP 7

BEST AFTERNOON TEA IN EDINBURGH | TOP 5

2. Greyfriars Kirkyard

This Harry Potter location in Edinburgh inspired multiple aspects of the books and movies: the names of several characters and the graveyard of Godric’s Hollow.

Take time to wander and read the names on the gravestones. Many of them are characters in the Harry Potter series. It’s not hard to imagine J.K. Rowling walking here and finding inspiration for unique names. 

At the entrance of the graveyard, several Potters are listed on the Giles grave.

Further into the graveyard, on Flodden Wall, you will find the grave markers of William McGonagall (Professor McGonagall), Elizabeth Moodie (Mad-Eye Moody), and Margaret Louisa Scrymgeour Wedderburn (Rufus Scrimgeour, Minister of Magic).

The most popular grave marker on Flodden Wall lists the name Thomas Riddle.

3. George Heriot’s School

You can gaze upon another inspirational building for Hogwarts from behind iron gates in Greyfriars Kirkyard.

George Heriot’s School is located just outside the walls of the cemetery. It has many similarities to the Hogwarts school system including being a co-ed secondary school, having four schoolhouses, four towers, and castle-like architecture.

Gaze upon this Harry Potter Edinburgh sight and imagine what it would be like to attend a real-life Hogwarts!

4. Edinburgh University - Futures Institute Building

Directly across from George Heriot’s School is another Harry Potter location serving as inspiration for the look of Hogwarts Castle.

Pay special attention to the turrets and cone-shaped rooftops adorned with little windows. You'll immediately spot similarities between the Edinburgh Futures Institute Building and Hogwarts.

J.K. Rowling often walked down this street (Lauriston Place) and past this building. Hence why it would make sense that its architecture was engraved in her memory.

5. The Elephant House Cafe

The original Elephant House is (still) closed for renovations after a fire. Luckily, a second location recently opened on Victoria Street. It's unknown when the original location will reopen.

The Elephant House Cafe served as a home base for J.K. Rowling while writing many of the books.

Once you step inside and sit at one of the tables in the back room, it’s easy to see why Rowling came here so often. The views of Edinburgh Castle from the cafe’s windows are quite magical. 

Be sure to visit the restroom as fellow HP fans have written messages and love notes over every inch of wall space to J.K. Rowling and HP characters.

The Elephant House Cafe recently opened a second location on Victoria Street. While J.K. Rowling obviously never wrote here, they do have the desk and elephant-shaped chair she used from the original location.

It makes for a fun stop with views overlooking colorful Victoria Street, and an old-world/castle feel inside.

My readers with a sweet tooth will want to try the Butterbeer.

6. Edinburgh Castle

It’s said that Edinburgh Castle is one of several castles that served as inspiration for Hogwarts.

The fact that J.K. Rowling had a perfect view of the castle from the windows of The Elephant House breathes some truth into this rumor.

Additional UK blog posts:

UK ITINERARY | 10 DAYS IN LONDON, YORK, EDINBURGH

WHAT TO DO IN YORK | TOP 10 TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

4 DAY ITINERARY FOR LONDON | TOP SIGHTS FOR FIRST-TIMERS

7. Potterrow Port and Potterrow Street

Potterrow Street is by the University of Edinburgh (where J.K. Rowling taught) and is rumored to have inspired Harry’s last name. The other hearsay is that J.K. Rowling's childhood friend had the last name Potter. One may be true or both.

Check out Potterrow Port (located below Potterrow Street) and you'll find a scene that looks almost identical to when Harry and Dudley are running away from the dementors in the 5th movie.

8. The Balmoral Hotel

Room 552 (now called the Rowling Suite) on the 11th floor of the Balmoral Hotel is where Rowling completed Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. She stayed at this 5-star hotel to concentrate and finish the series with no distractions.

Another mark of fame to room 552 is the marble bust of Hermes where Rowling wrote “JK Rowling finished writing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in this room (552) on 11th Jan 2007”. 

9. Museum Context

Museum Context is one of the best Harry Potter shops Edinburgh has to offer. If you're looking for a gift (or ten) for your HP friends back home, you'll have plenty to choose from.

This Harry Potter Edinburgh shop not only carries a wide selection of Harry Potter products but also goes above and beyond decorating in true Potter style. It makes for a fun visit even if you don't have any room in your suitcase.

10. J.K. Rowling's Handprints

Shortly after J.K. Rowling completed the Harry Potter series she was awarded the Edinburgh Award. You can find her handprints along with other winners of the award just off the Royal Mile in front of the Edinburgh City Chambers.

Extra: Bars - The Department of Magic, The Cauldron, Pop Up Geeks

The Department of Magic offers Wizarding Escape Rooms, a Magic Potions Tavern, and Enchanting Afternoon Tea. I'd skip the tea as the food is just OK and go for the potions-making class. They have options for alcoholic, non-alcoholic, and kid-friendly. I prefer The Department of Magic to The Cauldron...it's better executed in my opinion. 

The Cauldron is another "potions class" experience where you brew up cocktails. A magical afternoon tea experience is also available, though I don't recommend it as the food was very poor and there are MUCH better places to enjoy afternoon tea.

Cocktail Geeks (formerly Pop Up Geeks) changes the theme of their bar every month or so and sometimes they do a Harry Potter theme. Definitely check their website to see what theme they're offering during your visit. 

Extra: The Jacobite Steam Train - Hogwarts Express and Glenfinnan Viaduct

The Jacobite Steam Train is the only Harry Potter experience listed that is not located in Edinburgh (departs from Fort William). It’s a great trip for diehard Harry Potter fans.

The train and parts of its route (including the Glenfinnan Viaduct pictured above) were used in the films.

Since the train and route are still in service, HP fans can not only ride the real-life Hogwarts Express but also see the scenery we all know so well from the movies.

AwA Tip: if you don't plan on visiting Fort William, there is a tour that departs from Edinburgh, takes you to Fort William, arranges the train ride, visits the Glenfinnan Viaduct, and brings you back to Edinburgh. I did this tour in 2022.

The highlight of the train ride was going over the Glenfinnan Viaduct. And yes, the views are gorgeous during the entire train ride, but you also get wonderful views to and from Fort William and Glencoe during the bus portion of the trip.

In all honesty, the actual train ride, while fun, didn't quite live up to expectations. The carriages looked and felt "tired". 

If you're OK skipping the train portion, I would book this Glenfinnan, Glencoe, Fort William tour. You get to see some gorgeous Harry Potter filming sites, including the Glenfinnan Viaduct, but skip the train ride. While it's not guaranteed, this tour tries to time your visit to Glenfinnan at the same time the train crosses over the viaduct.

Skip the work and join a Harry Potter tour

Have an expert guide you through these Harry Potter Edinburgh locations with an HP tour!

I recently did this Harry Potter and Edinburgh History Tour and loved it. It catered to all ages and included history tidbits of Edinburgh. This made it enjoyable for both witches, wizards, and muggles (non-HP fans).

The Potter Trail is a good private tour and focuses primarily on Harry Potter.

Serious fans (as in you've read the books multiple times) should consider this 4.5-hour JK Rowling’s Edinburgh & the Writing of Harry Potter tour. It gives an in-depth look at the inspiration behind Harry Potter and JK Rowling's life in Edinburgh, 

In Summary

I hope this post helps plan your time in Edinburgh and brings the magical world to life. These are the 10 must-visit Harry Potter locations and attractions. Spooky graveyards, colorful streets, potions-making classes, medieval castles...even the muggles in your group are sure to have a blast exploring these sights.

SHARE THE LOVE AND SAVE THIS POST ON PINTEREST! 

A Harry Potter Edinburgh Guide | 10 Must-Visit Locations