Alohomora! (IYKYK)
I LOVE all things Harry Potter, so of course when I visited the place that inspired its author, I knew I had to see it all. Unlock these fun and free Harry Potter sights and activities the next time you venture up north to the beautiful city of Edinburgh!
Harry Potter walking tour
Starting your visit with The Potter Trail is the move if you’re looking for Harry Potter sites! This free tour is guided by Harry Potter enthusiasts who share their love of the franchise and Potter lore with visitors.
There’s currently three tours a day and you can easily sign up on their website. They have paid private tours as well, but the free one still hit all the major highlights. We started at the Greyfriars Bobby statue, then walked to the graveyard where J.K. Rowling was inspired for several of her characters’ names. After that we hit a few other sights, including the school that inspired the Hogwarts House system, then concluded the tour at Victoria Street.
The best part about this tour was how knowledgeable the guides are. They know so much about J.K. Rowling’s biography and her writing process for Harry Potter, so they have great recommendations for sites that either aren’t covered in the tour or are only briefly passed, such as the Elephant House, which I’ll talk more about later on.
Victoria Street
Want to see the street that inspired Diagon Alley? Thanks to The Potter Trail, it’s very easy to find and totally free to explore. They end your tour on Victoria Street, so you have the rest of your day to explore the unique shops and restaurants in the area! Not only is it windy and colorful, but it also houses stores very similar to the ones featured in the beloved Diagon Alley. There’s, of course, a Harry Potter store that’s worth checking out too.
Sadly, one of my favorites, the Aha Ha Ha joke shop, closed recently. But, as you’ve probably guessed, this joke shop seems eerily familiar to one Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes joke shop in Diagon Alley.
The Elephant house
The Potter Trail also passes by the Elephant House, but I definitely recommend circling back there for a meal if your goal is to hit all the J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter spots. According to local legend, J.K. Rowling would sit in the Elephant Room in a spot that had a good view of Edinburgh Castle. While she wrote Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, it was supposedly her inspiration for the architecture of Hogwarts.
Now, as a disclaimer, it is also said that J.K. Rowling was a patron of several coffee shops and restaurants in the area. You could probably pop into any nearby shops and find mementos of her time there as well. I think it adds a layer to the fun though to search for those!
The reason I recommend the Elephant House, though, is this unique (and free!) easter egg: a toilet marked with: “This way to the Ministry” above it. For the big Harry Potter fans out there, you know exactly what that’s referring to! *wink wink*
Edinburgh Castle
The last, but certainly not least, site to visit is Edinburgh Castle! As I already mentioned, this Castle was J.K. Rowling’s inspiration for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It’s also the crescendo of historical sites in Edinburgh and an absolute must-see. You really can’t do Edinburgh and NOT stop to see the Castle.
Now, I must admit, touring the castle isn’t “free”, but you are also welcome to view it from outside at no cost. There’s a long line of shops in an area right outside the Castle called “The Royal Mile” where you can still snag great photos.
However, if you did wish to spend a little money for the entrance, here’s the deal: there are a variety of guided tours for you to do, but the basic ticket prices for an adult is typically between £15.50 – £19.50 and between £9.00 – £11.40 for children. You can also sign up for an afternoon tea experience, which also includes the cost of your entry ticket. The afternoon tea ticket is £50 or £55 for adults, depending on which drink you choose to get, and £22.50 for children.
I did the basic ticket myself when I visited and had a wonderful time. It’s not a very costly experience, so I still recommend trying to work it into your schedule if you can. But again, you can walk up SUPER close to the Castle without having to pay a dime. Here’s a shot of that view so you can see for yourself how close the Royal Mile is to the Castle:
Stay tuned for my next article, where we explore the literary sites to see in Oxford (which also includes another Harry Potter site)!
Have you been to Edinburgh? What are your favorite Harry Potter things to do around the city?
