Harry Potter-Inspired Tour of Edinburgh
The author first conceived the idea of the Harry Potter series in 1990 while waiting for a delayed train from Manchester to London King’s Cross. It took her five years to map out the story progressively and scribble parts of the story. Three years later, Rowling moved to Edinburgh and officially started the book series. Although the author came up with many of the places on her own, one can’t help but see how the city of Edinburgh might have influenced her writing. With the cobblestoned streets, old gothic buildings and mysterious alleys, Edinburgh's chimeric setting must have played a role!
Today many tourist tours profit from the HP franchise’s success, crafting innovative ways to satisfy fans’ wizarding fantasies.
Cafés in which Harry Potter chapters were written
Elephant Castle (Currently closed)
The place where the magic began... The café proudly calls itself 'the birth place' of Harry Potter as J.K. Rowling wrote most of her first book there. It is rumoured that the café's view of the Castle of Edinburgh is the inspiration for Hogwarts' landscape.
Black Medicine Café (formerly known as Nicholson’s)
Locations that look oddly familiar…
Although the author denied being inspired by most of these locations, fans can’t help but think that these places look oddly familiar.
Edinburgh Castle and Princes Street Garden
No one can deny the uncanny resemblance between Hogwarts natural landscape and Edinburgh Castle's.
Victoria Street and Cockburn Street (Old Town)
These streets are known as the 'real-life' Diagon Alleys and we can totally see why. Regardless of whether you are a Potterhead or not, these are some of the prettiest streets in the city and worth the visit.
Potterrow
Many fans can't help but think that this underpass looks a lot like the one in which Harry and his cousin Dudley get attacked by dementor in the 5th film. One can argue that all underpasses sor of look the same but this one is literally called 'Potter' row.
Greyfriars Kirkyard
Just a few steps away from the Elephant House, you'll find the notorious Greyfriars's Kirkyard with toombstones carrying names such as Potter, McGonagall which allegedly inspired J.K. Rowling to find her characters' names. I would argue that this is the most far-fetched HP inspired location as the cemetery mainly carries popular Scottish names and unless the author was a big fan of graveyards, chances are that this is just a coincidence.
Nevertheless, it is still fun to see some of our favourite fictional characters' name appear in real life.
Harry Potter experiences
The Cauldron
An immersive cocktail class in Edinburgh where you don a cloak, wield a working magic wand & use molecular mixology to brew drinkable elixirs.
More information and bookings: https://thecauldron.io/edinburgh
The Alchemist
Located at the entrance of St-James Quarter, the Alchemist is a creative cocktail bar offering mixology classes for a magical (and boozy!) evening. Although the Alchemist is not related to the Harry Potter franchise in anyways, it can still be a part of your wizarding experience in Edinburgh. Also, the logo just screams Deathly Hallows (kind of).
Harry Potter-inspired shops
If you are a sucker for Harry Potter merchandising, these are the stores you need to visit. Keep in mind that there aren't any official merch retailers at the airport of Edinburgh so you might want to get your souvenirs beforehand.
Museum Context: Retailer of Harry Potter Merchandising 42-44 Cockburn St, Edinburgh EH1 1PB
Museum Context: Diagon House 40 Victoria St, Edinburgh EH1 2JW
The Enchanted Galaxy Victoria St, Edinburgh EH1 2JW
Free tours
There are many tours in Edinburgh willing to give Potterheads the full Edinburgh experience at the expense of authenticity. Indeed many tours will make up facts about the author and the franchise to satisfy their audience which is why I would suggest you attend a free tour instead.
Filming Locations - Outside of Edinburgh
The Glenfinnan Viaduct
You can either board the Hogwart Express or capture it crossing the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct from the
The train reportedly runs between April and October, departing from Fort William to Mallaig in the Highlands of Scotland. The 'real-life' Hogwart Express is operated by West Coast Railways and tickets are £52/adult.
For a great photo, be at the Glenfinnan Visitor Centre before 10.45 am or 3.00 pm when the train crosses the viaduct.
Alnwick Castle
https://www.alnwickcastle.com/visit
Alnwick Castle has been used as a setting in many films and television series including Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets.
As the production budget grew, Warner Studios stopped filming on the premises after the second film but some of the iconic scenes of the franchise were filmed there, including Harry Potter's first broomstick flight and Quidditch lesson.
Comments