As a Potterhead since the year 2000, visiting Scotland, specifically Edinburgh, meant only one thing for me. It meant I finally get to track down the places where the magic was born. These spots aren’t Harry Potter film shooting locations. Instead, they are deeply woven into the creation of the books, characters, and settings by J.K. Rowling.
Back in December 2022, traveling with my mom, aunt, and Marcus, none of whom could really relate to my obsession, I managed to pull off a stealthy Harry Potter walking tour. They had no idea we were actually following a themed trail. Because Edinburgh is walkable, we covered a lot of ground in about two hours, though you could easily pace it down to around 90 minutes. I’m quite sure our route was an easy one, and since the places we went to can easily pass off as just naturally beautiful spots, my mom and aunt, who had actually visited Edinburgh in the past, had no idea they were looking at Harry Potter landmarks the whole time I was leading them around.
If you want to retrace our footsteps (and eventually extend the journey down to London), here is the self-guided itinerary complete with the little anecdotes from our trip.
Part 1: The Edinburgh Old Town Wizarding Route
If you prefer to explore at your own pace, you can map out a wonderful 1.5 to 2-hour walking route through the Old Town covering these iconic spots:
The Balmoral Hotel (1 Princes St, Edinburgh EH2 2EQ, UK)
The Stop: Start your walk here at the luxury clock-tower hotel. In Room 552 (now officially named the J.K. Rowling Suite), Rowling finished writing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 2007. You can still see the marble bust she signed inside.
My Anecdote: I actually dropped by The Balmoral just to look at the exterior facade the day after our main walk, so it wasn’t even technically part of our initial two-hour tour. Standing there looking up, I just kept thinking, for the life of God, I never in my whole life thought I’d actually be standing here.
Cockburn Street & Museum Context (42-44 Cockburn St, Edinburgh EH1 1PB, UK)
The Stop: Coming straight from The Balmoral Hotel, Cockburn Street is the absolute best place to dive in first since it branches off right around the corner. Walking down it feels like you’ve tumbled right into the pages of the Wizarding World. It’s full of those steep, twisting curves, towering historic buildings, and eccentric storefronts.
Tucked right here is the first location of Museum Context, packed with officially licensed merchandise, bizarre little gadgets, and endless knick-knacks to recreate that Diagon Alley shopping rush.
My Anecdote: I WANT TO SHOP.
Note: As of 2026, Museum Context in Cockburn is permanently closed. You may visit their shop at Victoria Street. It’s still a must to drop by Cockburn for the feels.
Edinburgh City Chambers (Royal Mile, 253 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1YJ, UK)
The Stop: If you look at the flagstones near the City Chambers, you can spot J.K. Rowling’s handprints embedded in stone, similar to a Hollywood Walk of Fame star, commemorating her receiving the Edinburgh Award.
Victoria Street aka Diagon Alley
The Stop: Next, head over to Victoria Street. This sweeping, multi-tiered, curved street lined with brightly painted storefronts is famously believed to have inspired Diagon Alley. And guess what? There’s another amazing multi-floor Museum Context location right here packed with wand displays and wizarding trinkets.
My Anecdote: This I was really in awe and feeling every bit of a Muggle walking around Diagon Alley.
The Elephant House(George IV Bridge)
The Stop:
The Elephant House famously marketed itself as the “birthplace of Harry Potter” where Rowling wrote early chapters (though she has clarified she wrote all over the city, she did write there frequently).
My Anecdote: Too bad it was closed when we came by during our trip—I really wanted to sit down where J.K. Rowling used to write or at least try the food, since I’d heard it was so good! (Turns out it suffered a massive fire back in 2021, though thankfully it has since been restored and reopened). Even just peering at the exterior was a surreal moment, though.
Located right opposite the Elephant House, this themed bar features potion-style drink menus. Its name honors William McGonagall, a 19th-century local dubbed “the worst poet in history,” whose surname inspired Professor McGonagall.
Greyfriars Kirk Yard (Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place, Edinburgh, EH1 2QQ)
The Stop: Wander through this historic, atmospheric graveyard. For any fan, this is a treasure trove of character name origins. Keep an eye out for the actual headstones of Thomas Riddell (Lord Voldemort), McGonagall, Moodie, and Potter.
To find Thomas Riddell’s grave, enter through the main gates from Candlemaker Row and walk straight ahead toward the church building. As you approach the church on your right, look against the exterior wall/foundation of the church itself. You will find the grave marker for Thomas Riddell and his son (who both inspired the Dark Lord’s name).
My Anecdote: My family actually was wondering why on earth we were heading into a graveyard, definitely not a common tourist spot, right? Although it turned out totally fine because while I was secretly geeking out over character name origins, they also got to meet the famous local dog, Greyfriars Bobby!
From Tom Riddle’s grave, continue walking around the church and head toward the stone archway that leads through the historic Flodden Wall into the rear section of the kirkyard. Pass through the archway, turn right, and follow the path along the wall. McGonagall’s flat stone marker is set into the ground/wall area in this section, alongside other notable graves like Elizabeth Moodie and the Potter family.
George Heriot’s School(Lauriston Pl, Edinburgh EH3 9EQ, UK)
The Stop: Overlooking from inside the graveyard, this striking 17th-century school features four towers and a traditional house system. It is heavily rumored to be the visual inspiration behind Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. (Note: It’s an active school, so you can admire it best from just outside the gates.)
Part 2: Extending the Magic to London
If you are coming down from Scotland, your journey naturally has to cross into London to check out a few major landmarks. Our London stops weren’t completely exhaustive either, but they definitely hit the heavy hitters:
King’s Cross Station
Of course, you have to go to King’s Cross to take a picture by the Platform 9 and 3/4 photo op (just note it’s a dedicated tourist spot rather than the actual archway used in the films).
Look down at the floor near the station shops to find a Walk of Fame-style stone commemorating where Harry Potter was shot, and make sure to stop by The Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9 3/4 for some merch.
Leicester Square:
Hidden right in the middle of the square as part of the “Scenes in the Square” trail, you’ll find a fantastic life-size bronze statue of Harry Potter riding his Nimbus 2000. It’s a brilliant nod to the franchise, especially since the first film had its world premiere right there.
Millennium Bridge:
Take a stroll across this sleek pedestrian suspension bridge and picture the dramatic opening sequence of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince where the Death Craters—er, Death Eaters—bring it down.
Looking back, I never in my whole life would have thought I’d be able to go here in Edinburgh and pull off this secret Potter walk. I deeply wish we could go back again to experience more of the wizarding world without being on such a tight budget, and perhaps with people who share the exact same level of obsession! It might not be a complete catalog of every single location across EDI and London, but it has completely left me wanting more for the future. And hey, today is September 1st.You already know what that means.
WanderWoMom 