Harry Potter Trail (Self Guided), Edinburgh

Museum Context, otherwise known as Diagon House, is the flagship store on Victoria Street. Similarly to its sister store at 42-44 Cockburn Street, this place is quite unique in terms of offering visitors and locals alike an authentic Harry Potter experience that celebrates Edinburgh as the birthplace of Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling’s wonderful legacy.

The brainchild of Alice and Andrew McRae, a conservation architect, this venue may appear a bit “scary” to the claustrophobic lot with its immersive shopping abundance, similar to that, perhaps, of the bustling Diagon Alley where Harry had to elbow his way through the sniggering Slytherins while purchasing his new year supplies.

Inside the shop you will find a world-class selection of officially licensed Harry Potter merchandise, which lures here Harry Potter pilgrims in their numbers from all over the globe, queuing up anxious to get in, from the early hours in the morning until the evening.

Having marked its 20th anniversary, the shop rebranded as Museum Context, honouring its eclectic Scottish collection.

Perhaps one of the most photographed locations in Edinburgh, Victoria Street in the Old Town, gently curved and adorned with colourful shopfronts, is indeed a much loved spot for tourist photos, postcards and TV adverts.

Built between 1829 and 1834, this street is the brainchild of architect Thomas Hamilton, the one who masterminded Edinburgh’s network of neo-classical wonders. On this occasion, though, he deviated from his habitual neo-classical stamp, being ordered to create architecture mimicking the Old Flemish style. For this purpose, many of the medieval buildings were torn down, while the notable arches, lining the new terrace, were turned into shops.

Lately, Victoria Street and the West Bow have had a certain amount of notoriety attached to them as possible prototypes for Diagon Alley, the wizards' market, featured in the Harry Potter books.

As the home base of JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books, Edinburgh is famed as a Potter pilgrimage destination. Packed with the higgledy piggledy medley of vibrant buildings, shops of all sizes and descriptions, noteworthy arches, cobblestones and general air of eccentricity, it’s no wonder that Victoria Street is seen as an inspiration for the ever-so fabulous Diagon Alley after all.

Established since 1995, The Elephant House in Edinburgh has been renowned as one of the top destinations for tea and coffee connoisseurs. At some point, the place also grew famous through its association with J.K. Rowling, author of the bestselling Harry Potter series, who used to frequent this place, as an emerging writer, and wrote her early novels while sitting in the back room overlooking Edinburgh Castle.

Other literary patrons of The Elephant House, over the years, have included Ian Rankin, author of the Rebus novels, and Alexander McCall-Smith, author of The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency, 44 Scotland Street and other novel series.

So, if you consider a writing career for yourself or seek inspiration, or simply want to savor a nice cup of tea or coffee prior to venturing out into historic Edinburgh, feel free to pop in and enjoy the place!

With a clear division into the Old and New Town, it's not hard to locate ancient buildings in Edinburgh. One such building – Greyfriar’s Church – is part of the Old Town.

Construction on the church began in 1602 and it was consecrated in 1630, becoming one of the oldest buildings in the Old Town. It was put up on the site of an abandoned Franciscan monastery and took its name from the monks who wore grey cassocks and were called “Grey Friars”.

In 1718, a dividing wall split the nave between the Old Greyfriars and New Greyfriars, so as to separate the Covenanters from the Roman Catholics worshipping inside the same church. In 1845, parts of the roof and the interior were destroyed by fire.

During restorations in the mid 19th century, beautiful stained-glass windows were added. It was the first time that such windows appeared in a Presbyterian church and it caused a bit of a scandal. A little later, an organ was added, causing yet another scandal. In 1929, the church was further renovated and, this time, the dividing wall was removed.

The adjoining graveyard is said to be haunted by the ghost of George Mackenzie, called the “Bloody” Lord Advocate for being responsible for the persecution of the Covenanters. According to legend, wherever his hand touches a living person, it leaves cuts and bruises.

Today the church hosts fashion shows, exhibitions, lectures and drama productions. The onsite museum showcases artefacts found in the area and recounts a comprehensive history of the Covenanters.

***Literary Landmarks & Harry Potter Tour ***
Hidden behind the Elephant House Café lies the historic Greyfriars Kirkyard which is now a place of interest for avid Harry Potter fans. Found here the grave of Thomas Riddell is said to have inspired JK Rowling to create the Tom Riddle (aka Lord Voldemort) character. Also, visible from here George Heriots School is said to be the template for fictional Hogwarts.

In addition to the gravestones of Robert Potter, Tom Riddell and William McGonagall found in the cemetary, there are others with potential links, such as Elizabeth Moodie (Mad-Eye Moody?) and Margaret Louisa Scrymgeour Wedderburn (Rufus Scrimgeour, the Minister of Magic in the final Harry Potter book?).

Starting August 2019, there is a Greyfriars Kirkyard map available to buy, locating all of the Harry Potter-themed gravestones. Proceeds from sales go to the upkeep of the grounds.

George Heriot's School is an independent primary and secondary educational institution located on Lauriston Place in the historic area of Edinburgh known as the Old Town. Its origins trace back to 1628 when it was established as George Heriot's Hospital, thanks to the generous bequest of George Heriot, a renowned royal goldsmith. The school officially opened its doors in 1659. Today, it operates under the governance of the George Heriot's Trust, a Scottish charitable organization, and serves a student body of over 1600, supported by 155 teaching staff and 80 non-teaching personnel.

The school's principal edifice is a distinctive architectural gem, characterized by its turreted design enclosing a spacious courtyard, all constructed from sandstone. Notably, the building exhibits Renaissance-style architecture, and the foundation stone bears the year 1628 as an enduring testament to its historical origins. Each window on the structure features intricate and unique ornamentation, except for a specific pair of windows situated on the ground floor flanking the now obsolete central turret on the west side of the building. Additionally, a statue of the school's founder, George Heriot, is prominently displayed within a niche on the northern side of the courtyard.

***Harry Potter Tour***
When seen for the first time, the castle-like George Heriot's School usually strikes the onlooker with its resemblance to Hogwarts. Indeed, this private educational institution relies on the same House system to sort students as the famous School of Witchcraft and Wizardry did, sorting its young wizard pupils as Ravenclaw, Slytherin, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, and perhaps it had inspired J.K. Rowling, whose children also attended George Heriot’s School!

Another reason for speculation about its inspiration behind Hogwarts is that, similarly to Greyfrier’s Kirkyard, the George Heriot School can be seen from the windows of the Elephant House Café, which J.K. Rowling used to frequent while writing Harry Potter.

20+ years from the publication of Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone it is now claimed that the birthplace of Harry Potter was in fact Nicholson’s Café, co-owned by Rowling’s brother-in-law back in 1997. Later, Rowling admitted that the original idea struck her on a train, without any paper at hand, but Nicolson’s, she said, was the place where she indeed “wrote huge parts of the book”. Attesting to this fact is also the local photographer, Marius Alexander, who pictured the then aspiring author writing at Nicolson’s following her move to Edinburgh with her daughter three years earlier.

Rowling explained her choice of Nicolson's – whose large windows overlook the University of Edinburgh – as a really great place to write, because there were so many tables around here that she didn't feel too guilty about taking her favorite table up too long. “I always wanted to try and get that one because it was out of the way in the corner,” she said.

Now rebranded as Spoon bistro, which The List magazine describes as a “Good-humoured eatery with casual all-day dining and chilled-out service delivering simply prepared bistro classics,” this place still retains great significance to the author and to every Potter-head out there as the Rowling-anointed nursery for Harry’s first adventure. A token to this is a plaque commemorating the spot where part of one of the world's most famous book series was written.

In her own words, Rowling promised to the place owners that when the book is published, she will “try and get [them] loads of publicity" though no-one ever dreamed for a moment that it was going to happen some day.

The Edinburgh City Chambers serves as the official meeting place for the City of Edinburgh Council and its predecessors. The existing building, which holds a Category A listing, was originally intended as the Royal Exchange and was designed by John Adam, with some modifications made by John Fergus. During its construction, a number of small streets, commonly referred to as "closes" in Edinburgh, were incorporated into the site, running from north to south. The Royal Exchange structure partially occupied the space above these blocked-off closes, which are now underground. These underground closes were closed to the public for many years but have since been reopened as 'The Real Mary King's Close'.

The main building is situated behind the High Street, separated by a courtyard with an arched open arcade that faces the street. Within the courtyard stands a notable bronze statue of Alexander Taming Bucephalus, created by John Steell.

***Harry Potter Tour***
Inside the Chambers there is a Hollywood-style plaque installed as tribute to the winners of the prestigious Edinburgh Award which is presented to the outstanding citizens of the city.

In 2008 J.K. Rowling received the award, following which her hands were cast in bronze and placed in the chambers’ courtyard.

The Balmoral, originally known as the North British Railway Station Hotel, is a prestigious five-star establishment and a well-known landmark in Edinburgh. Situated at the heart of the city's east end on Princes Street, which is the primary shopping district beneath the towering Edinburgh Castle, it also marks the southern boundary of the New Town.

Since 1902, the hotel's clock has intentionally been set three minutes ahead of the actual time to prevent Edinburgh residents from missing their trains. This practice continues today, except on December 31st (Hogmanay), when the clock is synchronized with the correct time for the city's New Year celebrations. The clock tower itself, standing at a height of 190 feet (58 meters), stands out prominently in the center of Edinburgh.

In February 2007, it was confirmed that the renowned author J.K. Rowling completed the final book in the Harry Potter series, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," while staying at this hotel. Rowling left a signed note on a marble bust of Hermes in her room, stating, "J.K. Rowling finished writing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in this room (552) on 11th Jan 2007." Subsequently, the room was renamed the "J.K. Rowling Suite," and the marble bust is now displayed in a protective glass case. This suite, with a nightly rate of nearly £1,000, has become a place of pilgrimage for dedicated Harry Potter fans.