Edinburgh Harry Potter Self-Guided Private Tour

14 Reviews 4.29 out of 5 stars Based on 14 adventurer reviews collected by Top10Adventures® and TripAdvisor | Edinburgh, Scotland

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On average, this is booked 15 (0) days in advance.

2 to 3 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Instant confirmation
Offered in: English

Overview

Forget about crowds, schedules or lines! With our company's self-guided experiences your smartphone is your new private guide.

Welcome to Edinburgh, the birthplace of Harry Potter! JK Rowling wrote all seven Harry Potter novels in this city and Jule will help you discover that was involved in this incredible story.

Walking the streets of this magical place, Rowling undoubtedly took some inspiration from the city which she then used in the Harry Potter novels. On our tour, we’ll be exploring places that may have served as inspirations for places and characters in Harry Potter.

In this incredible experience, you'll have the time to stroll around Edinburgh's Harry Potter Trail at your own pace, you'll have the opportunity to take astonishing pictures and enter any attraction you fancy along the way.

Please note: when booking, you will get an email with instructions on how to download our app and unlock the tour.

What's Included

  • Audio guide, videos, pictures, recommendations and all the info you need
  • You will get an email with instructions to activate your tour
  • Map, directions, GPS route and stops of each tour
  • Any entrance fee for the attractions mentioned during the tour
  • Live Guide
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Meeting Location

Meeting point

Edinburgh Old Town
Edinburgh EH1 2QE, UK

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

253 High Street
Edinburgh EH1 1YJ, UK

The tour finishes at City Chambers, near Edinburgh's Old Town Centre.

What To Expect

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Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation.
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Safe & secure • Easy breezy • Hassle-free

The Elephant House (pass by)

Welcome to the “birthplace of Harry Potter” – You can hardly fail to notice the prominent slogan above the entrance of the Elephant House Café. This is where JK Rowling spent a great deal of time writing the first Harry Potter book in, and even parts of the second and the third.
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Greyfriars

This is the graveyard that can be seen from the back of the Elephant House Café, and it is believed to have inspired the graveyard of Little Hangleton in ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Step in with Jule to discover all it's haunted attractions and why is this place so related to the novels J.K. Rowling wrote.
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20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Thomas Riddell's Grave

The graves of Thomas Riddell, Esq. and Thomas Riddell, Esq., his son, are probably the most well-visited graves in all of Edinburgh. This is ironic, as we know very little about the actual Riddell family that lies buried here. Discover the story behind this character and more!
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Greyfriars Bobby's grave

Discover all headstones from famous (and not so famous) characters of the Harry Potter Sagas that are scattered around all over this amazing graveyard.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

William McGonagall Tombstone (pass by)

On the wall to the left of the gates, you can see a black tombstone with the portrait of a man on it. This is William Topaz McGonagall – otherwise known as the worst poet in English-speaking history. Learn why this character is related to a famous Harry Potter Character
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George Heriot's School (pass by)

Learn the history behind one of the buildings that were the inspiration of Hogwarts, the school of wizards, in Harry Potter history.
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Edinburgh Castle

Hogwarts is also described as a castle-like school, situated on top of a hill, with a giant lake to one side. Guess what, Edinburgh Castle is just like that!Learn the history behind the castle and its relation with Harry Potter's Hogwarts, another stepping stone of the story and a must-visit of Edinburgh's attractions.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Victoria Street (pass by)

Diagon Alley in the books is described as a cobblestone street, lined with coloured shopfronts on either side. While strolling about Victoria Street, Jule will tell you all the secrets and similarities between both magical places.
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Museum CONTEXT

Museum Context is the first Harry Potter Shop that was opened in Edinburgh. This shop is a must-see for Harry Potter fans, with a great photo opportunity on the third floor as an added bonus!
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Victoria Terrace

Enjoy the amazing view of this spot while imagining the whole story of Harry Potter taking place right in front of you.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

New College, The University of Edinburgh

This is part of the University of Edinburgh and is where you will find the School of Theology and Divinity. Inside, they have an old library that resembles the one of Hogwarts, and they even have a great hall where students have their meals.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

The Balmoral (pass by)

The building with the clock tower across the valley is the Balmoral Hotel, the most expensive hotel in Edinburgh. This is also the place where JK Rowling finished writing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. This is obviously a big change from her humble beginnings of writing in cafes across the city and really emphasises how much Harry Potter changed her life.
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Edinburgh City Chambers (pass by)

On the ground you can see some golden handprints – these are the handprints of people who have won the Edinburgh Award. This is a prize that is given out yearly since 2007 to one person who has made Edinburgh famous around the world or has impacted the city positively in another way. In 2008, the Award went to JK Rowling, as Edinburgh is now known as the birthplace of Harry Potter thanks to her.
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Show 12 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • This is a Self-Guided Audio Tour download the Exploro App

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Edinburgh Harry Potter Self-Guided Private Tour?

A: This adventure is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded. Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

This adventure is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Still have questions?

We're here to help.
Activity code: C-329930P8

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.29
14 reviews

Average 4.29 out of 5 stars based on 14 adventurer reviews collected by Top10Adventures® and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
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On average, this is booked 15 (0) days in advance.

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What's Included

Activity name

  • Audio guide, videos, pictures, recommendations and all the info you need
  • You will get an email with instructions to activate your tour
  • Map, directions, GPS route and stops of each tour
  • Unlimited access to this Self-Guided Tour on the app
  • Jule will guide you through an audio guide (no computer-generated voice!)
  • Any entrance fee for the attractions mentioned during the tour
  • Live Guide

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • This is a Self-Guided Audio Tour download the Exploro App

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Non-refundable

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Non-refundable

This adventure is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

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