When you’re a Harry Potter fan planning a go to to Scotland, then this information to Harry Potter in Edinburgh has all the data you want!
Edinburgh is among the hottest locations within the UK for Harry Potter followers. It’s second to solely to London with regards to Harry Potter places. However the place does the Harry Potter/Edinburgh connection come from?
JK Rowling lived in Edinburgh from 1993. On the time, she was a budding creator and single mum who struggled to make ends meet.
She wrote quite a lot of Harry Potter in Edinburgh’s cafes. Nevertheless, this was not so she may escape an unheated flat, as she emphatically advised reporters in an interview in 2001. As she mentioned, “I’m not silly sufficient to hire an unheated flat in Edinburgh in midwinter”.
These cafes now have a good time the truth that this profitable creator wrote there when she was simply getting going with Harry Potter. This has turned these cafes in vacationer sights of kinds.
As such, numerous cafes have hopped on the gravy practice, claiming that JK Rowling as soon as wrote one phrase of Harry Potter on their premises.
The scenario was so riddikkulus that some cafes now proudly hold indicators saying “JK Rowling did NOT write Harry Potter right here”.
NB. It’s value noting that there aren’t any precise Harry Potter filming places in Edinburgh. It’s merely a city that JK Rowling lived in while writing among the sequence and the place she drew a few of her inspiration for the books from.
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The Elephant Home
**Vital Be aware: There was a big fireplace on George IV Bridge the place this cafe is positioned numerous years in the past and the cafe is at the moment shut. Within the meantime, the proprietor has opened up a restaurant of the identical identify on Victoria Road. The desk J Ok Rowling used to put in writing on was salvaged from the hearth and may now be seen on the new cafe, the place guests also can take pleasure in a glass of Butterscotch (a transparent nod to Butterbeer!). It’s hoped that the previous cafe may even re-open in 2024.**
The Elephant Home is the preferred Harry Potter cafe in Edinburgh and attracts droves of vacationers every day. It calls itself the “birthplace of Harry Potter” and, while this isn’t strictly true, it’s nonetheless essentially the most well-known Harry Potter cafe in Edinburgh.
As you close to The Elephant Home, you’ll see numerous vacationers standing outdoors taking footage, some even risking standing in the midst of the highway to get that shot!
Clearly, don’t do that. I watched a person get honked at by an indignant bus driver and it was a close to miss. I arrived simply after 9am when it opened, and there have been already numerous eager guests.
By 9:30am, the cafe was full and folks had been queuing for a desk. JK Rowling was usually seen writing within the again room of The Elephant Home so get right here early and nab a seat there if you wish to do as she did.
I ordered a ache au chocolat and a vanilla “scorching moo” (i.e. scorching milk), which had been each ample, however nothing particular.
If that’s the usual of all their food and drinks then this cafe may be very a lot concerning the environment and the JK Rowling connection and fewer concerning the meals.
It wasn’t that low cost both with the 2 of those setting me again nearly £7.
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Upon getting into the cafe, I learnt precisely why it was known as “The Elephant Home”. There are over 600 mannequin elephants within the cafe!
The cafe is understood for its charitable donations to third-world nations and when the receipt is introduced to your desk, so will slightly paper donation envelope. They fundraise for numerous completely different humanitarian organisations over the 12 months, with the present one being Kids Worldwide.
There’s not a lot to see in relation to JK Rowling inside the primary cafe. There are just a few newspaper cuttings and a few data on one wall of the cafe.
Nevertheless, as quickly as you enter the loos, you’ll see simply how in style this place is with Potter followers. Each inch of the bathroom’s partitions are coated in graffiti regarding Harry Potter.
There are quotes, deathly hallows symbols, thanks messages for JK Rowling and extra.
One last item – JK Rowling isn’t the one well-known creator with a connection to The Elephant Home. Ian Rankin, considered one of Scotland’s present hottest authors, mentions the institution numerous occasions in his works.
Tackle: 21 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EN
Opening Hours: 8am – 10pm (9am weekends)
Web site: elephanthouse.biz
Greyfriars Kirkyard
Greyfriars Kirkyard is the graveyard connected to Greyfriars Kirk (or church). It’s a couple of minutes away from The Elephant Home, the place JK Rowling usually sat and wrote, and it’s clear that this graveyard had an impression on the characters of her story.
Within the graveyard, you’ll discover the graves of 1 William McGonagall, Anne and Robert Potter, Thomas Riddel, Elizabeth Moodie and Louise Scrimgeour. Sound in any respect acquainted?
The good factor is that the graveyard is open 24/7 so you may go to everytime you need. Although visiting after darkish could also be slightly haunting…
For extra data on precisely the place you will discover these graves, test my detailed put up on the Harry Potter graveyard.
Tackle: 26A Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh EH1 2QE
Opening Hours: 24/7
Web site: greyfriarskirk.com/go to/kirkyard
Wu Zhen of China (previously Nicholson’s)
This restaurant was as soon as a restaurant known as Nicholson’s, which was a Chinese language restaurant, earlier than changing into a brunch spot known as Spoon in 2009 after which again right into a Chinese language restaurant known as Wu Zhen of China 乌镇酒家 immediately.
JK Rowling wrote among the earlier Harry Potter chapters on this spot when the cafe was nonetheless known as Nicholson’s. In actual fact, it’s thought that she wrote right here extra usually than she wrote at The Elephant Cafe, regardless of the actual fact the latter is way more well-known.
In an interview with the BBC in 2011, she spoke about Nicholson’s and mentioned:
“So that is Nicholson’s. The place I wrote big components of the guide. This was a very excellent spot to put in writing as a result of there have been so many tables round right here that I didn’t really feel too responsible about taking a desk up too lengthy and that was my favorite desk. I all the time wished to try to get that one as a result of it was out of the way in which within the nook.
“It was simply nice to lookup if you had been writing and cease and take into consideration issues and be capable of look out on the road which was fairly busy. They had been fairly tolerant of me in right here partly as a result of one of many house owners is my brother-in-law. And I used to say to them “Effectively you realize it will get revealed, and I’ll try to get you a great deal of publicity” and it was all only a massive Joke. No-one ever dreamt for a second that was going to occur.”
Click on right here to observe the total interview on YouTube. She speaks about this cafe from 17:22 onwards.
Wu Zhen of China, the restaurant that stands on the primary ground of the constructing immediately, is a big Chinese language restaurant providing massive parts of conventional Chinese language dishes. Service is usually a little gradual when the restaurant is busy, however it’s a good, brilliant house with a big (synthetic) blossom tree within the centre.
The restaurant pays tribute to its Harry Potter reference to a pretend brick wall on one facet that reads “Platform 9 3/4” and a few textual content about J. Ok. Rowlings visits to the restaurant.
NB. The small plaque that claims JK Rowling used to put in writing right here is definitely connected to the inexperienced constructing on the nook of Drummond Road.
Tackle: 6A Nicolson St, Edinburgh EH8 9DH
Opening Hours: 12pm-10pm day by day
George Heriot’s Faculty
George Heriot’s Faculty is a non-public secondary college for ladies and boys within the coronary heart of Edinburgh. It additionally appears distinctly like one other, way more well-known, secondary college for wizards. After all, I’m speaking about Hogwarts Faculty for Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The varsity is shut by the opposite Harry Potter websites in Edinburgh so it’s believed that this college could have influenced Rowling’s imaginative and prescient of Hogwarts. She herself has mentioned that Hogwarts is positioned in Scotland.
The turrets of the varsity are seen from inside Greyfriars Kirkyard too when you’re wanting up over the wall within the Flodden Wall space.
RELATED: A Information to the Harry Potter Graveyard in Edinburgh
You’ll be able to see the castle-like entrance gate on Lauriston Place and also you’ll see the varsity’s massive turrets behind.
Though the varsity may be very sq. and the Hogwarts we recognise from guide covers and movies is moderately extra rounded, there are quite a few turrets right here, identical to Hogwarts.
Certainly, many buildings dotted across the metropolis have turrets, usually rounded ones, so it appears probably that the looks of Hogwarts college was drawn from the gorgeous buildings of Edinburgh.
George Heriot’s uniform additionally entails a darkish blue and white striped scarf, which appears lots like a Ravenclaw scarf when you ask me!
NB You can not enter the grounds or the varsity, nevertheless it’s massive sufficient that you could admire it from afar.
Tackle: Lauriston Place, Edinburgh EH3 9EQ
Victoria Road
When you’re approaching Victoria Road from the east of the town then the very first thing you’ll see is a turquoise facade for John Kay’s books. To the correct of the store are some phrases about this avenue, this store and Harry Potter.
It reads:
Welcome to Victoria Road
Constructed between 1829 and 1834
Scotland’s most photographed avenue and believed to be JK ROWLING’S inspiration for DIAGON ALLEY.
An Previous Guide Store has traded from this web site for over 4 a long time.
With cabinets stacked to the ceiling, was this the unique Flourish & Blotts?
JK Rowling has by no means referred to this avenue because the inspiration for Diagon Alley and, to be sincere, it appears most elderly English cities that JK Rowling has ever visited declare that they’ve a highway that “impressed Diagon Alley”. One other in style delusion is that it was impressed by The Shambles in York.
RELATED: Harry Potter in York
Whether or not or not it impressed the magical procuring avenue, Victoria Road is attractive and an vital addition to any Edinburgh itinerary.
Every store has a special colored facade so it very a lot jogged my memory of Notting Hill in London.
As for John Kay’s, this can be a store promoting fairly random and quirky objects, together with books, prints, wood fashions. I can positively think about Arthur Weasley going nuts in right here.
It’s value poking your head in to see when you decide up any cool souvenirs or a pleasant classic version however this isn’t a Harry Potter retailer, nor an intensive bookshop.
Tackle: Victoria Road, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH1 2HG
The Enchanted Galaxy (previously The Boy Wizard)
Since Harry Potter is now one of many essential drivers of vacationers to this metropolis, numerous vacationer outlets will promote Harry Potter merchandise.
There are even numerous devoted Harry Potter outlets in Edinburgh, one of the crucial in style being The Enchanted Galaxy. This store was previously known as The Boy Wizard, however was compelled to alter its identify after a copyright dispute with Warner Bros, the house owners of a lot of the Wizarding World franchise IP.
There are a few branches in Edinburgh, there’s one on Victoria Road, which is the largest and finest. There’s additionally one on the Excessive Road and one within the airport!
There are additionally a number of Harry Potter outlets in York (even if there isn’t actually a lot of a Harry Potter connection there!). Try this put up for extra on Harry Potter in York.
Tackle: 1 Victoria St, Edinburgh EH1 2HE
Opening Hours: 8am – 10pm weekdays; 10am – 6:30pm Saturdays; 10am – 5:pm Sundays.
Museum Context
Potter followers will cease of their tracks as they stroll previous Museum Context as they could really imagine they’re staring into the shopfront of a magical wares store on Diagon Alley (or perhaps Knockturn Alley!).
In actual fact, Museum Context is so in style with Potter followers that there’s usually a queue to get in!
It’s a retailer spanning a number of tales that specialises in uncommon present concepts and a very massive assortment of official Harry Potter merchandise. You will get all the things from Hogwarts uniforms to Harry Potter cat playing cards.
The uncovered brick partitions, slender staircase and the truth that there’s wizarding merchandise to be present in each nook and cranny from ground to ceiling makes this really feel prefer it actually is from one other world.
There’s additionally the chance to take a seat at a wood desk in Harry Potter robes with a wand and Fawkes the Phoenix. Photographs are inspired.
Outdoors the store there’s a blue plaque that reads:
“Based in 1873, ROBERT CRESSER’S BRUSH SHOP occupied No. 40 for 131 years. Harry Potter followers imagine this magical avenue gave J.Ok. ROWLING the imaginative and prescient for Diagon Alley. With authentic Victorian fixtures filled with dusty containers and broomsticks – was this little store the inspiration for Ollivanders?”
Tackle: 40 Victoria St, Edinburgh EH1 2JW
Opening Hours: 10am – 7pm day by day
Traverse Cafe
Traverse Cafe (linked to the Traverse Theatre) is considered one of J. Ok. Rowling’s lesser-known haunts however she wrote there often so it deserves the label Harry Potter cafe simply as a lot as the opposite two institutions on this listing.
JK Rowling revealed some solutions to in style questions on her web site again in 2018, which mentions Traverse Cafe in Edinburgh. Funnily sufficient, that is the place she met John Tiffany, director of the Cursed Youngster, manner again within the 90s. Neither of them predicted that they’d be working collectively on a extremely profitable play twenty years later!
Tiffany describes how he got here to know JK Rowling in an interview within the Scottish Every day Report in 2015:
“I first met Jo years in the past once we didn’t know who one another was. I had simply began on the Traverse in Edinburgh, and every so often I might see a lady with a pram writing in longhand within the cafe. She’d write in Nicholson’s, The Elephant Home and the Traverse cafe.
“We knew one another to nod at. I’d be having conferences with writers and actors and I’d see her. Ultimately we’d say whats up to one another and a 12 months later – bam! Then I noticed that’s what she was doing.
Tackle: 10 Cambridge St, Edinburgh EH1 2ED, UK
Opening Hours: 8am–4pm Monday to Friday,
Web site: www.traverse.co.uk
The Balmoral
The Balmoral is an impressive 5-star lodge in Edinburgh. JK Rowling stayed in a set right here when she wrote the previous couple of chapters of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
It appears fairly becoming that she wrote each the primary and the final chapters of Harry Potter in Edinburgh.
A fast comparability of The Elephant Home and the posh Balmoral demonstrates simply how far JK Rowling has come. It’s a really spectacular success story!
The JK Rowling suite is, predictably, actually costly. Like actually, actually costly. Like £1500/evening kinda costly.
Sadly meaning it’s unlikely you’ll be capable of keep there your self, however you may take pleasure in (drinks within the bar/meals within the lodge?)
Tackle: 1 Princes St, Edinburgh, EH2 2EQ
Web site: roccofortehotels.com/hotels-and-resorts/the-balmoral-hotel/
The Cauldron
After discovering nice success in London, The Cauldron opened up store in Edinburgh and is a should for Harry Potter followers.
The Cauldron is an immersive and interactive cocktail-making expertise that has been impressed by fantasy worlds resembling Harry Potter.
Though they’re not formally affiliated with the Harry Potter model, it’s clear that they drew closely from Jk Rowling’s world.
You’ll be able to faux you’re in Snape’s potions class as you combine your personal potions, put on wizard’s robes and solid spells along with your wands.
Tickets value £29.99 at off-peak occasions, £24.99 at peak occasions and this features a welcome drink, two cocktails, and the interactive expertise.
Learn all about my expertise at The Cauldron in London
Tackle: 57a Frederick Road, Edinburgh, EH2 1LH, UK
Web site: https://thecauldron.io/edinburgh
The place to Keep in Edinburgh: Harry Potter lodging
Canongate Luxurious Homestay
Canongate Luxurious Homestay has just one double room obtainable and when you’re a Harry Potter fan, you’ll need to guide this on your Edinburgh journey. The within takes inspiration from Harry Potter and offers off a comfy, magical vibe. There are tiny portraits on the partitions, bookish wallpaper, tiny vials of potions, owl collectible figurines and extra.
The bed room comprises an infinite four-poster king-size mattress with crimson and gold tapestry and Gryffindor tapestries hold from the partitions. You’ll really feel such as you’re within the Gryffindor frequent room! The dressing room is designed to appear to be a carriage on the Hogwarts Categorical and it’s even acquired a mannequin practice inside.
This lodging is a should for Harry Potter followers however as there’s just one room you’ll need to snap this one up fast!
Test availability and guide a keep on the Harry Potter residence now.
When you’d favor to remain in a lodge then The Witchery could also be a very good choice. While not strictly impressed by Harry Potter, it’s a boutique lodge with a novel and ornate decor that feels magical. With four-poster beds, tapestries, previous books, gilded mirrors and extra, the ostentatious decor will take you again to excessive society within the 18th Century.
The Witchery is true by Edinburgh Citadel making it the perfect place to discover Edinburgh from.
Test availability and guide a keep at The Witchery now.
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There’s a lot extra Harry Potter content material on whatshotblog.com. Browse the under posts for some extra Harry Potter journey inspiration:
Magical Issues to do on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Harry Potter Filming Areas in Oxford
Harry Potter Filming Areas in Lacock
Information to Harry Potter in York
Godric’s Hole Filming Location – Lavenham
Greatest Issues to Do in Edinburgh
Bookshops in Edinburgh
Day Journeys from Edinburgh
Literary Tour of Edinburgh
Laura
Founder & Editor of What’s Scorching?
Laura is an award-winning journey and guide blogger based mostly within the UK. She studied French literature at Oxford College and is now an IP lawyer at a high legislation agency in London. She was named UK Guide Blogger of the Yr in 2019 and loves to mix her ardour for books and journey with literary journey.
[This post was originally written in 2019 and was updated in 2024]
