
Harry Potter’s Edinburgh: From the castle to Diagon Alley and Elephant House
Walking Tour
About the Tour
Come with me Muggles, and explore the Edinburgh that inspired J.K. Rowling’s global phenomenon! We'll explore the secret alleyways of the Old Town, starting at Edinburgh Castle, then we'll wander down to “Diagon Alley” and find the gravestones of Voldemort and some other well-known characters from the Harry Potter series. We'll spot “Hogwarts School of Wizardry” along the way too, and if you like, you can stop in at the famous and not-so-famous cafes where J.K. Rowling wrote before Harry Potter became a best-seller.
Our journey will include:
• A fantastic view of the Edinburgh Castle from the esplanade in front of it
• The Royal Mile, Old Town’s most famous street
• The Writer’s Museum, a literature fan’s heaven
• Victoria Street, one of Scotland's most photographed streets
• The Grassmarket where you’ll hear a story of one very lucky lady from the 1700s.
• Greyfriar’s Graveyard
Tour Producer

Katrina Milne
Major Landmarks
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Edinburgh Castle
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The Royal Mile
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The Writer's Museum
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The Grassmarket
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Greyfriar's Graveyard
Directions to Starting Point
We will begin the tour on the Edinburgh Castle esplanade. It’s the large flat area in front of the Castle gate. To get there walk to the very top of the Royal Mile.
The address on google maps is Castlehill. Head up the Royal Mile, when you are near the top you will spot on your right the Tartan Weaving Mill, walk past it and position yourself in the middle of the esplanade.
There are no direct bus routes to Edinburgh Castle, it is a pedestrian area. However, you can get a local city bus to the North Bridge area, and then it is a 10-minute walk uphill to the starting point.
Tips
Places to stop along the way
I recommend a visit to Edinburgh Castle. If you intend to go - book your tickets online, it is cheaper.
I also recommend a few eateries near the Grassmarket area. There is Mary’s Milk Bar, an independent ice-cream parlour, they even have a tea and biscuit flavour ice-cream! On Victoria Street there is a Scottish restaurant called Howies, you can sample Scottish cuisine, such as Haggis! They also have a 2-course lunch for £12.50.
If you want to purchase cheaper cashmere or woollen products, I recommend a look in the Tartan Weaving Mill on Castlehill, they make the products on-site and often have good discounted rates.
Best time of day
In my opinion, the tour is best done in daylight. If you want to enter the Castle, plan your visit around 1pm. 6 days a week there will be a cannon fired at exactly one O’ clock, it is quite a spectacle!
If you’d like to visit the Writer’s Museum, it is open between 10am - 5pm. The city is generally quieter early in the morning.
Important information about August:
If you are visiting at the end of July or at any time during the month of August, the city will be very busy. The Castle esplanade will also look different. During the summer months, the esplanade is used as a concert stadium and for 25 nights in August for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo show. Because this is a military event, access to the esplanade will be restricted after 16:45. Please bear this in mind when starting the tour.
Precautions
Edinburgh is a safe city, just be careful of oncoming traffic on the Royal Mile and as you come out of the Greyfriars Kirkyard. Be prepared for the typical Scottish weather, it is advisable to pack waterproofs and sturdy footwear. The graveyard can be muddy.
Great tour and very easy to follow the directions!
Thanks for the comment, glad you enjoyed. 😊
Brilliant audio tour!! Even from the comfort of my own home the tour provides magical stories and a fascinating insight to JK’s Rowling inspiration for the Harry Potter books! 10/10 would recommend!
Thanks for the kind words, glad you enjoyed.