Potter Trail Private Tour Edinburgh: Wand-Waving Guide

Greyfriars Kirkyard: where the author found character names on gravestones

The Potter Trail is a private 90-minute guided tour of Edinburgh's Harry Potter landmarks, led by a robed guide who is a trained actor. You visit Greyfriars Kirkyard where J.K. Rowling spent time writing and found inspiration in gravestone names, see the real-life Diagon Alley street, the National Museum of Scotland and the Balmoral Hotel where she finished the series, and stop at the café claiming to be the "Birthplace" of Harry Potter. The tour is private to your group only, so you set the pace and ask as many questions as you want.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Harry Potter sights in Edinburgh

• Visit Greyfriars Kirkyard
• See George Heriot's School and Edinburgh Castle
• Explore Harry Potter area in the city
• Discover Harry Potter connections at National Museum
• Stop at the "Birthplace" cafe
• Walk along the real life Diagon Alley

The experience

Greyfriars Kirkyard is where the tour begins: the historic graveyard where Rowling spent considerable time while writing the books. Walk past gravestones bearing names like William McGonagall and Thomas Riddell, both of which inspired characters in the series. From here you'll also see two potential inspirations for Hogwarts itself: George Heriot's School and Edinburgh Castle rising above the city.

The route then moves through Stockbridge, an area of Edinburgh named after Harry Potter himself, where Rowling wrote much of the first book. You'll stop at the National Museum of Scotland to learn about Harry Potter connections to the building and the surrounding area, and hear about the Balmoral Hotel where she completed the final book in the series. One stop is a café that markets itself as the "Birthplace" of Harry Potter. Your guide will explain why those inverted commas matter.

The tour ends on one of Edinburgh's most iconic streets, considered to be the real-life Diagon Alley. Your guide, a trained actor and comedian, leads the whole route at your group's own pace, so you can linger at stops, ask questions, and dig into the connections between the city and the books without rushing. The tour runs 90 minutes and covers the key Potter sights across the city.

What’s included

• Live guide in English.
• private tour for your group only.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00, 13:00 and 14:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (8 and older) · Child (under 8): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by The Potter Trail

Is this one for you?Book this tour if your group wants to move at its own pace and dig into the stories behind each location without managing a larger group around you. The robed guide trained as an actor means the route stays entertaining and you get answers tailored to what your group actually wants to know.

Traveler reviews

4.97★★★★★★★★★★

2,557 verified traveler reviews

5 ★2,486

4 ★59

3 ★8

2 ★3

1 ★1

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 8): free.

What are the main Harry Potter locations we'll visit on this tour?

The Potter Trail visits Greyfriars Kirkyard, where J.K. Rowling found inspiration for character names on gravestones; Stockbridge, the area where she wrote much of the first book; the National Museum of Scotland; the Balmoral Hotel where she finished the series; and a street considered to be the real-life Diagon Alley.

How long does the tour take?

The Potter Trail runs 90 minutes and covers all the key Potter sights across Edinburgh at your group's own pace.

What makes this a private tour different from a group one?

A private tour means the experience is for your group only, so you set the pace, ask as many questions as you like, and your guide can tailor the content to suit your interests without managing other visitors.

Who leads the tour?

Your guide is a trained actor and comedian with extensive knowledge of Edinburgh's Harry Potter connections, so they'll captivate and entertain you while sharing the stories behind each location.

What should I bring to the tour?

Bring something you can use as a wand: anything roughly wand-shaped works well, such as a pen or umbrella.