Edinburgh Harry Potter Trail Private Tour: Greyfriars, Diagon Alley, Balmoral Hotel
by The Potter Trail
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.£160Overview
This private walking tour in Edinburgh lasts about 90 minutes and follows a trail of locations connected to the Harry Potter books and their author, J.K. Rowling. The tour starts at Greyfriars Kirkyard, where Rowling spent time and where gravestones show names that inspired characters such as William McGonagall and Thomas Riddell. Visitors will spend approximately 45 minutes here and also see George Heriot's School and Edinburgh Castle, both thought to have influenced the design of Hogwarts. The tour then moves to an area of the city named after Harry Potter, where Rowling wrote much of the first book, spending about 10 minutes. Next is the National Museum of Scotland, with a 5-minute stop to discuss minor Harry Potter connections and the Balmoral Hotel, where Rowling completed the series. Following this is a 5-minute visit to a café that claims to be the "Birthplace" of Harry Potter, with an explanation of that claim. The final stop is a well-known street in Edinburgh, regarded as the real-life Diagon Alley, also visited for about 5 minutes. The tour is led by a guide who is also a comic entertainer and can adjust the content for different groups, including hen parties and school groups. The guide is included in the price, and the pace and questions are flexible since the tour is private. Guests should bring an item roughly shaped like a wand, such as a pen or umbrella, for use during the tour.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Greyfriars
The tour begins at Greyfriars Kirkyard, a historic cemetery where J.K. Rowling spent time writing. Visitors see gravestones with names that inspired characters, including William McGonagall and Thomas Riddell. Nearby are George Heriot's School and Edinburgh Castle, both considered possible inspirations for Hogwarts.
45 min
Harry Potter Area
The group visits a part of the city named after Harry Potter, where J.K. Rowling wrote much of the first book.
10 min
National Museum of Scotland
This stop highlights minor Harry Potter connections and includes a discussion about the Balmoral Hotel, where Rowling finished writing the series.
5 min
Birthplace Café
The tour pauses at a café that claims to be the "Birthplace" of Harry Potter, with an explanation of the significance of the quotation marks in that claim.
5 min
Diagon Alley Street
The final stop is one of Edinburgh's most famous streets, regarded as the real-life Diagon Alley from the Harry Potter books.
5 min
Meeting point
All of our guides can be distinguished by our black cloaks!
End point
We end on Victoria Street, a 2 minute walk from our starting location.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Edinburgh Harry Potter Trail Private Tour: Greyfriars, Diagon Alley, Balmoral Hotel
by The Potter Trail
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.£160Overview
This private walking tour in Edinburgh lasts about 90 minutes and follows a trail of locations connected to the Harry Potter books and their author, J.K. Rowling. The tour starts at Greyfriars Kirkyard, where Rowling spent time and where gravestones show names that inspired characters such as William McGonagall and Thomas Riddell. Visitors will spend approximately 45 minutes here and also see George Heriot's School and Edinburgh Castle, both thought to have influenced the design of Hogwarts. The tour then moves to an area of the city named after Harry Potter, where Rowling wrote much of the first book, spending about 10 minutes. Next is the National Museum of Scotland, with a 5-minute stop to discuss minor Harry Potter connections and the Balmoral Hotel, where Rowling completed the series. Following this is a 5-minute visit to a café that claims to be the "Birthplace" of Harry Potter, with an explanation of that claim. The final stop is a well-known street in Edinburgh, regarded as the real-life Diagon Alley, also visited for about 5 minutes. The tour is led by a guide who is also a comic entertainer and can adjust the content for different groups, including hen parties and school groups. The guide is included in the price, and the pace and questions are flexible since the tour is private. Guests should bring an item roughly shaped like a wand, such as a pen or umbrella, for use during the tour.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Greyfriars
The tour begins at Greyfriars Kirkyard, a historic cemetery where J.K. Rowling spent time writing. Visitors see gravestones with names that inspired characters, including William McGonagall and Thomas Riddell. Nearby are George Heriot's School and Edinburgh Castle, both considered possible inspirations for Hogwarts.
45 min
Harry Potter Area
The group visits a part of the city named after Harry Potter, where J.K. Rowling wrote much of the first book.
10 min
National Museum of Scotland
This stop highlights minor Harry Potter connections and includes a discussion about the Balmoral Hotel, where Rowling finished writing the series.
5 min
Birthplace Café
The tour pauses at a café that claims to be the "Birthplace" of Harry Potter, with an explanation of the significance of the quotation marks in that claim.
5 min
Diagon Alley Street
The final stop is one of Edinburgh's most famous streets, regarded as the real-life Diagon Alley from the Harry Potter books.
5 min
Meeting point
All of our guides can be distinguished by our black cloaks!
End point
We end on Victoria Street, a 2 minute walk from our starting location.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.