(800) 814 COOL Questions? Call Us Now!

Edinburgh Harry Potter Self-Guided Private Tour

11 Reviews 4.27 out of 5 stars Based on 11 reviews collected by City Boat Tours and TripAdvisor | Edinburgh, Scotland

Loading Options

2 to 3 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Instant confirmation

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 redeem your unique code (this code is different from your booking reference number!).

What's Included

  • You will get an email with instructions to activate your tour (booking reference isn't the code!)
  • Map, directions, GPS route and stops of each tour
  • 3 weeks unlimited access to this Self-Guided Tour on the app
  • Any entrance fee for the attractions mentioned during the tour
  • Live Guide
See 2 moreSee 2 more

Meeting Location

Meeting point

Edinburgh Old Town
Edinburgh EH1 2QE, UK

Show on Google Maps

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

End point

High Street
Edinburgh EH1 1YJ, UK

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

What To Expect

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.
Read more

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.
Read more

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!
Read more

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.
Read more

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
Read more

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.
Read more

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.
Read more

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.
Read more

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!
Read more

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.
Read more

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.
Read more

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.
Read more

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.
Read more
Show 11 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Check the "Before You Go" Section of your booking and Tickets and download Pandemic Tours App

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

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

A: This tour 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 tour 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

4.27
11 reviews

Average 4.27 out of 5 stars based on 11 traveler reviews collected by City Boat Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
7
4 stars
1
3 stars
2
2 stars
1
1 star
0

Loading Options

Similar Tours & Activities

Private shore excursion from Edinburgh – Anstruther – Crail – St. Andrews

Private shore excursion from Edinburgh – Anstruther – Crail – St. Andrews

New To The Site!
 7 hours 30 minutes  Hotel pickup offered  Free Cancellation
from
US$880.35

Private audiobook city rally in Edinburgh's Old Town

Private audiobook city rally in Edinburgh's Old Town

New To The Site!
 3 hours  Instant Confirmation
from
US$46.47

5 Days Highlands and Isle of Skye All Inclusive
Likely to Sell Out

5 Days Highlands and Isle of Skye All Inclusive

New To The Site!
 5 days  Hotel pickup offered  Instant Confirmation
from
US$1,885.16

4-Day Mull, Iona and Staffa Puffin Experience from Edinburgh

4-Day Mull, Iona and Staffa Puffin Experience from Edinburgh

 4 days  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
US$983.99

Travelers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought

Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands, Glencoe and Pitlochry Tour

Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands, Glencoe and Pitlochry Tour

 12 hours 30 minutes  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
US$83.74

Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour - Tickets Included

Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour - Tickets Included

 1 hour 30 minutes  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
US$51.64

Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket
Likely to Sell Out

Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket

 1 hour 30 minutes  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
US$51.64

Extreme Paranormal Underground Ghost Tour in Edinburgh

Extreme Paranormal Underground Ghost Tour in Edinburgh

 1 hour 20 minutes  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
US$29.32

What's Included

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

  • You will get an email with instructions to activate your tour (booking reference isn't the code!)
  • Map, directions, GPS route and stops of each tour
  • 3 weeks unlimited access to this Self-Guided Tour on the app
  • Audio guide, videos, pictures, recommendations and all the info you need
  • 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

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Check the "Before You Go" Section of your booking and Tickets and download Pandemic Tours App

Report Product Issue

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

Non-refundable

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

This tour 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.

Sorting, ranking, and search results

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

City Boat Tours wants to make your searches as relevant as possible. That's why we offer many ways to help you find the right experiences for you.

On some pages, you can select how to sort the results we display and also use filter options to see only those search results that meet your chosen preferences. You'll see explanations of what those sort options mean when you select them.

If you see a Badge of Excellence label, the award is based on average review ratings, share of bookings with a review, and number of bookings through City Boat Tours over a 12-month period.

The importance of any one factor over any other in a sort order varies, and the balance is constantly being reviewed and adjusted. We're always updating our systems and testing new ways to refine and improve your results to make them as relevant as possible to meet your needs.