JK Rowling’s Edinburgh: Self-Guided GPS Walking Audio Tour

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Some call this street the Diagon Alley of Edinburgh, and it’s easy to see why. The candy-colored shops, restaurants, and flats crowd around the winding street, making it one of the best shopping destinations in all of Old Town. Note: The tour is over 1.3 miles long, with more than 37 audio stories, and takes about 1-2 hours per tour to complete. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. Your password can be used on the same number of devices as the travelers you have booked. Please enter the same password on each device.

   20 min

2. The library features a permanent display exhibit simply called “Treasures.” It changes all the time, but always displays some of the Library’s most impressive items, with enough rare books to keep any bibliophile entranced—even Hermione Granger.

   10 min

3. The original Elephant House. This is the distinctive orange-red shopfront with gold lettering. Let’s pause in front of this cafe. The Elephant House is commonly called the “birthplace of Harry Potter” since this is where Rowling would often come to sit and write while her daughter napped in the pram.

   10 min

4. We’re now walking onto George IV bridge, an elevated street that was completed in 1836 to connect Old Town to the growing south side of Edinburgh. Though you might be expecting a river or lake under the bridge, in fact it crossed over a much older part of the city called Cowgate.

   5 min

5. Unfortunately, John died of tuberculosis in 1858 and was buried here in Greyfriars Kirkyard. Bobby then took up guard duty on John’s grave and refused to leave, even in the worst weather.

   10 min

6. There’s also some speculation that this quiet spot in the heart of the city might have been the inspiration for the Godric’s Hollow graveyard, where Harry visits his parents’ graves in Book 7. Either way, you may imagine that scene differently from now on after exploring Greyfriars Kirkyard.

   5 min

7. Walk straight underneath that arch up ahead, then immediately turn right after we pass through the arch. You will see a number of low stone walls that look a bit like arms reaching out from the headstones.

   10 min

8. Through this gate lies George Heriot’s School, one of the main inspirations for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. No, the movies were not filmed here, but it certainly does look like something out of the wizarding world.

   10 min

9. We’re back outside the Kirkyard, let’s turn our attention to that huge stone building across the street, with tan-colored stones and a big round tower on one end. That’s the National Museum of Scotland.

   10 min

10. As you walk down Lothian Street, you can see several buildings of the University on your right. Though perhaps not as ancient as Hogwarts, The University of Edinburgh has been around for quite a while - since 1581, in fact. Just ahead, on our right, you’ll see a huge round building - this is McEwan Hall. Let’s keep following the sidewalk to the next street corner, where we’ll have a better view of the hall.

    10 min

11. Now, the walking route here can get a little confusing, since several streets run together. Keep walking straight down Lothian Street. Potterrow is to our right, but we’re not going that way for now. After we pass the alleyway on our left, the road forks a little. Cars go up and to the right, while pedestrians stay slightly left and head downhill.

    10 min

12. On the corner to our right, you’ll see a dark green shop front with the name Black Medicine Coffee Company. Right next door is the building that used to house Nicholson’s Cafe. That was one of the cafes where Rowling wrote much of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

    10 min

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Know before you go

How it compares in Edinburgh

• Its from-price is 94% below the median of the 1253 experiences we list in Edinburgh.
• It is shorter than most of them.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Edinburgh

Edinburgh, Scotland's capital, rises on volcanic hills, with a castle on a crag, a medieval Old Town and an elegant Georgian New Town.

Edinburgh Castle crowns Castle Rock and keeps the Honours of Scotland, the Scottish crown jewels. From there, the Royal Mile runs downhill through the Old Town, past St Giles' Cathedral and a warren of narrow closes, to the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Scottish Parliament. Arthur's Seat, an ancient volcano, rises above the palace with sweeping views.

Top-ranked sights in Edinburgh: Royal Mile, Edinburgh Old Town, Edinburgh Castle.

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