Edinburgh is deeply connected to Harry Potter as the city where J.K. Rowling lived and wrote most of the books, drawing immense inspiration from its gothic architecture, winding closes, and graveyard names for characters like Voldemort and McGonagall, with famous spots like Victoria Street (Diagon Alley) and Greyfriars Kirkyard becoming pilgrimage sites for fans.
Greyfriars Kirkyard is a historic graveyard located in Edinburgh that serves as an important inspiration for the world-renowned Harry Potter series. J.K. Rowling, the author of the series, lived near the graveyard and was known to have taken long walks through the site.
Although Edinburgh wasn't used to film any of the scenes in Harry Potter, it is where J K Rowling wrote the books and found a lot of inspiration for characters and locations.
Edinburgh Castle: It's said that Edinburgh Castle is one of several castles that served as inspiration for Hogwarts, which makes it an obvious must for Edinburgh Harry Potter locations. The imposing hilltop location of Edinburgh Castle and the overall architecture bear striking similarities to Hogwarts.
What is the connection between Harry Potter and Scotland?
Even though the location of Hogwarts has never been officially determined, many people believe that the author based the magical school on Edinburgh's George Heriot's School.
Why Edinburgh Is The Ultimate Holy Grail For Harry Potter Fans
Is Diagon Alley inspired by Edinburgh?
Diagonal Alley / Victoria Street
It's easy to see where J.K. Rowling got her inspiration for Diagon Alley. Victoria Street curves down towards the Grassmarket and is within Edinburgh's Old Town - recognised as a World Heritage site. The eclectic mix of narrow, medieval buildings and Gothic spires is pure Potter magic.
Hagrid's Hut – film set location in Glencoe, Scotland. Glencoe, Scotland – the surrounding valley and filming area. Clachaig Gully – the specific spot/pathway where Hagrid's Hut was built. Clachaig Inn – the nearby inn, a short walk from the site.
There's just something downright magical about the Scottish capital. The architecture of the buildings, the moody atmospheric weather… it's simply one of the most beautiful places you could possibly visit and there is so much to do and see while you're there.
Why are there so many Harry Potter shops in Edinburgh?
There are many locations in Edinburgh that gave inspiration to JK Rowling when she created Harry Potter. No. 40 Victoria Street was one of those locations that sparked her creative thoughts, giving life to the famous Diagon Alley and Quality Quidditch Supplies.
Within that time, my mother had died, I had moved to Portugal to teach English, got married, and had my first daughter Jessica. The marriage didn't work out and I moved with Jessica and the first three chapters of Harry Potter in a suitcase, to Edinburgh in Scotland, where my sister lived.
Page 394 in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban discusses werewolves, a topic Snape uses to hint at Professor Lupin's secret condition during a Defense Against the Dark Arts class, but it's also the moment Harry and Hermione use a Time-Turner in the hospital wing to save Sirius Black and Buckbeak, according to some editions. The significance lies in Snape's subtle clue about Lupin's lycanthropy, which Hermione realizes, alongside the magical time travel event involving the Time-Turner, making it a pivotal moment.
Is Edinburgh the most beautiful city in the world?
Based on survey responses, Edinburgh was ranked the joint-fifth (alongside Tbilisi in Georgia) best-looking city on the planet. Seventy-four percent of locals said that they would describe the Scottish capital as beautiful.
Joanne Rowling was born on 31st July 1965 at Yate General Hospital near Bristol, and grew up in Gloucestershire in England and in Chepstow, Gwent, in south-east Wales.
The Wizarding World website states that Hogwarts was founded in the Highlands of Scotland sometime between the 9th and 10th century by the wizards Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin.
Greyfriars Kirkyard is the graveyard surrounding Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located at the southern edge of the Old Town, adjacent to George Heriot's School.
Did you know that Edinburgh has a special connection with the magical world of Harry Potter? Many fans of the world's most famous wizard are unaware that the Scottish capital was home to J.K. Rowling while she wrote the majority of the Harry Potter books.
There's no single "most beautiful" city, but Bath, Edinburgh, York, and Chester consistently rank high, known for Georgian architecture, historic charm, Roman ruins, medieval walls, and stunning natural settings, respectively. Other contenders include Oxford, Cambridge, and Durham, praised for their universities, canals, and grand cathedrals.
Edinburgh's famous foods center on hearty Scottish staples like Haggis, Neeps & Tatties, creamy soups such as Cullen Skink, classic baked goods like Shortbread & Tablet, comforting pies like the Scotch Pie, and fresh seafood, alongside unique deep-fried treats and the iconic national drink, Irn-Bru.
In Scotland from the 16th to 18th centuries, between 3000 and 4000 people were tortured, convicted and executed as witches. The situation in Edinburgh was particularly tragic, with more people strangled and burnt at the stake on Edinburgh Castle's esplanade than anywhere else in Scotland.
Bill and Fleur's home, Shell Cottage, from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was filmed on location at Freshwater West beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales, where the set was built directly on the sand dunes for filming in 2010 but was removed afterward. While the cottage isn't there anymore, fans still visit the beach to see the site and leave tributes at Dobby's Grave, a memorial built in the dunes nearby.
No, the Harry Potter movies were not filmed in Edinburgh, but the city was a huge source of inspiration for J.K. Rowling, influencing characters, settings, and names. While you won't find actual film sets, Edinburgh offers many magical spots like Victoria Street (rumored Diagon Alley), Greyfriars Kirkyard (inspiration for names like Tom Riddle), and The Elephant House café (where she wrote).
Hagrid was born on 6 December 1928 to Mr Hagrid, a wizard, and Fridwulfa, a giantess, and grew up in the West Country of England, near the Forest of Dean, where he acquired his distinctive accent.
