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JK Rowling's Edinburgh & the Writing of Harry Potter

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Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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JK Rowling's Edinburgh & the Writing of Harry Potter
The sorting begins
Approaching where Rowling graduated. Twice.
Collecting her 1st honorary degree, a friend sent Rowling a postcard saying 'I assume this is to show the new graduates that you can make something of yourself even if you spend 3 years down the pub'.
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Free Cancellation
up to 24 hours in advance
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icon3 hours 45 minutes  (Approx.)
Mobile ticket
iconOffered in: English
Keeping you safe during COVID-19
What you can expect during your visit
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Gear/equipment sanitized between use
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
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Safety precautions are provided by the tour operator and are not checked by Viator for accuracy
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Overview

Learn about J.K. Rowling and the origins of the 'Harry Potter' books during a walking tour of Edinburgh. See places that inspired Rowling such as the Balmoral Hotel and University of Edinburgh's Old College; locales that shaped the Dementors and Ministry of Magic; and cafes where Rowling liked to write. Your guide is a 'Harry Potter' fan who shares fascinating details about the wizarding world in Edinburgh.
  • Get the inside scoop on J.K. Rowling's life while writing the 'Harry Potter' books
  • Learn about Scottish writers at Makars’ Court
  • See the inspiration for many locations in the Wizarding World
  • Visit top Edinburg locations including Old College and Greyfriars Kirkyard
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From $41.25

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If entry is permitted we may go inside:
The museum of Scotland.
Bank of Scotland HQ: don't pull the Goblins' ears!
Supreme Courts: enter Edinburgh's Wizengamot.
Inside JK Rowling's head. It's fairly big.
Spoilers, it explores JK's themes so is terrible for whetting appetites
Scottish farmhouse Ice cream is extra, unless we have a full tour or it's a private
Genocide: We're a local company compliant with Scottish law.
Tips: Wizards aren't rich, unsurprisingly, help him out if you can afford to
Potter guides & aspiring guides: please look elsewhere, I love you but I have too many 'tributes'.
2 Princes St, Edinburgh EH1 3YY, UK

Return Details

253 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1YJ, UK
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Many children have enjoyed the tour, however it's based on Rowling's rags to riches story & so is dark. The more difficulties a person has overcome, the more you can learn from them. This tour has darker stories from Rowling's instructive biography, which I hope will inspire those ready to achieve more.
  • The tour is also based on the books, the books have some adult themes which I give credit too, because 'they're just children's books' annoys me. People who have just seen the movies may not be aware of these darker themes.
  • Near public transportation
  • 5 km+ of up and down walking through Edinburgh's hilly old town.
  • Not recommended for people requiring mobility aids, e.g. a stick, 6km of hilly walking is demanding. Contact me for a private 2¼ hour tour.
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travelers
  • OPERATED BY The Potter Tour

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Learn more about cancellations.

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
What is the policy on sanitization during JK Rowling's Edinburgh & the Writing of Harry Potter?
A:
The policies on sanitization are:

  • Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
  • Gear/equipment sanitized between use
See all safety measures taken by JK Rowling's Edinburgh & the Writing of Harry Potter.
Q:
What is the social distancing policy during JK Rowling's Edinburgh & the Writing of Harry Potter?
A:
The policy on social distancing is:

  • Social distancing enforced throughout experience
See all safety measures taken by JK Rowling's Edinburgh & the Writing of Harry Potter.
Q:
What measures are being taken to ensure staff health & safety during JK Rowling's Edinburgh & the Writing of Harry Potter?
A:
The policies on staff health & safety are:

  • Guides required to regularly wash hands
  • Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
See all safety measures taken by JK Rowling's Edinburgh & the Writing of Harry Potter.
Q:
What is the maximum group size during JK Rowling's Edinburgh & the Writing of Harry Potter?
A:
This activity will have a maximum of 6 travelers.

See all safety measures taken by JK Rowling's Edinburgh & the Writing of Harry Potter.

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Reviews

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Reviews by Viator travelers

Showing 1-5 of 126 reviews
star-5
Writing of Harry Potter walking tour of Edinburgh
mrsm_b
, Dec 2020
Sam was amazing, very informative, knowledgeable and friendly. He kept us entertained throughout the tour. The weather wasn’t great, but that didn’t spoil the experience.
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icon Response from Host , Dec 2020
Cheers Mary, yes it's a long long tour in the cold but you came very well prepared. Esikmo coats, full finger gloves, water resistant shoes, umbrella. It's meant to be a cold snowy winter for Scotland this year so you & Jess ought to be role models. RE: informative, cheers! I've been ramping up my knowledge for a few years, switching some amount out, looking for what might be useful to folk, or what might be more enjoyable. I'm pleased you chose me, all these reviews, you're a blessing. May your cauldron never crack and your owl never tire x Sam
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star-4
Harry Potter Walking tour.
June
, Oct 2020
Very knowledgable and enthusiastic guide who gave lots of info at every point. You get to see areas tucked away from main tourist areas and items relevant to HP. Fun and worth the price.
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icon Response from Host , Oct 2020
Cheers June, yes I occasionally have enjoyed reading biographies - Rowling does too, she was fascinated by the Mitford sisters and the Kennedys - so it's neat that I have a job where I can read up and spout on Britain's most remarkable woman. Thanks for thinking different and employing me. I will maybe collapse onto Universal Credit over winter. So if you think work should pay, not sponging - go with the little local businesses like June. Work pays when you patronise locals. Patronising locals also pisses off the bullies in the multi-nationals; they're poor & want to pull others down to their level. BONUS! May your adventures be worthy of radiant Lockhart and your home as comfy as Hagrid's hut. x Sam.
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star-5
Harry potter tour
DayTrip28818022873
, Jul 2019
Our guide Sam had really put some toughts in to the tour. We got to become wisards for a day. He showed us lots of places of interest. And to top it all we got candy and icecream.
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icon Response from Host , Sep 2019
Thanks for the kind review! Yes I strive to be the comprehensive luxury tour, where you don't want for anything at the end. This summer Scotland's smallest ice cream parlour even offered Butterscotch (butterbeer) ice cream! It was dreamy. Getting too cold for it now though. I'm so glad you enjoyed it, thanks for taking the time to review. Every review means more than you can imagine, it set me up for a wonderful summer. x Sam.
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star-5
Absolutely fantastic guide!
Cosmopolitan590459
, Jun 2019
We had such a great time on this tour. I don't remember our tour guides name, but we went on 30/05/19. He was so professional and knowledgeable. I chose this tour so we could see more of Edinburgh as well as learn about Harry Potter. It definitely did not disappoint! If I could change anything I would have done this on the first day of our visit instead of the last so that we could know more about the city. I would definitely recommend!
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icon Response from Host , Sep 2019
This is fantastic feedback, I might change the tour's values on my website to 'see more, do more, learn more'. I think a common hesitation over my tour maybe that 'will 3.5 hours on Harry Potter be booooring?' So I'm pleased it didn't dissappoint. I had a great summer, thanks to kind reviewers like you. Thanks Cosmo x Sam.
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star-4
Interesting and fun
Companion24488498175
, May 2019
I booked this tour because it sounded like it would be fun and cover a lot of ground...and it was! Sam made it interesting and interactive. I was disappointed when the ice cream vendor was closed, but the weather had something to do with that. Sam talks pretty fast so just ask him to slow down. We really enjoyed the tour!
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icon Response from Host , Sep 2019
Yes, I speak too fast too often. I took your feedback and made the tour longer, about 3.75 hours over summer to reduce my speed. I'm rolling the length back now, going to cut like I'm a crazed barbers. Barbatrix - like Bellatrix but scissored. Yeah bloomin' ice cream vendors eh? Grrr. Thanks so much for the review x Sam.
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