What is the cancellation policy for this tour?

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

How long does this tour take?

Please check the tour page for the exact duration.

Edinburgh Harry Potter Self-Guided Private Tour

Q: Where does this tour start?

This tour starts at: All our tours are self-guided. You will be led by the GPS in the app. Remember to check the "Before You Go" Section of your ticket and give Pandemic Tours App access to your location!.

★★★★☆ 4.3

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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!).

Gallery

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What's Included

✓ Included

You will get an email with instructions to activate your tour (booking reference isn't the code!)
Jule will guide you through an audio guide (no computer-generated voice!)
Audio guide, videos, pictures, recommendations and all the info you need
3 weeks unlimited access to this Self-Guided Tour on the app
Map, directions, GPS route and stops of each tour

✗ Not Included

Live Guide
Any entrance fee for the attractions mentioned during the tour

Itinerary

Stop 1

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.

Stop 2

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.

Stop 3

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!

Stop 4

Discover all headstones from famous (and not so famous) characters of the Harry Potter Sagas that are scattered around all over this amazing graveyard.

Stop 5

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

Stop 6

Learn the history behind one of the buildings that were the inspiration of Hogwarts, the school of wizards, in Harry Potter history.

Stop 7

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.

Stop 8

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.

Stop 9

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!

Stop 10

Enjoy the amazing view of this spot while imagining the whole story of Harry Potter taking place right in front of you.

Stop 11

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.

Stop 12

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.

Stop 13

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.

Meeting & End Point

📍

Meeting Point

All our tours are self-guided. You will be led by the GPS in the app. Remember to check the "Before You Go" Section of your ticket and give Pandemic Tours App access to your location!

🏁

End Point

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

Find Hotels in Edinburgh

Good to Know

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

Known For:

Movie Tours in Edinburgh, Audio Guides in Edinburgh, Art Tours in Edinburgh, Harry Potter Tours in Edinburgh, Walking Tours in Edinburgh, Private Sightseeing Tours in Edinburgh, Literary Tours in Edinburgh

Special Instructions

Your Exploro Tour is Ready!

Thanks for booking your self-guided tour with Exploro — we’re excited to help you discover the city at your own pace!

Here’s everything you need to get started:

If you don’t have the Exploro app yet:
1. Download the Exploro app from our website (https://exploro.app)
2. Open the app and sign up for a free account.
3. Once you're signed in, come back to this email and click the link below — it will open your tour directly in the app.
4. Insert your order number (your booking reference)

Open My Tour: https://exploro.app/tours/e-m41HE5YxuQ5SUBnrRgH6?source=viator

Already have the app installed?
1. Make sure you're signed in to your account in the Exploro app!
2. Click the link below to open your tour in the app.
3. Insert your order number (you can find it under Order Summary)

Open My Tour: https://exploro.app/tours/e-m41HE5YxuQ5SUBnrRgH6?source=viator

*note: if the link is not clickable, copy and paste it into your Chrome/Safari*

- You have unlimited access to enjoy this tour. It is suggested opening the app a little earlier to familiarize yourself with the interface and to make sure you've given it access to your location. This will ensure you can fully utilize the map function for a seamless experience
- If you encounter any issues or need help, please reach: exploro.official@gmail.com or drop a message via WhatsApp at +39 389 644 9134 (Europe) or +56942572988 (Americas)

Remember, you have the flexibility and freedom to explore at your own pace. So relax, have fun, and enjoy your self-guided tour!

PS: Don't forget to rate my tour, thanks! =)