EDINBURGH’S OLD TOWN WALKING TOUR

Explore the story-filled streets of Edinburgh’s Old Town. See the cafés where J.K. Rowling spent time writing, explore historic castles, churches, and school buildings often linked to her fictional settings, and wander the kirkyard whose real headstones are believed to have sparked names and ideas in her books. Edinburgh is famous for its storybook architecture, thanks to centuries of construction layering more modern buildings on top of medieval alleys.

Highlights include the colorful shops and winding storefronts along Victoria Street, the historic churches along the Royal Mile, and a moving memorial dedicated to those persecuted for witchcraft in earlier centuries.

The tour commentary will help you understand how each place helped shape Rowling’s fictional settings and storytelling. We’ll also let you know about how long each stop should take. Some spots can be viewed as you stroll by, like George Heriot’s School, while others reward a little more exploration, like Greyfriars Kirkyard.