Harry Potter’s Birthplace: The Enchanting City of Edinburgh!
Hello, dear readers!
The magical details we are about to share will undoubtedly excite you!
The stories we have witnessed about the city of Edinburgh, shaped by magic and imbued with enchantment, are just as extraordinary as Harry Potter himself! Now, let us share with you all the emotions we experienced while exploring this magical city. Who knows, perhaps this article will inspire you to set your sights on Edinburgh! Here we go…
Edinburgh is a place where J.K. Rowling breathed life into Harry Potter. Known as the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh is located in the United Kingdom. If your path leads you to Scotland, the unquestionable first city you should visit is Edinburgh.
Edinburgh is not only a captivating city with its charming streets, graveyards, cafes, shops, and historical museums, but it has also managed to stand out with its warm-hearted people who cherish historical facts.
Trying to squeeze an Edinburgh tour into a single day is impossible. Our advice to you is to plan your visit and embark on your journey, ensuring you don’t miss out on opportunities to enhance your magical moments.
The Birthplace of Magic!
J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter in a small café called Spoon Cafe located in Edinburgh’s Old Town. So, according to Harry Potter’s identity, his birthplace is marked as the ‘Spoon Cafe.’
This story, which has almost changed Rowling’s entire life, has grown so much that the café has become one of the legendary places among Harry Potter fans.
In fact, it’s so sweet that Spoon Cafe has created a lovely memorial area with a charming photo of Rowling and the caption, “J.K. Rowling wrote some of the early chapters of Harry Potter in rooms on the first floor of this building.”
Valuable wizards of the Magic Shop, your coffee awaits you at Spoon Cafe on Nicholson Street.
Now let’s talk about the rumors surrounding the Elephant House… The Elephant House is the place where Rowling continued to write the Harry Potter adventure. Although the café owners claim that the foundations of Harry Potter were laid here, unfortunately, this claim is not true.
Sad news: Unfortunately, there was a fire at the Elephant House, and the magical place is currently closed for renovation. We hope it returns to its former glory as soon as possible…
Where Does the Magic of Diagon Alley Come From?
One of the impressive areas in Edinburgh is Victoria Street, with its cobblestone pavement. It is believed that Rowling drew inspiration from Victoria Street for the story of the magical street known as Diagon Alley. And wizards – if we were to spread a little gossip, the rumor that Rowling created Diagon Alley based on Victoria Street, despite Rowling not denying it, is a fan theory. Rowling, who tasted magic from every corner of Edinburgh, breathed life into Harry Potter here, starting her story.
In addition, almost all the businesses on Victoria Street refuse to let go of the Harry Potter theme, keeping J.K. Rowling’s memories alive. Such deep respect should never be overlooked by visitors. It’s a great achievement.
Remember the handprints of celebrities on the Hollywood Walk of Fame? Well, it’s not exactly the same, but in front of the Edinburgh City Chambers, just off the Royal Mile, there are golden imprints of Rowling’s hands, commemorating her winning the Edinburgh Award in 2008.
What?! Are Tom Riddle, McGonagall, and Moody real?
One of the locations that shed light on J.K. Rowling’s magical journey with Harry Potter is the Greyfriars Kirkyard Cemetery in Edinburgh. The names of important characters from Harry Potter can be found in this historical cemetery: Tom Riddle, McGonagall, Moody… Even writing these names can make us feel excited!
The real names of the individuals who gave life to these characters but are no longer alive are: Thomas Riddell, William McGonagall, Anne and Robert Potter, and Mrs. Elizabeth Moodie. Let’s not forget to mention them as well.
Additionally, the intriguing grave of Tom Riddle is often the second destination for many Harry Potter fans visiting Edinburgh. Tom Riddle’s grave, which makes our hearts pound when we see it, is one of the significant sites that visitors are eager to see. Imagine a place where the sight of the dark gray tombstone in front of the cemetery instantly evokes the chilling fear of Voldemort, sending shivers down your spine.
The Knight Bus is alive!
The Knight Bus, which is an important symbol of Harry Potter, is called the “Gece Otobüsü” in Turkish. Tours organized in Edinburgh are conducted with a bus just like the Knight Bus, and it is rumored that Rowling drew inspiration from The Ghost Bus located in Edinburgh while giving life to the Knight Bus. How exciting it is that stories belonging to a truly magical universe emerge from the city of Edinburgh…
The Balmoral Hotel
Among the places that gained significance through J.K. Rowling’s footsteps is The Balmoral Hotel. Almost the entire book of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was written in room 552 of this hotel. How lucky are those who stayed in that room…
In order to commemorate the Harry Potter legacy, The Balmoral Hotel has named room 552 as “Rowling Suite.” The suite’s door continues to greet visitors with a purple and owl-themed doorknob. The Rowling Suite is notoriously difficult to book, and even the position of the table where the story was written has never been changed.
Is it Edinburgh Castle? Or Hogwarts Castle?
Throughout the years, the magnificent Edinburgh Castle, which has served the noble Scottish monarchy, has begun to transform its meaning among Harry Potter fans into “Hogwarts Castle.” While there hasn’t been an official statement from Rowling herself, it is quite evident that she drew inspiration from Edinburgh Castle when writing about Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!
So, as we were saying, when visiting this enchanting Hogwarts Castle—oops! Sorry, we misspoke—for Edinburgh Castle, pay attention to the One O’Clock Gun ceremony, which has been carried out since 1861 and involves firing a cannon at precisely 1 o’clock.
The Dog House
Did someone say Butterbeer? Suddenly, the delightful scent of ginger envelops you, doesn’t it? Well then, here’s a frothy mug of Butterbeer for everyone!
Yes, we know how enjoyable it is to taste this wonderful beverage at the Wizarding World, but The Dog House in Edinburgh offers a unique twist on it as well. With its charming design and magical drinks, The Dog House should definitely be high on your list of must-visit places. It’s rapidly making its way to the top ranks!
Would you ever return without buying magical gifts? Never!
Are you thinking of returning to our country without buying souvenirs that carry the magic of Harry Potter? Well, we believe that bringing a piece of magical memory with us would be quite delightful. And almost all of these memories can be found at Museum Contex.
The licensed and magical products at Museum Contex feature the small yet highly significant details from the Harry Potter books and films. From the moment you step inside, all the items you see will say, “Welcome to Hogwarts!” What’s that? Is it Hermione’s scarf? Don’t even think of leaving without buying it!
Prepare powerful potions like Slughorn and Snape!
You must be quite tired from walking all day, aren’t you? Don’t worry, the most enjoyable activity at the end of the day is to take a sip of magically crafted potion cocktails. The Cauldron, a restaurant where you can prepare powerful drinks, can take away all the exhaustion of the day.
The sweet moments you’ll spend in this place, despite the somewhat extravagant entrance fee, can make you forget about the amount you paid.
Was Harry Potter filmed in Edinburgh?
Is Harry Potter filmed in Edinburgh? This is one of the most important questions in the minds of Harry Potter fans. Unfortunately, the answer is ‘No’…
It is true that Rowling drew inspiration from this magical city while writing Harry Potter. However, none of the scenes in the film were filmed here.
That’s all the information we have for the magical tour of the Wizarding Shop…
We hope that your visit to Edinburgh, when you undertake it, will be filled with magic. And don’t forget, before starting your visit, to obtain your original wand from the Magic World!