Discover Harry Potter and JK Rowling in Edinburgh
Travel to the ancient hamlet of Edinburgh, Scotland and walk in the steps of JK Rowling and Harry Potter surrounded by magical inspiration. From cobblestone streets, narrow alleyways, to spired castles, this bustling city of 500,000 is full of unique architecture.
Balmoral Hotel
There are lists of places where Rowling spent her time in Edinburgh. She wrote part of the Harry Potter series in Balmoral Hotel. Although it was built in the early 1900’s, I would imagine she enjoyed the view of the gardens, bridges, and Princes Street.
A view from Princes Street of Edinburgh Castle.
Edinburgh weather and Harry Potter
No one mentions how Edinburgh’s weather may have influenced JK Rowling in writing Harry Potter. We were lucky to have enjoyed some sunny days, but the moody storms that come and go in Scotland that soak the pavers and make the steep “closes” (narrow walkways between buildings) slick, must have inspired her too. I don’t remember the sun shining very often in the Harry Potter books. It’s on those few dreary days in Colorado that my writing becomes darker. I love stormy weather.
Rowling and The Elephant House
I am always most intrigued by where writers wrote their famous books. Since Rowling’s baby slept well in the stroller, she crafted her series in coffee shops. According to several accounts, she found writing isolating and enjoyed being surrounded by people. Note to self: Must find coffee shop in which to write. She chose the Elephant House as one of her favorite writerly haunts when writing Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
A video of Victoria Street –
Edinburgh streets influenced Rowling
After trekking up Diagon Alley, I mean, Victoria Street, I made my way to The Elephant House. To say I was underwhelmed would be an understatement. With all the ancient buildings to choose from, this interior appeared modern.
I found a table and noticed an old outlet perfect for my phone’s drained battery. I wondered if JK herself might have sat in this very spot. My husband, Danny placed an order for hot chocolates. I looked around the busy coffee shop and wondered how many were tourists like me, walking in this famous writer’s footsteps.
Sipped before taking a photo and it still looks good! Delish.
Then I looked out the window behind me. Aha!
View from the Elephant House.
Using my imagination in the steps of Jk Rowling
I imagined a Hogwarts teacher in full robes looking toward the sky where several students played a game of Quidditch. They would zip and zag through the clouds above the castle, I mean school, and then fly right by the window. Can you imagine them?
It has become impossible for Rowling to go anywhere without being recognized. I bet she misses this view.
The Elephant House bathroom has become a place of honor with zillions of messages graffitied on the walls.
The World’s End Tavern in Edinburgh on the Royal Mile
Many taverns like The World’s End stood out among the woolen stores open for tourists on the Royal Mile. This ancient place is among many other Edinburgh haunts featured in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series as well.
We had a peek when it rained on our last day in Edinburgh. So warm and cozy with lots of stone and character. I was ready to sit and relax for a while, but there was a 45-minute wait. Next time.
Edinburgh Castle as a muse for writers
Built on a hill, magical Edinburgh Castle can be seen for miles. I’m sure it has been the muse for many writers and fairytales.
Holyrood Palace with more inspiration for Harry
On the opposite end of the Royal Mile, originally built on a bridge, is the Holyrood Palace. Queen Elizabeth still takes up residence there every summer so no photographs were allowed. But the ruins of the chapel were fair game. My imagination stirred, I couldn’t wait to continue exploring.
Fantasy and fantastic ideas inspired by Edinburgh, Scotland
I’m a thriller writer and found myself pondering stories with notes of fantasy. Could I be inspired too? Somehow anything seemed possible in Edinburgh, Scotland. With a written history that only spans from the 1400’s, who knows what might have been.
Walter Scott, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Robert Louis Stevenson are among almost eighty other writers mentioned in Wikipedia who lived in Edinburgh. I’m sure they were influenced by the fantastic architecture, its mysterious vibe, and possibilities too.
All photos are copyright protected.
Have you ever been inspired while on vacation? Where would you like to travel next?
Related posts:
London and Edinburgh and Why I Am Heading Back
6 Best Travel Destinations Around Edinburgh, Scotland
A Day in London with Charles Dickens: Photo Essay
Susie… I was thinking about you this morning and saw your post. Funny thing about travel is how it evokes us to dream, think, and reflect. I remember your travel challenge from ’13 and I still have the Eiffel Tower key chain on my school lanyard. Makes me think of days gone by – all that i have learned and all that i need to learn. Have a wonderful day.. that hot chocolate looks delicious.
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Thanks so much, Clay! You made my day.
That was a fun trip and inspirational too. It was fun to put together that contest. I’m so glad your key chain held up! I was inspired last year in Scotland so it was nice to relax and absorb it. Lots more to come!
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Thank you and you are welcome. I still give pink pencils to my students in October – we all do what we can to make a difference and the world a better place. Peace.
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Awww! Peace to you too, Clay.
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Lovely tour. Brings back fond memories.
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Thanks, John! Were you inspired to write after going?
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Not really. I have my stories. I was awed by the gratiousness of the people and the beauty of the country.
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So true! They have the best manners.
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Wow, wonderful photos. Those views would seem to inspire all kinds of fantastical plots!
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Thank you, Rebecca! Right? Lots of writers have spent time in Edinburgh. It definitely sparked my overactive creative imagination. 🙂
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You need a re-read, my dear! Jo mentions hot, sunny days enough times that I wonder how the heck the books ever took place in Scotland! I know they occasionally hit the 80s, but southeastern Ireland was in the high 60s when I was there, so I’m sure the northern UK is even chillier!
Then again, I saw Ireland have a heat advisory this summer for the upper 70s and lower 80s because they’re so used to the cool, so maybe that’s what she meant!
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So much sass, Daya! LOL! Scotland is cool and rainy most of the year. It really inspired me! 🙂
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I apologize if I came off a tad cheeky, but I meant it as…well, it doesn’t matter how I meant it, because when I replay it in my mind, it’s suddenly accompanied by Old Timey Villain Laughter. So that’s not good. xD
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Nooooo! I totally got the teasing and teased you right back in a playful way. I actually heard my daughter’s voice in the word, “sass” since she calls me on it all the time! I haven’t read all the books. Just the first but saw all the movies which chose to depict the scenes under cloudy skies.
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I didn’t realize that you hadn’t read all the books! GASP!
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Terrific journey – great photos, history and insight – nice!
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Thanks, John! I somehow skipped your comment. It was a very inspirational trip. I’m starting that fantasy book today for Nanowrimo. I’ll see how far I get!! *gulp*
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Good luck!
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Thank you, John!
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Wow, Edinburgh seems to be the right place where anyone could be inspired to start writing. I get inpired everytime I can just stop and watch the world and the people within it move, around me. It doesn’t really matter where I am, it’s just that moment when you can stop and take everything around you in. (Also LOVE Harry Potter! It is written in a really good way.)
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That is such a great attitude and advice, OG! All writers should stop and observe. Funny thing, no matter where we live, it’s exotic to someone. Lol!
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It sure is that way and still today, I can look at my own home and see it in different eyes than how I did before. Sometime more beautiful but others not so, I guess it is a good thing though to see all the small & big things in different perspectives. I feel like you can learn a lot by doing so. Also need to say, you are a real inspiration Susie!
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Awww! Thank you so much. You are an inspiration too. I’ll try to slow down and take it all in this week. 🙂
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Great post Suzy, looks like you absolutely loved Edinburgh. It’s a fabulous city with barrels of character. The HP/JK story is completely intertwined now too isn’t it?
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Thanks so much, Jonno! It really is intertwined. A few Harry Potter shops had sprung up since the last time I’d been there. Rowling created an entertainment industry!
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She’s not bad is she? Written some nice stories ……
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Ha! I would say so and while divorced, enduring the death of her mother, and estrangement of her father. Must have been a great escape!
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Love all the HP books, read them a few times. When we were in Scotland last summer we were staying across the valley from her home. Looked a lovely place.
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Travel is such an inspiration to writers. I haven’t been to Edinburgh yet but I can see how it would get the creative juices going. Great pictures.
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Thanks, Darlene! Sometimes going anywhere can be what we need for a new perspective. 🙂
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Fabulous photos, Susie, thank you for sharing and the story.
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Hey, Ted! Thanks for stopping by!
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It’s been 52 years since I was in Edinburgh. Our ship was too big to come pier-side so we anchored out in the Firth of Forth. Enjoyed many of the same sights in the four days we were there. One of our shipmates was injured when he tried climbing the rocks below the castle. Needles to say, he had imbibed a few too many pints just before that.
Your photo shot from the window of the Elephant House is exquisite!
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Thanks, Al! Other than some of the names of the retail shops, I bet the rest hasn’t changed at all. Too bad there weren’t cell phones back then. Your video might go viral! Glad you all survived. Lol
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You can see how JK Rowling found inspiration from these gorgeous places in Edinburgh. Would love to visit here one day.
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It’s a pretty unique destination with a palace and a castle within a mile of each other in the center of town. You would love it, even if it rains. Thanks for stopping by!
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👍🏼😊
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Gorgeous photos, Susie! Thank you for sharing. We hope to make it to Scotland in 2019.
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It’s a magical place, Kassandra. Thanks so much!
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If I had several lifetimes, and several lifetime’s worth of money, I’d spend them visiting all the neolithic sites in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. 🙂
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Wales! I’ll have to add that to my list. Any cities in particular?
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No cities at all. 🙂
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How very special! What a lovely trip to take, and great inspiration to walk and think about JK Rowling’s steps!
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Thanks, Debra! I was constantly reminded with all the cool, ancient architecture and Harry Potter-like alleyways.
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As you are clearly a Harry Potter fan, you should check out the James Potter series by G. Norman Lippert. They are full-length fan fiction novels that, while of course there are a few discrepancies from JKR’s world, are quite brilliant and feel like a true continuation of the originals. They follow Harry and Ginny’s eldest son James. There are even audiobook versions out there… and as they’re fan fiction and Lippert can’t make any money off of them, they are all available free online.
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Cool! Thanks so much for sharing, Jeanie! I wonder how that works. I have a friend who writes about Jack Reacher and knows Lee Child. She makes money from her books.
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One of my very favourite cities. I’ve had some wonderful times there. Fantastic photos.
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Thanks, PS! I went last summer and had to go back. I can’t believe how much I missed! Did you go on a ghost tour? They took down under the Mile. I’ll have to get that post up soon!
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I live in the North of England so not so far away to have been able to visit many times. Never done the ghost tour though, that sounds great.
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Lucky you! The ghost tour takes you under the bridge that the Royal Mile is built upon. Crazy! I still don’t understand how they built around it. Note to self: Must do research before next blog post… 🙂
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The architecture is just incredible! Definitely real-life Harry Potter! I need to re-visit Edinburgh! 🙂
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Yes! There is so much to see. We went last year and I can’t believe how much I missed. Now I’m toying with the first chapter of a fantasy novel. Lol.
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Love This! Definitely addin to my MUST SEE 👀 list. I have quite a few Harry Potter fan friends that would like to tag along 😊
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They would LOVE it! So much in this city influenced JK Rowling. Some of it predates history!
Thanks so much, Rudy!
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Huge Harry Potter Nerd here. LOVE this! Now I want to visit Scotland…..
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You would love seeing all of her influences. I’d always thought she got her ideas from England. It was in Edinburgh that she really dug into her Harry Potter series. Now I know why!
Thanks so much, Tia!
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Hi Susie, I have another destination on my list thanks to you 🙂 Edinburgh looks amazing! Thanks for sharing your adventure!
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Oh wow, what a gorgeous trip along the path of one of my all time favorite authors! Saving this so I can follow in her steps too.
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I’m so glad to hear that! We went last year, but I had to go back and spend more time.
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I love Edinburgh but haven’t visited for ages. I’m actually staying for a few days in November for my birthday and I can’t wait. I actually hadn’t realised she had written some of Harry Potter while in Edinburgh. I love the city a lot!
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It’s so ancient and filled with places to explore. Rowling still lives in Scotland. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by, Rachael!
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There is something unique about the stone architecture in Europe that we will never have in North America. Beautiful photos!
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Thanks so much! That is so true, Anneli. If only walls could talk!
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Oh yeah! What stories they could tell!
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This is seriously on my bucket list! I know this is one trip and then there is another Harry Potter Trip in England I would love to do. I am a HUGE Potterhead and I would love to go to all these special places. Thank you so much for sharing.
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You will be swept up in its magic, for sure. Hints of Harry Potter are everywhere. I wish the series hadn’t ended!
Thanks for stopping by!
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This place evokes every creative soul that looks upon its bleak grey shape through Edinburgh’s Autumn . Burns was born in Scitland and loved Edinburgh, did you go to the Globe Inn. At the Writers’ Museum in Edinburgh you can see the desk where he composed some of his most famous works. I think all writers should go here once to recharge their writers head. I loved your post and walked with you through your words. Xx
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Awww! Thanks so much, Ellen! I wanted to go to the writers museum and got close but ran out of time. I didn’t get to the Globe Inn either. Next time!
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But I am sure JkR is much more relevant than R. Burns today. My Mother being a Scott hammered home Rabbie at every turn. 😂😁
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