Book Pilgrimage | Discovering Harry Potter’s Scotland
On September 2nd it was back to Hogwarts Day
It’s a special day when all of the wizarding students take that very famous train back to their beloved school.
Just like those very famous Hogwarts students, I find myself here in Edinburgh Scotland where one of my favorite book friends began. J. K. Rowling use to live in this area and would write in the local eateries and coffee shops. Not only that but she took a lot of inspiration from her surroundings and they found their way into Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. In Scotland and the rest of the UK it’s known as Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone.
Just like Harry Potter, I find myself completely enamored with the area. It draws me in and says, “come explore further.” I simply can’t resist. Each time I come to Edinburgh I find myself having a “Harry Potter Day.” In each place I’ve discovered my own little corners to daydream and create in. I find a quiet inside and allow myself to become charmed.
I’ve created this little guide incase you too should find yourself in Edinburgh and just happen to like Harry Potter as much as I do.
The first stop is where the first draft of Harry Potter was written.
Spoon Cafe and Restaurant
It’s a great little place to curl up with a book, and some wonderful eats. When JK Rowling was writing Harry it use to be called Nicholson’s. There is another more famous eatery which also has the Harry Potter claim to fame. You have to be a true fan and in the know to know about the Spoon Cafe. It is one of my favorite places in Edinburgh and I go here every time I’m in the city.
6A Nicolson St, Edinburgh EH8 9DH, UK
Here’s the other famous Harry Potter cafe I told you about…… Elephant House.
This is the second place JKR use to write Harry Potter. All of the edits were done here. You have to wait in line to get in which gives one a good time to view the menu. It’s a full menu complete with great meals and wonderful sweets. Just before 2 o’clock or around 3 are good times to go here. The lines aren’t long. Anytime before or after that the lines are horrendous. The painted sign in the window claims they are the “Birth Place of Harry Potter” and indeed they are.
A little cafe law never hurt anyone !!
There is a 3 hour cafe law in Edinburgh. You have to purchase something, such as coffee, tea, food etc, from the time you’re served the clock starts ticking. After 3 hours any cafe or restaurant can kick you out no matter how many things you’ve purchased. Edinburgh is a UNESCO heritage protected site as the world’s most literary city. It probably works hand in hand with writers sitting everywhere taking up tables writing.
Harry Potter Scavenger Hunt Anyone?
Greyfriars Cemetery
If you make a right hand turn coming out of the Elephant House and walk down one block, Greyfriars Pub is on the right hand side of the street and behind that is the cemetery.
JK Rowling would often times walk in this cemetery either going to or coming from the White Elephant.
The names on the tombstones inspired some of her more known characters. Time for a little scavenger hunt. See if you can find the following names:
Thomas Riddell (There’s actually loads of notes, flowers etc here. You shouldn’t have a problem finding it)
William McGonagall ( Professor McGonagall)
Elizabeth Moodie (Mad-eye Moodie)
Anne Potter
Grizel Arbuthnut
Daniel Scrymceour
I have to share that I have been in many a cemetery but Greyfriar is one of those very imaginative places that could make one truly believe in haunted places and spaces. It is both exquisitely beautiful and creepy all at the same time. It is also one of the cemeteries that has the greatest sense of humor. There use to be a little dog referred to Greyfriars Bobby who sat on his owner’s grave for 14 years. The caretakers of the cemetery also took care of the dog. Both caretakers are buried in the cemetery as well. On one of the tombstones there is this very long epitaph saying how well he took care of this little dog. In smaller print at the bottom of the tombstone it reads, “buried somewhere near here. ” 
