Harry Potter Origins Tour with Edinburgh Castle Tickets

Edinburgh, Scotland

4 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Overview

What's Included

Fun local guide!
2-hour walking tour with a small group
See Edinburgh's top Harry Potter sights
Tickets for Edinburgh Castle

Snacks & Drinks (please bring these along with you)
Hotel pickup / drop-off (please make your own way to the start point)

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Tron Kirk Market
122 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1SG, UK
We meet outside of the Tron Kirk (The Royal Mile Market). Opposite Bella Italia on the world-famous Royal Mile. The nearest train station is Waverly Station, a 10-minute walk away.

End point

Edinburgh Castle
Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NG, UK
Your guide will give tickets and directions to the castle after your Harry Potter tour (they will not join you inside). Your experience ends here after your have explored the castle.

Itinerary

Royal Mile

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Edinburgh Waverley Station

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

New Town

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

University of Edinburgh

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Old Town

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Greyfriars

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Edinburgh Castle

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Victoria Street

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Edinburgh City Chambers

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Edinburgh Castle

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed

Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.3

based on 14 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

very disappointed

Jeannie_B, Jun 2026

Were very disappointed with this tour. Our tour guide was a young girl must not have much experience. Had a heavy Scottish accent and spoke fast, not loud enough and kept turning her face away which made it very hard to understand. She didn't have a sign or prop to follow her on extremely busy streets. Did not wait for the group. And worst of all did not tell us the entrance tickets to the castle were in an email that was sent that very morning while we were traveling. Our friends didn't get the email until it was too late to go in the castle, we got the email but spent over an hour trying to call Viator asking for the tickets, got them and ran inside the castle but were able to go in for just 15 minutes before going back to our cruise. It was a terrible experience, the tour guide seemed to have knowledge about the Harry Potter author connection but had no clue how to conduct a group tour.

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mark_a, May 2026

Great tour with guide. Got to see other side of the castle which we had not previously done. Enjoyed more in depth of Harry Potter and Edinburgh

Hazel was a great...

Terri_B, May 2026

Hazel was a great informative guide. I enjoyed the walk and also touring Edinburgh Castle. I learned more about Edinburgh.

Hazel (aka "Witch Hazel")...

Rebecca_B, Mar 2026

Hazel (aka "Witch Hazel") was fantastic! This was my first tour of the trip and I'm so glad I booked it. Hazel provided a great blend of Edinburgh history with the elements that inspired JK Rowling's Harry Potter novels. I chose the option with the Edinburgh castle tickets and, after the tour, Hazel made sure I knew the right direction to go and gave us some great recommendations for lunch spots in the city. I had a really great time and would definitely recommend this tour as a great introduction to the city for any Harry Potter fans.

Stories about writing hp books, not a film location tour at all.

David_B, Jan 2026

This tour is for people that want a guide to nice stops in Edinburgh and to hear about J.K. Writing the books. Not for anyone looking for film sites, or to meet the characters, etc. Not a trip for kids, better for adults that are serious fans.

A great HP experience

TIM_B, Dec 2025

This is a great behind the scenes history of how Edinburgh contributed to JK Rowling creating Harry Potter. Our tour guide, Kirstie, was phenomenal. She was so knowledgeable and a truly entertaining guide. I’d tour with her again anytime. The tour is fun for kids and adults alike. Highly recommend!

Fun and Informative

Chelsea_L, May 2025

This was a super fun tour that told us the hidden gems of Edinburgh that contributed and inspired the creation of the Harry Potter series! Jack was a great tour guide that wove funny anecdotes into the history of Harry Potter!

Great tour!

Madison_C, Oct 2024

We had such a great experience on the Harry Potter Origins Tour in Edinburgh! Our guide, Benjamin, was fantastic - his enthusiasm and passion for the magical world of Harry Potter truly brought the tour to life. He shared fascinating facts and insider details with such joy and energy. We got to hear lesser-known stories about J.K. Rowling’s inspiration and fun facts about the films. His knowledge and charisma kept us engaged and entertained the whole time. If you’re a Harry Potter fan, this tour is an absolute must.