Harry Potter & Horrible History Small Group Tour
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Edinburgh, Scotland
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
Enjoy a unique walking tour of Edinburgh that combined Harry Potter, history, city highlights, and hidden gems. Follow your guide around from the National Library of Scotland to the Edinburgh City Chambers. Along the way, learn about the city’s dark history and see sites that inspired J.K. Rowling, along with cafes where she wrote.
- Explore Edinburgh on a Harry Potter and history focused tour
- See a different side of the city on this unique and fun tour
- Choose from morning or afternoon departures
- Discover hidden gems and learn how the city inspired J.K. Rowling
What's Included
- Small Group Guarantee (Max 12 People)
- List of local recommendations for after the tour
- Expert guide specialising in Edinburgh's history and Harry Potter sites
- All Fees and Taxes
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- National Library of ScotlandGeorge IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EW, UK
We will meet outside the National Library of Scotland on George IV Bridge Road.
End point
- Edinburgh City Chambers253 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1YJ, UK
Ending in the City Chambers court
Itinerary
1
Victoria Street
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Grassmarket
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
The Vennel Viewpoint Edinburgh Castle
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Flodden Wall
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
George Heriot's School
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Greyfriars
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
7
The Elephant House
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
8
Royal Mile
25 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
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 8 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 211 reviews
Debby_W, Apr 2026
A lot of walking uphill and on uneven surfaces. Graveyard was interesting. Love the story of Bobby and Grayfrier
Maggie_B, Aug 2025
Fantastic tour!!!! Could not recommend it enough. Rob was funny and knowledgeable and we learned a ton about Edinburgh history and of course the potential inspirations for Harry Potter. If you find yourself in Edinburgh you should consider this a must do!!
Christine_D, Aug 2025
The tour guide was very knowledgeable and personable. He brought the information to life and shared some very enlightening facts.
selina_s, Aug 2025
The absolute best!!!! Robb was the best guide not only did he accommodate my sister and niece but he gave an excellent tour in high winds and some rain. This tour was a highlight in our whole trip because he weaved in Harry Potter spots and knowledge to horrible interesting history and made it funny with random dad jokes some of which we are still laughing about! Highly recommend this tour I would take it again when we return. Thank you Robb!!
maryrosemcconaghy, Aug 2025
Great Dad jokes! Fun and informative. Guide was very knowledgeable about Harry Potter. Recommend for families!
Kristen_R, Jul 2025
So well done! Saw a lot of sights we had seen before but got way more details and history from amazing and hilarious Rob.
Daniel_A, Jul 2025
If you're from a warmer climate, it may be cold and windy in some of the walking spots. The tour was early enough in the morning that shops were still being stocked and tourists only appeared at the end of the tour
Cagla_B, Apr 2025
By chance, I was the only one on this walk since I think it was a last minute posting. Rob was so great, friendly, knowledgeable, and luckily has an English accent so I didn't struggle to understand him lol. Also, this might seem minor, but he took a couple of great photos of me that I plan to post, and I'm picky so that's an impressive feat. 6 out of 5 stars!!! (iykyk)
Claire_B, Feb 2025
We had a great time - Rob is really engaging and even my 12 year old son who initially wasn’t keen loved it and found Rob really interesting. Thank you Rob, for an interesting voyage through the history of Edinburgh !
Stephanie_M, Dec 2024
His enthusiasm and story telling ability made for a thoroughly enjoyable and engaging tour! We would definitely recommend if you are interested in learning about Edinburgh history, including the origin of the Harry Potter novels.
Divina_O, Dec 2024
Rob was a great guide, extremely informative and fun. We saw so much in just two hours, and learned a lot! Would definitely recommend even for those with limited knowledge of HP.
Michele_N, Dec 2024
Fantastic walking tour of Edinburgh with excellent Harry Potter facts and local historical information.
Duc_N, Nov 2024
Such a wonderful time! I took the 9AM tour, highly recommend since it will be a smaller group of people + city isn’t crowded. Learned many Harry Potter’s inspirations
Melissa_F, Oct 2024
My husband and I had a BLAST on this tour. Rob was absolutely amazing! He had some great dad jokes while also so knowledgeable! We were recommended this tour from a coworker and we are so happy we did! So worth it and so fun!!
Leigh_M, Oct 2024
Rob was very knowledgeable and made the tour entertaining. Prepare for v bad jokes though but all good humoured!. Would definitely recommend if a fan of Harry Potter or if you want to see some different parts of Edinburgh
Emma_P, Sep 2024
Excellent tour with Rob, very interesting & knowledgable! The kids loved it too, fab for all ages! Definitely will do it again next time we are up!
Amanda_S, Aug 2024
Rob was engaging, informative and kept us entertained with his jokes & humour. He knows a lot about Harry Potter! As you would expect!
Kellylynn_S, Aug 2024
Very personable tour guide. Made connections with each tour member. The stories were interesting, the jokes were terrible - yet funny, too!
Sherry_S, Aug 2024
We loved rob! He was very funny and informative and gave great recommendations for zither sites to see!
Lauren_D, Aug 2024
Robert was great. Funny with his jokes had great theories and well spoken. Even checked up on us after to make sure we made it back to where we were going safe
Katrina_P, Jul 2024
Loved this tour - a little bit of Harry Potter and a little bit of the darker history. The pace was good and our guide was fantastic.
Brittany_J, Jul 2024
Excellent tour and tour guide, Robert. Insightful to both the city and Harry Potter inspirations. I would certainly rebook with him for a different tour, and I’d easily recommend him for this one. Enjoy!
jackie_o, Jul 2024
Went on the tour as my daughter had enjoyed the Harry Potter series and movies for years. I found myself fully engaged in the stories and descriptions of the different characters, how they might have evolved from JK Rowlings creative perspective, plus several unusual historical tales. Rod was an excellent storyteller and guide.
Denise_O, Jul 2024
Good tour. We were shown where to get the best pictures of Edinburgh Castle. Interesting if you are a Harry Potter fan.
David_R, Jul 2024
Had a good time learning about all the Harry Potter potential connections to Edinburgh. Great 2-hour tour.
Brad_C, Jun 2024
Rob was a fantastic guide with great stories and really connected with everyone in the group. I appreciated that even though it was a Harry Potter tour that it wasn’t gimmicky and included a fair dose of Edinburgh history as well. It was also just the right amount of time, even for our 14 year old daughter. Highly recommend!
Bethany_R, Jun 2024
Rob is an excellent guide and this tour was definitely a favorite while in Edinburgh! The tour was unique and excellently paced. We enjoyed learning and seeing some of the inspiration for Harry Potter while learning more about J. K. Rowling’s writing process! Rob was full of great jokes and extra tips about the city.
If you’re deep into HP or just starting out, this tour is for you! (No age limitations either - our whole tour group consisted of adults!!)
Cindy_N, May 2024
Rob was absolutely amazing and so lively. He really brought the city of Edinburgh to life for us. The tour was both so personal and enlightening. He truly does cater to both Harry Potter fans and history nerds during this whole trip. Such a humble and passionate guide and would 1000% take a tour of his again!
Alex_F, May 2024
This was such a great tour and a great bang for your buck! We had already been in town for a few days and had seen a good amount of the main attractions, but Rob showed us some awesome hidden gems that only a local would know! He is very passionate about Edinburgh and really knows his Harry Potter! Highly recommend!
Keslyn_B, May 2024
Rob was a fantastic guide in every sense! His knowledge, warm demeanor, stories, jokes & personal touches made for an interesting, illuminating and amusing tour. We were lucky to have him all to ourselves and he went above and beyond with additional recommendations for attractions, dining, etc for the rest of our stay in Edinburgh. Highly recommend for a fun and pun-derful time.
Likely to Sell Out
From $24.85
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Likely to Sell Out
Harry Potter & Horrible History Small Group Tour
211
2 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$24.85
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Attractions in Edinburgh, Scotland
- Scottish National Portrait Gallery Tours & Tickets
- Princes Street Tours & Tickets
- National Museum of Scotland Tours & Tickets
- Edinburgh Old Town Tours & Tickets
- Royal Scottish Academy Tours & Tickets
- Arthur's Seat Tours & Tickets
- Hopetoun House Tours & Tickets
- Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Tours & Tickets
- Real Mary King's Close Tours & Tickets
- Camera Obscura and World of Illusions Tours & Tickets
- Rosslyn Chapel Tours & Tickets
- Melrose Abbey Tours & Tickets
- Edinburgh Castle Tours & Tickets
- Calton Hill Tours & Tickets
- Greyfriars Kirk Tours & Tickets
- Falkland Palace and Garden Tours & Tickets
- Leith Tours & Tickets
- Scott Monument Tours & Tickets