free audio tour edinburgh

Hear the Stories

Free virtual audio tours.

Enjoy the Castle Esplanade and Royal Mile, either at home or on location! These free audio tracks can be streamed direct at home, for use as virtual tours alongside Google Street View or equivalent, or downloaded as MP3 files for use here in Edinburgh as walking tours.

Making the atmosphere extra-special for your trip will be the Celtic-tinged music of the fabulous Kevin Macleod!

Part 1 (also available in Chinese, French, German, Spanish and Italian) takes us from the very gates of the Castle, down the Esplanade. You’ll hear of the history of the Castle and its traditions, as well as characters such as Mary Queen of Scots, Sir Walter Scott, and Allan Ramsay. You’ll learn about both fire and water in Old Edinburgh!

Part 2 takes us into the Royal Mile proper, with stories of ancient tourist attractions, naughty schoolboys, and grumpy literary critics! You’ll hear of a queen under pressure, and feuding churches!

Part 3 reaches out from the Royal Mile into the West Bow, Grassmarket and Cowgate. You’ll hear tales of blacksmiths, revolutionaries, duellists and hauntings!

Part 4 takes us down the Lawnmarket, complete with crazy clubs, rebellious pets, double lives, poets and philosophers!

Episode 1 - The Castle and Esplanade - starting point Castle Esplanade, in front of Castle gate

Episode 1 – deutsch, episode 1 - francais, episode 1 - espanol, episode 1 - italiano, episode 2 – castlehill - starting point castle esplanade, looking down royal mile, episode 3 –the upper bow to cowgate - starting point foot of castlehill, episode 4 –the lawnmarket - starting point foot of castlehill.

Grateful thanks to Kevin Macleod for permission to use his music under creative commons.

Soundtrack – “Hidden Past”,”Teller of the Tales”,”Sneaky Snitch”,”Anguish”,”Moonlight Hall”,”Lord of the Land”,”Pippin the Hunchback”,”With the Sea”,”Errigal”,”Evening Fall(Harp)”,”Finding Movement”,”Moorland”,Skye Cuillin”,”The Other Side of the Door”,”Angevin B”,”Myst”,”Ritual”,”Unanswered Questions”,”Barbour and Beag’s Jigs”,”Enchanted Journey”,”Am Bata Uaine (The Green Boat)”,”The Path of the Goblin King” – Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Privacy Overview

Free Edinburgh audio tour for locals - get to know Edinburgh's hidden history on your doorstep

A new walking tour designed for locals promises to take you up-close and personal with the city's history

• 07:11, 2 JUN 2020
• Updated 07:12, 2 JUN 2020

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Coronavirus is expected to hit Edinburgh's overseas tourism industry hard this year, with the usual major attractions like the Edinburgh Festival Fringe already cancelled.

And the usual walking tours which we are so used to seeing during the Summer won't be taking place either.

With that, one company has decided that for Summer 2020 it will help Edinburgh locals get up-close and personal with their own city and its history - including with a free audio tour.

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The new walking tours will ignore the usual tourist hotspots we are mostly familiar with, and instead explore the city's hidden history.

Three new tour packages from Edinburgh Expert promise to help locals get too grips with the history on their own doorstep.

Under their banner " Know Your Place " , these tailored walking tours of the city steer clear of the best-known tourist highlights and instead focus on the hidden corners and history that even locals may not be familiar with.

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The company is already offering a free socially distanced self-guided audio trail featuring some "close encounters" in the lanes and alleys of the Old Town.

There will even be a tour for young history buffs, with a special tour to help them explore where they live.

Edinburgh Expert said each tour it will offer aims to show those who may have lived in Edinburgh all their lives something they haven't seen before, and tell them something new about the city.

All tours will also be private to guarantee a truly personal experience, and will be delivered in accordance with the Scottish Government's guidelines on distancing and health protection, the company said.

Join our nostalgic Facebook group Edinburgh Back In Time for more fascinating facts about Edinburgh's history.

Edinburgh Expert's free audio tour is already available online , and you can get more information about the other tours which are planned to begin from 1 July here.

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FREE PUBLIC TOURS

PRIVATE TOURS

Prepare to enter a secret world...

Grab a wand and join your robed guide on the   original tour of edinburgh designed especially for potter fans.

You’ll discover the magical locations that inspired characters and scenes in the series, visit the places

where JK Rowling wrote the books, and even learn a spell or two along the way...

See where Lord Voldemort's father is buried

Discover in which café Rowling wrote the FIRST Potter book

Take a trip down the real life Diagon Alley

Find out which house you would be in at Edinburgh's very own school of magic

Learn who the world’s worst poet was, and which Hogwarts

teacher is named after him

... and much, much more!

Even if you’re not a Harry fan, there’s still plenty to entertain you on this lively and atmospheric tour, full of colourful characters from Edinburgh’s mysterious past. Suitable for families. Muggles welcome!  

Founded in 2012 we are the original and most highly rated walking tour in Edinburgh for Potterheads - accept no imitations!

All scripted tour content is © 2012 The Potter Trail, and is not licensed for public performance or reproduction.

Meet the  Guides!

Click on the portraits to get to know our guides a little better.

We are Edinburgh's original and most acclaimed walking tour for Potter fans. Consistently in the top 5 highest rated tours in Edinburgh on TripAdvisor, we bring the magical side of the city to life for thousands of visitors every year. We've been featured everywhere from The Times to PBS, and have even won a few awards along the way...

Stuart on one of the earliest Potter Trail tours, right at the beginning.

Originally founded in 2012 by Stuart Young, our first tours were often just for a handful of people. Since then, we've gone from 1 guide to 10, and from 3 tours a week to 2 tours a day!

Stuart and our earliest guides were members of Edinburgh University's Comedy Society, and we've never forgotten our roots – still all of our guides are trained comic performers. We like to think this gives us a unique enthusiasm and theatricality in what we do, and our customers tend to think so too!

Will taking a tour in 2018.

Our tour has grown a lot since 2012, but we are still (and always will be) completely independent and locally run, and we pride ourselves on providing tours to anyone regardless of their financial situation. JK Rowling started writing in Edinburgh in very financially challenging circumstances and this is true of many aspiring writers. Our public tours are free with an optional donation at the end and that’s never going to change. We hope that this will help you to be inspired by Edinburgh too!

Our Commitment to Equality 

Many of you may be aware of JK Rowling's recent tweets concerning transgender issues. We have been very saddened and dismayed by these and do not condone the views she expressed in any way.

We at The Potter Trail want to say very loudly and clearly that we love and respect trans and non-binary people. You will always be very welcome on our tours. We do not discriminate.

We think it’s important to stand in solidarity with the trans community at this time and will therefore be donating a percentage of our profits to the Scottish Trans Alliance . They work to improve gender identity and gender reassignment equality, rights and inclusion in Scotland. It’s a difficult time to be a Harry Potter fan for many but we sincerely wish JK Rowling’s views not to diminish our appreciation of the books and their messages of inclusion and tolerance.

What our customers say

It's all well and good for us to claim we're the best Harry Potter walking tour in Edinburgh but maybe it's best you hear it straight from the hippogriff's mouth! We've consistently been one of the top activities in Edinburgh on TripAdvisor for our entire history, gaining a Certificate of Excellence for every year we've been operating and winning a Traveller's Choice Award for 2020 and 2021 too. Have a read of what our customers think!

You can also read some of customer reviews on social media too. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and keep up to date with all things Harry Potter Edinburgh!

Our FREE tours in Edinburgh are running!

Book your place now..

Book a paid PRIVATE tour at a time to suit you.

Book a virtual tour from anywhere around the world.

We offer discounts on private tours for SCHOOL and educational groups.

and share the magic

with a friend or loved one

Any questions?

You might find an answer on our FAQs page!

Tours, guides and itineraries

There’s a new story to discover around every corner at Edinburgh Castle.

To make sure you don’t miss any, we offer some great ways to explore this Scottish icon, including some suggested itineraries you can follow if you prefer to explore at your own pace.

Itineraries

• Portcullis Gate
• Argyle Battery
• Lang Stairs
• and much more...

Just an hour

• St Margaret's Chapel

Royal Route

• Castle Timeline

Military March

• Fight for the Castle - Argyle Tower

• Foog's Gate

Family Day Out

• Children's Quiz
• Lang Stair (family)
• Dog Cemetery (family)

British Sign Language Tour

• BSL Welcome
• BSL - How old is the castle?
• BSL - One o’ Clock Gun

Official Guided Tour

Be shown around the castle by those who know it best, our wonderful castle guides!

Castle guides will share stories from the most besieged place in Britain. Be entertained by tales of kings and queens past and discover the must-see spots around the castle. You will also be able to take in the spectacular views of Scotland’s capital along the way.

Our tours now include our brand-new audio tour guide system.

Official Guided Tour tickets include admission to the castle and a 30-minute guided tour. Please choose your tour time when booking.

1 October to 28 March: 10.15am, 11.15am, 12.15pm, 1.15pm, 2.15pm and 3.15pm.

29 March to 30 September: 9.45am, 10.15am, 10.45am, 11.15am, 11.45am, 12.15pm, 1.15pm, 1.45pm, 2.15pm, 2.45pm, 3.15pm and 3.45pm. 

Book tour tickets

Book partner organisation tour tickets, important information.

• Official Guided Tours are £3.50 per visitor. Availability is limited on tours and all visitors must pre-book in advance of arrival. Tours are free for Historic Scotland members
• All visitors with pre-booked tour tickets must arrive at the Tour Meeting Point (just through the Main Gate and to the right. View a map ) 15 minutes before the pre-booked tour time start time stated on their ticket. Entry to the castle can be very busy so please allow additional time
• If visitors miss the tour start time, they will not be able to join the tour, or any tours later that day
• Upon arrival at the Tour Meeting Point, visitors will be issued a portable wireless receiver and headset
• Tours may be adapted or cancelled in poor weather conditions. If cancelled, visitors will be emailed with as much notice as possible and will be automatically refunded for the price of their tour ticket.
• Tours will take place outdoors, please dress accordingly including sensible footwear. The route requires visitors to walk on steep and cobbled walkways
• Further information on accessibility at the castle can be found in the Access Guide .
• Tours are given in English only

Audio guides

Our audio guide features the voices of four time Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan, celebrated TV and movie actor Bill Paterson and Outlander’s Andrew Gower. Let them take you on a journey and learn about the castle and the people and events that stand out most in its fascinating past.

You can hire an audio guide device from the ticket office and audio booth, or pre-book online when you buy your tickets. 

Audio guides are available in English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Korean, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, Spanish and Ukrainian. Large Print is also available. 

You can also use our guide with your own mobile phone or tablet, instead of a headset. You'll need to bring your own fully charged mobile phone or tablet with internet, and we'll show you how to load it in an email before you arrive.

Audio guides are subject to availability.

20% discount

For Historic Scotland Members and Explorer Pass holders.

New 3D Model

This 3D model has been populated with information giving you an immersive digital tour of the Castle and gives the chance to explore hidden parts too.

View the 3D Model in Sketchfab

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Edinburgh Free Tour

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The best-rated Edinburgh Free Walking Tour

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Free Walking Tour of Edinburgh

No trip to Scotland is complete without visiting Edinburgh, its inspiring capital, a cosmopolitan town teeming with genius and culture. On this 2 hours FREE Tour your expert guide will show you the most attractive spots of this seductive city.

Wonderful walking tour

"What a wonderful walking tour with Graeme. A beautiful summer day and an extremely engaging guide. Would definitely book again next time I visit Edinburgh."

Tricia Butterfield

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It was worth every second

"I did three walking tours with City Explorers and it was worth every second! Definitely recommended. Ashlyn, Emma and Dr Rory were super fun and highly informative."

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Highly recommended!!

"We had a PHENOMENAL ghost tour with Emma! We also had a AMAZING day time walking tour with Glen. Both guides were funny, knowledgeable, and friendly. Could not recommend these tours enough!!!"

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Free Walking Tour of the Old Town

"Wonderful intro giving us enough info about where to spend our time as well as some great restaurant recommendations. Kenny was amusing, knowledgeable and easy to listen to so I highly recommend this walk."

Annelise Giddings

Google (June 23)

Tour Description

The FREE Walking Tour starts every day at 10 am, 11 am and 1 pm on The Royal Mile , just in front of a bar called Copper Still (154 High Street).

We believe that everyone, no matter what is one's budget should be able to experience and enjoy what Edinburgh has to offer and we also believe that the price of a tour should correlate with your budget and how much you enjoyed it.

Our Edinburgh FREE Walking Tours are both informative and fun and offer something for everyone.

To ensure the highest quality of our Free Tours, groups of 15 or more people should book a Private Tour .

If you are arranging a booking for a School Group , please book a Private Tour .

This will allow us to give you a more personalized experience. Thanks for your understanding!

Secure your space now for the Edinburgh Free Tour!

Showing up is fine in most cases. However, you will have priority with a booking if tours reach their capacity.

Meeting Point

The FREE Tour starts on The Royal Mile just in front of a bar called Copper Still (154 High Street).

Look for the yellow umbrellas!

Related tours in edinburgh.

Free Ghost Tour

Every night @ 7pm

Duration: 1.5 hours

Discover the ghostly tales and sinister stories that will get you back to the terrifying past of old Edinburgh.

Free Harry Potter Tour

Every day @ 2pm

Explore the real people and places that inspired JK Rowling to create the Universe of Harry Potter.

Free New Town Tour

Saturday @ 2pm

Duration: 2 hours

Discover the finest part of town and the role Edinburgh played as a center of the Enlightment in Europe.

Edinburgh Castle Tour

Every day @ 10am, 12.15pm & 1.30pm

Get the best value of your visit to Edinburgh Castle and jump the queue with our skip-the-line tickets.

Fri & Sat @ 8pm

Duration: 4.5 hours

Meet amazing people from all over the world and enjoy Edinburgh nightlife at its best 7 nights a week.

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Edinburgh – natural beauty, warm welcomes & lively atmosphere on an extinct volc

Rambling along the bustling Royal mile, below the iconic Edinburgh Castle atop it's rugged hill, you can't help feel that the Scottish capital is a magical little city, full of character, ancient charm, Georgian elegance & striking modernity. These winding cobbled streets have witnessed centuries of fascinating history as well as haunting horror and you can discover Edinburgh's culture, history, tales & secrets with the excellent free walking tours recommended by freetour.com.

Join friendly local guides to explore Edinburgh castle complex, marvel at St. Giles' Cathedral, wander the traditional Grassmarket, learn about William Wallace - famously dramatized by Mel Gibson in Braveheart, and much, much more before hearing tales of witchcraft, torture, ghosts & ghouls, body-snatching, murder and plague.

And there's plenty more to enjoy about this compact city after your free tours; have a coffee in the cafe where J.K Rowling brought Harry Potter to life, embrace the vibrant Old Town, relax in Princes Street Gardens, venture down closes and up Victoria street on a shopping expedition, enjoy some Scotch Whisky in a folk pub or a delicious cocktail in the many trendy bars & nightclubs. Whatever you do while nestled between it's seven hills, Edinburgh is sure to make a long-lasting impression on you, one which will no doubt urge you to return again and again.

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Audio Walks

Information about walking routes and audio tours in and beyond Edinburgh

Audio Tours

Curious edinburgh.

For those interested in the fascinating and important scientific, medical and technological heritage of the city of Edinburgh, the tours on the Curious Edinburgh website and its accompanying app will act as a guide to the history of ideas in the Athens of the North. The stories were sought from the history of Edinburgh, and will inspire, inform and amuse both visitors and residents of the city. There are currently tours available on the general history of science, the history of geology, the history of physics, the history of medicine, the history of genetics and biotechnology, and the Scottish Enlightenment. On top of this, there are also community tours, including the Jewish history of Edinburgh, the UnCoverED tour and The Black Lives Matter Mural Tour.

Curious Edinburgh Tours

iPhone Walk Applications

Walking Through Time - Edinburgh

A phone APP that combines GPS technology with old maps to allow users to walk through time. The map set is for central Edinburgh and allows the user to see a variety of historic maps from 1849 to 1960. The APP also comes with a set of narrated walking tours from the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh College of Art and Edinburgh World Heritage.

Ian Rankin's Edinburgh

A free audio guided tour which can be downloaded to your iPhone.

Ian Rankin’s Edinburgh is a personal guided tour by the bestselling author of the city that inspires his writing. This free iPhone APP includes videos, audio, and photographs bringing our fantastic city and Ian’s books to life.

The tour is broken down into three mini tours and in total there are around thirty key locations each relevant to Ian’s novels and characters. It is also a great and easy to use guide to the city itself, so that you don’t need be a fan of Ian Rankin to really enjoy this APP .

MP3 Audio Tours

Stories In Stone

The Edinburgh City of Literature Trust and Edinburgh World Heritage have created a series of free audio podcasts celebrating the literary and built heritage of Scotland’s capital city.

Written by Edinburgh poet and author Stewart Conn, the podcasts present unique views of the city, explore famous city landmarks, their architectural history and their literary links - from Calton Hill to Princes Street Gardens, The Netherbow to The Canongate, from Robert Louis Stevenson to Daniel Defoe, Ian Rankin to Quintin Jardine.

"Discover your Coast" Audio Walks

Twelve of the coastal walks featured in the popular BBC series are available as free downloadable audio walks.

Scotland Walks Podcast

The Open University in collaboration with the BBC have created a series of audio walks around historic locations in Scotland, with narration from Neil Oliver and input from local experts. You can download them to your mp3 player to listen to whilst you walk.

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Free Harry Potter Walking Tour Edinburgh

This post is a free, 13-stop, self-guided tour of Harry Potter book and movie sights in Edinburgh, Scotland's capital, along with a map and route.

Edinburgh Harry Potter Tours are popular, but with our version, you can stick to your own itinerary as you wander the streets.

This was put together by Free Tours by Foot's resident Muggle, Margaret, who you can watch virtually right now.  

You can expect to walk nearly 2.2 miles or just over 3.6 kilometres while following the Harry Potter trail around Edinburgh.

You could also elect to take this as a GPS-led audio tour (see below).

Click the map to enlarge or download

The tour will last, on average, just under 90 minutes.

Although this may change depending on your walking pace or the stops you wish to make along the way.

You can use the map or this (PDF) to get the written directions. 

Note that for people wishing to see the Glenfinnan Viaduct (which the Hogwarts Express travels over), it's on the other side of Scotland, through the highlands.

It's nearly a 4-hour drive or a 5-hour train journey from Edinburgh.

GPS-Enabled Audio Tour

We also offer an audio tour of Harry Potter sights in Edinburgh, researched, written, and recorded by one of our own tour guides.

Here’s a sample.

• Purchase an audio tour.
• Get a confirmation email with .mp3, .pdf, and embeddable Google Map
• Enjoy the tour(s).

You will also find an audio tour that covers the history of Edinburgh.

Be sure to check out our other self-guided tours and free guided tours of Edinburgh .

We also offer Harry Potter tours, both guided and self-guided in London and Porto .

1. The Dog House

The Dog House is one of the few places on Earth where you can drink Butterbeer.

In the Harry Potter series, Butterbeer is sold at a multitude of pubs, but primarily in The Three Broomsticks and The Hog’s Head.

Although Butterbeer is consumed by adults and kids alike in the books, the one served at The Dog House is definitely for adults only, one of the ingredients being - you guessed it - beer.

Although the Elephant Cafe usually claims the title of the “birthplace of Harry Potter” we know that Spoon played just as large a role in the creation of the legendary series.

(And as an aside, it tends to be less busy than Elephant Cafe’ so this may be a good way for you to avoid the crowds!)

In 1997 Spoon was known as Nicolson’s Cafe and it was owned by JK Rowling’s brother-in-law, Roger Moore.

At the time, Rowling didn’t have much money so she would hide out in cafes, ordering a coffee now and again as she worked on the groundbreaking first book of her Potter series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone . 

Walk and Listen - POTTERROW

We couldn’t let you walk next to Potter Row and not mention it!

This street bears the name of the world’s favourite Wizard, and it would make sense to think that the name perhaps inspired JK Rowling when she was naming her main character.

However, she says it’s just a coincidence. When giving her first-ever interview in America in 1999, JK was asked about the name of her hero and how she chose it.

Her reply was, “ ...he had several different surnames before I chose Potter. Potter was the name of a brother and sister who I played with when I was very young.”  

3. George Heriot School

Originally built in 1628, George Heriot’s school was opened as an orphanage and hospital for boys and today is a co-ed primary and secondary school.

You’ll notice the four grand towers that top the building, which many said were the inspiration for the towers atop Hogwarts Castle.

The school also has four houses that students are divided into and they all do, in fact, compete for a house cup!

The school is easily visible from the locations Rowling used to write in and walk along so it’s very easy to see why, for so many years, Potter buffs believed this building to be the inspiration for her wizarding school.

4. National Museum of Scotland

Ron Weasley taught Harry to play Wizard’s Chess.

This is just like regular chess except the pieces are enchanted and can be directed like troops - they also literally knock each other down when taking a square! 

It would seem that when Rowling was creating Wizard Chess, she was also thinking of the Lewis Chessmen.

This is a group of distinctive 12th-century chess pieces that were discovered in a hoard on Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland in 1831.

Eleven of the over ninety chess pieces are held at the National Museum of Scotland and are viewable to the public.

Author's Note: This museum is incredible in its' own right with unique exhibits like Dolly the Sheep and the flags flown at the Battle of Culloden. Consider making the time to visit it either during your walk or at another time!

5. Elephant House

This unassuming cafe is a destination for thousands of Harry Potter fans every year - as well as fans of Ian Rankin and Alexander McCall-Smith who were well-known patrons.

You’ll notice a sign on the Cafe which erroneously claims that this is the “birthplace” of Harry Potter.

Rowling herself addressed this sign and is quoted as saying:

“ I’d been writing Potter for several years before I ever set foot in this café, so it’s not the birthplace, but I *did* write in there so we’ll let them off! ”

Also, make sure to take a trip to the loo!

The walls are covered in Harry Potter graffiti with messages and drawings left by fans who have traveled from all over the world to come here.

6. Greyfriars Kirkyard

You are now standing outside the iconic - and haunted - Greyfriars Kirk - kirk being a Scottish word for church.

The name Greyfriars is in reference to the Franciscan friary which previously stood here, whose friars wore grey habits. 

As the kirkyard is not far from the cafes JK Rowling used to frequent, she would occasionally walk through the rows for inspiration.

Here you will find the tombs of Thomas Riddell (NOTE SPELLING) , who lent his name to that of the Dark Lord Himself.

You will also find William McGonagall a poet who shares a surname with the head of Gryffindor House and a Mrs. Elizabeth Moodie who perhaps gave her name to a certain Mad-Eyed Professor.

The kirkyard is almost always open to the public, as is the church from April to October for tourism and year-round services.

To get to the graves we mentioned above, simply walk straight past the church, along the left of the building.

You will find them in the back towards the right, behind the remains of the old Flodden Wall, the remains of a 16th-century wall that surrounded the city.

Author's Note: This is another must-visit while you are in Edinburgh so take the time to explore the graveyard or consider signing up to one of the tours that takes you through after the sun has set!

7. Museum Context

Known by some locals as ‘Diagon House,’ Museum Context is a (VICTORIA ST) fascinating shop, spread over two stone vaults and looks exactly like the Diagon Alley shops as depicted in the Harry Potter films.

Absolutely every inch of the place is covered in interesting and quirky treasures to take home.

Given that Victoria Street is heavily associated with Diagon Alley, it makes sense to find such a treasure trove of Potter memorabilia in this location.

Make sure to hit the top floor where you’ll find a wizarding desk with a hat that you can wear to snap a selfie while you’re visiting!

8. Victoria Street

So as far as we are concerned, this is Diagon Alley - or Victoria Street as the case may be!

This gorgeous, curving road looks just like the twisting and topsy-turvey thoroughfare in the Harry Potter films.

All these ramshackle, colourful buildings are tucked close together, with oddly shaped windows and roofs adorning each one.

Just around the corner is Candlemaker Row, lined with cobblestones and filled with whimsical structures holding just a hint of magic. 

It’s also worth pointing out the AHA HA HA along the curve of the street at No. 99 West Bow - perhaps a precursor to Fred and George’s joke shop, Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes?

Author's Note: This is a great place to spend some time browsing the shops and there are excellent options for lunch and dinner nearby on Grassmarket.

9. The Witches Well

The Witches Well is a small cast-iron fountain - which no longer flows - and a plaque, honouring all the Scottish people who were burned at the stake for witchcraft between the 15th and 18th centuries.

Throughout the centuries, more than 4,000 alleged witches were put to death in Scotland - and a great deal of them right here.

Now get back onto Castlehill and face the Castle itself.

10. Edinburgh Castle

An imposing, sprawling structure of strength and mystic design at the end of the Royal Mile that surges out of a great rock into the sky, it’s easy to imagine this building filled with hundreds of witches and wizards studying, playing, and living inside.

In fact, Rowling commented that now,”... I’ve come to live in the shadow of what could be a lot like Hogwarts, except Hogwarts has a lake. ”

So aside from the missing lake, this castle essentially showcases most of the features and details of Hogwarts that Rowling describes in her books!

As a side note, there is a canon that fires at 13:00 every day (except for Sundays) which means the Castle is very busy.

So we’d recommend coming either when the castle first opens, or in the late afternoon! For those wanting to visit virtually, check out Margaret's video below.

11. The Writers’ Museum

This fabulous building is called Lady Stair’s House; a faux-medieval structure designed by architect Stewart Henbest Capper in the 1890s which now houses a museum.

Edinburgh became the first UNESCO City of Literature in 2004 and this Museum shows why.

Primarily focused on Robert Louis Stevenson, Sir Walter Scott, and Robert Burns, there are also occasional temporary exhibitions.

One of which was dedicated to JK Rowling and included a first edition copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone with annotations and drawings by the author herself! 

12. Edinburgh City Chambers

The beautiful building standing before you now holds the Edinburgh City Chambers.

For the purpose of our tour, you will want to head to the quadrangle in front of the building.

Here, under your feet, you will find flagstones displaying golden handprints.

These handprints are those of people who have won the Edinburgh Award - given to those who have made, “outstanding achievements and contributions to the city.”

Set up in 2007, the first winner was Ian Rankin, and the second, in 2008 was JK Rowling, whose own handprints are immortalised here.

13. Balmoral Hotel

JK Rowling began writing her iconic book series in a number of cafes, but she would write the final words of the series in one of the finest hotels in the city, Room 552 of The Balmoral Hotel - marking the end of a true rags to riches story.

Today, the room has been re-named the JK Rowling Suite, and the room contains a marble bust of Hermes (now contained in a glass display case), scribbled with the following, written in JK’s own hand:

“JK Rowling finished writing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in this room on 11th Jan 2007.”

Author's Note: The Balmoral is super posh and very expensive but consider a visit to the bar for a drink as a way to get the luxury experience without having to break the bank!

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About The Author

Stephen Pickhardt

North america, united kingdom & ireland, middle east & india, asia & oceania.

Small Group Tour of Scotland: A Perfect 7-Day Itinerary 2024

This tour of Scotland is an activity level 4. Click here for terms, conditions, and cancelation policies.

*Subject to change. Updated January 9, 2024.

October 21, Monday Day 1:

Welcome to Edinburgh and the start of your Small Group Tour of Scotland! I’ll pick you up at the airport and take you to our hotel. Your room will be ready when you get there if you wanna take a nap or freshen up. The rest of the day is all yours.

Meet in the hotel lobby to walk over to The Devil’s Advocate for our Welcome Dinner! Dinner and a drink are on me!

October 22, Tuesday Day 2:

After breakfast (which is included all week), we’ll be heading to the Royal Mile.

Starting at the top, we’ll spend our morning at Edinburgh Castle . Everyone will get an audio guide and I will set you all free to tour at your own speed. We’ll meet back up for Afternoon Tea (included) in the castle restaurant.

Heading down the hill to the bottom of the Royal Mile, next up is Holyrood House Palace. Everyone will have an audio guide again to take in the Palace at their own speed.

The rest of the day is free for your own plans. Personalized suggestions can be made for what to do with your time.

October 23, Wednesday Day 3:

An optional early morning hike to the top of Arthur’s Seat for sunrise is available for anyone interested. We’ll meet up in the lobby later to head out for sightseeing and an Instagram-worthy photo tour of Edinburgh.

Lunch is at your own expense but I can make several suggestions. The evening will be at your leisure.

Add on Excursion: Consider adding on an exceptional evening at The Scotch Whisky Experience. We’ll be heading over to the Scotch Whisky Experience for a whisky pairing dinner after taking their tour of how whisky is made. This will be a very fun night!

October 24, Thursday Day 4:

We’ll be heading out early for a full day on a private tour with Rabbie’s (my favorite tour company…ever).

From their website:

“You leave the cobbled streets of Edinburgh and travel past Linlithgow Palace and Stirling Castle.

This region is soaked in history, so sit back and relax as your driver-guide entertains you with the tales of Mary Queen of Scots, William Wallace, and Scottish folklore.

If you keep a lookout, you can catch a glimpse of the Kelpies. These 30-metre tall horse head sculptures need to be seen to be believed.

Your driver-guide takes you to their favourite stop within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park where you can grab coffee and enjoy the views.

After this stop, it’s time to get your camera ready. Because as you travel north into the Highlands, the landscapes suddenly become more provocative.

Shimmering lochs, rugged mountains, forest filled glens: it’s all so beautiful that it’s easy to forget these were once battlegrounds for fiercely territorial Highland clans.

You stop in Glencoe, one of the most famous natural landmarks in all of Scotland. This beautiful area boasts steep slopes and photogenic peaks. Your driver-guide may reveal to you the tragic tale that’s haunted this valley for over 300 years.

You then enter the glacial valley known as the Great Glen and pass under the shadow of Ben Nevis, Britain’s tallest mountain.

After this visual feast of mighty inclines, you arrive in Fort Augustus on the banks of Loch Ness. At 23 miles long and over 700ft deep, Loch Ness is the largest loch by volume in Scotland.

You have around one hour and a half here. You can search for the infamous monster on a relaxing boat cruise,* wander around the shores of the loch at your own pace, and grab a bite to eat.

Meals will be at your own expense at various stops throughout the day.

October 25, Friday Day 5:

Another fabulous day out on a private tour with Rabbie’s…this time we will focus on Outlander filming locations. Rest assured though, if you aren’t an Outlander fan…you’re still going to LOVE this tour. I’ve never seen an episode of the show but I’ve been on this tour three times and its incredible!!

“You leave Edinburgh and begin following the trail of film locations featured in the Outlander TV Series. First, we travel to the place that needs no introduction: Midhope Castle, known as Jamie’s lovely home Lallybroch.

We then journey through the charming countryside to Blackness Castle. It’s an impressive fortress that’s known as the ‘ship that never sailed’ because it resembles a giant stone boat. You have time to walk along the ramparts and explore the fictional headquarters of Jack Randall.

The next stop is Linlithgow Palace, otherwise known as Wentworth Prison.

Unfortunately, the palace is undergoing some refurbishment and you can’t explore the interior. But you’re still able to admire the structure and enjoy the surrounding settings.

Heading north, we journey past Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument to Doune Castle, or as it’s called in Outlander, Castle Leoch. This formidable building represents home to Colum Mackenzie and his clan in the 18th-century episodes.

Travel back in time once more as your driver guide takes you to Culross. This virtually unchanged 16th-century village overlooks the sea and poses as the fictional town of Cranesmuir.

From there, we head back to Edinburgh, where we arrive in the late afternoon.”

Lunch will be at your own expense at various stops throughout the day.

After our day trip, we’ll go to the Old Chain Pier Restaurant for our Farewell Dinner, where we can exchange stories and pictures from our epic stay in Edinburgh! Dinner and a drink are included with my gratitude to you for letting me show you one of my favorite cities in the world.

October 26, Saturday Day 6:

This morning, we’ll be packing up and heading out of Edinburgh. We’ll be making our way to Waverley Station to start our journey north. We’ll then settle in on the train for a four hour long journey watching the gorgeous countryside go by as we head into the Highlands.

Upon arrival, we’ll drop our luggage off at the hotel and I’ll take you on a walking tour of Inverness before giving you the rest of the evening with plenty of recommendations for dinner and things to do.

October 27, Sunday Day 7:

Today, we’ll be going over the sea to Skye (sorry I couldn’t help myself with another epic tour with Rabbies.)

“After an early start, you leave the city and travel along the Great Glen Fault Line toward Loch Ness. You’ll continue through dramatic Highland scenery to the west coast and Eilean Donan Castle.

The moment you’ve been waiting for, because it’s over the sea and onto the Isle of Skye. You travel up the island’s east coast through the stunning Red Cuillin Mountains to Sligachan, where you stop for a photo of the clear mountain waters.

You’ll explore some of the most famous scenery of the island at the Trotternish

Peninsula. The Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock, and the Quiraing are all unforgettably beautiful.

You venture to Kyleakin for a chance to view the dramatic ruin of Castle Moil or the Skye Bridge and Eilean Ban. Traveling over the bridge, you journey back to Inverness. The route you take back is different from the morning, so you get even more opportunities to enjoy the Highland scenery.

This will be a long but PHENOMENAL day. Meals will be at your own expense at various stops throughout the day.

October 28, Monday Day 8:

Sadly, we will all go our separate ways today (unless you’re coming with me to Ireland ! ) but I can point you in the right direction if you’re going to the airport or back to the train station to go back to Edinburgh and beyond.

Slàinte Mhath (cheers) and safe travels as you head home! Until we meet again!

Included in your small group tour of Scotland

• Airport transfers
• Seven nights in a Premier Inn
• 7 hot breakfasts at the hotel
• 1 entree, a side, and one alcoholic beverage or dessert
• Sharing platters for the table at both restaurants
• 1 afternoon tea
• Edinburgh Castle
• Holyroodhouse Palace
• Any entry tickets needed on day trips
• Loch Ness and Glencoe
• Outlander Filming Locations
• Isle of Skye
• Walking photo tour of Edinburgh
• Walking tour of Inverness
• Hike up to the top of Arthur’s Seat for Sunrise
• Cab back to the hotel after Farewell dinner
• One guide who is a text away if you need her (that’s me!)
• Brighter Things Amenity Kit mailed to you before the trip to make your flight more comfortable
• For example: flying internationally if this is your first time.
• A swag bag waiting for you in your hotel room full of fun stuff.

NOT Included in your small group tour of Scotland:

• Public transportation or cabs used during free time Meals not included:
• Any meal not listed above
• Meals and snacks during day trips
• Meals and snacks purchased at M&S for the train ride
• Entry tickets to places suggested for free time
• Train ticket back to Edinburgh if you choose round trip flights instead of multi-city.

*Subject to change. Updated January 9, 2024

This tour is an activity level 4. Click here for terms, conditions, and cancelation policies.

• International tour dates
• North American tour dates
• How to buy tickets
• How much are tickets?

Need travel arrangements?

• Who is opening?
• Will there be more tour dates?
• Where can I stream the film?

How to buy Taylor Swift tickets: Eras Tour dates and prices compared

When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

Taylor Swift's reign continues as she ramps up for the next leg of The Eras Tour. The singer-songwriter will kick off the European portion of her world tour in Paris in May, which will continue throughout the summer. From there, she'll return to North America to tour Canada and a few remaining US cities in the fall. If you're hoping to attend, we've compiled all of the details of The Eras Tour, including how to get Taylor Swift tour tickets.

Swift's Eras Tour has taken the world by storm since March 2023. The three-plus-hour tour features hits from each of Swift's album eras, from "Lover" to her recent Grammy Award-winning "Midnights." Each show also features surprise songs and occasional guests, so fans never quite know what they're in for. Swift will release her latest album, "The Tortured Poets Department," in April, but it's unknown if any of those songs will make their way to the tour setlist. 

• See also: Adele tickets | Olivia Rodrigo tickets | Bad Bunny tickets | Bruce Springsteen tickets  | Drake tickets | Stevie Nicks tickets

Getting tickets has become its own battle and many fans have waited hours in the Ticketmaster queue to hopefully snag some seats, if they could get a presale ticket code in the first place. While Swift continues to extend the tour, including new US dates, tickets remain hard to come by.

Below, we've put together a guide on everything to know about The Eras Tour, including the tour schedule, ticket purchasing details, resale ticket prices, and the concert film streaming options . You can also peruse resale vendors like StubHub and Vivid Seats at your leisure.

Taylor Swift international tour dates

The Eras Tour international dates resume on May 9 in Paris. The European tour will run until August 20 in London. UK prices are listed in pounds, and start times vary from city to city. US dates start in October and can be found under the following table.

Taylor Swift North American tour dates

The Eras tour will return to the US on October 18 in Miami. In addition to the Miami shows, Swift will perform multiple dates in New Orleans and Indianapolis. On November 14, Swift will head to Canada for several shows in Toronto and Vancouver. All North American shows start at 7 p.m. local time.

How to buy tickets for Taylor Swift's 2024 tour

Original standard tickets for Taylor Swift's 2024 sold out long ago for both international and domestic dates. All US tickets and many international tickets were sold through Ticketmaster , although select international locations used different services. 

Tickets for most dates are available on resale websites like StubHub and Vivid Seats . These are generally higher-priced than the originals, which are no longer available. Keep in mind that some countries have rules regarding reselling tickets.

How much are Taylor Swift tickets?

Ticket prices vary by date and location. International resale tickets tend to be a bit cheaper than US resale tickets. It's worth noting that some of the cheapest tickets have restricted views.

StubHub's cheapest European tickets range from $392 (Madrid, Spain, on May 29) to £978 (London, United Kingdom, on June 22). The latter is around $1,248 in USD. The lowest prices for most shows are around $450 to $1,000. On Vivid Seats , the cheapest tickets for these dates go for $549 and $683, respectively. 

When it comes to North American shows, the cheapest StubHub tickets range from $1,045 (Vancouver, Canada, on December 8) to $2,081 (Miami, Florida, on October 19). Most of the cheapest tickets are priced between $1,200 and $1,800. On Vivid Seats, the cheapest Taylor Swift tickets on these dates start at $1,133 and $2,212, respectively. The two resale vendors generally have similarly priced offerings, but this varies from show to show. 

• Flights & hotel: Booking.com | Expedia | CheapOAir
• Flights: Booking.com | Expedia | Tripadvisor | Skyscanner   | CheapOAir
• Accommodation: Booking.com | Expedia | Airbnb | Tripadvisor | SkyScanner | CheapOAir
• Parking: Spot Hero | The Parking Spot

Who is opening for Taylor Swift's tour?

Taylor Swift has a variety of opening acts, from up-and-coming singers to established groups. Opening acts vary by date. For the European leg of the tour, Paramore will open for Swift. In the US and Canada, Gracie Abrams will be the opening act. 

Will Taylor Swift add more dates to the Eras Tour?

Taylor Swift already added additional stops to her tour due to popular demand, including her US tour dates this fall. She also added additional dates to some of her European city stops, including bonus performances in France and the United Kingdom, among other locations. It's unknown whether Swift will end up adding even more tour dates, but by the end of the upcoming US leg she will have been touring for almost two years, so fans shouldn't be surprised if she takes a break. 

Where can I stream The Eras Tour concert film?

If you'd rather watch The Eras Tour from home, you could always stream it on Disney+. Check out everything you need to know about streaming The Eras Tour concert film in our guide . 

Note: Certain services and regions prohibit the resale of tickets. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal reselling of tickets, and entry into an event is at the venue's discretion.

You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here . Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at [email protected] .

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