Edinburgh: Harry Potter Sites Tour + House of Illusions Experience
Overview
Start your Edinburgh tour with an expert guide. Visit locations that inspired JK Rowling’s wizarding world, including The Royal Mile, Waverley Station, and Edinburgh University Old College.
Explore Old Town, seeing Greyfriars Kirkyard and the Elephant Café, where Rowling created many famous characters. View Edinburgh Castle from Victoria Street, thought to have inspired Diagon Alley, and end the tour at Edinburgh City Chambers.
Afterward, visit Camera Obscura, where you can explore five floors of illusions and activities.
What's included
FAQ
You’ll start with an expert guide in Edinburgh’s Old Town and visit several sites linked to JK Rowling’s wizarding world, including the Royal Mile, Waverley Station, and the University of Edinburgh Old College. The route also includes Greyfriars Kirkyard and the Elephant Café, where many famous characters were created. You’ll view Edinburgh Castle from Victoria Street—often thought to have inspired Diagon Alley—and the tour ends at Edinburgh City Chambers.
The total duration is about 03:30. This includes time for the guided Harry Potter sites tour and then your visit to the House of Illusions (Camera Obscura) experience, with time to explore the displays across multiple floors.
After the walking tour, you’ll enter Camera Obscura to explore its interactive and optical illusion exhibits. You can discover activities spread across five floors, featuring classic illusion displays, visual tricks, and hands-on experiences designed for visitors of all ages.
Yes—this experience is generally family-friendly. The Harry Potter themed stops and the interactive illusion exhibits make it enjoyable for children and adults alike. It’s a walking tour in Old Town, so comfortable shoes are recommended, and families should plan for some time spent on foot.
The activity begins with your guided tour of Harry Potter-related locations around Edinburgh’s Old Town, and it concludes at Edinburgh City Chambers. Afterward, you’ll continue to the Camera Obscura (House of Illusions) attraction for your multi-floor illusion experience.
