Edinburgh inspired J.K. Rowling’s writing of Harry Potter while she lived in Scotland.
Rowling moved to Edinburgh in the early 1990s and wrote parts of the Harry Potter series there. The city’s historic streets, architecture, and landmarks are frequently associated with the atmosphere of the books, although Hogwarts itself is fictional and is not officially located in Edinburgh.
She wrote in several Edinburgh cafés, including the Elephant House, which later became famous among Harry Potter fans. Rowling has also been connected with landmarks such as Greyfriars Kirkyard, where visitors point to names resembling characters, including Tom Riddell. Such links are part of the city’s literary tourism and should not be mistaken for a complete one-to-one map of the fictional world.
Edinburgh is in Scotland, while many of Rowling’s childhood experiences came from England and South Wales. Those different places contributed to the background surrounding her work.