Edinburgh inspired J.K. Rowling's depiction of Diagon Alley and several other Harry Potter locations.
Rowling lived in Edinburgh while writing much of the Harry Potter series. The city's old streets, medieval buildings, and graveyards became closely associated with the visual atmosphere of the books. Victoria Street is frequently linked with Diagon Alley because of its curved layout and colorful shops, although Rowling did not present it as a literal one-to-one model.
Greyfriars Kirkyard also attracts readers because graves there include names resembling characters such as Tom Riddell. Edinburgh's George Heriot's School is often connected with Hogwarts in popular accounts, but it was not officially the direct model for the school. The series draws on many places and influences, so claims that a single street or building “is” Hogwarts are oversimplifications.