Top Harry Potter Places To Visit During The 20th Anniversary
As a huge fan of the wizardry world of Harry Potter, I love re-visiting the places that inspired J K Rowling. Can you believe it has been 20 years since the first movie? Here are some places that you might not have heard of.
Top Harry Potter Places To Visit During The 20th Anniversary
Victoria Street, Edinburgh
Victoria Street is said to have been the inspiration for Dragon Alley with its gentle rolling downhill curve, cobbled stones and colourful shop facades. Built between 1829-34, originally named Simpson's Road after the magistrate who constructed it but later renamed Victoria Street in the 1850s in honour of Queen Victoria. Don't miss one of the first water heads to be installed in the Grassmarket - The Bow Well (1680), located at the bottom of Victoria Street.
Today there are not one but two fantasy shops, where you can buy butterbeer, chocolate frogs and much more! There are also really cool photo opportunities inside and on Victoria Street itself. Highly recommend a visit to the Museum Context (Victoria Street).
Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh
A stone's throw away from Victoria Street is Greyfriars Kirkyard named after the medieval Franciscan friary which once stood on the same site (the monks wore grey habits). one of the oldest graveyards in Edinburgh, burials have taken place since the 16th century. These include some notable burials including William Adam and John Adam, architects, George Heriot (accountant and founder of the George Heriot School) and others you may find interesting are those that inspired characters in the Harry Potter books including Thomas Riddell, William McGonagall - used his name for Hogwarts' Prof Minerva McGonagall, the head of Gryffindor., Alastor "Mad Eye" Moody and Rufus ScrimgeourIt. The graveyard is also said to be haunted by the most violent and terrorizing poltergeist. Though the kirkyard is open 24 hours, you may think twice about visiting late in the evening, when visitors have been said, to have been tormented and scratched.