
The Potter Trail Private Tour
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 2,557 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is The Potter Trail Private Tour worth booking?
The Potter Trail Private Tour is a 1.5-hour experience in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, from $109 per person. It scores 90 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Exceptional”, based on a 5/5 rating across 2,557 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 90 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (2,557)
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- From
- $109 per person
Grab a wand and join your robed guide on the original tour of Edinburgh designed especially for Potter fans! Founded in 2012, we are the original Harry Potter tour in Edinburgh. Our guides have the most experience of any tour company in Edinburgh and we are consistently rated most highly by visitors across all platforms. Booking a private tour with us will ensure the ultimate experience for Harry Potter fans as you'll be able to take the tour at your own pace and ask as many questions as you like! Private means that the tour is for your group only. Our friendly and professional guides are all trained actors and comedians so we can guarantee they will captivate and entertain you as well as impress with their extensive knowledge, as you visit all the key Potter sights in the city. We are also happy to customise this tour to suit you! We take on lots of bookings for hen/stag parties and school groups and our guides are skilled at catering the tour content for any audience.
What you get
About this experience
Grab a wand and join your robed guide on the original tour of Edinburgh designed especially for Potter fans! Founded in 2012, we are the original Harry Potter tour in Edinburgh. Our guides have the most experience of any tour company in Edinburgh and we are consistently rated most highly by visitors across all platforms. Booking a private tour with us will ensure the ultimate experience for Harry Potter fans as you'll be able to take the tour at your own pace and ask as many questions as you like! Private means that the tour is for your group only. Our friendly and professional guides are all trained actors and comedians so we can guarantee they will captivate and entertain you as well as impress with their extensive knowledge, as you visit all the key Potter sights in the city. We are also happy to customise this tour to suit you! We take on lots of bookings for hen/stag parties and school groups and our guides are skilled at catering the tour content for any audience.
What's included
Included
- Guide
Not included
- Please bring something that you can use as a wand. This can be anything roughly wand shaped - a pen or umbrella will work well!
What you'll see and do
Greyfriars
We begin our tour in the city's historic Greyfriars Kirkyard where JK Rowling spent a lot of time while writing the books. Here we'll see several names on gravestones that inspired characters in the series including William McGonagall and Thomas Riddell. From here we will also see two potential inspirations for Hogwarts in the form of George Heriot's School and Edinburgh Castle.
45 minutes here
An area of the city named after Harry Potter? Surely not! See the place where she wrote much of the first book from here.
10 minutes here
National Museum of Scotland
Harry Potter connections to the Museum and surrounding area - and also learn about the Balmoral Hotel where JK Rowling finished the series.
5 minutes here
A cafe that promotes itself as the "Birthplace" of Harry Potter. We will explain why those inverted commas are very important...
5 minutes here
One of Edinburgh's most iconic streets, considered to be the real life Diagon Alley.
5 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Edinburgh
Your guide will be waiting in costume outside the orange sandwich shop.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
We end on Victoria Street, a 2 minute walk from our starting location.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- The Potter Trail
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Is the tour suitable for children under 7 years old?
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 2,556 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
4 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
The guide
3 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Traveler reviews
2,556 verified traveler reviews for The Potter Trail Private Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Awesome Tour
Absolutely amazing! Roisin was really entertaining, interactive, knowledgeable and funny! We loved being able to see some key sights around the city with the stories thrown in. Bobbys food (the meeting place) was delicious and would also recommend.
via Tripadvisor
Caroline made the tour!
Caroline was fantastic. She had lots of great information and made the tour fun. We had a fantastic time on our tour.
via Tripadvisor
Book it! Do it!
Wizard Stuart was brilliant. A thoroughly grand tour altogether. Highly recommended. Thank you very much :)
via Tripadvisor
Discovering the HP city of Edinburgh
Caroline the guide was amazing. She knows a lot about the city and Harry Potter. We enjoyed it a lot. Also the gifts that come with it are nice. I do think it’s a bit expensive, but well. I decided to do it anyhow and I’m happy I did.
via Tripadvisor
Harry Potter Free Tour
This was an amzing insight to the Harry Potter series.Alistairs knowledge and enthusiasm is astounding. This is a MUST DO experience.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $109 to $160
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 895
- Verdict
- Exceptional
Why this scores 90
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
The Potter Trail Private Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Edinburgh.
How much does The Potter Trail Private Tour cost?
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Prices start at $109 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Edinburgh usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does The Potter Trail Private Tour take?
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Plan for about 1.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Edinburgh is not rushed.
Is The Potter Trail Private Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 90 out of 100, which we label "Exceptional". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 2,557 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in Edinburgh, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule The Potter Trail Private Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is The Potter Trail Private Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 1.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book The Potter Trail Private Tour?
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Around 895 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Edinburgh can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Edinburgh and add a light layer if any part of the 1.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does The Potter Trail Private Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Edinburgh within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Edinburgh?
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On Outty we rank every Edinburgh experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include The Chocolatarium Chocolate Tour Experience in Edinburgh, The Mountebank Comedy Walk of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Old Town: Historical Guided Walking Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Edinburgh?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Edinburgh?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in The Potter Trail Private Tour?
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Included: Guide. Not included: Please bring something that you can use as a wand. This can be anything roughly wand shape. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for The Potter Trail Private Tour?
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Your guide will be waiting in costume outside the orange sandwich shop. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is The Potter Trail Private Tour offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for The Potter Trail Private Tour?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is The Potter Trail Private Tour wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Wheelchair accessible; and Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to The Potter Trail Private Tour if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Edinburgh. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about The Potter Trail Private Tour?
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Across 2,557 reviews averaging 5.0 out of 5, recurring themes include knowledge and storytelling, the guide. Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
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