The Harry Potter Graveyard in Edinburgh

If you’re looking for the famous Harry Potter Graveyard, Edinburgh is the place to go. In this graveyard, Harry Potter related names can be found all around.

It’s where J K Rowling found her inspiration so it’s no wonder that it’s now commonly known as the Harry Potter cemetery. Edinburgh has lots for Harry Potter fans to explore so let’s get started!

A visit to Edinburgh should be on any Harry Potter fan’s travel bucket list. JK Rowling has lived in Edinburgh since 1993 and wrote much of Harry Potter whilst in this city. Remember to check out my guide to Harry Potter in Edinburgh after this for even more Potter!

One of the most popular Harry Potter cafes in Edinburgh is The Elephant House, which calls itself the “birthplace of Harry Potter”. Just a few minutes away, is a rather eerie graveyard called Greyfriars Kirkyard.

Kirkyard technically means “churchyard” but this is basically Greyfriars Graveyard or Greyfriars Cemetery.

This is no ordinary graveyard however as you’ll find many graves with names similar to those of Harry Potter characters within these walls. Think Potter, think McGonagall, think Scrimgeour and more!

One chilly Saturday morning in Edinburgh, I wandered off in search of these graves. Greyfriars Kirkyard is open 24/7 so you can visit whenever you want!

The graveyard I found was much larger than I expected and finding the graves proved to be rather difficult.

I had a vision of me wandering around, scanning the graves as I went, waiting for that A-HA! moment when I stumbled across another Harry Potter related grave.

I soon realised I had my work cut out for me.

I did some googling and consulted a number of articles about where the graves were. However, I found that none of them were very precise and some were quite inaccurate in their directions.

So to help Potter fans looking for the Harry Potter graves in Greyfriars Kirkyard, I decided to write my own instructions. Whilst I don’t have a Greyfriars Kirkyard map for you, I do have step-by-step instructions.

Enter the graveyard via the entrance on Candlemaker Row, next to Greyfriars Bobby’s Bar. 

Most of the Harry Potter gravestones are found behind Flodden Wall which is on the far side of the graveyard as you enter. But first, let’s find the Potters. 

Anne and Robert Potter

From the entrance, walk straight along the path next to the church and follow the church round to the right. This is the yard in which the entrance to Greyfriars Kirk is located. In the centre of this yard, there’s a large, tall gravestone dedicated to the Giles family. You’ll be approaching it from the back so look out for the tall, pointed grave with a cross on top.

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You’ll note that James Park Giles was married to one Anne Potter, daughter of Robert Potter. Could this have been the inspiration for the Potter name? JK Rowling has not acknowledged this but there are a few too many Potter characters names in this graveyard for me to think that this is a coincidence.

People also claim that the road called “Potterrow”, near the University of Edinburgh may have inspired the name.

Now head back the way you came and back to the path you entered on. To your right, you should see the archway that forms part of Flodden Wall. The area on the other side of this wall is where most of the Harry Potter tombstones can be found. 

William McGonagall

The easiest to find is that of McGonagall. As you pass under the arch, keep walking straight ahead down the path until you reach the far wall of this area.

On your left, quite high up on the wall, you should see the gravestone of William McGonagall, a poet.  What’s hilarious is that McGonagall is famous because of just how bad his poems are and he has even been called the worst poet in British history!

Of course, that’s nothing like the Minerva McGonagall of the Harry Potter books who was a strict teacher and very skilled in the art of transfiguration. McGonagall is described as having a Scottish accent in the Harry Potter books so perhaps this is where her name was born.

Elizabeth Moodie 

From McGonagall’s grave, walk back to the arched entrance to the Flodden Wall area.  Facing the archway, turn left and follow the path closest to the wall on this side. A few graves in, you should see Mrs Elizabeth Moodie’s grave on the wall. 

This is thought to be the inspiration for Mad-Eye Moody’s name, though the spelling is a little different. It’s funny to think Alistair Moody could have got his name from a wife and mother to three children! Perhaps it was actually just inspired by his temperament or the fun alliteration. What do you think?

Charles Black

Following the wall around, you’ll see another grave set into the wall for Francis, Charles and Charles (again) Black. This could have inspired the name for the Black family, a family of Voldemort supporters. Of course, the exception was Sirius Black, Harry’s godfather and the closest thing he had to family.

Oh, and I still haven’t forgiven JK Rowling for the ending of The Order of the Phoenix.

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Margaret Louisa Scrymgeour Wedderburn

Further along, there’s another familiar name and one which is much more unique. This is the grave of Margaret Louisa Scrymgeour Wedderburn – what a name! Scrymgeour is just one letter away from Scrimgeour, the name of the Minister for Magic who replaced Corneilius Fudge after the events at the end of The Order of the Phoenix.

NB I believe there may actually be two Scrymgeour’s in the graveyard, with the other being in the same yard as the Potters. See if you can find it!

Thomas Riddell

Finally, if you keep following this path until you’re almost at the wall of the graveyard, there’s the grave you’ve all been waiting for. A few metres from the end, you’ll find the grave of Thomas Riddell Esquire. The Tom Riddle grave in Edinburgh.

At the moment there’s some scaffolding and planks around so look out for that and you’ll be sure to find his grave.

Tom Riddle is the name of he who must not be named, Lord Voldemort himself. It seems quite apt that the name of one of literature’s most famous villains came from a graveyard. Even more apt since Voldemort rose to power again in the Harry Potter series in a graveyard.

RELATED: My Self-Guided Harry Potter Oxford Tour

The Riddle family in Harry Potter were laid to rest in Little Hangleton graveyard and that’s where Harry is transported after the final challenge in the Triwizard Tournament. Perhaps that graveyard was modelled on this real-life graveyard at Greyfriars Kirk.

Can you see why for fans of Harry Potter, Greyfriars Kirkyard is a must on your Edinburgh itinerary? This Harry Potter Edinburgh graveyard is teeming with magical names from the books!

Lastly, it’s worth mentioning that from inside the graveyard, you can see the imposing turrets of George Heriot’s school peeping over the wall. George Heriot’s is widely believed to have influenced JK Rowling’s depiction of Hogwarts since both are beautiful, turreted schools in Scotland.

I’m not sure that they teach witchcraft or wizardry at George Heriot’s but it’s one of the top-ranking private schools of Scotland so they must be teaching something worthwhile.

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So what do you make of all these names? Do you think this is where JK Rowling found her inspiration?

10 points to Hufflepuff if you can also find the grave of Cruikshanks, hidden away in the far corner of the yard in which Anne and Robert Potter can be found.

Have fun!

Remember, check out my full guide to Harry Potter in Edinburgh for all the other Harry Potter locations in the Scottish capital!

Where to Stay in Edinburgh: Harry Potter accommodation

Canongate Luxury Homestay

Canongate Luxury Homestay has only one double room available and if you’re a Harry Potter fan, you’ll want to book this for your Edinburgh trip. The inside takes inspiration from Harry Potter and gives off a cosy, magical vibe. There are tiny portraits on the walls, bookish wallpaper, tiny vials of potions, owl figurines and more.

The bedroom contains an enormous four-poster king-size bed with red and gold tapestry and Gryffindor tapestries hang from the walls. You’ll feel like you’re in the Gryffindor common room! The dressing room is designed to look like a carriage on the Hogwarts Express and it’s even got a model train inside.

This accommodation is a must for Harry Potter fans but as there’s only one room you’ll want to snap this one up quick!

Check availability and book a stay at the Harry Potter apartment now.

The Witchery

If you’d prefer to stay in a hotel then The Witchery may be a good option. Whilst not strictly inspired by Harry Potter, it is a boutique hotel with a unique and ornate decor that feels magical. With four-poster beds, tapestries, old books, gilded mirrors and more, the ostentatious decor will take you back to high society in the 18th Century.

The Witchery is right by Edinburgh Castle making it the ideal place to explore Edinburgh from.

Check availability and book a stay at The Witchery now.

Pin now, read again later!

For more Harry Potter, check out these posts:
Harry Potter in Edinburgh
Harry Potter in Oxford
Harry Potter in Lacock
Harry Potter in York
Best Things to Do in Edinburgh
Literary Tour of Edinburgh
Bookshops in Edinburgh
Day Trips From Edinburgh

Laura

Editor of What’s Hot?

Laura is an award-winning travel and book blogger based in the UK. She studied French literature at Oxford University and is now an IP lawyer at a top law firm in London. She was named UK Book Blogger of the Year in 2019 and loves to combine her passion for books and travel with literary travel.