Edinburgh is one of Europe’s quaint destinations that is engrained with rich Scottish culture. This Scotland destination has lesser-known ties to the world-renowned book and movie franchise of “Harry Potter.” These are some spots in Edinburgh that influenced the wizarding world of Harry Potter.

Despite taking place in the U.K., many elements of the Harry Potter universe are inspired by locations around Edinburgh starting with The Elephant Café located on 21 George Street in the center of town. This might seem like an ordinary café but it was the place where J.K. Rowling wrote the first and second Harry Potter books. This is a popular attraction for Harry Potter fans drawing big crowds with long waiting lines during the summer.

The Elephant Café played a major role inspiring the Harry Potter book as Rowling would draw inspiration from nearby sights she would see outside the window. One of the local inspirations is the nearby Greyfriars Kirkyard cemetery which is the sight of Tom Riddle’s gravestone also known as the grave of the villain Voldemort.

The imaginative inspiration for the school of Hogwarts was based on George Heriot’s School which was built in the 15th century consisting of four houses and four towers. This historical school was a major influence on the architecture of Hogwarts, giving the appearance of the school dating back centuries.

Another destination to visit for Harry Potter fans is the Balmoral Hotel which is the most renowned luxury hotel in Edinburgh and where Rowling finished writing the final book of the Harry Potter series. Rowling disclosed in an interview that she felt too distracted to write the final book at home, so she checked into the Balmoral Hotel to finish writing the book and even inscribed her name on the furniture.