Edinburgh Summer School 2024

Summer in the City - Harry Potter

We explore some of the ways in which the city of Edinburgh influenced the Harry Potter stories.

Now you may or may not know that Edinburgh has a deep connection with the wizarding world of Harry Potter - most notable that it was the home of J.K. Rowling when she wrote the majority of the books.

As a result, there are several Harry Potter sites in Edinburgh that fans can visit. So if this is up your (Diagon) alley, then why not grab your wand and…

Follow the Potter Trail

Of course you’ll find a variety of recommended tours where your guide may even be able to teach the most diehard Potterhead something new… but on the other hand, it’s also pretty easy to create and follow your own trail.

Whatever way you choose to do it, we highly recommend stopping by:

  • The Elephant Café - the most well-known of the cafes in which author J.K.Rowling wrote the earlier books
  • George Herriot’s School - said to be the inspiration for Hogwarts
  • Greyfriars Kirkyard - there are a few noticeable names in this cemetery – can you spot Gryffindor Head of House or ‘He Who Must Not Be Named’?
    Harry Potter sign
  • Victoria Street in the Grassmarket area - the real life Diagon Alley complete with cobblestones and stores selling wizardly supplies

But there’s more to Edinburgh’s literary heritage than the Harry Potter books.

In fact, Edinburgh has been the home and inspiration to many great writers and was accredited as the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature – a fact that us ‘Edinburghers’ are rightly proud of.

And it’s from this heritage that our new 2022 Summer School courses draw inspiration, in particular, Edinburgh: City of Literature 1 - where students will examine the work of some of the city’s most celebrated local literary talents, as well as the work of writers who have been influenced by the city, and Edinburgh: City of Inspiration, a two week creative writing retreat that will support students to let Edinburgh become their muse through tours, visits and performance.

To find out more about these courses or our full range of Pre-University or Undergraduate course, click the button below.

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