Step by Step Guide to Greyfriars Kirkyard Harry Potter Graveyard in Edinburgh!
Greyfriars Kirkyard is a 16th century Edinburgh cemetery that is said to be the place where JK Rowling found the names for characters of her Harry Potter novels.
Basically, this is the Harry Potter Edinburgh cemetery and I’m here to help you find all the character tombstones.
This is the detailed, step-by-step guide to the haunted graveyard in Edinburgh Harry Potter took over including all Harry potter names graveyard Edinburgh has on its tombstones, directions around the Kirkyard, quotes from characters and some quotes from JK Rowling regarding names.
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Stay in Harry Potter Edinburgh Accommodation
A Few Bronze Knuts: Stay in this Harry Potter Inspired Flat near Edinburgh Castle for a magical stay in Scotland!
Lots of Golden Galleons: The Balmoral Hotel has a massive Harry Potter connection as it was here where JK Rowling spent months in room 552 finishing the last novel of the franchise!
Any Silver Sickle Will Do: Find your own accommodation in Edinburgh to easily access the Edinburgh Harry Potter graveyard by searching below!
Booking.comHarry Potter Graveyard Guide
Important Muggle Notice: Be respectful at all times during your visit to Greyfriars cemetery.
A Word About Graveyards in Edinburgh
Firstly, graveyards in Scotland are called ‘Kirkyards’ although they directly translate to ‘churchyards’.
Secondly, some Kirkyards in Edinburgh hold so much history and are part of the story of the city especially as they are said to be very haunted! If you want to join a ghost tour of Edinburgh, Greyfriars Kirkyard will be included as well as underground vaults in the city.
For example, if you think of Greyfriars Kirkyard, it is not only the graveyard Edinburgh Harry Potter connection, it is also the burial site for the most famous Scottish dog: Bobby who spent 14 years stood next to his owner’s grave. There is even a statue of the dog outside the grave gates which has long been considered lucky if you rub its nose but a reader pointed out to me that the city is discouraging visitors from doing so due to damaging the stature. In 2022 there was a memorial made for the dog in the entrance of the graveyard and he is mentioned on the official information board in the cemetery.
Lastly, in Scotland it’s normal to see locals doing everyday activities within the grounds of cemeteries such as eating lunch, socialising or even practising yoga!
Info About Greyfriars Kirkyard Harry Potter Edinburgh
Address: 26A Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh EH1 2QQ
Opening Times: Mon – Fri 10.30am-4.30pm / Sat – 12pm-4pm / Sun – Closed
Website: https://greyfriarskirk.com/
Greyfriars Kirkyard Harry Potter
Would you believe me if I said you can find up to 8 Harry Potter graves in Greyfriars Kirkyard Edinburgh? If you’ve read other blogs about the Edinburgh Harry Potter cemetery, you may have seen some but this is the most thoroughly researched and written guide to the Harry Potter graveyard Edinburgh on the internet.
When JK Rowling was writing the books sat in The Elephant Cafe, out of the window she had a full view of Greyfriars Kirkyard, George Heriot School and Edinburgh Castle. And given the activities that locals do in the graveyard, the author very likely spent time in this cemetery between writing. So if there was a ‘JK Rowling cemetery Edinburgh’, this is it.
In a Barnes and Novel interview in 1999, JK Rowling stated: ‘so far I have got names from saints, place-names, war memorials, gravestones. I just collect them – I am so interested in names.’ So the Harry Potter Edinburgh graveyard MUST have been in her mind during this statement.
Harry Potter Graveyard Scene
Also, Edinburgh Greyfriars could very well be the inspiration for Little Hangleton graveyard, the end of Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire graveyard scene, where Voldemort returns on the grave of his father. It was not, however, a filming location.
Now let’s get to the specific directions for wandering the cemetery and where to go to find all the Edinburgh cemetery Harry Potter connections. Directions are given in bullet points to navigate the Greyfriars cemetery Edinburgh and Harry Potter character names/tombstones as headings.
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Harry Potter Graveyard Guide
Directions for Self-Guided Tour of Harry Potter Graves
- As you walk through the entrance gates to Greyfriars Edinburgh, stick to the right-hand path and walk with the central building on your left.
- Take your first right.
- Look at the tombstones on the front row of the left side grass where you’ll find Potter, Cruickshanks and Scrymgeour.
1) Potter
Harry Potter Character – Harry Potter, protagonist, portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe; Harry’s parents James Potter and Lilly Potter
The tombstone of Anne and Robert Potter is the first on this Harry Potter grave Edinburgh tour located within the ‘Northern yard’.
JK Rowling has revealed where the inspiration for her protagonist’s surname came from here:
“Potter was the name of a brother and sister who I played with when I was very young. We were part of the same gang and I always liked that surname.”
It’s still fun, however, to make the connections in the graveyard to the characters and there’s so many similarities, it’s best to know and see them all.
‘That even though we’ve got a fight ahead of us, we’ve got one thing that Voldemort doesn’t have. – Something worth fighting for’
2) Cruikshanks
In the corner of the same grass area as the Potter tombstone, you’ll find a tombstone for ‘Cruikshanks’ which is rather close to Hermione Granger’s cat named, Crookshanks!
‘This cat isn’t mad. He’s the most intelligent of his kind I’ve ever met’
3) Scrymgeour
- Directly next to the grave of Anne Potter you will find the next Harry Potter name.
Harry Potter Character – Rufus Scrimgeour, Minister of Magic, portrayed by Bill Nighy
The tombstone of Daniel Scrymgeour is here. Although it’s one letter different to the HP character, could this be the inspiration for the Minister of Magic of The Half Blood Prince and The Deathly Hallows?
‘You can’t fight this war on your own, Mr. Potter’
4) Mrs Moodie
- Go back to the path and walk toward the central building
- Take a right to join the main path. Keep walking straight toward a wall named ‘Flodden Wall’.
- As you enter the Flodden Wall arch, turn right and there are headstones of the graves directly on the wall.
Harry Potter Character – Alastor Moody AKA Mad-Eye Moody, Auror, portrayed by Brendan Gleeson
On the wall, 3 graves in, you will find the tombstone of Mrs Elizabeth Moodie. Again, the spelling is different to the character Alastor ‘Mad-Eye’ Moody but what a fantastic character to have the same name as.
‘Fair warning, it tastes like goblin p*ss’
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5) Black
- Keep following the wall around as it loops (note: there may be fencing put up so you’ll have to walk the long way around to avoid stepping on people’s graves).
Harry Potter Character – Sirius Black, godfather to Harry Potter and member of the Order of the Phoenix, portrayed by Gary Oldman; Black family
On the curve, the 4th grave in, is that of Charles, Francis, Charles, and Charles Black. This one is quite hard to read but you can still make it out.
Bonus: There was said to be another tomb within Greyfriars Edinburgh cemetery which had the name Black on it but now reads ‘Plate Stolen’ and ‘Sirius Black’.
‘If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals’
Want to Ride the Hogwarts Express in Scotland? Check Availability Here:
6) Scrymgeour (#2)
- Now go to the white path that is not on the wall but in the centre of this part of the graveyard so your back is to the ‘Black’ and ‘Moodie’ graves.
Harry Potter Character – Rufus Scrimgeour, Minister of Magic, portrayed by Bill Nighy
Look to the 3rd grave in on your right and you’ll find the grave of Margaret Louisa Scrymgeour Wedderburn, again spelled differently but the second tombstone in this yard close to the good Minister.
‘We, ever your servants, will continue to defend your liberty and repel the forces that seek to take it from you’
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7) Thomas Riddell
- Keep to the white path and walk all the way to the end
- Turn right
- Turn right again.
Harry Potter Character – Voldemort / Thomas Marvolo Riddle, antagonist and most evil wizard ever to live, portrayed by Ralph Fiennes
The Harry Potter grave Edinburgh is known for is that of Tom Riddle.
The 2nd grave on your left hand side is the tomb of Thomas Riddell. This is connected to the infamous, notorious, mass-murderer Tom Riddle, later known as Voldemort. Besides a slight spelling change, both first and second names are identical!
When I visited the Edinburgh Greyfriars cemetery, this grave had flowers and notes left on it regarding Harry Potter. Had I been a character in the novels, I would’ve been a Ravenclaw and part of The Order!
‘Voldemort is my past, present, and future’
8) McGonagall
- Facing Tom Riddell grave, turn left
- Turn left again
- Walk straight on the white path to the end
- Then turn left all the way up to the top
Harry Potter Character – Professor Minerva McGonagall, professor at Hogwarts, portrayed by Maggie Smith
Directly in front of you with gates of a school to your right, you will find the tombstone and plaque of William McGonagall, the most famously-bad Scottish poet. JK Rowling confirmed that she did name Minerva after this poet in her e-book, Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies, where she said:
“There was something irresistible to me about his name, and the idea that such a brilliant woman might be a distant relative of the buffoonish McGonagall.”
‘”Hogwarts is threatened!” shouted Professor McGonagall. “Man the boundaries, protect us, do your duty to our school”‘
Bonus: George Heriot School Near Harry Potter Cemetery Edinburgh
The school that is through the gates next to the tomb of McGonagall is called George Heriot School which is said to be the inspiration for Hogwarts but this has never been confirmed. The school, however, is divided into 4 houses and JK’s children attended there so there’s still a HP connection!
Harry Potter Essentials
- Read the books!
- Rewatch the movies over and over!
- Buy the Harry Potter LEGO graveyard scene
- Take a Harry Potter Edinburgh Tour, a filming locations tour in Alnwick Castle, or a tour of Scotland Harry Potter locations!
- Visit Museum Context, the number one place in Edinburgh for Harry Potter souvenirs.
If you prefer to be guided around Edinburgh following Harry Potter then take this cheap, easy, 2-hour walking tour:
Thanks for reading my guide to Greyfriars Graveyard Edinburgh. Have fun exploring the inspirations and remember to be respectful 🙂
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The City of Edinburgh and locals would like tourists to stop touching the nose of the statue of Bobby the dog. The oils from hands have ruined it and the “luck” idea is recently made up. Please don’t encourage it….perhaps you could edit to discourage it?
Hi Valerie. Since reading your comment, I decided to research for myself and have edited my previous line ‘which is said to be lucky if you rub his nose.’