Hi everyone,

I'm visiting Edinburgh for a couple of days and I am a huge Harry Potter fan so I'm looking for recommendations. What's a good HP walking tour? I see the Potter Trail is called the original one but there are also a lot of them on tripadvisor, getyourguide, etc. Does anyone have a recommendation for which one is good/has tried any, etc?

Also, is there any other Harry Potter-themed stuff I can do in the city?

Thank you!

Pictures: https://imgur.com/a/IRR6Gt5

In 2017, when I was backpacking Europe, I went on a Harry Potter Tour and the best thing happened to me. The story goes like this.---When penning down the final chapter of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling is in the Balmoral Hotel, Room 552, in Edinburgh, Scotland. As she finished the last word, she closed her laptop and sobbed — you can imagine, the end of a legendary series, arguably the most successful and popular fantasy children book of all time. Finished.

In her emotional state, she did the unthinkable — she grabbed a marker and scrawled at the back of a bust sculpture by Romanelli da Firenze in the hotel room, which says "J.K. Rowling finished writing Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows in this room (552) on 11th Jan 2007." (see photo below).

When she checked out of the room, the hotel crew spotted the vandalism and, in their genius, instead of asking Rowling to compensate for the bust, they put a glass case over it and named Room 552 the "J.K. Rowling Suite". Now, this room is probably the most special room in the Balmoral, with all 7 books of the Harry Potter Series on the shelf, some flairs and sculptures of the Wizarding World, and of course, the vandalized bust.---The story doesn't end there. Why? Because I went there. I went to the Balmoral to see for myself because why not? I went to Room 552, and there it was, a plaque that reads "J.K. Rowling Suite", adorned with a golden owl.

I see a grandfather with his grandchild walking along the corridor, and I asked them to take a photo of me with the door, which they graciously did and I thanked them profusely.

This is when I lost my marbles.

The grandfather took out a keycard and tapped the door — THEY ARE STAYING THERE.

I'm frozen, but I knew something had to be done. So, in my greatest act of courage (or more possibly blind fanaticism), I asked if I could have a look inside.

They said yes.

This remains one of the most amazing and unbelievable things that happened to me and is a memory I hold on to fondly. I was at the right place, at the right time, this will probably never happen again. All I needed to do was to have the guts to take that leap and ask. The worst he could say is no. The best is what has happened, and I couldn't be more grateful.

Pictures: https://imgur.com/a/IRR6Gt5