Come for the Tom Riddell grave but stay for the beauty. A wonderfully gothic church and graveyard hide in plain sight in the heart of Edinburgh. Don't miss it! read more

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Visiting the kirkyard at nighttime is such a creepy experience. We decided to do it on our own, which meant that we were completely unaware of the ghosts that are said to haunt this place. I didn't know about "Bloody MacKenzie" until our tour guide told us how brave we were for going at night. Did you know that this poltergeist attacks people at night? I had no idea. I think we even passed by his crypt when we were lost trying to find Tom Riddell's grave. It's super dark in there. Here's a little hint when trying to find the grave that is said to be JK Rowling's inspiration for the dark wizard in Harry Potter. Your GPS will take you to the part of the wall facing the church. Apparently, it happens to everyone because there is a sign at that point telling you that Tom Riddell is actually on the other side of the wall. Trying to find the pathway at night that leads you to that side of the kirkyard is the tricky part. There are many walking ghost tours that will take you here, but it was quite the experience discovering it on our own. Don't miss seeing the Greyfriars Bobby grave & memorial. It's at the main entrance to the kirkyard in front of the church. We didn't see it right away since we entered from a side entrance. I love that people are placing broken tree limbs in front of this famous Skye Terrier's grave. Doggies love to play with sticks. It's said that the doggie ghost is still seen around his master's grave (John Gray). There's a sign with the names of notable people of Edinburgh that are buried there. I'm speculating that the poltergeist may have taken his anger out on it. The sign has a few chunks of wood missing. There just happens to be a deep scratch mark by his real name, Sir George MacKenzie. How creepy is that? We didn't get to visit the church due to an evening service. I believe the museum and gift shop is open to visitors as well. It was great just to explore around it. It was a fun evening in a kirkyard! read more

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JK Rowling taught English at University of Edinburgh's new campus, it has since been converted to luxury condos but the architecture and setting still look like something right out of a movie. Her other famous connection to Edinburgh is this cemetery, some of the tombstones directly inspired some of the character names from Harry Potter. My wife is a a huge fan of the series and insisted we come so she could find the Tom Riddle, Potter family, and Mcgonall tombstones. There are much more names related to the books but those were the 3 she cared about. They offer tours but you can find the sites and map to them easily. They are also easy to find because there will constantly be crowds around the tombstones. There's a church on the grounds with small public bathrooms and a small gift shop with some "Bobby" souvenirs, the Skye Terrier who has ties to the cemetery. There's ground itself are interesting to wander even for non-Harry Potter fans, I love the old carvings on the tombstones and though grim all the skulls are a perfect "memento mori" I believe we don't think too much about in modern times. read more

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Definitely well recommended to tour on your own. There is no charge for admittance. You just go through the gates. The Kirkyard is a graveyard of sites going back centuries. To see all the burial sites was fascinating and how they were built and laid for final resting places. Seeing the site for Greyfriars Bobby is a trip because it is the nicest and largest looking one amongst them all. People give flowers and stuffed animals as homage. You have to walk through Flodden Wall to access some of the more older sites. read more

I had a long layover in Edinburgh last month and, true to form, totally slept through my Harry Potter tour. Rather than spiral into travel regret, I made a cup of coffee my sidekick and headed to Greyfriars Kirkyard for a self-guided wander. It ended up being one of the most unexpectedly cool stops of my trip. The gravestones feel like they've got stories etched into them--whether that's in your imagination or folklore. And yes, if you know your wizarding world, you'll spot some familiar names that seem way more than coincidence. Let's just say... I took a few dramatic photos and lived my villain origin story moment. There's also the story of Greyfriars Bobby, this scrappy little dog who stayed by his owner's grave for 14 years. Fourteen. Years. There's a statue of him at the gate, and if that doesn't tug at your heart, I don't know what will. It's one of those places where even if you're not big on history, you end up feeling something. Highly recommend if you're passing through--especially if your phone alarm betrayed you like mine did. read more

Greyfriars Kirkyard - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Built on top of the old Franciscan Friary in Post-Reformation Scotland, Greyfriars Kirk is now celebrating its 400th year anniversary. Situated in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town, Greyfriars Kirk was founded in 1620 and is the first church to be built in post-Reformation Edinburgh It's still an active parish church here in the city, and it welcomes tourists who wish to take a look around. The interior architecture is gorgeous, plus they also have a small exhibition about the history of the graveyard. The staff are more than happy to help answer any questions you have! read more

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Every time I'm in Edinburgh, I make sure to stop by Greyfriars Kirkyard. It's peaceful and quiet. The whole place is really well-maintained, and it doesn't take long to walk around unless I'm reading every gravestone. I usually just skim through and let the history soak in. This time, I couldn't help but notice the bright flowers near the entrance by the statue of Greyfriars Bobby. It's such a nice tribute to the dog, and the flowers just made it even better. It's pretty calm, with a few people snapping photos, so it's a great spot to walk around and take in the history. read more

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This is an historic cemetery and located across the street from the National Museum of Scotland.   There is no admission charge but donations are accepted.   A walk through made for an interesting sight seeing visit that reminds one of the age and history of the city and surrounding area. read more

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Very cool to go to the Greyfriars Kirkyard Cemetery and to see all of the old gravestones and the history. The statue of the loyal Bobby was very popular with everyone taking pictures. Unfortunately, the museum and gift shop was already closed when we got there. read more

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Such beautiful grounds with a unique history. Rain or shine it's a pleasure to wonder through. Many Harry Potter references. read more

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I love old cemeteries. I know NOTHING about Harry Potter but Tom Riddles' Grave is here. Character inspiration from father or son? They are both buried in the same spot so who knows. This is a beautiful cemetery. There is an excellent chance to see the Flodden Wall here. The I tension of the wall was to protect the city. You can also see a good example of cages over graves to deter grave robbing. read more

Greyfriars Kirkyard - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Very cool old cemetery that you can wander through. We spent a lot of time checking out the various names/dates/stories read more

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**March 2024: Friday Afternoon Visit** If you're a big Harry Potter fan many of JK Rowlings characters are based off many characters in this cemetery including McGonagal, Black, and Riddell (Riddle) among others. It's free to enter and you can even take a photo next to the grave that inspired Tom Riddle or better known as Lord Voldemort! It definitely look a lot like the grave scene in JK Rowlings Goblet of Fire book. Now if HP is not your fandom, Greyfriars Kirkland is also home to Greyfriars Bobby, a terrier who was known in the 19th century for spending 14 years guarding the grave of his owner until he himself passed. The story continues to be a welll known Scottish tale and a prominent statute stands near the entrance. If you're a tourist Greyfriars Kirkyard is a cool place to walk around! read more

We came through Greyfriars Kirkyard during our walking tour and our guide did a really great job at setting the scene and providing the history of the area and the graveyard. It is located on the southern edge of Old Town and burials have been taking place here since the late 16th century with a number of them being notable Edinburgh residents. It's estimated to have over 700 gravestones and nearly 100,000 people buried here. Our guide noted it's probably closer to 200,000, but no one knows for sure. One of the more fascinating stories were of Greyfriars Bobby - the loyal dog who guarded his master's grave for 14 years. Bobby's headstone at the entrance to the Kirkyard marks his burial place. It is also said that J.K. Rowling, who penned her first book at The Elephant House, just steps from the graveyard, took inspiration from the tombstone names for characters in her Harry Potter novels. Thomas Riddell ring a bell, anyone? It's a lovely graveyard (really, it is) and I loved the history and seeing tombstones hundreds of years old. read more

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Greyfriars Kirkyard is a must for anyone who is a history geek or an adventure seeker. We went several times, in the daylight to be able to read all the graves and signs, and in the middle of the night to see if it felt any different. There are many fun tours that have guides for all experiences-you will see them congregating at the main entrances. Or go on your own, like we did. In the daylight hours, you can see just how old and massive the gravestones are. If you do your research before you go you will be able to see the Harry Potter marked stones, the old Flodden Wall that marked the edge of the city, graves with "cages" on top to keep out grave robbers, and even the "Covenanters Prison" area where poor souls were held standing out in the elements until they died. In the dark the Kirkyard takes on a completely different feel, as there are no lights, and its difficult to find your way around. Be brave and film yourself walking around, but always be quiet and respectful. You may be surprised after to see what was walking around in the dark! read more

Greyfriars Kirkyard - The Kirkyard with fall leaves. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

When walking around old town Edinburgh, my daughter mentioned that the grave of Tom Riddle (of Harry Potter fame) was close by. Of course Volderm... er...Tom is a fictional character, but the story is that JK Rowling wandered GreyFriar's Kirkyard many years ago to be inspired for some names in her novels. Close enough for me. Being a fan, I insisted we go. (My daughter is a mega-fan, so she didn't mind one bit). We ended up wandering around a little since she couldn't quite remember the exact location (On our random tour we also spotted the name McGonnagall). Eventually my daughter's spidey-sense tingled, and we came upon Tom's grave, or at least a Thomas Riddle that died in November, 1806. Here's the part where I should mention that I've always liked graveyards; I find them fascinating and not at all creepy. If you're a weirdo like me, this is a great one to visit. It's dripping with history. It has graves dating back to the 16th century; and one border wall used to be part of the Edinburgh town wall. Plus it's a gorgeous setting on sloping ground, with mature trees and views of the castle. Next time I'm here I will probably splurge for a tour, just to get a more in-depth history beyond what we could read on the signs. Until next time, Tom. read more

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American Tourist here. Let's be honest, if you are visiting this cemetery while on vacation in Edinburgh you are either a Harry Potter fan or.... a fan of cemeteries? I'm the former. It feels weird reviewing a cemetery as there's really not much to review unless you have dealt with them before? As in you had someone buried here... Anyways, the grounds is pretty beautiful and maybe worth a stroll through even if you ain't looking for Tom Riddells grave. Personally i'm from a culture where cemeteries aren't really a place you have "fun" at..it's purely a place to honor the dead so I felt awkward even taking photos here. read more

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Lovely Victorian looking cemetery, was a nice walk! It was mentioned in various places on the internet that this is where JK Rowling got some of the names for the characters in her Harry Potter books, but we didn't see any familiar names! But still a nice place to walk with some beautiful tombs. read more

Greyfriars Kirkyard - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

If you are into old cemeteries, then this is the spot for you. Of course, when visiting be sure to pay your respects. This was the final destination of my historic walking tour and as a result was able to spend some time reading the gravestones while learning about some of the grave robbing that took place. read more

Come here when you have the time. Even the young ones were amazed by the stories told on surrounding tombstones. It seemed like it would be frightening but it was so stimulating and addicting. You wanted to know about each person. It was humbling. We found 400 year olds tombstones, some of which had only photos of an anchor or a couple of carved pictures into stone or granite, which were left to tell the story of a human life. We stopped here for a minute, passing by, but ended up spending a couple of hours here. I wish I had days to spend. I adore viewing Scotland's rich history but even more so, the artifacts that aren't modernized and renovated. This place is untouched and frozen in time. Jaw dropping stories are told from our history! read more

A famous graveyard for more than one reason. Not only is it the resting site of Greyfriards Bobby and his master, but it is also where JK Rowling would wander around to get inspiration for names to use in Harry Potter! She actually got the name Tom Riddle from the tomb Tom Riddell. read more

Greyfriars Kirkyard - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Really interesting spot to visit in the old town section of Edinburgh. Spooky fun is to be bad here as you wander around the ancient grave sites in this old cemetery. Be sure to check out the beautiful Greyfriars Kirk as well. Just note that if you want to take pictures inside the church, you'll need to cough up £2. Otherwise it's free. I enjoyed visiting here and it's a nice free activity to do. Especially creepy to come when it's foggy outside. Recommended. read more

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Worth stopping in for about 20 minutes to explore the grounds. Unfortunately, Harry Potter hunters have overrun certain areas requiring conservation interventions with unsightly construction cones and taped off areas in addition to makeshift walkways to reduce trampling of the grass around specific gravestones. It's growing popularity has put a strain on this beautiful graveyard. read more

Greyfriars Kirkyard - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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I actually visited this place a number of times, and small wonder, as it has a perfect mix of being gorgeous and inspiring numerous picnics during the day, and being spooky and disturbing as the sun sets. There is so so much history here. I'd very much recommend the City of the Dead tours, which give you a phenomenal brief history of Edinburgh and comprehensive history of the kirkyard - and notably, the covenanter's prison, an early concentration camp. Chilling. Notably, they have the ability to bring you into the prison itself, where hundreds of Covenanters perished. Really quite something. Also worth noting that JK Rowling spent a lot of time wandering this very kirkyard, and herein you'll find the tombs of Tom Riddle, McGonagall, Lupin, and half a dozen other Harry Potter characters. It's a delight to wander this area and look for the graves - and also check out the school beyond it that inspired Hogwarts! Also - you'll find some remnants of the Flodden Wall - the ancestral Edinburgh city walls. So much history in one place. Cannot be missed! read more

We just walked thru the cemetery and church yard and viewed the numerous tombstones and of course, the little dog's grave. It's an interesting piece of lore that has become quite famous. We also saw several HP walking tours go by since apparently JK Rowling got some of her character names from people buried there. It's a very busy and touristy cemetery seemingly in the middle of busy Edinburgh. Worth a stop, esp if you're a Harry Potter fan. read more

Greyfriers kirkyard is such a lovely, peaceful place to visit, to relax and take a stroll around taking in the sights. It is a place with a lot of history with homages to the infamous Greyfriers Bobby and his master Auld Jock as well seeing where JK Rowling got her inspiration for Harry Potter. I think there should be more signage around the kirkyard of places of interest and things of interest and possibly have the grounds and stones better maintained as it is very hard now to read the inscriptions on the headstones and in some places there was rubbish lying around and made the place look untidy. The tour guides Willie and George were very helpful, very informative and went out their way to ensure you got the most out of your visit. I think the gift shop could be better structured perhaps with a till and possibly expanded but all in all, a fantastic day out at Greyfriers kirkyard. read more

Greyfriars Kirkyard - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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It's not everyday I find myself wanting to walk around a graveyard (kirkyard), but since we were in town with friends visiting from the states and had just touched the nose of wee Greyfriars Bobby the wee pup who apparently stood by his owners grave after he died until his own death. Obviously after that story, we had to see where he was buried and the rest of the kirkyard. Luckily we had a gorgeous day on the day we visited, so it made the walk quite enjoyable. My friend is a lover of architecture so he was snapping pictures left and right. Even though there were loads of people walking about on group tours or even alone enjoying a packed lunch, this kirkyard, like most, I assume, was quit peaceful. I wouldn't necessarily want to eat my lunch in a graveyard, but I guess there's no place better to go if you want to get away from the world and just be left alone. This is one of those been here done that kind of places, so unless we have more visitors who wants a nice historical walk through a graveyard, I probably won't be coming back. That's not to say that it's not beautiful and chock full of history, but that's because I'd rather be out with the living enjoying life. read more

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We popped in here after reading about JK Rowling's apparent inspiration for names used in the series. It was pretty interesting to walk around and we listened in on a few of the HP tours going on to hear more details. If you are lost looking for the famed graves, you should easily find someone in a cloak with a wand you can follow. There also seemed to be quite a few locals just basking in the sunshine between the graves. read more

I already find cemeteries beautiful and interesting, so the fact that this one has a Harry Potter association meant that we were definitely going to check it out. As we entered, there was a cute little statue of a dog, Greyfriars Bobby. This infamous little pup was a Skye terrior known for "guarding" his owners' grave for years and years (I read 14, somewhere). I'd heard of dogs doing such things, but I hadn't actually heard of Greyfriars Bobby. The monument to this pup was a fountain erected in 1872 and placed opposite the entrance of the church. The grave commemorating him reads: "Let his loyalty's devotion be a lesson to us all." Which I absolutely love. Beautiful and well-maintained, this Kirkyard includes some interesting things. There's a Culinary Herb Garden planted with Lovane, and what looked like Sage and Mint, among other herbs. I like the idea that they saunter to the garden and snip off a few pieces here and there. You'll also see renovated bars over graves to deter grave robbers from selling bodies to the anatomy schools during the 1800s. And of course grave markers bearing the last names of Riddle and McGonagall, which any Harry Potter fan will find familiar. Though Rowling has never overtly admitted to being inspired from the kirkyard, it's known that she would frequent the café and this kirkyard, so it's very probable she was inspired by their names. It took us a while to locate the Riddle and McGonagall graves, which are beyond Flodden Wall (which was used as a wall to control trade and tax, though I think the original intent was as a defensive structures). At any rate, it's an interesting medieval wall, and it's imbedded with headstones. But how badass would that be, to be buried beneath an ancient wall, with your headstone affixed to it? Tom Riddle's (senior) headstone is on it. He died November 1806, aged 72, and he shares a headstone with Thomas Riddle Jr. who died at 26 years old in 1802, and his two daughters. Next to that stone, the Riddle lineage continues with other members of the Riddle clan. And in that same area, tucked away into a corner, was William McGonagall. "I am your gracious majesty/ever faithful to Thee,/William McGonagall, The Poor Poet/That was in Dundee." And this is one of those graves that actually bares a small black and white photograph of the deceased. McGonagall was known as one of the worst poets in English literature, which I find absolutely charming. read more

What a lovely little cemetery. We knew this was a landmark to find, esp with the Harry Potter connections. We walked around trying to find all the characters- and had fun (yes...that's kind of dark for a graveyard), but it was like a magical scavenger hunt! We found McGonagall, Tom Riddle, Mad Eye Moody and a few others... Honestly, the staff seemed over all the HP people coming in, but can't blame them, I bet we're all pretty annoying. We did happen upon a tour and the guide was so into his stories and wished we had budgeted enough time to listen to him, maybe next time. Also on the way out we saw Greyfriars Bobby! read more

HARRY POTTER FANS READ THIS REVIEW!!! If you are staying anywhere near the Royal mile, this place is not far from you. Make sure you go to the front entrance which is near Grayfriar Bobby's Bar. We tried going through the side on Candlemaker row but the gate was locked. That is not the front entrance! Anyway, if you're reading this review you want to know where the tombstones of JK inspiration came from, right? As soon as you walk in you'll see a sign with names on it. Look closely and you'll see names from Harry Potter. Once you're done taking a picture there continue onto the right side of the church. Continue straight until you get to Flodden Wall. Go under the archway and continue straight to the very end. The last plaque on your left is McGonagals site. The plaque is very small and up high. Now backtrack toward that Flodden wall and turn left right before you exit the wall. You will find Thomas Riddles tombstone on the right-hand side. It's almost down towards the bottom. It is very small and tiny but it is on two big plaques next to each other. I hope those directions help!! Even if you're not a HP fan, I would recommend coming to this graveyard. It is considered one of the most haunted graveyard's in the world!! Good luck and enjoy! read more

Greyfriars Kirkyard - The sign you see as soon as you walk in. Look for Harry Potter names!! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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So this is an interesting place to explore. Myself, this was part of my homage to the Harry Potter series where J K Rowling supposedly found the names for some of the characters within this graveyard. The grave sites are well maintained and given how old some of the sites are, truly beautiful in a dark and sad way. Again, not a must-see, but if you're around the area you'll likely stumble upon the graveyard and its well worth exploring. read more

This church yard really has it all - history of grave diggers and poltergeist, a loyal dog and a J K Rowling reference too! I was lucky enough to wander with a tour guide who showed us a grave for a "Thomas Riddle" as well as some other graves with names familiar to any Harry Potter series reader. I think def read up on the history of the church or get a tour as would be hard to fully appreciate this church otherwise. read more

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