Harry Potter & the Borders
South through the Scottish Borders and across the English line to Alnwick Castle — the courtyard where Harry first learned to fly. Great ruined abbeys, film-famous landscapes and market towns, on a full day that’s private to your party.
A full day out
Your party only
Collected at your door
Hogwarts on screen
from
£650
per tour — not per person
- Private vehicle & driver-guide
- Door-to-door hotel pickup
- Free cancellation, no deposit
Where Harry Learned to Fly
Alnwick Castle stood in for Hogwarts in the first two films — its outer bailey is the very courtyard where Madam Hooch taught the first-years to fly, and the castle has run broomstick lessons on the spot ever since. It’s the centrepiece of this day, an hour or so over the English border.
Getting there is part of the pleasure. The route runs south through the Scottish Borders, past the great ruined abbeys founded by King David I — Melrose, where the heart of Robert the Bruce is buried, and Jedburgh guarding the old road to England — and over the rolling hills that Sir Walter Scott loved.
There’s no passport or checkpoint crossing into England, and because the tour is private, the balance is yours — more time in the castle, a wander round the famous Alnwick Garden, or a detour to the Northumberland coast.
Tour Highlights
- Alnwick Castle — Hogwarts in the films
- The courtyard where Harry learned to fly
- Melrose Abbey & the heart of the Bruce
- Jedburgh Abbey & Scott's View
- The rolling Scottish Borders
- A gentle crossing into Northumberland
Step Onto the Hogwarts Set
Alnwick Castle’s outer bailey is the courtyard where Madam Hooch taught the first-years to fly in the earliest films — and in season the castle still runs broomstick lessons on the very same cobbles. It’s the second-largest inhabited castle in England, and every bit as grand off-screen.
- The original flying-lesson courtyard
- Seasonal broomstick training
- England's second-largest inhabited castle
Join Your Driver-Guide For This Private Tour From Edinburgh
Chase the magic south through the Scottish Borders and over the English line — with a local driver-guide who knows the filming spots, the shortcuts and the stories.
Alnwick Castle stood in for Hogwarts, where the first-years learned to fly; along the way lie the great ruined abbeys of Melrose and Jedburgh and the rolling Borders countryside. Your guide sets a relaxed, private pace — part film location, part history, all yours for the day.
The Itinerary
A guide, not a timetable — every stop below can be swapped, extended or dropped on the day.
7:00 · Pickup from your door
An early start for a big day out. Your driver-guide collects you from your Edinburgh hotel, apartment or cruise terminal.
Melrose Abbey & Scott's View
South into the Borders to the great red abbey where Robert the Bruce's heart is buried, and the viewpoint over the Eildon Hills that Sir Walter Scott loved.
Jedburgh & the border
The soaring ruin of Jedburgh Abbey, which guarded the old road south, then the gentle crossing into England — no passport, no checkpoint, just a change of county.
Alnwick Castle & lunch
The star of the day — Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films, and the courtyard where the young wizards learned to fly. Time to explore, and lunch in the handsome market town of Alnwick.
The Alnwick Garden or the coast
Your choice — the spectacular Alnwick Garden with its Grand Cascade and Poison Garden, or a run out to the Northumberland coast and the castles of Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh.
19:00 · Drop Off
A scenic run back over the border and through the Borders, dropped at your door by around 8:00pm.
Moments From This Tour
Alnwick Castle, the Borders abbeys and the countryside beyond — swipe through to see more of your day.
Exactly What Your Day Includes
What's Included
- Private vehicle for your party alone
- Professional local driver-guide all day
- Door-to-door hotel pickup and drop-off
- Fuel, parking and road tolls
- Bottled water and travel blankets
- Route changes on the day, at no charge
Not Included
- Alnwick Castle admission (approx. £22pp)
- The Alnwick Garden entry (approx. £16.50pp)
- Abbey admissions
- Lunch and refreshments
- Gratuities — appreciated, never expected
Why This Day Beats the Coach
Private, Never Shared
Perfect for families of Potter fans — your own vehicle, your own guide, and no waiting on 40 strangers at every stop on a long day out.
£650 for the Whole Car
Priced per tour, not per seat. A family of six pays around £108 each for a full day and a long drive south — far better value than six seat-only tickets.
Change It On the Day
Spend the whole afternoon at the castle, swap the garden for the coast, or add another abbey — tell your guide and the day reshapes around you.
Questions About This Tour
Is this an official Harry Potter tour?
No — it’s an independent private tour that visits real filming locations open to the public. It isn’t affiliated with or endorsed by Warner Bros. or J.K. Rowling. What you get is a driver-guide who knows the films, the history and the stories behind the places they were shot.
Is the £650 per person or for the whole tour?
For the whole tour. One price for the vehicle, driver-guide and full twelve hours, whether one of you travels or all six. Castle and garden admission, abbey entry and lunch are separate.
Do we need passports — we cross into England?
No. There is no border control between Scotland and England; you simply drive from one into the other. Do bring any ID you’d normally carry, but nothing special is needed for the crossing.
Do we go inside Alnwick Castle?
You can, and most guests do — it’s the highlight. Admission is around £22 per adult, paid separately, and includes the film locations and (in season) the broomstick-flying sessions. Tell us when you enquire and we’ll leave plenty of time.
Where do you collect us from?
Anywhere in Edinburgh — hotel, apartment, cruise terminal or the airport. Given the early start we’ll confirm the pickup time with you when you book.
Is it suitable for children?
Very — it’s one of our most family-friendly days, and Alnwick Castle is built for it. We’ll fit child seats; just tell us ages when you book. It is a long day in the car, so bring a few distractions for the drive.
How do we pay, and can we cancel?
Nothing is due to enquire. Once the day is agreed we take a small deposit, with the balance on the day. Cancel up to 48 hours beforehand and the deposit is refunded in full.
Check Your Date
Send us your dates and we’ll confirm availability and email the full plan — usually within a few hours, always within 24. No deposit, no obligation.
- £650 for the whole vehicle
- Free cancellation up to 48 hours
- Prefer to talk? +44 7398 181234
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