Home of Harry Potter!

So if you didn't know, right here in the heart of Edinburgh the Harry Potter series originated.  J.K. Rowling wrote the first Harry Potter book in the small cafe, The Elephant House, which overlooks Greyfriars Cemetery and the Edinburgh Castle.  Me and a friend visited the cafe today along with Greyfriars Cemetery, where it is said Rowling found the ideas for some of her characters' names.

Greyfriars Cemetery is extremely old, having been built in the 16th century.  Within is a very beautiful church, still used today.

The cemetery is home to William McGonagall, known as the worst poet in British history.  Coincidently, McGonagall is a character's name in Harry Potter...

The grave thought to be most connected to the Potter series is that of Thomas Riddell.  'Tom Riddle' is an important character in Rowling's books.

Other graves contained names that appear in the Harry Potter books as well, but there is no telling whether or not Rowling took these names from the cemetery too.

Right around the corner from the cemetery is George Heriot's School.  This older style school is thought to be basis for Rowling's Hogwarts school of withcraft in her series...