Greyfriars Kirkyard is a well-known graveyard in Edinburgh’s Old Town. It’s been a burial place for prominent people since the 16th century, and it is a creepy yet atmospheric place to wander.
Recently, the kirkyard’s association with Harry Potter has brought in many new visitors.
J. K. Rowling used to write in the nearby Elephant House café, and took breaks to wander in the kirkyard, where some of the tombstones inspired character names — including a real-life Thomas Riddle (aka Voldemort).
A few years ago, some teenagers decided it would be a fun idea to break into the vaults underneath the kirkyard and desecrate a mummified body. They were the first to be charged with the old graver-robbing crime of “violation of sepulchre” in over a century, but ended up avoiding jail time.
