Magical UK Trip
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Day 1: Arrive in Edinburgh
I flew into Edinburgh from Cologne (I was in Germany for work before this trip, which is part of the reason I was able to make this trip happen!) and took an Uber to my hotel - public transportation is also an option, but with my heavy luggage, I opted for a ride! I stayed at the Black Ivy which is a boutique hotel above a hip restaurant/bar. To be completely honest, I would not recommend this hotel. I ended up having to switch rooms because I was on the first floor (in the UK, this means 1 floor up from the ground level) and the noise from the bar was SO LOUD! My first room was also very much giving “cupboard under the stairs” (in a bad way) with how small and weirdly laid out it was. My next room was one more floor up, which was better but still small! Also, be aware - there is no AC and no elevator! The staff was extremely nice, but for the price (~$227/night) it didn’t meet my expectations. That being said, it was the cheapest option I was able to find, so what can you do? I also saw Harry Styles that night, which was insane!! Such a special experience to see him perform in another country!
Day 2: Explore Edinburgh
I spent my first full day in Edinburgh exploring & shopping! I’ve been to Edinburgh before, so I skipped some of the things I've already done (like the castle, walking tours, Greyfriar's Kirkyard, etc). Pretty much everything is walkable in Edinburgh, but wear good walking shoes as you can expect to walk ~20 minutes depending on where you are staying!
Places to visit:
Armchair Books
Museum Context
Victoria Street
Edinburgh Castle
Royal Mile
Greyfriar's Kirkyard
The Meadows
Elephant House (closed due to fire)
Dean Village
Armstrongs Vintage
little blue door
More recommendations in Edinburgh: https://www.kellyprincewrites.com/10-magical-places-to-visit-in-edinburgh/
Day 3: Hogwarts Express Tour
On my second full day, I did a day-long bus tour from Edinburgh where you get to visit some famous filming locations on the way to Fort William, ride the Jacobite Steam train to Mallaig, and then watch the train go over the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct! It cost about $200, which included pretty much everything except lunch (breakfast snacks, bus ride from and back to Edinburgh, and the train ticket!) I booked this tour through Get Your Guide - it is no longer listed, but this is the same tour (booking directly through Gray Line Scotland): https://graylinescotland.com/tours/the-magical-highlands-tour-includes-steam-train-journey/. You definitely want to book early - I booked 4 months in advance and dates were already filling up fast.
It was a SUPER long day, so be prepared! If you don’t mind bring a bag and changing, I would definitely recommend packing your “cute” outfits and wearing something comfy on the bus because it is a long ride!! My holy grail item for these long day trips was my Baggu Travel Cloud bag (the TRAVEL CLOUD not just the Cloud one because it is bigger!!). It is HUGE and folds up into a small pouch when not in use. This held my multiple outfits, tripod, snacks, photo props, etc. with no problem! And then I just folded it back up & threw it into my luggage when I needed to travel from city to city!
It was also EXTREMELY twisty and turn-y on the drive, so if you tend to get motion sick, I highly recommend taking Dramamine (non-drowsy)! There are places to stop for lunch and snacks, but I also recommend bringing plenty of snacks and water for the bus ride too.
Overall, this was a fantastic tour and was perfect since I was traveling alone! I didn’t have to plan anything and was able to fit the train ride & watching the train going over the viaduct all in one day! Having said that, if you are comfortable driving around the UK, I would maybe recommend renting a car and visiting these locations on your own as you can be more flexible! Since this was pre-planned, you don’t have any flexibility with your seating on the train, so I was unfortunately on the opposite side from the viaduct view while going over it (if you’re able to, try to find a seat on the side of the train that is closest to the platform when you board in Fort William). I was able to stand up and find a window to peek out of, but it wasn’t ideal. Pro tip: open the window and CAREFULLY stick your phone out to get a clear video! You can also book train compartments like in the movie if you book directly vs. through a tour (although these sell out SUPER fast and are pretty expensive).
The other issue was watching the train go back - since we had ridden it one way, it was going the opposite way when we got to watch it, so it was going away from us instead of towards us. You could go to the viewpoint on the other side of the visiting area, but I just think the viewpoint toward the left of the viaduct is the most iconic! Note: it is a bit of a trek up there so be prepared! It only took me ~10 minutes but I was booking it up the hill! There are signs that will point you to the different viewpoints!
This is such a special experience & I HIGHLY recommend making time to visit on your own or do a tour!
Here are some great resources for booking the train directly & visiting the viaduct on your own!
Day 4: Alnwick Castle
On this day, I did another bus tour from Edinburgh, this time to to Alnwick Castle & Holy Island. To be honest, I didn’t know anything about Holy Island and chose this tour because it gave plenty of time at the castle! Various scenes in the first couple of movies were filmed at this castle, including the flying lessons and quidditch lesson with Harry and Oliver Wood (aka where my childhood obsession with Oliver Wood started)! The tour I did was through Get Your Guide: https://www.getyourguide.com/edinburgh-l44/holy-island-bamburgh-alnwick-castle-t12659/
This was such a fun experience! At the castle, they typically have broomsticks out for “flying lessons” - while this is definitely meant for children (lol), if you go between lessons, you can get some photos with the brooms! Pro tip: get a video of you dropped the broom and reverse it to look like it is flying up into your hand!
I found a quiet, shaded area & set up my tripod to take some pictures & videos - while some people will stare, most people were just curious about what I was doing. The grounds were filled with families with kids running around, so really no one paid much attention to me! I even overheard a mother tell her kids “look, it’s a real wizard!” when I was in my Hufflepuff robes which just made my day!!
There are a couple of places to eat at the castle, and if you have time, I highly recommend going into the castle to see the state rooms!
Holy Island ended up being pretty cool - you can get mead from the local winery and other fun souvenirs! And, in the most serendipitous turn of events, I was able to get a copy of the illustrated version of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them signed by the illustrator herself at the gift shop!! How cool!!
Day 5: Photoshoot with ScotlandMagic & The Cauldron Potion Making Class
Oh my gosh, this day was a dream come true! Before my trip, I had stumbled upon Gabby (@ScotlandMagic) on TikTok and fell IN LOVE with her Main Character Moment photoshoots! I thought it was the PERFECT way to commemorate this special solo trip! Working with Gabby was just the best! She is so easy going and made the whole process feel super comfortable (even as I was running around the streets of Edinburgh in a poofy mini dress lol.
I went with a 2.5 hour session, which was the perfect amount of time for 3 outfits and 4-5 locations! About a month before my trip, Gabby arranged a video call to walk me through the whole process, which was SO helpful and made me feel so much more at ease!
I am so glad I was able to partner with Gabby & make this photoshoot happen! I will cherish these photos forever!
Reach out to Gabby here: https://www.scotlandmagic.uk/main-character-moments
That evening, my friend who is studying in Edinburgh joined me for a potion-making class at The Cauldron! We opted for the alcoholic version, but you can enjoy this experience alcohol-free as well! It was definitely kitschy but in a good way. You get a robe and wand at your table, and then you get to choose your drinks! You get one pre-made drink and then you select two drinks for your “potion-making”. This is super fun because each drink has a different vibe - some came in a cauldron, others bubble or smoke!
My biggest recommendation is if you go with the alcohol version, EAT BEFORE! My friend and I made the mistake of doing this on an empty stomach and we REALLY felt the effects of the alcohol lol - they are strong drinks! And the only food The Cauldron has to order is popcorn. Overall, it was a super fun experience to do with a friend! It was about 25 pounds/person, which I think was worth it! It wasn’t super busy, but I recommend booking a time slot in advance: https://thecauldron.io/edinburgh
Day 6: Travel to York
This day was my travel day to York! I had booked my train rides in advance - there was industrial action (train worker strikes) happening when I was on my trip so some days had limited trains running and I wanted to make sure I had a seat! I decided to go with a first class ticket since it was not that much more money and I was hoping I’d have more room for luggage in that train compartment since I was not traveling light. The hardest part of this trip was getting my extremely heavy suitcase onto the train and on the luggage shelf. Otherwise, it was a super smooth ride - I grabbed a cab right outside the train station in York (there is a line of them waiting just outside the station) to my hotel. I stayed at the Hotel Indigo which was closer to the city center and had AC (bless!!!). It was a short walk from there to all the sights I wanted to see (and it’s walkable to the train station, although I took cabs when I had all my luggage).
After taking a moment to decompress in the hotel (lol just anxious introvert things), I set out for the afternoon! I spent most of the afternoon just wandering around - I headed straight for The Shambles (aka Diagon Alley!) to start! I knew I wanted to go back early the next morning to get some pictures before the crowds descended, but the shops wouldn’t be open yet, so I wanted to look around while they were open! It was SO BUSY but there were a ton of fun shops! Be prepared to wait in a line to get into “The Shop That Must Not Be Named” - it was worth it to see all the fun Harry Potter items! Also, I recommend stopping at The Potions Cauldron for a butterbeer-inspired drink!
Afterwards, I walked around and looked at other little souvenir shops. York isn’t a huge town, so it was easy to just wander! I ended my afternoon at York Minster (aka the York Institute for my Shadowhunters!) I did pay to go in as I had some time to kill, and I ended up doing the free tour they offer! It was actually super cool - if you like history, I’d recommend it! It’s only about an hour and my tour guide was great!
That night, I had a nice solo dinner and then went back to my hotel to have a Harry Potter movie night! I put on my cute jammies, grabbed some snacks, and had a cozy night in.
Day 7: The Shambles & Durham Cathedral
On my last full day in York, I got up bright & early to go back to The Shambles and get some “shopping at Diagon Alley” pictures! The sun rises really early in the late spring in the UK, so you don’t have to worry about lighting. I got there around 7:45am on a Friday and it was pretty empty! I did have to wait for a few people walking through to go by, but it didn’t take long to get some good photos and videos with an empty street!
From there, I slowly made my way to the train station, stopping for a Starbucks on my way (duh!), to head out to Durham for the rest of the day! I had booked my train rides to and from Durham in advance. The Durham Cathedral was my destination as it is another filming location from the movies! Similar to York, Durham is not a big town so it was just a short walk from the train station to the Cathedral! There is no cost to enter, but a donation is suggested. The courtyard and hallways were used in some shots in the movies, so that is where I wanted to get some pictures. This was probably my most uncomfortable shooting location as the hallways were pretty small and the Cathedral was quite busy as it was a Friday and also a holiday for kids in England! But, everyone was very nice!
I spent the rest of my time in Durham before my return train to York grabbing lunch and doing some shopping - I ate at the Cafédral Durham and it was so cute (and yummy)! There are also a bunch of fun vintage shops to browse! I snagged a vintage Levi’s denim jacket (that promptly got bird poop on it after a large bird pooped on me in what seemed like a targeted attack…). Thankfully with some disinfecting wipes and laundry detergent I was able to save the jacket!! After the bird-poop-fiasco I was more than ready to call it a day! I took the train back to York, picked up some dinner, and had another quiet night in the hotel!
Day 8 & 9: Travel to London & Fly Home!
Sobbing because my adventure is almost over!! On my second-to-last day in the UK, I took the train from York to London (about 2 hours) and grabbed a cab from Kings Cross to my hotel by the airport - fair warning, this will cost you a pretty penny but it was worth it for me to not have to haul my luggage on the Tube! I did, however, decide to wait in the line to a picture at the “Platform 9 3/4” photo op in Kings Cross with all my luggage - not sure I’d say it is worth it, but if you’ve never been, it is a fun keepsake! Just be prepared to wait an hour or more! They do let you give your phone to a friend or passerby so you don’t have to pay for the actual photo, which is nice! Is it my favorite picture of myself ever? LOL no, but it is a fun memory! If at all possible, I’d try to make a stop here without your luggage as it’s super hard to navigate the small store with a suitcase and backpack and tote…especially since they make you wear your backpack on your front to avoid knocking things over! The store does have a lot of really fun merch that I haven’t seen other places! I snagged a cute time turner necklace to use in photoshoots!
I treated myself to some room service when I got to my hotel and then the next day, I made my way to Heathrow! The hotel I stayed in did have a shuttle service but it was not free and made stops at multiple hotels, so I found it worthwhile to spend a bit more on a cab that took me straight to the airport! The hotel was able to schedule this cab for me. My flight ended up being delayed almost 4 hours so I got very familiar with Heathrow and had a mimosa-fueled shopping spree lol. Otherwise, I had no hitches in my trip home! I was so excited to see my friends and family again, even though I had only been gone for 2 weeks (can you say codependent??). I think one of my favorite parts of traveling is getting to give my friends and family the little gifts I picked up for them!
Well, that’s it! My whole trip in a semi-concise blog post! While I did spend a fair amount of time getting content, it was so amazing to just experience these different places! I was SO nervous about doing this trip alone, but I found it really wonderful to be on my own! I was able to do exactly what I wanted, when I wanted!
I hope you found this helpful - I’ve included some additional links and tips below, as well as a PDF of my itinerary for easy reference! If you have any questions, shoot me an email or a DM on Instagram!! Thanks for reading!!
xoxo,
Maggie
Travel Tips
Don’t be afraid to ask someone to take your picture! Especially if you are on a tour, people are usually happy to snap a few pics for you! Pro tip: show them exactly how you want the shot (portrait vs. landscape, etc) and ask them to take a few! I liked to preface this by saying that I’ll be moving around a lot and ask them if they’d mind taking a bunch in a row! Pro tip #2: find someone younger to ask since they tend to get it! And if they didn’t turn out the way you wanted, you can always ask someone else!
Get comfortable with making a bit of a spectacle ;) Sure, people will watch you set up your tripod, take a bunch of videos running away from the camera, and posing for hundreds of pics but WHO CARES! Honestly, this was my biggest fear about traveling alone, but it really was no big deal! In fact, I ended up accidentally bringing some Harry Potter magic to life for kids as I was running around in my Hufflepuff robes! Just make sure to be respectful of others, especially if you are in a place like a cathedral or castle - make sure you aren’t interfering with others’ experience! I liked to find a quiet corner to shoot when possible.
If you do bus tours, make sure to leave with PLENTY of time to get to the starting point so you don’t have to rush! I had a few times where I ended up having to walk pretty fast & arrived a bit sweaty lol. These tours tend to have early mornings and want you to show up 10-15 minutes ahead of the listed start time, but it is worth it to fit everything in one day!
I flew first class for the first time ever on my way to Europe and honestly…I wouldn’t say it’s worth it if you have to pay full price for the ticket. It was VERY nice to have your own space, better food, etc. but not worth thousands of dollars - especially because my plane was older so the first class seats were not updated at all. My biggest tip for seats when flying long haul (or any flight really) is to buy a ticket that allows seat changes (usually main cabin or above) so that you can watch the seating chart up until your flight! This way, you can change seats to an empty row if there is one available! This is how I was able to snag a 2-seater row to myself on my flight home!
After you get through security, spend a few minutes transferring all of your plane essentials into one bag (since your liquids had to be separate for security). Then, keep this bag with your beauty products, snacks, etc. for the flight somewhere that is easy to access so you don’t have to dig through your carry-on or personal item mid-flight! See above for my must-haves when flying long haul!
WEAR COMPRESSION SOCKS ON YOUR LONG HAUL FLIGHTS! This literally saved my legs. I put them on in the morning before my flight when I was in the main cabin and my legs felt totally fine the entire time!
Invest in a good pair of CUTE walking shoes - I love a white platform sneaker for traveling because they are comfy without looking like exercise shoes! Because let’s be honest, I will always choose the uncomfortable cute shoes over the comfortable but ugly ones, it’s just who I am! The ones I wear are from Target from a few seasons ago, but there are a lot of options out there depending on your style!
Either bring or buy a box of granola bars/other easy-to-pack snacks to have in your hotel and throw in your bag! Nothing is worse than being starving while you’re out and about and not having an easy way to get food! This is especially important for bus tours in case you get hungry on the bus! It’s also super helpful to always have hand sanitizer, bandaids, gum, chapstick, etc. in your bag!
Taking videos & pictures of yourself: While I am not an expert, this is what worked for me! I would set up my tripod and take some self-timer photos using my Canon G7X Mark ii and then swapped out my phone to take some videos! I think it’s crucial to get videos not only for Tiktoks/Reels but also so you can screenshot parts of the video for some great candid pictures!