Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, a little bit of magic is all I need. An escape to a magical place, where friends and adventures await, where a hot mug of butter beer has your name on it, where the untouched scenery is beyond compare and where the impossible is possible.
I have grown up with the Harry Potter books and movies, aged and matured with the characters and still today, find myself enchanted by the magic that J.K. Rowling created. So sometimes on a rainy day, I do, in fact, board the train at King’s Cross from Platform 9 ¾ and in my mind, I travel up North to where Hogwarts supposedly lies. Although the actual location of Hogwarts is a well-guarded secret and invisible to muggles, I am almost certain it must be in Scotland, at the shores of a ginormous Loch, with creatures in it that are by far more interesting than the hyped Loch Ness Monster.
Even if the magical world surrounding Harry Potter is sadly fictional, the train ride from London to Edinburgh is not. A few years back, I frequently commuted between England and Scotland by train and started to see the magic.
In fact, you do board the train to Edinburgh Waverly Station at London’s King’s Cross. These days, Platform 9 ¾ actually does exist and it is hard to miss, just follow the crowd. However, your train will most certainly leave from a different platform. Next to Platform 9 ¾, there is a little Harry Potter shop as well, where you can get all your supplies for the new school year ahead: wands, chocolate frogs, Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans, and your house scarfs, so basically everything you need for a long trip.
On the 5 hours train ride, you have plenty of time to enjoy the English and Scottish scenery flying past your windows. Once the train pulls out of busy London, there is loads to explore and the further North you get, the more Harry-Potter-esque everything gets. From dark green forests to waves forcefully hitting sea fronts, from luscious green flat lands with grazing sheep to snow covered mountains, the time on the train will most certainly fly by that you almost don’t notice it.
Once the train rolls into Edinburgh Waverly Station, you might at first think your eyes are playing tricks on you. Rising into the sky to your right, you spot a stony fortress on a rocky surface above the city. Could this possibly be Hogwarts? Almost but not quite. Edinburgh Castle, the ancient fortress and landmark of the Scottish capital, must have surely served as inspiration for Hogwarts.
Edinburgh has a very special atmosphere to it. The train drops you off right in the heart of the city. Strolling along Princes Street, you keep Hogwarts… erm… I mean Edinburgh Castle in view as you head up Calton Hill to get a majestic view across the entire city. For those up for a hike, a trip up Arthur’s Seat is a must. The two hour hike up the extinct volcano truly pays off once you reach the top and enjoy a 360 degree view of Edinburgh.
Break time: And where else would you stop for a cup of tea and scones but at the Elephant House. The self-proclaimed “writer-friendly” tea and coffee house is where J.K. Rowling has been writing her early Harry Potter novels. It is a lovely, colourful café with little elephant statues all over the place, that has become somewhat of a tourist magnet in recent years. Therefore, you need bring a little patience if you are planning to grab a table there. Once seated, it is time to relax and take in the creative vibes of the place. Although they don’t serve butter beer, make sure to try their “Elephant’s Treat”, a hot chocolate spiked with brandy and kahlua, a strong and chocolatey delight.
Departing from the little café, you are back out on the cobblestone streets of Edinburgh, and as you gaze over the ancient streets, the castle and take in the vibes of the city, it somehow all comes together and before you realize it, you might even think you are actually in Hogwarts.
Am I getting too old for the magical world of Harry Potter? Never! And whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I allow myself to escape to Hogwarts for a while and take in the magic. Because if I do, I know that all will be well. The End.
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