11 Days, 10 Nights, Edinburgh, Inverness, Isle of Sky, Ft William, Glasgow, London

Calling all Potter fans! As any fan of J.K. Rowling’s bestselling series will know, King’s Cross is where Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry students catch the Hogwarts Express. In the wizarding world, Harry and his friends get to the platform by dashing through a brick wall between platforms 9 and 10. Meanwhile, in the real King’s Cross, platforms 9 and 10 are separated by tracks, but you can find platform 9¾ on the wall in the station concourse. Are you a Gryffindor or more of a Ravenclaw? Look out for a luggage trolley embedded in the wall, and make-believe that you are off to start your magical school journey. The trolley is accessible at all hours, and you don’t have to pay to take photographs. You can have a professional photograph taken with a scarf in your house colours, then available for you to view and purchase inside the Harry Potter shop next door. The professional photographer is on hand between 9 am and 9 pm daily. Queues for the trolley can get busy during school holidays and festive periods – visit early to make sure you’re one of the first in line! Ever wondered why J K Rowling chose Kings Cross as the station for students to board the Hogwarts Express? The author revealed it is for quite a romantic reason: it’s where her parents first met. They met on a train to Scotland which departed from Kings Cross. The Harry Potter Shop The Harry Potter shop is also here. Styled to resemble Ollivander’s wand emporium, you can find time turners, Horcruxes and games, as well as Hogwarts school jumpers in house colours and even full sets of robes. It’s a must for any Harry Potter fan worth their wand.

Day 1 and 2: Arrival in Edinburgh Make your way into Edinburgh city centre where your hotel we will be located. If we are arriving early in the day, we can spend the afternoon walking through the city, strolling along the Royal Mile and exploring the Old Town and New Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are also plenty of museums and landmarks to visit within the city centre, including the majestic Edinburgh Castle. Mary Kings Close, Edinburgh Castle, Dean Village, Grey Friars Kirk. See the grave of Tom Riddle. Or book a ghost tour! Spend 2 nights in Edinburgh. 

Day 3: Into the Highlands Start our road trip driving into the Highlands. On the way we’ll have many possible stops, such as the picturesque village of Dunkeld and the 13th-century Blair Castle. Driving through the Cairngorms National Park you could also stop at the Highland Folk Museum. Arriving near Inverness, we can drive to the Battlefield of Culloden Moor, to see where the last battle on British soil occurred in 1746, marking "the beginning of the end for the Highlands." Nearby you can visit Clava Cairns, a series of tombs and standing stones dating back roughly 4,000 years. Spend the night in the Inverness area.

Day 4: Loch Ness, Castles & Isle of Skye Today‘s journey will take us from Inverness to the famous Isle of Skye. Drive along the shores of Loch Ness and, if we have time, take a boat tour in search of its notorious and elusive monster, or go explore the nearby Urquhart Castle ruins. Further along the drive, make a stop at the iconic Eilean Donan Castle. When we arrive on Skye, our first stop will be at the scenic village of Portree, where we can explore and admire its colourful buildings and dine at a local restaurant. Spend the night on the Isle of Skye or nearby. Attractions See Activities for this day Day 5: The Isle of Skye Today take full advantage of our day on Skye, a haven for nature lovers. We recommend driving to the northern part of the island and taking your time around all the attractions on the breathtaking Trotternish Peninsula. There we can enjoy a walk up to “The Old Man of Storr” rock pinnacle and see the beautiful Kilt Rock Waterfall. Other highlights include the Quiraing rock face, the An Corran Beach at Staffin, where we may spot ancient dinosaur footprints, and the mystical Fairy Glen. Spend another night on the Isle of Skye or nearby. Average driving distance: 70 km / 45 miles

Day 6: Sleat Peninsula & Glenfinnan Head south to the Sleat Peninsula, admiring the beautiful beaches, lochs, and glens of the region. We may wish to stop on the way to enjoy a walk to the crystal-clear Fairy Pools at the foot of the Black Cuillin Hills or to sample Single Malt Whisky at the Talisker Distillery. In the afternoon, catch a ferry from Armadale to Mallaig on the mainland. On our drive to Fort William we can stop at Camusdarach Beach and at Glenfinnan where you can visit the Glenfinnan Monument, overlooking Loch Shiel, and admire the viaduct, featured in Harry Potter. Spend the night in the Fort William area. Ferry duration: 30 minutes

Day 7: Travel Along Dramatic Glens Today’s journey takes us past Scotland’s most famous valley, Glen Coe, which offers world-famous scenery. We will stop at the grave of Rob Roy at Balquidder and the beautiful Falls of Dochart in the village of Killin. We will stop by Stirling Castle. Spend the night in the Trossachs National Park area.

Day 8: Glasgow is the most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in west central Scotland. It is the third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom. From dawn to dusk and into the night, there are a huge range of things to do in Glasgow. The city is home to some of Scotland's best cultural attractions and most of them are completely free! Explore Glasgow's music scene on a city walking tour, or uncover countless treasures inside its fantastic museums and art galleries.

Day 9: Arrival in London Upon arrival in England, check into the accommodation. we will be ready to check out the sights of London! Take a Jack the Ripper tour in Whitechapel in the evening. Spend the night in London. Day 10: London After resting for the night, you will be ready to see Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London or even check out Madame Tussauds' Famous Wax Museum. Why not enjoy a true English Afternoon Tea or hop on a red double-decker tour bus? Spend another night in London.