The Elephant House
The Elephant House is part of the Scottish capital ’ s modern history . It was in this café that author J . K . Rowling found out her first book would be published , so it is now known as the ‘ birthplace ’ of Harry Potter . Toast the success of the boy wizard with a Scottish coffee : a shot of whisky with coffee and cream . Or , if you prefer beer , opt for one of the awardwinning beers from nearby Bellfield Brewery . illustrations : Lis watkins south bridge Vaults
The South Bridge , built in 1788 , once had 19 arches . Shops and houses were built along the top of the bridge , and to make even more space for merchants , taverns , cobblers and innkeepers , the arches were eventually blocked in , creating the dimly-lit and rather spooky vaults that became home to the poorest and most desperate of people . Take a trip down to the atmospheric , labyrinthian spaces , and find out about life ( and death ) in the vaults . the real Mary King ’ s Close
The Real Mary King ’ s Close is hidden underneath the most famous street in the city — the Royal Mile . This warren of 17thcentury homes and passageways in the city ’ s historic Old Town area offers a glimpse into the lives of the people who lived , worked and died there . These included poet Robert Fergusson , plague doctor George Rae , and the very last resident of the close , sawmaker Andrew Chesney . Characters are brought to life by costumed tour guides .
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