FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Find quick facts about navigating the 16th-century cemetery, joining ghost tours, and locating the graves that inspired J.K. Rowling.
Is Greyfriars Kirkyard free?
Yes, entry to the kirkyard is completely free. It is a public park. You only pay if you choose to join a commercial walking tour or ghost tour.
What are the opening times for Greyfriars Kirkyard?
The kirkyard is open daily, generally from dawn to dusk. Hours are not officially posted, so check locally before an evening visit. The church building itself has separate seasonal opening hours.
Where is Voldemort's grave in Edinburgh?
The grave of Thomas Riddell, which inspired the name for Lord Voldemort, is located along the western side of the kirkyard. Look for a 19th-century headstone near the Flodden Wall.
Which Harry Potter names are in Greyfriars Kirkyard?
You can find the graves of Thomas Riddell (Voldemort) and William McGonagall. McGonagall was known as a terrible poet, but his surname inspired Professor McGonagall's name.
Where is the Greyfriars Bobby statue?
The bronze statue of Greyfriars Bobby is located just outside the kirkyard entrance on Candlemaker Row. The dog's actual headstone is located inside the gates.
Is Greyfriars Kirkyard haunted?
The graveyard is considered one of the most haunted in the world. This is largely due to the legend of the Mackenzie Poltergeist in the Covenanters' Prison area.
Who is the Mackenzie Poltergeist?
The Mackenzie Poltergeist is a notorious paranormal entity associated with the mausoleum of Sir George Mackenzie. Many ghost tour visitors claim to experience strange activity near his tomb.
Are there ghost tours of Greyfriars Kirkyard?
Yes. Private companies operate daily ghost and history tours. Some tours, like those by City of the Dead, provide exclusive access to the locked Covenanters' Prison.
What is the Covenanters' Prison?
It is a walled section of the kirkyard where around 1,200 Covenanters were held as prisoners in 1679. They faced brutal conditions after the Battle of Bothwell Bridge.
Why are there cages on graves in Edinburgh?
These heavy iron cages are called 'mortsafes'. They were placed over graves in the 19th century to protect freshly buried bodies from grave robbers who sold corpses to medical schools.
When was Greyfriars Kirkyard built?
The kirkyard was established in August 1562. Mary, Queen of Scots, issued a royal decree to create the cemetery on the site of a former Franciscan friary.