Somewhere along the Edinburgh Potter tourist trail, a story took hold that J.K. Rowling once wrote using the back of a parking ticket, or scribbled notes at a meter while waiting for her car — the details shift depending on which tour guide is telling it. It’s one of the more entertaining pieces of Potter folklore precisely because it doesn’t require a physical location to keep circulating.
Rowling herself put an end to it directly on Twitter in May 2020, calling it her “favourite bit of utter nonsense about Potter landmarks” and adding the simplest possible rebuttal: she can’t drive, so there was never a car, a meter, or a ticket to write on in the first place.
Location & Nearby
There isn’t a confirmed location for this one — accounts among Edinburgh tour guides differ on which street the meter supposedly stood on, which is part of why Rowling’s denial reads as pointed rather than gentle. If a guide points one out to you on a walking tour, it’s worth treating it the same way as the story itself: entertaining, but not verified.
Why the Myth Persists Anyway
Tour guiding in any city develops its own folklore over time, and Edinburgh’s Potter trail is no exception — a good story travels faster than a fact-check, especially when it fits neatly into a walking route between confirmed stops like The Elephant House and Greyfriars Kirkyard. Rowling’s tweet is about as clear a debunking as a myth like this can get: a direct denial, from the source, with a supporting fact (she doesn’t drive) that’s easy to verify and hard to argue with.
Who It Suits
Worth knowing as a story rather than seeking out as a stop — there’s genuinely nothing to visit here. If a walking tour brings it up, enjoy it as folklore, and mention Rowling’s own denial if you want to be the person in the group who actually checked. For a confirmed writing location instead, The Elephant House and its neighbour Black Medicine Coffee Co. are the real deal.
Practical Tips
- Don’t plan a special trip for this one — there’s no confirmed site to see
- If a tour guide repeats the story, feel free to mention Rowling’s own tweet debunking it
- Use the time instead for confirmed stops like the Elephant House or Balmoral Hotel
- Treat any specific street claimed for the meter as unverified folklore, not fact
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Rowling parking meter a real Harry Potter landmark in Edinburgh?
No. J.K. Rowling has directly denied the story on Twitter, pointing out that she doesn’t drive, so there was never a car or parking meter involved in writing the books.
Where is the parking meter located?
There’s no confirmed location. Accounts from different tour guides vary on the street, which is part of why the story is considered folklore rather than fact.
