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Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Guides
The ultimate Harry Potter trip with points and miles
Carissa is freelance writer and points and miles expert.
October 24, 2019 • 9 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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Quick summary
The article outlines a Harry Potter-themed trip to London and Edinburgh, focusing on using airline and hotel loyalty points to minimize costs.
It details various ways to book flights to Europe with miles, including leveraging transfer partners and special promotions for better value.
Recommendations are given for unique, themed accommodations and must-see Harry Potter attractions in both cities, with tips on redeeming points for tours and experiences.
The guide emphasizes creative use of travel rewards to cover transportation, lodging and some activities, making the trip accessible for those with points balances.
What to consider
Some offers and redemption opportunities mentioned may no longer be available, so check current options before booking.
Award availability and value can vary based on travel dates, loyalty program rules and transfer partner relationships.
Certain experiences, such as theater tickets, may not be directly bookable with points but can be offset using rewards earned at select merchants.
What you'll miss from the article
A step-by-step breakdown of how to maximize points and miles for a themed Harry Potter adventure across the UK, including specific hotel and activity suggestions.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
I am an unabashed Harry Potter nut, so when I found myself (miraculously) living in Edinburgh last year I took full advantage of my luck, frequenting J.K's old coffee shop, popping down to King's Cross whenever I needed and sporting my Gryffindor sweatshirt in the dead of summer.
I was also a broke college student with a pocketful of points, which meant that whenever I wanted to go on these jaunts, I had to get creative. Thus, I present to you: The ultimate Harry Potter trip with points and miles.
Flights
I'm going to assume that we're starting in the U.S., which is fortunate because there are tons of ways to get to Europe with miles. As London is the easiest hub to fly into and is the home of much of our trip, let's take a look at some of the best ways to get there:
From Oct. 22 to Oct 31, you can transfer just 16,000 Amex Citi or Chase points to Singapore Airlines and book a nonstop from New York City to Frankfurt through Singapore's Spontaneous Escapes promotion. You could then make a short hop from Frankfurt to London on a cheap low-cost carrier and redeem points through a portal like the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal instead of paying cash. This is a phenomenal use of points which are easy to acquire — Singapore Airlines partners with all the major transferable point currencies, including Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Capital One miles.
Avianca Lifemiles is one of my favorite programs, not the least because it doesn't pass on hefty surcharges. Depending on where you're departing from in the U.S., you can get to London and back for just 40,000 miles. Avianca is partnered with four major currencies as well, so earning these points is a breeze: Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.
Delta got rid of its award chart some time ago, which can make finding cheap flights a pain. However, if you're flexible on dates you can still find some decent availability, like 23,000 miles round-trip from Los Angeles to London. If you need to top up your balance, Delta is a transfer partner of Amex Membership Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. Alternately, you could redeem Virgin Atlantic miles for Delta flights to London — often Virgin Atlantic award prices are much lower than if you'd booked the same flight with Delta miles.
Keep in mind that we're often seeing very low cash fares to Europe, so it's a good idea to check whether or not it's worth using points. We'll also be heading up to Edinburgh, which you can manage via British Airways for just a few thousand Avios, or simply hop the train north. You could pay for your train ticket with a card like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, then redeem rewards to erase the cost of your fare.
Hotels
London
There are a plethora of properties where you can redeem points in London, but this is a Harry Potter trip, so ditch all those chain hotels and let's head over to the Georgian House Hotel, which made waves a few years ago by decorating its rooms as Wizard Chambers:
Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is my favorite city in the entire world and also home to hundreds of hotels upon which you can spend your points. But this wouldn't be the Ultimate Harry Potter trip if we hung out at the Hilton, so instead we're heading to the Balmoral, where J.K. Rowling herself holed up to finish the final installment of Harry Potter.
The J.K. Rowling Suite (Photo courtesy of the Balmoral.)
Luckily for us, the Balmoral is bookable with the American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) program, which is available to holders of The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express or Centurion card.
The program offers a host of elite-like benefits, which means that for your 19,448 points/night (or $194), you're getting $100 in food and beverage credits, late checkout, early check-in, a room upgrade and breakfast for two people. That's a phenomenal deal!
Things to do
Now we've come to my favorite part — you've already flown yourself in and begun the magic with some pretty wizard-y hotels, but there are so many things to see and do:
London
The Warner Brothers Studio Tour: Bookable via the Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal, this iconic Harry Potter attraction is a must do for any Harry Potter fan.
Harry Potter film location walking tour: Also available via the Ultimate Rewards portal, this tour takes you around all the different film sites for the franchise within London.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: I've seen this play more times than I'll admit and it blows me away every time (it's funny what an unlimited budget for special effects will bring you). While it's not possible to purchase these tickets using points on a bank portal, you can use cash back earned with cards like the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card (which also earns 4% cash back on entertainment) or the Chase Freedom Unlimited (which earns 1.5% back on purchases) to offset the cost of your tickets. The information for the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Image courtesy of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
King's Cross and Platform 9 3/4: Combine your travel to Edinburgh with a stop at Platform 9 3/4 in King's Cross, where a half-formed trolley cart is permanently stuck in the wall. Photos are free, but the lines can be long, so arrive early if you've got a train to catch.
Photo courtesy of The Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9 3/4.
Edinburgh
The Elephant House: Located in Edinburgh, this coffee shop has made history as one of J.K.'s favorite places to sit and write, and on any given day you'll find tons of people coming to pay homage to the books. Visiting is free, but their shortbread (shaped like an elephant) is to die for.
Photo courtesy of The Elephant House.
Victoria Street: The apparent inspiration for Diagon Alley, this supremely photogenic street is near the Elephant House and also free to visit.
Photo courtesy of the City of Edinburgh.
Greyfriars Kirk: At this famous graveyard (and practicing church), you'll find some of the more famous names from the Harry Potter books, including a certain stern professor (and headmistress) and the world's most infamous wizard. Near Victoria Street and The Elephant House both, the Kirkyard is also free to wander through.
Photo courtesy of Greyfriars Kirk.
Glenfinnan Viaduct: Depending on when you visit, you can ride the actual Hogwarts Express, like TPG staffer Darren Murph did. Otherwise, book a tour up to the viaduct itself, using rewards from a card such as the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card to erase these purchases.
It's worth the hike to witness the Harry Potter Train steaming by in Glenfinnan, Scotland. (Photo by Darren Murph/The Points Guy.)
Bottom line
There are so many things to love about Harry Potter's world — and while not everything was included here (such as Hagrid's hut or Dobby's grave), these are the greatest parts of J.K. Rowling's fantastical universe. And the best part about this trip? By maximizing your points and miles you can zero out your out-of-pocket cost, making your magical journey (nearly) free.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
