Edinburgh: the city of writers
Edinburgh · United Kingdom
from 21 £ per person
You will walk through the old centre of Edinburgh. You will stand on stone slabs with the words of Scottish writers. You will see a small museum about three writers: Burns, Scott and Stevenson. You will see the library that keeps a copy of every book published in Britain. You will see the café where J.K. Rowling wrote part of Harry Potter. You will see a graveyard with a gravestone that fans link to the name Tom Riddle. You will see a big Gothic monument built for the writer Walter Scott. Edinburgh has steep slopes and stairs. We walk slowly. We stop whenever you want.
What you'll see
- Makars' Court and its flagstones with Scottish writers' words
- The Writers' Museum: Burns, Scott and Stevenson under one roof
- The National Library of Scotland, the city's memory of books
- The Elephant House, the café where J.K. Rowling wrote part of Harry Potter
- Greyfriars Kirkyard and the gravestone fans link to Tom Riddle
- George Heriot's School, founded in 1628
- The Scott Monument, the great Gothic monument to Walter Scott
What's included
- A local guide who knows the city's stories
- A calm pace with stops to read and rest
- Recommendations of bookshops and cafés for after the tour
Who it's for
For book lovers who want to know Edinburgh through its writers, from Robert Burns to J.K. Rowling. Suitable for all ages.
Details
- Categories
- History, Pop culture
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Languages
- English
- Usual times
- 10:00, 13:00, 16:00
- Meeting point
- Makars' Court, at the door of the Writers' Museum (Lady Stair's Close, off the Lawnmarket, Royal Mile)
- Pace
- Relaxed
- Terrain
- With slopes (hills or stairs)
- Distance on foot
- Medium (2–5 km)
Accessibility
Accessibility pending verification
- Toilets available
- Rest stops
- Public transport near the meeting point
Price by group size
- Small group (5–8): 32 £
- Standard (9–15): 21 £
- Intimate (2–4): 42 £
Seasonal note
In August the Edinburgh festivals fill the Royal Mile and the Harry Potter trail gets very busy; mornings are calmer.