Overview
Join the intrepid duo, Clart (as in muck!) and the clean-hankied intellectual McBrain, who will lead you on a brilliant and witty dramatic romp through the wynds, courtyards and pubs of Edinburgh’s Old and New Town. Get ready for a hilarious duel of wits across 300 years of great writing and colourful characters.
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour incorporates a dramatic script performed by two professional actors, not tour guides, reading from books. The tour reaches beyond the well-known figures of Burns, Scott and Stevenson and includes some of the most colourful, literary characters who have added humour and wit throughout the ages to the unique tavern life of the Old and The New Town.
This award-winning tour was the first literary tour launched in Edinburgh in 1996! It has since carried more than 150,000 satisfied customers on a dramatic literary trail across Edinburgh.
What's included
FAQ
You’ll join the intrepid duo Clart (as in “muck!”) and the clean-hankied intellectual McBrain for a witty, dramatic romp through Edinburgh’s Old and New Town. The experience is performed as a scripted drama by two professional actors—so it’s not a typical “talking tour with guides.” As you move between pubs, wynds, and courtyards, the actors read from books and bring 300 years of writing and colourful literary characters to life, going beyond the headline names like Burns, Scott, and Stevenson.
It’s a staged performance. The tour is driven by a dramatic script performed by two professional actors who read from books as part of the storyline. While you’ll be guided around the Old and New Town pub locations, the emphasis is on theatre-style delivery rather than conventional guide-led explanations.
The tour lasts about 2 hours. It’s designed as an active but comfortable walk through Edinburgh’s historic streets and pub stops. You can expect regular pauses at each location as the script and readings unfold, with a mix of humour, literary references, and character-led storytelling. Wear shoes suited to walking on uneven historic streets.
The tour is based in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, and it focuses on both the Old and New Town. You’ll visit pubs and atmospheric spots in the wynds and courtyards that help capture Edinburgh’s tavern culture across the centuries—so the experience builds a link between the city’s literature and its long tradition of lively public houses.
The price is 23.09 EUR for the 2-hour experience. Yes—it’s especially well-suited to first-time visitors because it’s entertaining and accessible, while also offering a broad sweep of literary history. The tour is award-winning and was first launched in Edinburgh in 1996, later welcoming more than 150,000 satisfied customers—so it’s a proven, popular introduction to Edinburgh’s literary pub scene.
