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Tours/Edinburgh/The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour

The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour

4.6(515)Edinburgh2 hours
VIATOR4.6(66)TRIPADVISOR4.6(449)
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
+19 photos
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour

At a glance

Duration
2 hours
Price from
$34 / person
Location
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Rating
4.6 / 5 · 515 reviews
Languages
EN
Group
Small group, up to 40
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Confirmation
Instant
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Operator
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
Meeting point
Look out for our Ticketing person wearing bright vest. The tour starts up the stairs at The Beehive on the top floor. Feel free to purchase a drink at the bar beforehand and bring it upstairs with you to enjoy the first scene!

Description

Join the intrepid duo, Clart (as in muck!) and our 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. A Hilarious duel of wits across three hundred 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 500,000 satisfied customers on a dramatic literary trail across Edinburgh. It's regarded by many as a pioneer, and a "Must-see" cultural attraction in guide books throughout the world.

Schedule & prices

Runs
Fri and Sun
Start times
7:30 PM
Next available
Fri, Oct 9
Adult (ages 18–64)
$34
Senior (ages 65+)
$34

From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 7.

Tour Options

Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour 2 hours

literary pub tour Duration: 2 hours

Itinerary

Edinburgh Old Town
Admission included120 min

The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour is is a brilliant and witty dramatic romp through the wynds, courtyards and pubs of Edinburgh's Old and new Town.

What's included

Included
By professional actors
Not included
Alcoholic Beverages

Traveller Ratings

Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor

4.6
515 reviews
5
398
4
63
3
22
2
11
1
21

How it compares in Edinburgh

  • Starting price $34 is 48% below the typical $64 for tours of similar length in Edinburgh

Excurgo comparison of 1,235 Viator tours, recalculated daily.

Important Information

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund

Frequently asked questions

How long does The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour take?

The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour lasts about 2 hours. The itinerary has 1 stop.

How much does The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour cost?

Prices start at $34 per person for this Edinburgh experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.

What days does The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour run?

According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Fridays and Sundays, starting at 7:30 PM.

Can I cancel The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour for free?

Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is Look out for our Ticketing person wearing bright vest. The tour starts up the stairs at The Beehive on the top floor. Feel free to purchase a drink at the bar beforehand and bring it upstairs with you to enjoy the first scene! Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.

What languages is The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour offered in?

The experience is available in EN.

Is this a private or a group tour?

It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 40 participants.

Will my booking be confirmed immediately?

Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.

Is The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour worth it?

Travellers rate it 4.6 out of 5 across 515 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour.

Reviews(515)

Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor

S
sarahpT2471RK
October 3, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Colorful characters and a lovely stroll through Edinburgh

So much fun, a very entertaining and colorful look at some of Edinburgh’s greatest and a lovely evening stroll to boot. We liked the Jolly Judge pub so much, we went back later. Would highly recommend.

D
David_P
September 24, 2026 · via Viator
Edinburgh literary tour

The literary tour in Edinburgh was great. Dougal had to fly solo that evening as his partner was very ill that evening. We were given the option of a refund and we were very much glad we didn't. Dougal was very colorful and a wonderful actor and orator.

P
PortlandQuay
September 22, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
The best night out in Edinbough

A fantastic night out. Engaging, educational and lots of fun - most of all we were super impressed with the acting proess of Blair and Dougal - we can't recommend highly enough.

G
globalnomadstx
September 14, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
No show, no warning, not acceptable.

Talk about last minute... Unfortunately, we were not able to experience this tour. At 19:15, we walked up to a person wearing a vest identifying as connected with the company and were informed the tour was cancelled. We were offered a reschedule for the following night but our plans did not allow us to accept the change. We are extremely disappointed as we had to make special accomodations to be able to enjoy the evening. No extra compensation was offered aside from a refund which is mandatory under British law. We found this business and operator unacceptable and want to warn potential clients of the unprofessional experience we had.

7
744russh
September 10, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Great Scot literature

Riley & Paul were educational & entertaining all night. For a barely literate man, who went to please his wife, I had a great time. Three pub stops (to warm up a little) helped.

8
833warrenc
September 8, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Great Evening!

Terrific evening out and about in this wonderful city! Duncan and Dave were so enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and entertaining.

S
sharone763
September 2, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Great fun in Edinburgh

The Literary Pub Tour is a highly engaging and entertaining way to learn about Scottish authors in a historical context. We had a great time. Dougal and Dave were our hosts and they played off each other perfectly. Dougal also treated us to a couple songs. Beautifully resonant voice. Great fun in Edinburgh!

C
Connector36370253624
July 25, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
The guides made the experience one not to be missed

The tour was not only interesting but also great fun. The guides Emma and Dougal were fantastic.

R
R1581TWandrewo
July 20, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Beauty of the language

Our tour with Dougle and Emma was wonderful! The performance was wonderful, and the poetry was truly beautiful. The translations into modern English were appreciated, and really increased our appreciation for the beauty of the original language.

T
TrepidConstant
July 20, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
An essential Edinburgh experience

An incredible performance - extremely polished, informative and, at times, deeply moving. Worth multiple times the cost of admission.

$34/ person
4.6(515)
Duration2 hours
LanguagesEN
ConfirmationInstant
Check availability on Viator →
Booked and paid on Viator.com
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

No booking fees from Excurgo
Payment and confirmation are handled by Viator
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from$34
4.6(515) Free cancellation
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