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.





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.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 7.
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.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Excurgo comparison of 1,235 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour lasts about 2 hours. The itinerary has 1 stop.
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.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Fridays and Sundays, starting at 7:30 PM.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
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.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 40 participants.
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
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 collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Terrific evening out and about in this wonderful city! Duncan and Dave were so enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and entertaining.
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!
The tour was not only interesting but also great fun. The guides Emma and Dougal were fantastic.
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.
An incredible performance - extremely polished, informative and, at times, deeply moving. Worth multiple times the cost of admission.
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour | 2 hours | 4.6 (515) | $34 | |
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