Book Lover's Guide to Edinburgh

A walking guide to Edinburgh’s rich literary heritage, tracing famous authors, hidden sites, and the city’s vibrant book culture.

Whether you’re a lifelong book lover or a curious traveller, this guide is the perfect companion to discovering Edinburgh’s extraordinary literary heritage. Explore the places and authors that have shaped the city’s cultural and physical landscape, from sites of literary history and interest to buildings and vistas that inspired famous poems and novels. Including many iconic Edinburgh sights, this guide also draws on local knowledge to highlight some lesser-known gems hidden away in the Old Town or located further afield in the city.

After a brief history of Edinburgh, the guide offers five detailed walking trails. These allow readers to follow in the footsteps of some of the best-known writers associated with Edinburgh from Robert Burns, Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson to J.K. Rowling and Diana Gabaldon. The second section delves into Edinburgh’s wider literary associations. Organised by geographical area, it spans a diverse range of authors, poets and playwrights across many centuries, uncovering unexpected connections, fascinating pieces of history and even a widely-disseminated literary hoax. The third and final section explores the city’s vibrant literary scene today, detailing museums, bookshops, and festivals, such as the world-renowned Edinburgh International Book Festival and Festival Fringe.

Dr Kate Stephenson is a freelance historian and tour guide based in Edinburgh. Specialising in social history, particularly clothing and sex-related topics, she regularly does events, as well as appearing on podcasts and television, talking about the latter. She also works with museums and heritage sites creating interpretative and educational resources. In her spare time, she is an avid reader.