The performance is included, but drinks are bought separately. 4.57 from 518 reviews at €30 per person for 2h.
In our comparison: #5 of 5 in Pub Tours & Pub Crawls, by rating weighted by review volume (see the comparison).
One price for every traveller: €30 per adult.
Child prices by age band are shown at checkout. Option texts and prices come from the operator's listing; prices checked on Viator on 1 October 2026.
90% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4★ or 5★: 464 of 518
Star breakdown of all 518 ratings
Reviewers praise the actors' humour and literary performances, but some expected more time inside pubs.
Written by Guidekin from the 100 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (7 April 2024 to 3 October 2026). Refreshed as new reviews arrive; last checked 4 October 2026.
Reviews are shown as the platforms publish them and removed when they disappear there.
Ratings collected from Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor.
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.
2h · Admission includedJoin 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.
The operator's own notes, grouped by topic. Nothing here is added by Guidekin.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
| Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| This tour · #5 of 5 | €30 | 2h | 4.57 (518) | shared |
| Edinburgh: Pubs & History Walking Tour with Beer Tasting | €54 | 2h | 4.92 (310) | shared |
| Thirsty for Edinburgh: Scotlands Best Historical Pub Tour | €35 | 3h | 5.0 (33) | shared |
| Pub Crawl in Edinburgh | €18 | 6h | 4.82 (229) | shared |
Ranked #5 of 5 in Pub Tours & Pub Crawls by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €18 to €54, median €30; typical length 3h. 0 of 5 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market. Compare all 5 Pub Tours & Pub Crawls