---
title: The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
lang: en
type: tour
city: Edinburgh
country: United Kingdom
price: 30
currency: EUR
price_unit: per_person
availability: bookable
rating: 4.56
reviews: 513
duration_minutes: 120
languages: [en]
free_cancellation: true
rank_in_category: 5 of 5 (Pub Tours & Pub Crawls)
schedule_checked: 2026-10-01
data_updated: 2026-10-01
canonical: https://guidekin.com/uk/edinburgh/tours/the-edinburgh-literary-pub-tour/
---

# The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour

**Guidekin's take:** Two professional actors perform a scripted literary debate through the wynds, courtyards and pubs of Edinburgh's Old and New Town. The performance is included, but drinks are bought separately. 4.56 from 513 reviews at €30 per person for 2h.

## Overview

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.

## Before you book

- Meeting point: Look out for our Ticketing person…
- Starts 19:30: one departure a day
- Age 18+: minimum age to join

## Key facts

- Price: from €30 per person
- Duration: 2h
- Rating: 4.56/5 from 513 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor)
- Free cancellation (see policy below)
- Recommended by 89% of travellers (share of four- and five-star reviews)
- Operator: The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour

## What's included

- By professional actors

## Not included

- Alcoholic Beverages

## Itinerary

1. **Edinburgh Old Town** (2h; admission included) - 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.

## Schedule

- Runs: Fri, Sun
- Departures: 19:30
- Schedule last checked: 2026-10-01
- These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout.

## Cancellation

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

## 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!
Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJ3VlbNZrHh0gRakzCA_LdLYc

## Good to know

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

## Compared with other Pub Tours & Pub Crawls

| Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **This tour · #5 of 5** | €30 | 2h | 4.56 (513) | shared |
| [Edinburgh: Pubs & History Walking Tour with Beer Tasting](/uk/edinburgh/tours/edinburgh-pubs-history-walking-tour-with-beer-tasting/?format=md) | €54 | 2h | 4.92 (310) | shared |
| [Thirsty for Edinburgh: Scotlands Best Historical Pub Tour](/uk/edinburgh/tours/thirsty-for-edinburgh-scotlands-best-historical-pub-tour/?format=md) | €34 | 3h | 5.0 (33) | shared |
| [Pub Crawl in Edinburgh](/uk/edinburgh/tours/pub-crawl-in-edinburgh/?format=md) | €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.

Full list: https://guidekin.com/uk/edinburgh/pub-tours-edinburgh/?format=md

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