A literary weekend in Edinburgh

It's no secret that Edinburgh has been the muse of many stories over the century. However, you may be surprised to learn that Sherlock Holmes was inspired by the city. Indeed, although the famous fictional detective is often associated with London, author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is in fact Scottish and spent most of the time writing about his beloved character in Edinburgh, the city where he was born. So get to know more about Sherlock Holmes' importance in Edinburgh by starting your visit with a tour of the Sherlock Holmes statue. At the centre of Picardy Place, this imposing bronze statue represents the detective and his origins, his personality being inspired by the Scotsmen.

Continue your immersion in the city's many stories and head to the Scott Museum. Just a 15-minute walk from your first stop, you'll discover this Victorian Gothic monument standing in Princes Street Gardens, built in 1840. This iconic monument is a must-see, especially for fans of Sir Walter Scott, as it is dedicated to the author. In fact, it is the second largest monument dedicated to a writer in the world. Explore the various floors of the monument, each with a unique purpose. Start your visit on the first floor and discover more about the author, his life and even his writings as you’ll hear some extracts in the Museum room.

Then, if you're not afraid of heights, climb to the third floor of the monument to discover a breathtaking view of the capital from the observation platform. Finish your visit by admiring the outside of the monument, looking at the marble statue of the writer and observing the 64 figures all around the monument, representing the various characters in the writer's novels. Look for each of them and try to guess which figure is linked to which novel!

Seeing so many places devoted to literature without being able to read can easily be associated with a reader's worst nightmare, can't it? The good news is that Edinburgh doesn't just have a history of writers, it also has many book lovers and therefore many libraries. That's why you should check out one of the best libraries in the area.

Welcome to Waterstones Cafe, just 10 minutes from your previous stop, the library cafe is located in Princes Street. With 4 floors of books, there's plenty to discover and quench your reading thirst. Choose the book of your choice and accompany it with a cup of coffee as you sit on the top floor. Not only is it the ideal place for a quick (or long) break, but above all you'll have a breathtaking view of Edinburgh Castle.

After one or several cups of coffee, it is time to leave! Head to Edinburgh Castle for a closer look, just as you saw it from afar! Indeed, another series of novels has been inspired by Edinburgh and its castle in particular, and that's Games of Thrones. You might think that it inspired Winterfell, but that's not the case. (However, if you want to see where Winterfell was actually filmed, head to Doune Castle, which is a short drive from Edinburgh.) Now back to Edinburgh Castle, which inspired a mythical and terrifying scene. In 1440, the castle was the setting for a tragedy known as “The Black Dinner”. This infamous Scottish event went on to inspire the author George R. R. Martin to create one of the most memorable scenes of Game of Thrones “the Red Wedding”. So don’t hesitate to visit the site and feel the chilling atmosphere that still reigns within the castle walls.

Just off the Royal Mile, it is now time to join and discover the Writer Museum. Take the opportunity to learn more about Scotland's three greatest writers: Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson, as the monument pays tribute to them! Whether you know their work or not, discover the story of their lives. With personal objects that accompanied them in their profession, portraits and exclusive manuscripts, you'll get to know them like never before.

What better way to end a day in Scotland than in a pub! Check out Sandy Bell's bar, world-famous for its live folk music. Come in and enjoy the live music to rest after this long day. This bar is not only famous for its music, but also for Hamish Henderson, a Scottish poet who spent a lot of time in the pub. Although he can’t visit the pub anymore, a papier-mâché bust of him, carved from the pages of his books and displayed in the bar, keeps him alive.

Start your second day of this literary itinerary with a visit to Edinburgh's Old Medical School. Indeed, on the first day, you discovered that the creator of Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle, was born in Edinburgh, and today, you'll explore where the author studied while writing about the fictional character. Funnily enough, Sherlock Holmes' mannerisms were inspired by Dr Joseph Bell, a Scottish surgeon who was the author's teacher at the same medical school.

Afterwards, you'll probably want to get to the National Library of Scotland, also known as Scotland's largest library. Located just a few minutes from the medical school, it houses 34 million items. Here you can read the book of your choice and discover many other things, such as one of William Shakespeare's first folios and copies of the Gutenberg bible.

Just as the National Library of Scotland must have impressed you with its many books, you may be dreaming of the day when your own book will be on display there. Whether or not you've ever dreamed of writing your own book, the Elephant House could well be the ideal place to find inspiration. Indeed, although the Harry Potter series is set mainly in England, it was this café that became J.K. Rowling's Edinburgh writing spot. In fact, it was here that the first Harry Potter books were brought to life on the pages. Potterheads will be happy to take the time to stop here for a snack or even a Butterscotch beer and look for the table in the back room, which would have been where she sat to write, looking out of the window at Greyfriar Kirkyard and its tombstones.

Moreover, Greyfriar Kirkyard was not only part of the setting in which the writer wrote, it was also a place of inspiration. Thus, to finish your day get ready to cross the road and explore the mysterious kirkyard. As you wander around the site, take a closer look at some of the gravestones and you may see some familiar names.

This is no coincidence, as JK. Rolling took inspiration from some of them to create character names. In fact, she took inspiration from the grave of Thomas Riddell to create the mythical and frightening character of Tom Riddle, alias of one of the most famous villains in modern literature. What's more, you'll also discover the grave of William McConogall, who inspired Professor McGonogall's surname.

So get ready to free up your next weekend and explore Edinburgh's literary treasures.