Writers' Museum

Frommer's Review

This remnant of a 17th-century house contains a trove of portraits, relics, and manuscripts relating to Scotland's greatest men of letters: Robert Burns (1759-96), Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832), and Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-94). The Writers' Museum is often a surprisingly uncrowded space. The basement is perhaps best, with a good deal of items from the life of Stevenson (including his fishing rod and riding boots), as well as a gallery of black-and-white photographs taken when he lived in the South Pacific. The main floor is devoted to Scott with his dining room table from 39 Castle St., his pipe, chess set, and original manuscripts. Another set of rooms gives details of Burns's life (note his page-one death notice in a copy of London's Herald on July 27, 1796) along with his writing desk, rare manuscripts, portraits, and other items. The premises, Lady Stair's House, with its narrow passages and low clearances, were originally built in 1622 for Edinburgh merchant Sir William Gray.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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