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A paving stone at Makars' Court is inscribed with a verse by Robert Henryson.
Edinburgh

Makars’ Court

A courtyard off the Lawnmarket beside the Writers' Museum, its flagstones cut with the words of Scotland's writers, begun in 1997.

Welcome

Duck down Lady Stair's Close from the Lawnmarket and the passage opens into a little paved square beside the Writers' Museum.

Look at your feet. Set into the flagstones are lines of verse and prose, each cut into its own stone with the writer's name, and together they make what the city calls a national literary monument.

Makars' Court began in 1997, when Edinburgh hosted the International PEN conference. The first stone, for John Barbour, was unveiled that year and eleven more followed in 1998. Stones have been added ever since, for writers from the 14th century to the present, in the four literary languages of Scotland: Scots, Latin, Gaelic and English. A makar is an old Scots word for a poet.

It costs nothing to wander in and read, and the Writers' Museum, given over to Burns, Scott and Stevenson, is right beside it.

Close byEdinburgh Book SculpturesEleven sculptures cut from old books, left anonymously at Edinburgh's libraries.4 min by roadSee itPaper sculpture of a fox beneath a tree, crafted from an open book
Before you go

The courtyard is open and free, reached down Lady Stair's Close from the Lawnmarket.

The Writers' Museum stands beside it.

Where
Lady Stair's Close, off the Lawnmarket, the Royal Mile.
Languages
Scots, Latin, Gaelic and English.
Where it is

Down Lady Stair's Close from the Lawnmarket, at the top of the Royal Mile.

Close byThe top of the Royal Mile.
  1. Writers' MuseumWriters' MuseumA free museum of Burns, Scott and Stevenson in Lady Stair's House.Under a mile1 min by road
  2. Gladstone’s LandGladstone’s LandA merchant's tenement of the 1600s on the Lawnmarket.Under a mile1 min by road
  3. Lady Stair's CloseLady Stair's CloseA close off the Lawnmarket leading to Lady Stair's House, a merchant's townhouse of 1622 that is now the Writers' Museum.Under a mile1 min by road
  4. St Giles’ CathedralSt Giles’ CathedralThe High Kirk of Edinburgh on the Royal Mile, under its crown spire.Under a mile1 min by road
  5. Edinburgh CastleEdinburgh CastleA royal castle on its rock at the top of the Royal Mile.1 mile5 min by road
Directions
Set table beside a brick fireplace with clock and mirror aboveRestaurantsWhiski RoomsA step away
Turreted stone building with a Makars' Court sign in Edinburgh's Old TownAttractionsWriters’ Museum in Lady Stair’s CloseA step away
Golden bird sculpture above a hanging sign for Gladstone's Land, offering tours, ice creams, coffees and cakesAttractionsGolden Hawk Sculpture at Gladstone's LandA step away
Deacon Brodie's Tavern sign on the Royal Mile, hanging baskets in bloom belowRestaurantsDeacon Brodie's TavernA step away
Empty tables and murals fill The Deacon's House tearoom, shelves lined with china aboveCafeDeacon's House CafeA step away
Hanging pub sign for the Jolly Judge on a stone wallRestaurantsJolly JudgeA step away
Bronze sculpture of a basket with a carved oar motif on its stone plinthAttractionsSusannah Alice Stephen MemorialA step away
Stone steps through a narrow close frame the Scott Monument, EdinburghAttractionsAdvocate's CloseA step away
Stone archway close, with a "Rare Whiskies" sign listing Ardbeg, Laphroaig and MacallanAttractionsRiddle’s CourtA step away
Stay nearby

Places to stay near the court, and when each is next free.

A man walks past Bucken Booths entrance flanked by black lamp postsOld Town Chambers
  • To stay
  • In Edinburgh
  • Under a mile from Makars' Court
Check datesA round table and chairs stand before tall curtained windows looking onto stone buildings, a sofa and mounted television to the right.Moment George IV Bridge
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Edinburgh
  • Under a mile from Makars' Court
Check datesWest End Muse
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Edinburgh
  • Under a mile from Makars' Court
Check datesA turreted sandstone building with conical spires catches the evening light above rooftops, a large pine tree standing beside it.The Scott Hotel
  • A hotel
  • In Edinburgh
  • A mile from Makars' Court
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in EdinburghAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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Every photograph commissioned, every word written by somebody who went. Printed twice a year, made in Scotland.

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For further reading, before you go.