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The Scottish Storytelling Centre's timber-fronted building on the Royal Mile, its white harled upper floor set above a stone ground floor with crow-stepped gables.
Edinburgh

The Scottish Storytelling Centre

The world's first purpose-built centre for storytelling, opened in 2006 on the High Street beside John Knox House, with the Netherbow Theatre inside.

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Welcome

At the Netherbow, where the old city wall once crossed the High Street, a modern building of glass and timber stands shoulder to shoulder with the medieval John Knox House.

This is the Scottish Storytelling Centre, opened in 2006 as the first centre in the world built for the telling of stories.

Scotland has a deep tradition of tales passed on by word of mouth, and the centre exists to keep it alive. It puts on storytelling for adults and children, along with theatre, music and dance in the Netherbow Theatre, and it runs workshops for anyone who wants to learn to tell a tale. Each autumn it is the home of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival. The centre also runs John Knox House next door, and one of the city's anonymous book sculptures, a dragon's nest, is here.

The cafe and bookshop are open from Monday to Saturday, and it is free to walk in.

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Before you go

The centre is free to walk into, with a cafe, a bookshop and a small exhibition space; performances and workshops are ticketed.

Where
43-45 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1SR.
Open
Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm.

Opening hours

Monday
10am–6pm
Tuesday
10am–6pm
Wednesday
10am–6pm
Thursday
10am–6pm
Friday
10am–6pm
Saturday
10am–6pm
Sunday
Closed

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Where it is

On the High Street at the Netherbow, beside John Knox House.

Close byThe Netherbow and the Canongate.
  1. Roast beef with Yorkshire pudding and red wine on a wooden tableChop HouseA steak restaurant and cocktail bar under the stone arches of East Market Street, by Waverley, cooking British beef over the grill.Under a mile 1 min by road
  2. John Knox HouseJohn Knox HouseA townhouse of about 1470, one of the oldest on the Royal Mile.Under a mile 1 min by road
  3. World’s End CloseWorld’s End CloseThe close at the old city wall, where the old town once ended.Under a mile 1 min by road
  4. Man in black cap kneads fudge on marble slab in shopFudge KitchenA fudge shop on the Royal Mile where the fudge is made in the shop.Under a mile 1 min by road
  5. Morocco LandMorocco LandA turbaned stone figure on the front of a Canongate tenement.Under a mile 1 min by road
  6. Edinburgh Book SculpturesEdinburgh Book SculpturesEleven sculptures cut from old books; one, a dragon's nest, is here.Under a mile 2 min by road
Directions
The front of the Black Grape on the Canongate, its sign over arched windows in a white building.RestaurantsThe Black GrapeA step away
Tenement corner building on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, The World's End pub belowRestaurantsThe World’s EndA step away
Restaurant tables set with wine glasses beside a large potted monstera plantRestaurantsThe White HorseA step away
Scottish Textiles Showcase, EdinburghShoppingScottish Textiles ShowcaseA step away
Restaurant dining room with pendant lights, stone walls and set tablesRestaurantsWedgwoodA step away
Sugared doughnuts topped with cream and blueberries sit in a bakery trayCafeRoom & RumoursA step away
Ivy trimmed into a heart shape on a townhouse wall beside blossomAttractionsChessel’s CourtA step away
Two bowls of ramen at Ikigai on South Bridge: a creamy tonkotsu with pork belly and a soft egg, and a dark mushroom broth, by glasses of water with lemon.RestaurantsIkigaiA step away
The green shopfront of Mother India Cafe on Infirmary Street in Edinburgh, its name in gold letters above the door.RestaurantsMother India's Cafe Edinburgh0.2 miles

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Stay nearby

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

A hotel studio room with a beige fitted kitchen unit and stainless sink beside a bed dressed in white and teal cushions, a wall of black-framed pictures above a patterned headboard.Old Town Chambers
  • To stay
  • In Edinburgh
  • Under a mile from the Storytelling Centre
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 the Storytelling Centre
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 the Storytelling Centre
Check datesWest End Muse
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Edinburgh
  • A mile from the Storytelling Centre
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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Scotland, in print.

We want to show you the best that Scotland has to offer. The makers and the creatives, the enduring experiences, the evocative tales, the concealed corners. The roads less travelled that take you to places that matter. The adventures that gather you up and sweep you away. The blend of the wild and the artistic that makes Scotland what it is. We’d love for you to join us.

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What we have written about it, the collections it is in and more in Edinburgh.

From the magazineCreative NatureFrom the magazineA Guide to Arts & Culture in EdinburghArticleOctober in EdinburghCollectionUnusual and Interesting things to do in Edinburgh
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