On 25 January each year, Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns is celebrated worldwide. A range of celebrations take place on Burns Night, from traditional Burns Suppers complete with haggis, poetry readings and toasts, to wild ceilidhs where you can dance the night away.
Whether you’re a long-time admirer of his prose, or this is your first introduction to the work and life of Robert Burns, we’ve gathered some of the top locations reachable on our tour buses. Enjoy the on-board commentary then hop off at the locations listed below to learn more about the famous poet’s time in Edinburgh and beyond.
The White Hart Inn (🔴Stop 3 🟢Stop 10)
Founded in 1516, The White Hart Inn hosted Robert Burns on his last visit to the city. It is also where Burns tried to woo Agnes Maclehose, a poet in her own right. They corresponded between 1787 to 1791 under the pseudonyms of ‘Clarinda’ and ‘Sylvander’.
She is understood to be the inspiration behind his famous song ‘Ae Fond Kiss’, written within a farewell letter to her in 1791.
You can find the inn on the Grassmarket. Just hop off the CitySightseeing Bus at Stop 3, or The Edinburgh Tour Stop 10.
The Writers’ Museum (🔴 Stop 6)
The Writers’ Museum is home to portraits, rare books and personal items belonging to Robert Burns, as well as artifacts relating to renowned authors Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson. Celebrate the lives of three of Scottish literature’s most iconic writers in this historic 17th century building which is tucked away in Lady Stair’s Close.
Open Wednesday – Sunday from 10:00 – 17:00, The Writers’ Museum is free to visit. Take our CityCightseeing Edinburgh Tour and hop-off at Stop 6.
Scottish National Portrait Gallery (🔴 Stop 8 🟢 Stop 2 🔵 Stop 2)
The Scottish National Portrait Gallery is host to Alexander Nasmyth’s famed portrait of Robert Burns, painted as the frontispiece for his second edition of ‘Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect’. You can also find other depictions of Burns throughout the gallery, including John Flaxman’s marble statue of the poet, which once stood within the Burns Monument.
Open daily from 10:00 – 17:00, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery is free to visit and can be reached by all 3 of our tours! Hop off at Stop 8 of the CitySightseeing Tour and Stop 2 of the Edinburgh Tour and Regal Tour.
Burns Monument (🔴 Stop 15 🟢 Stop 3 🔵 Stop 17)
Burns Monument is a Neo-Greek structure dedicated to the life and works of Robert Burns. Completed in 1839 and restored in 2009, the monument overlooks Canongate Kirkyard where Burns’ beloved friend, Agnes Maclehose, is buried. The Canongate Kirkyard is the last resting place of many famous and interesting people, so it’s well worth a visit!
Plan your exploration of Robert Burns with Edinburgh Bus Tours and discover even more of the city with our multi-tour tickets.
