Welcome to the Edinburgh Literary Retreat: a book-lover’s journey set in one of the world’s most atmospheric literary cities. You’ll explore the city through guided tours, museum visits, themed activities, and cosy moments shared with fellow readers. Whether you’re drawn to historic bookshops, iconic Scottish writers, or magical stories woven into the cobbled streets, this retreat invites you to step inside the pages of Edinburgh’s literary legacy.

Retreat Date(s)

Friday 29th May - Monday 1st June 2026

Itinerary

Meet & Greet: We’ll begin with a friendly welcome gathering where you can meet your fellow literary travellers over drinks and ease into the magic of an Edinburgh-inspired bookish escape. Literary Walking Tour: Together, we’ll wander Edinburgh’s historic streets on a guided tour, exploring the stories, legends, and celebrated authors who shaped the city’s rich literary heritage. Edinburgh Writers’ Museum: Step inside the world of Scotland’s greatest writers as we tour the Edinburgh Writers’ Museum, discovering artifacts, manuscripts, and the personal histories of icons like Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Robert Louis Stevenson. Bookshop Crawl: No literary adventure would be complete without time among the shelves. We’ll explore some of Edinburgh’s most charming and atmospheric bookshops, uncovering new reads, hidden gems, and local favourites. Sherlock Holmes Mystery: Channel your inner detective as we take part in a Sherlock Holmes–inspired mystery experience, solving clues and unravelling a story that brings Arthur Conan Doyle’s world to life. Harry Potter Sites: We’ll visit the iconic places that inspired J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world, from atmospheric cafés to magical corners of the city where the spirit of Harry Potter still lingers. Literary Pub Crawl: As evening falls, we’ll join a lively literary pub crawl, following in the footsteps of Edinburgh’s most famous writers while enjoying storytelling, humour, and a taste of the city’s legendary pub culture. *The finalised itinerary with timings and full details will be sent in the retreat guide to all attendees a few weeks before the retreat. This is so we can confirm numbers for activities, make reservations, and potentially include additional bookshop events, performances and workshops, which may not be announced yet.

What's Included

- Beautiful accommodation in the city centre (see below) - Welcome dinner - Literary walking tour of Edinburgh - Literary pub crawl - Visit to the Edinburgh Writers' Museum - Bookshop crawl - Sherlock Holmes Murder Mystery - Goodie bag

What's Not Included

- Other meals not included in the itinerary - Transport or transfers

How to get there (if applicable)

The retreat is based in the heart of Edinburgh, easily accessible by air, rail, and road. Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is the main international gateway, with flights from across Europe, North America, and beyond. From the airport, you can reach the city center by taxi (around 25 minutes), tram (the Edinburgh Trams run directly to the city center in about 35 minutes), or airport bus services such as the Airlink 100. For those traveling by train, Edinburgh Waverley Station is the central hub, well-connected to major UK cities including London, Glasgow, and Manchester. Local buses and taxis are readily available from the station to the retreat apartments. If you prefer road travel, Edinburgh is accessible via major motorways and well-signposted city routes, with several parking options nearby for those renting a car.

Other Cancellation Policy (refer this if "Other" is chosen in Cancellation & Refund Policy section)

Please note that this retreat requires a minimum of 5 attendees to go ahead. If we are still less than 5 people a month before the start date, the retreat will be cancelled and all payments refunded.

Past Reviews (optional)

"Exploring Madrid’s literary scene with the Nomad Book Club was a truly enriching experience, and it couldn’t have been curated better. The weekend was thoughtfully planned, with a wonderful mix of book launches, poetry workshops, visits to historic literary sites, exhibitions and relaxed moments like browsing bookshops. Amy created a welcoming and stress-free environment, giving us the freedom to join activities or choose to explore on our own. I left the weekend feeling inspired, fulfilled, and grateful for the conversations and connections formed along the way. Highly recommended for anyone who loves books, travel , and meaningful cultural experiences." - Sandhya (India​/​Spain), Madrid Retreat attendee "I went on the Madrid Literary Retreat and had a wonderful time. Before the retreat, Amy was super helpful in answering my questions. On arriving, Amy was very welcoming and the accommodation was lovely. The itinerary was brilliant with plenty of activities but also the option to branch off and do your own thing. Overall I had a fantastic time and loved meeting everyone and learning more about Madrid’s literary history." - Amelia (UK), Madrid Retreat attendee "I especially enjoyed the retreat in Madrid, as one of Amy's suggestions was to read a book that included the city we would be visiting. And I ended up wandering around Madrid, marveling at and recognizing places that appeared in the novel I was reading. Visiting amazing bookstores, participating in a poetry workshop, and spending quality time with other literature lovers—experiencing the city in this way—is one of the most enriching experiences I've ever had." - Laura (Argentina​/​Spain), Madrid Retreat attendee "I had a very nice few days in Madrid on the retreat led by Amy. The group was lovely and friendly. The bookshops we visited were really interesting and the poetry workshop was fun and relaxed. Our evening dinners were very relaxed and unstuffy. Overall a really pleasant experience" - Marian (Ireland), Madrid Retreat attendee "I had a great weekend at the Madrid Literary Retreat. I enjoyed seeing the city from a different point of view and I learned a lot about Spain and Madrid’s active literary scene." - Anne (Netherlands​/​Spain), Madrid Retreat attendee "It’s wonderful to connect with others and see things from different perspectives. Sharing my own unique viewpoints has been such a valuable experience. Not only I could remember the book more deeply and longer thanks to that experience, I’ve also enjoyed forming meaningful connections and having deeper conversations that only books can facilitate. I highly recommend joining this nomad book club whenever you can!" - Yeji (South Korea), Bansko Pop-Up Nomad Book Club attendee "I really enjoyed the Bansko Nomad Book Club with Amy! It was such a fun and welcoming space to connect with fellow nomads and book lovers from all over the world. The group felt comfortable and engaging, and I loved being able to share, connect, and hear different perspectives. It’s the perfect way to stay connected with other readers while traveling." - Ashley (USA), Bansko Pop-Up Nomad Book Club attendee "Amy’s book club is a great way to think deeper about the destinations you visit. I really enjoyed sharing my findings with others and seeing how certain themes played out in each place. The discussions are fun and insightful, and amy does great creating a cozy vibe for the group! Check it out if you can!" - Tej (USA), Bansko Pop-Up Nomad Book Club attendee "I really enjoyed to see how passionate you’re about it and the fact you’ve acquired a lot of knowledge of different books that are specific to the place you’ve traveled and know we get to explore and discuss about these. I’d say is very valuable to connect with others and get first-head recommendations on books they’re reading and also benefited their lives." - Fernando (Costa Rica), Bansko Pop-Up Nomad Book Club attendee