Lady Stairs House
Lady Stairs House
4.5
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Neighbourhood: Old Town
Few Edinburghers live in the Old Town, but its labyrinth of dank alleys and steep streets suggests this was not always the case. Today, it’s mostly visitors, tartan-flavoured souvenir shops, and pipers that you’ll find on its cobbled streets. This is the place to get a feel for Auld Reekie (Old Smelly), as the town was once nicknamed, and stroll the Royal Mile, the thoroughfare that links the castle with the royal palace – two of Edinburgh’s great set-piece attractions. But there’s lots more exploring to do here down dozens of little alleys, or wynds, while at night the city’s busiest clubs erupt along the Cowgate which is closed to traffic for this purpose.
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4.5
30 reviews
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Malgorzata
12,085 contributions
Oct 2019
When you visit Edinburgh and the Royal Mile, your attention is drawn to narrow, perpendicular streets, called closes. Lady Stair's Close is a close in Edinburgh, just off the Royal Mile, close to the entrance to Gladstone's Land. Lady Stair's Close is the location of a 17th-century townhouse called Lady Stairs House built in 1622 for Sir William Gray of Pittendrum. Originally, it was originally called Lady Gray's House after the widow of the first proprietor. Later it was then bought by Elizabeth Dundas, Lady Stair, hence its present name.Today Lady Stair’s House is home to the Writers’ Museum. It is a picturesque piece of Old Edinburgh. The house is charming, has a romantic looking spire and a carved stone lintel with the date 1622 above the entrance. Wonderful.
Written 14 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jugneeta S
Mumbai, India21 contributions
Sept 2015
The writers museum and the Lady Stairs house are cute little places in the Lady Stairs Close - where CLOSE stands for the narrow litlle alleys or streets which stand as a mark of the historical city. It is very interesting to see how the new city has been built around the old one - rather than having demolished it - its like how we wrap a new cover around an old but antique piece. And these narrow alleys are like secret passages with a charm of their own and link the older part of the city like royal mile with the new princess street with all the latest malls and means of transport. The locals use these streets very often to take short cuts through the whole place. Most of them are just arteries connecting places but some have been used by creative entrepreuners to form beautiful old world eating joints and the Writers museum as we can see from the address is in one of these closes. The Lady Stair house is where the tragic heroine of 'The Bride of Lammermoor' used to stay in real life. Sir Walter Scott the legendary writer of Scotland took a leaf from the her tragic story and wrote his own novel based on it. Its fascinating to see how the name of the husband and wife along with their date of wedding is etched in stone on top of the wooden door of these kinds of houses in closes.
Written 11 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
june k
Middlesbrough, UK7 contributions
Aug 2012 • Friends
This house is down a back street just off the Royal Mile and you should look for it. The story of the house is fun and strange. The wrighting on the ground is worth your time to stop and read before going in to the house its self.
Written 3 August 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brian T
Kingston-upon-Hull, UK1,521 contributions
Jun 2014 • Couples
Lady Stair's House contains the Writers' Museum. This is a free museum run by Edinburgh City Council about the writers from the city. It is on a couple of floors and displays pictures and artefacts associated with famous writers from the City of Edinburgh.
It is down a small back alley from the Royal Mile. It is worth your time to detour and visit the museum. It won't take long, but you may find some of the information an interesting and useful addition to your enjoyment of the city.
We came in to escape the rain, and found it worth our time.
It is down a small back alley from the Royal Mile. It is worth your time to detour and visit the museum. It won't take long, but you may find some of the information an interesting and useful addition to your enjoyment of the city.
We came in to escape the rain, and found it worth our time.
Written 27 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
finglaspete
Dublin, Ireland2,518 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
That's the thing I like best about this city, there really are too many hidden gems, someone will say 'Let's take a run down this alley' and all of a sudden you will come across another little surprise.
So here is another one of those, Lots of big buildings, then nestles in between up some steps is a smaller, as ornate building which is truly pleasing on the eye, worth a look, and even a visit I'd say.
So here is another one of those, Lots of big buildings, then nestles in between up some steps is a smaller, as ornate building which is truly pleasing on the eye, worth a look, and even a visit I'd say.
Written 31 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MiMiLavette
Tacoma, WA57 contributions
Jun 2018 • Friends
This building is in a tucked away secret inner patio of sorts. Surrounded by historic restaurants & architecture. Perfect for a quiet moment between friends & lovers!
Written 5 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
itchyfeet2014
Glasgow, UK2,295 contributions
Apr 2019 • Solo
I stumbled across this building by chance as it is tucked away in a Square down an alley off the Royal Mile. It is now The writers museum, free and worth a look. It has a great history and is about 400 years old, renovated and a delight both inside and out. The spiral staircase is lovely. Do not miss it, Edinburgh is full of places like this. Each time I visit I find another delightful building.
Written 7 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dren W
Houghton Regis, UK245 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
Discovered this building during a nightime walk. Outs located behind Glandstone Land. Pretty courtyard nearby and jolly joker pub around corner
Written 8 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
madmarshmallow
Lisburn, UK2 contributions
We came as a family with two children which made it a bit cramped but its a nice apartment. Modern and well equipped. The location could not be better. If you are travelling as a couple I would definately recommend this as a base for your holiday. However if you have trouble with steps this isn't the place for you.
Written 28 October 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Taxidevil
Glasgow, UK2,934 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
This building now houses the Writer's Museum and can be find in a large courtyard accessed from the Royal Mile though Jame's Court .
There is a winding stone staircase that takes you to the basement and upper floors. The first floor is surprisingly large and airy overlooked by a balcony on the second floor.
If you are interested in the Scottish writers of Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and the poet Robert Burns then this museum is worth a look. The museum is free to enter.
There is a winding stone staircase that takes you to the basement and upper floors. The first floor is surprisingly large and airy overlooked by a balcony on the second floor.
If you are interested in the Scottish writers of Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and the poet Robert Burns then this museum is worth a look. The museum is free to enter.
Written 17 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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