Situated on Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile, the Scottish Storytelling Centre is the world’s first purpose‑built venue dedicated to live storytelling. Opened in 2006 and incorporating the 15th‑century John Knox House, it offers a vibrant year‑round programme of traditional and contemporary storytelling, theatre, music, spoken word, exhibitions, and family events. The Centre is home to the annual Scottish International Storytelling Festival and works in partnership with TRACS to promote Scotland’s rich oral heritage across the country. Its welcoming spaces include a performance theatre, exhibition areas, a bookshop filled with tales from Scotland and beyond, and the Storytelling Café, known for its relaxed atmosphere and local produce. Blending historic architecture with modern design, the Centre embodies the Scottish Traveller proverb, “The story is told eye to eye, mind to mind and heart to heart,” creating a place where audiences and artists connect through the shared power of stories.
Edinburgh Scotland
The Scottish Storytelling Centre is located at 43-45 High Street on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, right in the heart of the historic Old Town. This vibrant venue is the world’s first purpose-built centre dedicated to the live art of storytelling, offering a rich programme of traditional and contemporary storytelling, theatre, music, exhibitions, and family events throughout the year. Within the building, visitors can also explore the adjoining John Knox House, a medieval historic site providing a glimpse into Scotland’s Reformation era. The centre features a welcoming café, bookshop, and spacious storytelling court, making it an inviting cultural hub. Nearby, the bustling Royal Mile provides an array of cafes, shops, and historic landmarks, while adjacent attractions such as St Giles’ Cathedral and the Scottish Parliament are within easy walking distance, blending the centre seamlessly into Edinburgh’s cultural and historical tapestry.
Museum
Museum of Edinburgh
Museum
Surgeons’ Hall Museums
Museum
Museum of Childhood Edinburgh
Museum
Museum on the Mound
Museum
National War Museum of Scotland
Museum
Newhaven Heritage Museum
Museum
People’s Story Museum
Museum
Writers’ Museum
Museum
St Cecilia’s Hall
Museum
Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage
Museum
Corstorphine Heritage Centre
Museum
Queensferry Museum
Museum
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Museum
Museum
Royal Observatory Visitor Centre
Observatory
Our Dynamic Earth
Museum
Trinity House Maritime Museum
Museum
Museum of Magic, Fortune-Telling & Witchcraft
Museum
King’s Theatre
Theatre
Festival Theatre
Theatre
Edinburgh Playhouse
Theatre
Queen’s Hall
Theatre
Usher Hall
Theatre
Royal Lyceum Theatre
Theatre
Traverse Theatre
Theatre
Bedlam Theatre
Theatre
Church Hill Theatre
Theatre
Rose Theatre
Theatre
Summerhall
Theatre
St Stephen’s Theatre
Theatre
Festival Square Theatre
Theatre
Leith Theatre
Theatre
Portobello Town Hall
Theatre
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
Gallery
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
Gallery
City Art Centre
Gallery
Collective Gallery
Gallery
Fruitmarket Gallery
Gallery
Open Eye Gallery
Gallery
Leith Walk Gallery
Gallery
Braewell Gallery
Gallery
Dovecot Studios
Gallery
Morningside Gallery
Gallery
West End Craft & Design Fair
Gallery
Bourne Fine Art Gallery
Gallery
Red Door Gallery
Gallery
Marchmont Gallery
Gallery
Talbot Rice Gallery
Gallery
Torrance Gallery
Gallery
Gallery TEN
Gallery
Wasps Patriothall Studios and Gallery
Gallery
Rhubaba Gallery and Studios
Gallery
Edinburgh Castle
Castle
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Castle
Craigmillar Castle
Castle
Holyrood Park
Park
Princes Street Gardens
Park
The Meadows
Park
Inverleith Park
Park
Calton Hill
Park
Harrison Park
Park
Victoria Park
Park
Pilrig Park
Park
Camera Obscura & World of Illusions
Museum
Arthur’s Seat
Mountain Peak
Scott Monument
Monument
The Royal Mile
Tourist attractions
St Giles’ Cathedral
Cathedral
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Botanical Garden
Dean Village
Tourist attractions
Innocent Railway Tunnel & Path
Historical Landmark
The Real Mary King’s Close
Historical Landmark
The Scotch Whisky Experience
Tourist attractions
The Edinburgh Dungeon
Tourist attractions
Grassmarket
Street
Stockbridge Market
Market
Edinburgh Farmers’ Market
Market
Leith Market
Market
Tron Kirk Market
Market
Ocean Terminal Market
Market