Arthur Conan Doyle's Edinburgh

There is an undeniable atmosphere that settles over Edinburgh in late October. As the clocks go back and it darkens before teatime, the shadows lengthen against the Craigleith sandstone of the New Town, and the barren lanes seem to echo with stories of the past.

Long before Sherlock Holmes took up residence in Baker Street, his true origin was forged right here in our city. Arthur Conan Doyle found his inspiration in Dr Joseph Bell, the brilliant Edinburgh surgeon whose uncanny powers of observation revealed a patient's trade, travels, and character from the briefest glance. Bell lived and practiced at 2 Melville Crescent, just a stone's throw from our home in Stafford Street.

To celebrate this rich literary heritage, our shop windows have taken a gothic turn this month. We have gathered our favourite tabletop mystery challenges, from Sherlock Holmes puzzle books to our exclusive Escape Room Edinburgh Edition, where you can follow in Bell's deductive footsteps through local wynds and closes. Paired with dark Scottish chocolates, they offer the perfect screen-free entertainment for dark autumn evenings.

Why We Love This: We love celebrating Edinburgh's gothic literary connections because our city's heritage belongs in everyday life, not just in history books. Gathering around the table with family or friends to crack codes and deduce clues makes cold Autumn evenings wonderfully memorable and sociable.

Explore our Sherlock Holmes Collection, challenge your friends with Escape Room Puzzles, or discover our Literary Gifts online, and be sure to visit us across Edinburgh this season.