EDINBURGH has been named the world's best literary city in a poll that credited Scotland's capital for inspiring more than 500 novels.
National Geographic named Edinburgh as its number one city for book lovers ahead of Dublin and London, which came second and third respectively.
The city has inspired hundreds of writers, with many choosing to set their stories amid its historic wynds while others find its atmosphere helps get their creative juices flowing.
Harry Potter author JK Rowling is famed for penning the series on a laptop in cafes across the city, including the Elephant House on Lothian Road.
Explaining their decision, the National Geographic said: “It’s practically mandatory that visitors to Edinburgh travel by the book.
“The atmospheric city – which has inspired more than 500 novels – passionately keeps its written tradition alive, from the verse of 18th-century bard Robert Burns (who even merits an iPhone app) to the works of modern-day writers like Ian Rankin and Alexander McCall Smith. ”
