Explore the real places in Edinburgh that appear in Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include Admiral Benbow Inn, Bristol Docks, The Spy-glass Tavern, Squire Trelawney's Estate, Dr. Livesey's Surgery and 4 more.
Black Cove Road — Young Jim Hawkins' home
The Admiral Benbow Inn is where young Jim Hawkins lives with his parents. The mysterious Billy Bones arrives here carrying his sea chest, paying four shillings a month for room and board. It's here that Bones dies of apoplexy after receiving the black spot, and where Jim discovers the treasure map that launches their adventure. The inn becomes the target of the pirate gang led by Blind Pew, who ransack it searching for Bones' papers.
The Admiral Benbow Inn is fictional, but Stevenson based it on coastal inns common along the Southwest English coast in the 18th century. These establishments served both locals and travelers, often including sailors and smugglers who frequented the dangerous coastline.
While the original Admiral Benbow is fictional, several real pubs now bear the name in tribute to Stevenson's novel, particularly along the Devon and Cornwall coasts where the story is often said to be set.
Floating Harbour — Where the Hispaniola departs
This is where Squire Trelawney outfits the schooner Hispaniola for the treasure voyage. Jim Hawkins arrives here with Dr. Livesey, marveling at the bustling port with its forest of masts and rigging. They meet the one-legged Long John Silver for the first time at his tavern near the docks, and it's from these very quays that the Hispaniola sets sail for Treasure Island with its fateful crew of pirates disguised as honest sailors.
Bristol's Floating Harbour was created in 1809 to solve the problem of the River Avon's extreme tidal range. By the 18th century, Bristol was England's second-largest port after London, heavily involved in trade with the Americas, including the slave trade that made many Bristol merchants wealthy.
The Floating Harbour is now a cultural quarter with museums, galleries, restaurants, and residential developments. Historic ships are moored here, and the M Shed museum tells the story of Bristol's maritime heritage.
Visit: M Shed Museum (museum)
Near Bristol Docks — Long John Silver's establishment
Long John Silver's tavern near Bristol docks, where he serves as the genial host while secretly plotting mutiny. Jim Hawkins first encounters Silver here, charmed by his personality and stories, unaware he's meeting the very pirate Billy Bones feared. The tavern serves as Silver's headquarters for recruiting his pirate crew for the Hispaniola voyage, all under the guise of finding honest sailors for Squire Trelawney's expedition.
Dockside taverns like the Spy-glass were common in 18th-century Bristol, serving sailors, merchants, and travelers. These establishments often functioned as unofficial recruitment centers for ship crews and were frequently associated with smuggling and other maritime criminal activities.
While the Spy-glass Tavern is fictional, the area around Bristol's historic docks still contains numerous traditional pubs, many claiming connections to the city's piratical past and maritime heritage.
Hall in the countryside — Where the adventure begins
The country estate of Squire Trelawney, where Jim Hawkins brings Billy Bones' treasure map after the pirate's death. Trelawney, portrayed as wealthy but somewhat naive, becomes instantly excited about the prospect of a treasure hunt. It's here that he, Dr. Livesey, and Jim plan their expedition, with Trelawney taking charge of outfitting a ship and crew in Bristol for their voyage to the mysterious island.
Country estates like Trelawney's were the seats of landed gentry throughout 18th-century England. These wealthy landowners often had the means and leisure to pursue adventurous schemes, and many invested in maritime ventures and colonial expeditions.
The specific estate is fictional, but numerous Georgian country houses throughout the Somerset and Gloucestershire countryside preserve the atmosphere Stevenson described, many now open as historic house museums.
Village practice — The doctor's residence
Dr. Livesey's medical practice, where the good doctor tends to Billy Bones during his illness at the Admiral Benbow Inn. Livesey is the voice of reason throughout the novel, and his surgery represents the civilized world that Jim will leave behind. After Bones' death, Livesey examines the pirate's papers with Jim and Squire Trelawney, helping to decipher the treasure map and becoming one of the three main protagonists of the adventure.
Village doctors in 18th-century England were often among the most educated residents of rural communities, serving not only as medical practitioners but as trusted advisors to local gentry and common folk alike.
While Dr. Livesey's specific surgery is fictional, many English villages still contain Georgian-era buildings that once housed similar country medical practices, now often converted to private residences.
College Green — Historic city landmark
While not specifically mentioned in the novel, Bristol Cathedral would have been a familiar landmark to characters like Squire Trelawney and Dr. Livesey when they came to the city to outfit their expedition. The cathedral represents the established order and moral authority that contrasts with the lawless world of pirates that Jim encounters.
Founded in 1140, Bristol Cathedral was originally an Augustinian abbey before becoming a cathedral in 1542. It has been a center of religious and civic life in Bristol for nearly nine centuries, witnessing the city's growth as a major port.
Bristol Cathedral remains an active place of worship and a popular tourist destination, offering guided tours and hosting concerts and cultural events. Its medieval architecture provides a striking contrast to the modern development around Bristol's docks.
Visit: Bristol Cathedral (historic site)
Clifton — Bristol's trading elite
Though not directly mentioned, this represents the merchant class that Squire Trelawney would have dealt with when outfitting the Hispaniola. The Merchant Venturers were Bristol's powerful trading guild, and their wealth from maritime commerce parallels the treasure-hunting spirit that drives the novel's plot.
The Society of Merchant Venturers was established in 1552 and became one of England's most powerful trading organizations. They controlled much of Bristol's overseas trade, including involvement in the triangular trade that brought enormous wealth to the city.
The Merchant Venturers' Hall still exists as the headquarters of the ancient society, which continues as a charitable organization. The building occasionally opens for tours and hosts events related to Bristol's maritime history.
Visit: Merchant Venturers' Hall (historic site)
Great Western Dockyard — Maritime heritage
While built after Treasure Island's fictional timeframe, this represents the kind of innovative maritime engineering that made Bristol famous. The spirit of maritime adventure and the dangers of ocean voyaging that the SS Great Britain embodied echo the themes of Stevenson's novel and the perilous journey of the Hispaniola.
Launched in 1843, the SS Great Britain was the world's first iron-hulled, screw-propeller-driven steamship. Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, she represented the pinnacle of Victorian maritime engineering and Bristol's continued importance as a shipbuilding center.
The SS Great Britain has been restored and is now a major museum attraction in Bristol's floating harbor. Visitors can explore the ship and learn about 19th-century maritime life, shipbuilding, and the immigrant experience.
Visit: SS Great Britain (museum)
City center — Georgian elegance
This elegant Georgian square represents the refined world of the gentry class to which Squire Trelawney belongs. The wealth displayed in such neighborhoods was often built on Bristol's maritime trade, including the very kind of treasure-seeking ventures that drive the novel's plot.
Built in the 1700s, Queen Square was one of the largest Georgian squares in Britain and a symbol of Bristol's prosperity during the height of its maritime trading power. The square housed wealthy merchants and professionals who made their fortunes from the city's port activities.
Queen Square remains one of Bristol's finest architectural spaces, surrounded by Georgian townhouses, many now converted to offices and cultural venues. The square frequently hosts outdoor events and markets.
Visit: Queen Square (historic site)
More by Robert Louis Stevenson: The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde locations map · All Robert Louis Stevenson books
Other nearby maps: The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett locations map · Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy locations map · Patriot Games by Tom Clancy locations map · The Time Machine by H.G. Wells locations map