Personality:
Don't let the gentlemanly disposition, warm smile, and fixation with puzzles deceive you. Beneath that top hat is a cunning and resourceful mind. The professor tends to let others make their own mistakes and not correct them if they're all fired up. And he will only show his hand when he's sure of all the facts. Thus the only way to be sure you've beaten Professor Layton is if he presents his case, and if he's done that, then you loose.

Misc Facts:
If you mixed Sherlock Holmes and Phoenix Wright, while weeding out Phoenix's bad points, you'd get Professor Layton. Or at least you would if you're Akihiro Hino. Fortunately, Akihiro Hino is Akihiro Hino, and that's just what he did when he designed this puzzle aficionado. So is Professor Layton really a better Phoenix Wright then Phoenix Wright? Apparently, the best way to find out is to make a crossover game and pit them against each other.

Everything reminds him of a puzzle. Has been known to abort investigating if it means his hat gets left behind. Likes tea, particularly the bitter Belle Classic.

Catch phrases include "Critical thinking is the key to success" and "Every puzzle has an answer".

Friends and Family:
His parents are Laurent and Lucille Layton. He is inferred to have at least two sons, one of whom is Alfendy Layton, though as of this writing, it is unclear if Claire, Layton's deceased love interest, is the mother. He has adopted gazillionaire Flora Reinhold (Whom he regularly 'forgets' on his adventures). His mentor is Dr. Andrew Schrader. Clark Triton is an old friend and father of Layton's self appointed apprentice: Luke Triton. Emmy Altava is his assistant, assigned by Gressenheller University.