Edinburgh Private Walking Tour

5.0
(2 reviews)

3 hours (approximately)
Offered in: English

Join us for a private tour of Edinburgh Old Town to discover the fascinating history of the city.

Understand how Edinburgh developed from a medieval burgh to an international hub.

Learn about royal history at Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse

We'll talk about the Scottish Reformation in St. Giles Cathedral

Visit Greyfriars Graveyard, Grassmarket and the closes of the Royal Mile. Listen to the stories of murderers, executions, and bodysnatchers.

Visit the National Museum of Scotland and its highlights, including Viking chess pieces and Pictish carved stones.

Find out about Edinburgh cultural scene, from writers and books to the Fringe Festival.

What's Included

Local Tour Guide
Guided Tour of the National Museum Highlights
Should clients wish to stop for coffee and tea during the tour, this would be at their own expenses.
Should clients wish to grab a snack at some point during the tour, this would be at their own expenses.
Gratuities
Private transportation

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

We will meet travelers outside of the Scotch Whisky Experience on Castlehill. This is a red sandstone building, very close to the castle esplanade.

End point

The tour will end outside of Holyrood Palace.

Itinerary

Duration: 3 hours (approximately)
  • 1
    Castello Di Edimburgo

    The Castle Esplanade will be our first stop. From here, we will enjoy stunning views of the city and see where the Edinburgh Military Tattoo takes place. We'll talk about the history of one of Edinburgh's oldest buildings. As we recall the fascinating stories of kings, queens, battles and sieges, we'll delve into the secrets of the castle.

    20 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 2
    Victoria Street

    From the Castle Esplanade, we will walk down hill towards Victoria Street, the most picturesque and colorful street of Edinburgh.

    10 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 3
    Grassmarket

    At the end of Victoria Street we will enter the Grassmarket, a large plaza famous for its pubs and its dark past.

    15 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 4
    Greyfriars Bobby

    From the Grassmarket, we will walk up Candlemarker Row. At the end of the street we will find Edinburgh's most famous and loyal dog, Bobby! We'll also see the dog statue located just outside of the graveyard.

    10 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 5
    Greyfriars

    Behind Bobby, we will find the entrance to Greyfriars Kirkyard. This historic graveyard we will understand what the Mortsafes are, and learn about the connection between the Scottish Covenants and the George Mackenzie Mausoleum.

    15 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 6
    National Museum of Scotland

    We'll enter the National Museum of Scotland and walk through the Grand Gallery: we'll explore some of the museum's highlights in the Scottish and international collections. There will be time for coffee and a rest.

    20 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 7
    St Giles' Cathedral

    After the National Museum of Scotland we will head towards the Royal Mile via Cowgate. We will explain where the name Royal Mile comes from and explore its historical highlights. The first stop will be St. Giles Cathedral. We'll talk about the architecture of the most important church in Scotland, and discover the history of the Presbyterian religion. We will also walk to West Parliament Square to talk about the Act of Union.

    20 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 8
    Mercat Cross

    Behind St. Giles Cathedral we will find the Mercat Cross, once the site of public announcements and punishments. We will also explain why the unicorn appears at the top of this structure.

    5 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 9
    Royal Mile

    As we walk down the Royal Mile we will explore some of the 'closes' and understand what these narrow, dark, alleyways were used for. We'll recall the stories of those who once lived here.

    15 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 10
    John Knox House Museum

    On the Royal Mile, we will stop outside of John Knox House and also see where one of the city gates used to stand.

    10 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 11
    Canongate Kirk

    We'll stop at the Canongate Tolbooth and explain why, in this part of the city, we find representations of a golden stag’s head with a cross between its antlers.

    10 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 12

    A few minutes down the road from Canongate, we will see the Scottish Parliament. This modern building is very controversial, let's see what you think of its quirky architecture!

    10 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 13
    Palace of Holyroodhouse

    We will then move to our final stop. the Palace of Holyroodhouse. We'll look at the Palace from the main gate, and discuss its history and architecture.

    15 minutes Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Please note that this is a walking tour and private transportation is not offered. It will be up to the client to make their way to the meeting point.
Supplied by Edinburgh Walking Tours

Tags

Full-day Tours
Half-day Tours
Private Sightseeing Tours
Historical Tours
Walking Tours
City Tours
Likely to Sell Out
New Product
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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Rating

5.0 Based on 2 2 reviews
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