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Offered languages
- English
If you like your history a little deeper and more unusual, these new walking tours of the Royal Mile may be perfect!
Building on more than six years of unbroken five star reviews for his private touring, your guide Dr Moray Grigor will be delighted to welcome you into the rich and strange history of Scotland’s capital, as he brings you traditional tales of the Royal Mile and the events and characters which shaped it.
In this central section of the Royal Mile (Tuesday tour), we’ll be hearing of jailbreaks, civil wars, Jacobites, disappearing wigs, smelly deluges, Gaelic poets, hero firemasters, and Edinburgh’s greatest society beauty – not to mention three of Edinburgh’s ‘gifts’ to the world!
Hear the sounds of Scots and Gaelic poetry and song (with translation), and tales that will stir the imagination and bring our history to life.
Experience the care, attention and warm Edinburgh welcome that brought six years of unbroken five stars!
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
This is a large statue on a plinth, near to the main (West) door of St. Giles' Cathedral.
Itinerary
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1Heart of Midlothian
This Edinburgh icon, a heart-shaped pattern of cobblestones, marks the door site of our ancient jail; here we'll hear of famous inmates and daring escapes.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2St Giles' Cathedral
Outside St. Giles, we'll hear the story of the thrown stool that ignited a civil war, as well as hearing of the Church's own fascinating history. (No internal visit to the Cathedral in the tour)
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3Advocate's Close
Closes are the alleyways of Edinburgh's Old Town, and we'll be exploring the picturesque Advocate's Close as well as many others as we discover our Tales of the Royal Mile.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4Edinburgh City Chambers
In this handsome complex we'll hear stories of Mary, Queen of Scots, who was imprisoned on the site, as well as pioneer geologist Hugh Miller, who worked here. We'll hear the story of the building's origins, and it's early teething troubles!
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5Mercat Cross
Here at Edinburgh's ancient centre where proclamations were made, we'll share stories of Bonnie Prince Charlie's time in the city, and meet the 'Caddies' - the street porters whose base this was.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6
Father of Economics Adam Smith lived in the Royal Mile, and is celebrated by this statue, where we'll hear stories of him and his great friend David Hume, leading lights of Edinburgh's 'golden age'.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
7
We'll view from outside this handsome church, dating back to the reign of King Charles I, and hear stories of its role as Edinburgh's great Hogmanay celebration spot. Next door in Hunter Square we'll hear a tale from the restoration of King Charles II, starring a famous Edinburgh lady we met earlier on the tour!
5 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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