Why choose this Edinburgh tour ?
Welcome to Historic Edinburgh Tours! We will take you on a fascinating journey through the historic streets of the Old Town. You’ll get to explore the very places where some of Scotland’s most famous (and infamous) characters once walked and lived. From Mary, Queen of Scots to Bonnie Prince Charlie, Deacon Brodie and more, this is an unmissable opportunity to discover Edinburgh’s rich history.
Robert, your local guide, will come dressed in a kilt for your private tour. He will also carry a book of archive images. Robert will show you the city’s iconic landmarks while sharing fascinating insights into its past. With our archive images, you’ll be able to see how Edinburgh has changed over the years – and even compare it to its present-day counterpart. This is an experience not to be missed for history buffs and tourists alike!
Make the most of your Edinburgh adventure
What makes Private Old Edinburgh Tour – Walk in the footsteps of Royals and Rogues! a unique experience ?
Your tour starts just inside the main gate of Greyfriars Kirkyard. You’ll find out about Edinburgh’s famous ‘wee dug’; Greyfriars Bobby. There are a number of versions of his story. We’ll let you make your own mind up!
Candlemaker Row and the Grassmarket will be next on your route. You’ll find out about one of Scotland’s most significant weddings and how it affected Edinburgh. You’ll follow the route of the pre-wedding party.
Your tour will take in a number of locations along Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile. We’ll see where Mary, Queen of Scots spent part of her childhood, we’ll visit a charming little courtyard (with a royal link) and we’ll discover the very strange story of Deacon William Brodie and his hanging.
We get to cover a brief history of St Giles before visiting the site of the old Mercat Cross. You’ll learn about the significance of this location in the story of Prince Charles Edward Stewart (‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’) before we visit an atmospheric Old Town close. The stories here will be rather memorable…
The Cowgate is often ignored by other tours, but we’ll make the most of it when we discover what life was like for Edinburgh’s Victorian poor.
We’ll visit two stops which belong to the famous University of Edinburgh. Burke and Hare, the infamous Irish murderers, came to where we make our penultimate stop. You’ll find out how this pair worked, why they were able to murder so many people…and finally what happened to them.
We may even look at the ‘traditional’ Highland outfit your guide will be wearing.
Your final stop takes place near to Old College (or, if it’s open to us, inside Old College). This is possibly one of the most fascinating places on our tour. It looks incredible now…but the story we share is even more explosive. Literally!
Tour Description & Additional Info:
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Options To Choose for Your Trip:
Private Old Edinburgh Tour – Walk in the footsteps of Royals and Rogues! Inclusions:
Included with Your Ticket
- Local guide
Trending Edinburgh Nearby Tours Likely To Sell Out
Special Instructions:
- This Tour is Provided by Historic Edinburgh Tours.
- Tour Timezone & Starts at Europe/London.
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted.
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- This Tour is Rated 5 Stars based on 213 valid reviews on VIATOR.
- Minimum 1 Travelers is required to book.
- Maximum 10 Travelers is accepted for booking.
This tour starts just inside the main entrance to Greyfriars Kirkyard. The grave of Greyfriars Bobby sits here, just in front of the Kirk itself.The main entrance sits just next to Greyfriars Bobby’s Bar at the top of Candlemaker Row. Please do not wait at the smaller entrance at the bottom of Candlemaker Row. Your tour guide will either be wearing a Royal Blue shirt/jacket or, possibly, a kilt. Please say ‘hi’ and let him see your voucher.
We recommend that you wear comfortable shoes as the ground underfoot can at times be uneven around the Old Town of Edinburgh.
It can get cold in the evenings and sometimes it may have rain, bring a warm waterproof jacket and/or umbrella with you.
Our tours run whether it is raining or the sun is shining. However in the event that a severe weather warning has been issued, due to safety of our guide and you, we will contact you to reschedule your booking to another date.
Late arrivals:
If you are running 5 minutes late, it will still be possible to join the tour as most likely the guide has not moved on to the next stop. However if you are later and miss the group at the meeting point it will not be possible to join the tour.
Thanks for booking with Historic Edinburgh Tours.
