Edinburgh Castle 120-Minute In-Depth Experience with Expert Guide
Description
Visit the iconic Edinburgh Castle with an expert guide. Admire the castle's treasures such as the Scottish Crown Jewels, St Margaret's Chapel, Mary, Queen of Scots Birthing Chamber, and more on our guided tour. With your map in hand, your guide will lead you along the ancient cobblestone paths of this national monument. During the tour you will get to discover areas of the castle such as Hospital Square and the Western Panorama, where you can take in the breathtaking views. You will also see some of the more famous parts of the castle including: The One o'Clock Gun, Mons Meg, The Castle Esplanade, Crown Square, and more. Your local guide will tell you stories of the incredible people who have shaped the Castle throughout the centuries. From stories about deadly banquets and daring midnight raids to the death of a queen and the birth of a king. Be sure to set aside some time after tour for further exploration of the museums and exhibitions (not accessible during the tour).
Tour Options
Itinerary
This is our meeting point. This is where we will get everyone checked in. This is where our introduction to the tour takes place before we head off to Edinburgh Castle.
We will get our first look at the castle from the esplanade, your guide will explain the geology of the area and talk about the first settlers here. You will also learn about The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
This is where we begin our exploration of the historic fortress of Edinburgh Castle.
We will enter Edinburgh Castle through the gatehouse and we will arrive on the Argyle Battery where you will take in the views to the north and learn of the castles historic defences
Here we will learn about Edinburgh's famous time signal, The One O'clock gun
Climbing further up Hawkhill we will learn about the people who currently live in the castle, and those who have been held prisoner here throughout the centuries
Arriving into the Royal Quarters of the castle we will find Edinburgh's oldest building, St. Margarets Chapel. Hear about her life and how this building has survived to this day
Our final stop brings us into the beating heart of Edinburgh Castle. Crown Square where we find the historic home to our Stuart monarchs, The Royal Palace. We will learn of the palaces many residents and also of their most famous feature today, The Scottish Crown Jewels. This is where our tour concludes, you now have the opportunity to explore the castle at your own pace, armed with all the new found knowledge you've acquired. Your guide will remain in Crown Square to answer questions for as long as required.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- 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
- This tour is an outdoor experience, we recommend checking the weather forecast and dressing appropriately for the Scottish weather
- This experience DOES NOT start at Edinburgh Castle. Please meet your guide at 379-381 High Street, Royal Mile next to the Statue of David Hume. Your guide will be holding a black and white umbrella with the EDI Tours logo on it.
- Edinburgh Castle is still a functioning military garrison, therefore, the tour duration and itinerary may vary based on any ceremonial activities taking place.
- Bags over 30L and suitcases are not permitted in the Castle and there are no left luggage facilities nearby
- Ticket only valid on the specified date and time
- Not recommended for travellers with mobility issues
Reviews(396)
If we could give Sonia 6 stars, we would! What an incredible tour guide. Easy to understand, volume was perfect and her knowledge of castle lore unparalleled. We were entertained and educated the entire time. If you want the best experience, ask for her by name. She was such a treat and we will recommend her to our friends who travel to Edinburgh. Thank you Sonia!!
Amazing! Steep walk up- if you’re bringing older people definitely get a wheelchair! Magnificent views.
John is a terrific guide. Knowledgeable and enthusiastic and entertaining. And a nice guy. We would take a tour with him any time.
I booked this tour for our first full day in Edinburgh and came away very pleased with the experience. The history of the castle is foundational to the city, so the tour served to give context for our stay in Edinburgh. John was well-organized, welcoming, and early to arrive at the meeting point to greet attendees. He is definitely knowledgeable and a compelling storyteller. He made sure to connect with the interests of each person in our group. Without a guide, I think it would be difficult to grasp the significance of the castle and its layered history.
Our guide John was knowledgeable, entertaining and cognizant of everyone in the group. We learned a great deal about the castle, its history and its architecture.
Host was great, knowledgeable and funny
John was an awesome tour guide, his animation and knowledge made the tour amazing! I would recommend this tour!
If you're researching Edinburgh Castle tours while planning your trip to Scotland, stop looking. This is the tour you want to book. My family did the tour with John yesterday, and it was one of the highlights of our vacation. We've done quite a few tours throughout London and Scotland, and his was easily the best. I'll be honest, I'm usually not the biggest history buff. On most tours, I'm the person quietly drifting to the back of the group, counting leaves on the trees and wondering how much longer is left. But John completely changed that. He has a rare gift for bringing history to life. His storytelling was engaging, funny, and full of personality. He mixed in humor at just the right moments and included fascinating niche stories that made the castle and its history feel real instead of just a list of dates and names. I never thought I would find myself wishing a history tour would last longer, but by the end of John's tour, I genuinely did. John would make an outstanding history teacher because he has a way of making people genuinely care about the stories he's telling. I wish every tour guide was like him. If you're visiting Edinburgh Castle, do yourself a favor and book a tour with John. You'll leave entertained, informed, and probably knowing a lot more about Scottish history than you expected.
Our guide was lovely but her English was not fantastic and she kept repeating herself. We booked a 2 hour tour but the tour finished in 90 minutes. We spent a solid 30+ minutes of the experience outside the castle walls which was interesting but given the abbreviated tour itself, it means we had even less time in the castle.
Our guide John was very pleasant, extremely knowledgeable, a kept a good pace. Would definitely see about using his services again to explore other areas in Scotland.
