Edinburgh Royal Mile Alleyway Tour
Description
Explore the Royal Mile and its secret alleys on a journey where history comes to life. From the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle, enter the old closets, narrow passages full of history, until you reach the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Visit iconic landmarks such as Bakehouse Close, Dunbar’s Close or James Court, as we discover the lives of key figures such as Allan Ramsay, David Hume or Patrick Geddes. You will also explore gardens hidden among the stone, small oases in the heart of historic center. An ideal experience for those looking to discover the most authentic and surprising side of Edinburgh.
Tour Options
Itinerary
During the tour, travellers will tour Edinburgh’s iconic Royal Mile from the Castle Esplanade to the Scottish Parliament. Along the way, you will explore some of the city’s most fascinating and hidden alleys, known as closets, which hold centuries of history.
Explore Castle Hill with us and delve into some of its alleys, such as Castle Wynd, Ramsay Gardens or Boswell's Court.
We continue down the Royal Mile; this second section of the iconic street is known as Lawnmarket, where we will explore old closets such as Riddle's Close, Brodie's or Lady Stair's Close.
We already enter the third of the streets that make up the Royal Mile: High Street. Here you will discover alleyways such as Byre's Close, Old Fishmarket Close and Covenant's Close, as you walk past historic sites such as St Giles Cathedral or City Hall.
We finish the tour by going to the last section of the Royal Mile: Canongate. In this area we will enter historic alleys such as Bakehouse Close, South Gray's Close or White Horse Close. Finally, we will conclude the tour in front of the Scottish Parliament and the Abbey and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
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
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(5)
Great tour! I recently joined a historic walking tour around Edinburgh focused on its iconic closes, and it was absolutely fantastic. We did the tour with Jule who was incredibly knowledgeable, bringing each corner of the Old Town to life with stories, context, and nuance that aren’t often covered in other tours. What I valued most were the unique tales and fascinating anecdotes she shared—details you simply don’t come across elsewhere. Having lived in Edinburgh for 12 years, I was surprised by how much I still learned. She explored a side of the city’s history that often goes untold, and her passion for both history and culture shone through throughout the entire tour. A great experience that I would highly recommend to both visitors and long-time residents.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a detailed and generous review We’re delighted to hear how much you enjoyed the closes tour and that it still managed to surprise you after 12 years in Edinburgh — that’s one of the highest compliments we can receive. Jule has a real gift for bringing the Old Town to life through the lesser-known stories and hidden details, and we’ll be sure to pass your kind words on to her. Thank you for recommending the experience to both visitors and long-time residents. We’d love to welcome you back for another walk through Edinburgh’s untold history.
Fantastic tour. Jule (tour guide) was incredibly knowledgeable, bringing each close of the Old Town to life with stories, context, and nuance that aren’t usually covered in other tours. What I valued most were the unique tales and fascinating anecdotes she shared—details you simply don’t come across elsewhere. Having lived in Edinburgh for 12 years, I was surprised by how much I still learned. While covering the essentials, she also explores a side of the city’s history that often goes untold, and her passion for both history and culture shone through throughout the entire tour. An outstanding experience that I would highly recommend to both visitors and long-time residents!
Thank you so much Anna for this wonderful review — it truly means a lot to us We’re especially pleased to hear that the tour still surprised you after 12 years of living in Edinburgh. That’s exactly what Jule aims for: going beyond the familiar stories to uncover the lesser-known details that give the Old Town its depth and complexity. Her passion for history and culture really does shine through, and we’ll make sure she reads your kind words. Thank you for recommending the tour to both visitors and locals — that’s one of the greatest compliments we could receive. We’d love to welcome you again on another walk through the city’s hidden layers.
Great tour! The guide explained both the history of Edinburgh through the closes and the Royal Mile and individual stories of particular closes. There's history, interesting stories, picturesque views and nice walks. It felt like an unapologetically honest account of Edinburgh. One of the best tours I've been to
Thank you so much for such a thoughtful review! We’re really happy to hear that you enjoyed the balance between the wider history of Edinburgh and the individual stories hidden in the closes. An honest, no-nonsense account of the city is exactly what we aim for — history, character, and a good walk all in one. It truly means a lot to know it’s among the best tours you’ve experienced. We hope to welcome you back to Edinburgh again soon! The Timeless Edinburgh Team
i had a great tour with Jule! Learned so much about the origin and history of many landmarks throughout the royal mile and discovered a few hidden gems that I’ll definitely be going back to!
So glad to hear that! We’re delighted you enjoyed the tour and discovered some hidden gems along the Royal Mile. I’ll be sure to pass your kind words on to Jule — she’ll love hearing this. Hope to see you again soon for another walk through Edinburgh’s history! Kind regards, The Timeless Edinburgh Team
We toured the alleys of the medieval city of Edinburgh with Javier. We were in a group and had a great time and he was very nice. Lots of historical information, but it conveyed it with such passion that the tour flew by!!! Recommended 100%
Muchas gracias por tu comentario! Muy contentos de que os lo pasárais bien en el tour y agradecidos por la recomendación. Saludos, El Equipo de Timeless Edinburgh
