Royal Mile and Old Town Walking Tour
Description
This tour is led by Edinburgh Guided Tour — a small team of exceptional Guides, including PHD Historians, a Professor, and a Museum Manager. Each guide handpicked for their intelligence and warmth. Their passion for Edinburgh shines through in every story they tell, from royal scandal to Enlightenment genius, from Harry Potter to historical rogues. We keep our group size small — never more than 12 guests — so every participant enjoys a personal experience. No straining to hear in a crowd of 30! Our guests consistently give us amazing reviews. These are not your average guides. They will Make History Come Alive. • Guided Walking Tour of the Royal Mile and surrounds • See the secret closes and wynds and all of the major sites • Learn of the famous writers, poets, and economists who have made Edinburgh their home • Visit famous landmarks such as St Giles Cathedral, Grassmarket, and Greyfriars’ Kirkyard • Take the opportunity to capture some amazing photographic opportunities
Tour Options
Itinerary
View this Baroque "Beaux Arts" masterpiece in the Heart of Edinburgh, the Usher Hall. Donated to the people and the City of Edinburgh by Stuart Usher's great great uncle, Andrew Usher.
Behold and view (from the outside) the towering, majestic pile of Edinburgh Castle from various vantage points. Learn all about its history (good, bad and downright ugly), the Scottish Wars of Independence, the Stuart dynasty, the Union of the Crowns and much more!
Enter and visit this centuries-old area that served as the Medieval Marketplace of the City. Also see George Heriot School (the inspiration behind Hogwarts!).
Come and visit this fascinating court where you can see and hear how people lived in the 17th and 18th centuries.
See classic examples of Edinburgh's Old Town tenement buildings in James Court. Also see the quirky and charismatic Jolly Judge pub.
This museum showcases the best of Scotland's literary heroes, past and present. Guests can visit inside should they wish.
See the exterior of the home of the philosopher David Hume, the 'Father of the Scottish Enlightenment' as well as other Scottish notables.
Learn about the life of the blackguard, Deacon Brodie, the real-life character behind 'Jekyll and Hyde'.
View this magnificent cathedral from the outside and learn about its pivotal history during the middle ages and reformation periods.
See the highlights of this busy heart of the Royal Mile which includes the City Chambers, Mercat Cross and other sites of interest.
Cross one of the first bridges to connect the Old & New Towns of Edinburgh, leading to Princes Street Gardens.
See this towering landmark which delineates the separation of the Old and New Towns (both of which are Unesco world heritage sites).
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
- Children under 12 are free
- Children 12-16 pay 75%
Reviews(1,625)
We had a fantastic tour with Alastair Sim around Edinburgh and the 3 hours flew past! We loved that the tour was full of interesting stories that bought the place alive (rather than just quoting dates!) and it was tailored to our interests - even including facts related to our occupations. Highly recommend this tour. Thank you Alastair :)
Dear Jade Thanks a million for your superlative Review of your Tour with our superb guide, Alastair Sim! You sound as though you really enjoyed his expert story telling and the fact that he tailored the Tour to your interests as well. We also give you our great thanks for your recommending us so highly. Best wishes Stuart Usher.
Our guide, Steuart, was very knowledgeable and engaging. The tour started on time and the small group was nice!
Dear Trish Thank you for your Review with our Steuart Watkins. We are delighted that you that you enjoyed the Tour. Best wishes Stuart Usher.
Dr. Alison was a wonderful guide—engaging, funny, knowledgeable, and an excellent storyteller. Everything was very well-paced, and we arrived at our final stop less than 2 minutes before the 1 o’clock gun—incredible timing!
Dear Avery Thank you very much indeed for your great Review of your Tour with our engaging Guide, Dr Alison Duncan. She is all you so kindly say of her. Edinburh's famous 1 o' clock has given great pleasure (and frights) to countless people ever since it commenced firing 170 years ago! Best wishes Stuart U.
One of the most informative visits we’ve taken on tour. 3 hours and David (former National Museum Historian) gave us incredible insights into what we were seeing and why. Three hours flew by. The best part was this company doesn’t cancel if you’re the only couple. We had a private tour because we were the only Wednesday night booking. Tip: visit ATM beforehand for tipping money. This “tap to pay” culture leave little room for gratuity to be added so cash helps.
Dear Jeff A million thanks for your most glowing Review of your Tour with our wonderful guide, David Forsyth! the time does indeed fly past when one is in the company of a guide like David. We also appreciate your comment about our business never cancelling even when there are only one or two people booked. We also like your comment on the "tap to pay" culture so prevalent these days. You really must visit our ancient city again some day! You will be more than welcome. Best wishes Stuart U.
One of our best walking tours ever! Allison Duncan did an amazing job of introducing us to Edinburgh's history, architecture, and folk lore - and was so personable in her presentation and keeping the group engaged. It was an educational and entertaining three hours and covered so much information. Highly recommend - don't miss this tour!
Dear Crose. "One of the best walking Tours ever". This is very high praise and we at Edinburgh Guided Tour very much appreciate including this in your glowing Review! Alison is one the leading Guides in Scotland and is very good at keeping all those who who tour with her fully engaged We are delighted that your learnt a lot and hope to see yu again in our fair city Best wishes Stuart U.
This was our first trip to Edinburgh and we thoroughly enjoyed our walking tour of Edinburgh Old Town and Royal Mile. Our tour guide Fiona was a wealth of knowledge and was very personable and friendly. The pace of the tour was just right. Highly recommended.
Dear Richard A thousand thanks for your superb Review of your Tour with our equally superb Guide, Fiona! We are delighted that you enjoyed your Tour with her so much and also that the pace of the Tour was just right. And thanks for recommending us so nicely! Best wishes Stuart U.
Make sure you wear your walking shoes and bring water because while it was a very informative trip, it was exhausting going up all those hills!
Dear Adina Thank you for your great Review of your Tour with me. You are right about plenty of uphill walking in the Old Town so potential bookers of our Tours please note! Best wishes Stuart U.
Alastair was a great tour guide. The information he provided was interesting and he took our interests into account. Lively stories of Edinburgh history. Small group experience was nice… 12 people instead of the other tours with masses of people wearing headphones.
Dear Dana Many thanks for your super Review of your Tour with our Alastair! We are glad that you mentioned that we have a maximum of 12 Tourists on all our Group Tour walks. Those tourists in large groups of up to 40 tourists on them can never engage with the Tour Guide properly; hence their giving up and donning their headphones. Thank you again! Best wishes Stuart U.
This tour was one of the best things my daughter and I did on our 10 day trip to Scotland. Our guide (David Forsyth) was wonderful, used our names, and was extremely knowledgeable. You do not get this on those large scripted tours. I highly recommend Edinburgh Guided Tour to anyone visiting Edinburgh.
Dear Timothy Great thanks to you for your magnificent Review of your Tour with our great Guide David Forsyth! You are dead right about those large groups being not at all conducive to really learning about the history of our great city of Edinburgh. That is why one often sees some of those Tourists on the Tour with, wait for it, their HEADPHONES on!! Many, may thanks again. Best wishes Stuart U.
Got very lucky- we were the only ones on this tour! Fiona was AMAZING. She was personable, entertaining, made our tour feel special and unique. She clearly had such a passion for the history of Edinburgh, and so much to share. She spent some time getting to know us and what were interested in learning, and personalized the tour towards this (general history with some medical history and Harry Potter sites thrown in!) She knew many "more private" ally's and gardens and the history of all of these. We both called this a highlight of our vacation. Would recommend to anyone.
Dear 416galitr Thank you so much for your most glowing Review of your Tour with with our great Guide, Fiona Parker! You were indeed lucky to get her all to yourselves. Edinburgh was recognised as the leading city in the whole of Europe in the field of medical research (viz Dolly the sheep). We are delighted that you enjoyed your Tour with her so mucn and we aso thank you for recommending EGT so highly. Best wishes Stuart U.
