Please meet your guide outside the central entrance of the Usher Hall.
Description
This private guided walk with our unique guides (Stuart Usher or his son Richard, Professional Historians such as Dr Alison Duncan or David Forsyth, other prominent guides such as Prof. John Frank), will both entertain and enthral your group. Your party (up to 12 people) will be the only visitors on the walk. Stuart Usher's family have historic connections with Edinburgh (his great-great Uncle, Andrew Usher, donated the magnificent Usher Hall to the city, where the tour normally starts) and his deep knowledge of the city's cultural, historical and architectural aspects means he has a unique perspective.
You can book a morning tour (9.30am to 1.00pm), an afternoon tour (2.00pm to 5.30pm) or our full-day tour (9.30am to 4.30pm)
You can have flexibility on itinerary should you choose, e.g. if you have special interests in certain aspects of Edinburgh, and we can even arrange a starting point to suit you (e.g. your hotel) as long as it is in the city-centre.
Schedule & prices
Runs
Every day
Start times
9:30 AM and 2:00 PM
Next available
Wed, Oct 14
Group price
$424 per group of up to 12
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Out at sunset: the 2:00 PM departure is under way when the sun sets, around 4:46 PM in the coming weeks.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 13.
Tour Options
Private tour - mornings
a 3.5 hour private tour
Private tour - afternoons
A 3.5 hour private afternoon tour
Private tour - full day
A full day (7 hour) guided walking tour of Edinburgh.
Itinerary
Edinburgh Guided Tour
10 min
The starting point of the tour (if not your hotel) is the splendid Usher Hall, a wonderful Concert Hall gifted to the city by Stuart Usher's great-great-uncle. We do not normally go inside.
Edinburgh Castle
15 min
Gusts will see the majestic Edinburgh Castle (exterior only) and your guide will talk you through its tumultuous history and the lives of the many Scottish Kings and Queens who lived there. If you wish to see inside the castle this can be arranged but there will be an extra charge (£19 per head) for admission.
Edinburgh Old Town
150 min
Walk with our accredited guide throughout the many 'closes' and 'wynds' of Edinburgh's Old Town and see the buildings associated with many seminal moments in Scottish history.
Royal Mile
150 min
Walk with our accredited guide throughout the many 'closes' and 'wynds' of Edinburgh's Royal Mile in the 'Old Town' and see the buildings associated with many seminal moments in Scottish history.
St Giles' Cathedral
15 min
Guests can visit inside the cathedral which is the 'mother church' of Presbyterianism. Stunning architecture and amazing internal detail.
New Town
45 min
On the full-day tour, see the splendid 18th-century architecture of this Unesco Designated World Heritage Site that boasts the largest continuous expanse of Georgian-era buildings in the world
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Admission not included60 min
On the full-day tour, guests will see and hear about this Palace which is the official Scottish residence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. You would not normally go inside but this can be arranged (admission £17 per head).
National Galleries Scotland: National
50 min
Normally visited if weather inclement but it is the client's choice whether or not to go in and see the splendid array of 'old masters'.
What's included
Included
Private tour
Professional guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off if requested
Not included
Cost of food and drinks
Pickup Locations & Times
Please meet our guide in the lobby of your hotel
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.9
285 reviews
5
273
4
9
3
2
2
0
1
1
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
Wheelchair possible but there are hills and steps
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Guided Edinburgh Private Walking Tour take?
Guided Edinburgh Private Walking Tour lasts about 3h 30min. The itinerary has 8 stops.
How much does Guided Edinburgh Private Walking Tour cost?
Prices start at $424 per person for this Edinburgh experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 3 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Guided Edinburgh Private Walking Tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 9:30 AM and 2:00 PM.
Can I cancel Guided Edinburgh Private Walking Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. Please meet our guide in the lobby of your hotel Pickup points include The Rutland.
What languages is Guided Edinburgh Private Walking Tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 15 travellers can book together.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair possible but there are hills and steps
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Guided Edinburgh Private Walking Tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 285 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Edinburgh Guided Tour.
Reviews(285)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
M
monikasX4478EO
August 29, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Beautiful Edinburgh
On 8/24/26, the four of us had a private tour with Craig Goodman.
We were also able to get to know the beautiful city of Edinburgh from a fascinating historical perspective. Craig really engaged with us and also gave us good tips for our remaining days.
Many thanks for the great tour!
Operator response
Liebe Monika,
herzlichen Dank für Ihre wunderbare Bewertung. Es freut uns sehr zu hören, dass Ihnen Ihre private Tour mit Craig so gut gefallen hat und dass er Ihnen Edinburgh und seine Geschichte auf eine so interessante Weise näherbringen konnte.
Ihr schönes Feedback geben wir sehr gerne an ihn weiter.
Wir hoffen, dass Sie viele schöne Erinnerungen an Edinburgh mit nach Hause genommen haben.
Herzliche Grüße aus Edinburgh
Stuart Usher
A
AnkeLe31
August 7, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Edinburgh and Craig are always worth a trip!
Thanks Craig, for a great morning in Edinburgh!! Despite the very crowded city, you were able to give us a lot of information and show us great places. A guidebook (book) just doesn't have everything in it, that's what you're for.
All the best!
Operator response
Liebe/r AnkeLe31,
herzlichen Dank für Ihre wunderbare Bewertung. Es freut uns sehr zu hören, dass Ihnen Ihre Tour mit Craig so gut gefallen hat und dass er Ihnen trotz des geschäftigen Treibens in Edinburgh viele interessante Einblicke und besondere Orte zeigen konnte.
Ihr schönes Feedback geben wir gerne an Craig weiter.
Wir hoffen, Sie haben viele schöne Erinnerungen an Edinburgh mit nach Hause genommen.
Herzliche Grüße aus Edinburgh
Stuart Usher
K
Kimberly_S
August 3, 2026 · via Viator
Our guide was very...
Our guide was very personable and friendly with lots of stories. The morning is definitely the time to go as it just gets more and more congested later on in the day.
Operator response
Dear Kimberly
Thank you for your Review of your Tour with our personable and friendly guide. We totally agree with the your suggestion that the earlier a Tour is taken the better because of the heaving mass of tourists later on in the day. Thank you!
Best wishes
Stuart Usher.
G
Getaway11110498304
August 2, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Alison is amazing
The tour was excellent!! Our guide Alison was extraordinary. Her knowledge was endless and her ability to keep our varied group of 13 engaged was priceless. Highly recommend.
Operator response
Dear Getawa
A thousand thanks for your superb Review of your Tour with our super Guide, Dr Alison Duncan! She is a wonderful Guide with a good knack of keeping groups of people fully engaged. Also thank you for your highly recommending us so nicely.
Best wishes
Stuart Usher.
J
James_N
July 6, 2026 · via Viator
Don't visit Edinburgh without a tour from Douglas!
Douglas is an absolute scholar. We had enough knowledge of European history to ask pointed questions, and he always had detailed answers. He was charming polite and very entertaining. Exceeded all expectations. Highly recommended!
Operator response
Dear James
Many thanks for your absolutely stellar Review of your Tour with our equally stellar Guide, Douglas! Your Tour with him exceeding all your expectations is very high praise indeed. We thank you again for your high recommendation!
Best wishes
Stuart U.
6
663mwb
June 27, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Chris Walker! We love you!
Chris Walker from Local Eyes Walking Tour was grand. He easily accommodated 3 feisty, crazy, old American women on a delightful 3.5 hour walking tour of the Royal Mile. We saw all the nooks and crannies and heard the ancient tales of folly and greatness.
We recommend him to everyone who visits Edinburgh!
Operator response
Dear 663mwb,
Thank you kindly for your excellent and superb recommendation of Chris Walker! He is a top-notch guide and a wonderful Scotsman to tour Edinburgh with :)
We're over-the-moon you had such a wonderful time with Chris and hope you thoroughly enjoyed the rest of your stay in Scotland's capital city!
Best wishes
Stuart U.
P
paulaO5614IR
May 13, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Incredible Edinburgh walking tour!
Our walking tour was incredible. Fiona was knowledgeable, friendly and flexible. She showed us parts of Edinburgh that we wouldn’t have known about on our own. We highly recommend Fiona and this walking tour to anyone visiting Edinburgh.
Operator response
Dear paula
Many thanks for your superb Review of your Tour with Fiona! She is indeed a wonderful Guide. We also very much appreciate your high recommendation of our Tours. Thanks again.
Best wishes
Stuart U.
A
annpQ5198KP
May 9, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Great day in Edinburgh
Stuart Usher was a great tour guide! He was knowledgeable and interesting. Completely authentic!
Operator response
Dear annpQ
Many thanks for your great Review of your Tour with me ........ very much appreciated!
Best wishes
Stuart U.
1
168jamesk
May 9, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
This tour is a must in Edinburgh
Awesome tour, full of history and fascinating facts about Scotland, Edinburgh, and the historic sites around town. Dr. Alison Duncan was
the best guide! Definitely book this tour, and request Alison.
Operator response
Dear 168jam
Thank you so much for your lovely 5 Star Review of your Tour with our awesome Guide, Dr Alison Duncan! Aso thanks million for recommending us so positively.
Best wishes
Stuart U
P
Paul_L
May 6, 2026 · via Viator
Outstanding!
Requires a a fair amount of walking. Douglas is one of the very best guides we ever had the pleasure of sharing time with.
Operator response
Dear Paul
Thanks so much for your great Review. Douglas is indeed a super, super Guide.
Best wishes
Stuart U.
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