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20 ratings
4.5

Secrets of Edinburgh's Old Town

Edinburgh
Duration: 1h and 45min
Languages: English
Guru: Brian
Quality Verified Registered on December 09, 2019

Hello, my name is Brian and I've been guiding in Edinburgh, Scotland and London for 15 years and very much enjoy showing this fabulous city of Edinburgh to the world. I spent 11 years working at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queens Official Residence in Scotland, before studying in London for a year to gain a Special Diploma in Tour Guiding. Today, my focus is on Edinburgh and Scotland and I love learning more about this beautiful city and country.

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  • No minimum number of attendees
    No minimum number of attendees is required for the tour
  • Free booking and cancellation
    Free payment tour, no set price, booking and cancellation are free

Tour description

Hello to you all. My name is Brian and I welcome you to Edinburgh, Scotland's capital. I would like to introduce and show you the Secrets of Edinburgh's Old Town!!! The big companies will show you the normal subjects. Castle, Church, Palace. I will take you underneath what you see and tell you of an Edinburgh of the past that barely gets talked about.

What is in this walking tour? 

  • The site of the Palace of Mary, Queen of Scot's mother
  • The Scottish Jane Austen
  • The hospital of one of Scotland's first female doctors. 
  • The home of modern Jewish Edinburgh. 
  • The inspiration of Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and an ALOT MORE!!!! 


The tour ends just off the Royal Mile, minutes from attractions such as Edinburgh Castle, St. Giles Cathedral, and King Charles Palace of Holyroodhouse. 

Come to Edinburgh, and enjoy the big sites but after this tour walk away with enjoyment and knowledge of much more that will make you want to come back again and enjoy this city. 

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Highlights

What will we visit on this tour?

  • Meeting point:
    Parliament Square, Edinburgh EH1 1RF, UK
    Parliament Square, Edinburgh EH1 1RF, UK
    View on map

    I will be outside the Cafe Nero coffee shop next to St Giles Church in the centre of the Royal Mile looking forward to meeting you for our tour.

  • 1
    Outside visit
    1 Parliament Square

    This is our meeting place. It is on The Royal Mile, right in the centre of Edinburgh. The actual meeting area is next to St Giles Church outside a Cafe Nero coffee shop. I'll be in jeans, green Dr Marten boots and with a black umbrella.

  • 2
    Outside visit
    Heart of Midlothian Mosaic

    This is where we'll discover Edinburgh's old Tolbooth. We'll discover why it was so hated and the strange tradition local people carry out today.

  • 3
    Outside visit
    Lady Stair's Close

    In Lady Stair's Close, a small street off Edinburgh's Royal Mile we'll discover Edinburgh's literary side and The Writers Museum which represents three of Scotlands writers: Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson. We also find out about one of Scotland's under-represented writers - Susan Ferrier. Scotlands version of the English writer, Jane Austen.

  • 4
    Outside visit
    Cowgate

    The Cowgate is an area hidden away from the main tourist route and we will discover this fascinating street with links about things as varied from Irish revolutionaries and live music venues for some of the biggest rock bands from the past.

  • 5
    Outside visit
    Bishop's Close

    This is the story of how the Jewish community in Edinburgh grew from a seemingly small, insignificant street off Edinburgh's Royal Mile.

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end of the tour the amount that he or she considers appropriate (these usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).

Tour opinions

20 ratings
4.5
By category
Professionalism
4.8
Fun
4.44
Expression
4.4
Quality
4.67
Route
4.47
Generic
5 stars
14
4 stars
4
3 stars
1
2 stars
0
1 star
1
Ayelet 12 Aug 2023
Jerusalem

Verified booking
Travelled in group - Aug 2023
Brian is friendly and open to share his knowledge. He is very familiar with the city in many aspects. He chose to tell specific anecdotes that had happened in the Old City. Despite the noisy and over crowded streets because of the August music festival,he managed to keep us together.
Julia 10 Aug 2023
Vienna

Verified booking
Travelled in couple - Aug 2023
Thank you for the Tour!
Chris 09 Aug 2023
Edmonton

Verified booking
Travelled in group - Aug 2023
Brian is knowledgeable and fun! He gets to know you during the tour and has extensive knowledge of the area - can’t recommend him enough! Don’t hesitate to book!!
Shawna 03 Aug 2023
Brooklyn

Verified booking
Travelled in group - Aug 2023
Brian was friendly and informative. He enjoys his town and gave us an insider's POV. We had a good time.
Cassandra 11 Jul 2023
New York

Verified booking
Travelled alone - Jul 2023
It was okay. Guide is nice and knew the basic info but the tour moved slowly and dragged a bit.
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Who is this tour for?

Accessibility
Non suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Groups
Accepts reservations up to 20 people.
Pets
Suitable for carrying pets.

What should you know?

Minimum of attendees
There is no minimum number of people required for the tour.
Additional costs:
The tour does not require the payment of entrance fees or additional expenses.
Free cancellation
If you will not be able to attend the tour, please cancel your booking, otherwise the guide will be waiting for you.
Payment methods
Only cash payment is accepted.
Free tours
United Kingdom
Edinburgh walking tours
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