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No minimum number of attendeesNo minimum number of attendees is required for the tour
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Free booking and cancellationFree payment tour, no set price, booking and cancellation are free
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Accepts electronic paymentThis tour allows payment by electronic means or credit card
Edinburgh in Books and films - A Christmas Carol and Harry Potter to Marvel and James Bond
A bit of history, a bit of trivia and a wee dash of stand-up. Born and bred in Edinburgh, I worked as a staff reporter, feature writer and cinema editor on The Scotsman for 17 years and subsequently wrote regularly for the Guardian and London Times. I have written and edited several books, including The Times on Cinema and On Location - The Full Fan's Guide to Britain and Ireland. Reviews for my Royal Mile tour with Sandemans... "Absolutely brilliant tour. Brian is a multigenerational Edinburgh resident who knows the city and the history better than anyone. Can’t recommend more highly. Take all his tours!" Tim "Great walking tour, extremely informative and fun. Particularly enjoyed all the story telling by our guide, Brian! Definitely recommend it :)" Tamanna Wahi "Brian was very entertaining and knowledgeable and we really enjoyed our Edinburgh walking tour with him." Rajdeep Bhattacharyya "Had a wonderful tour with Brian today! He was entertaining, engaging and has a great sense of humour. Also loved hearing his unique perspective on Edinburgh and some great personal stories 👏🏼" Hanna Standvold
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Tour description
In 1993 I met an American who had come to Edinburgh as a tourist. He had a wildly ambitious idea for a historical epic film. He had never written a film before. Three years later I was with Randall Wallace at the Oscars when Braveheart won the Oscar for Best Picture.
- Hear how a meeting I had with an American tourist took me to the Oscars and changed my life.
- Walk the historic streets that were once walked by a famous author who came here as a secret agent 300 years ago.
- Learn about Edinburgh's link with Marvel superheroes and why Fast and Furious was not really quite so fast or furious.
- Compare the size of your handprints with those of JK Rowling.
- Find out the link between one of Rowling's best known characters and Scotland's worst poet.
- And the link between James Bond and Sean Connery that goes back to school days.
- Discover the truth behind Jekyll and Hyde.. and Sherlock Holmes It is all here.... Conan Doyle, Stevenson, Scott and Burns.
- Follow in the footsteps of Julia Roberts when she set a world record with her $10 million fee in a movie that no one has ever heard of.
- Visit Scrooge's cemetery and hear why Dickens got it all wrong.
- Hear about the cute little Edinburgh dog who received the city's highest honour, had two statues erected in his honour and inspired a hit Disney movie.
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Highlights
What will we visit on this tour?
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View on mapMeeting point:26 Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh EH1, UK26 Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh EH1, UK
Oitside the main gates of Greyfriars Kirkyard, 26A Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh, EH1 2QQ. (Next to s Greyfriars Bobby's Bar. Umbrella, either red or blue, grey, red and beige
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1Outside visitGreyfriars Kirkyard
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2Outside visitRoyal Mile
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3Outside visitScott Monument
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4Outside visitEdinburgh Castle
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5Outside visitDeacon Brodies Tavern
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6Outside visitJK Rowling’s Handprints
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7Outside visitThomas Riddell's Grave
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
Anne
01 Dec 2023
Verified booking
Travelled in couple -
Dec 2023
Excellent tour focused on Edinburgh tales, book and movie memorabilia throughout the ages
Catherine
25 Nov 2023
We had a fantastic Edinburgh tour with Brian. As someone from Edinburgh, who has lived and worked there most of his life, he was clearly drawing on a real depth and breadth of knowledge. He was able to pitch things at just the right level and pace for us, tell some great stories, weave in some personal anecdotes and make us laugh! It was fascinating to see and hear things we'd have otherwise missed. The tour with Brian was a real highlight of our stay in Edinburgh - would highly recommend!!
Paul
17 Nov 2023
Anyone who’s interested in Edinburgh or film will enjoy this tour. It takes you to the most interesting historical places in the old town, but also adds fascinating insights from Brian’s career as a journalist and film critic.
Mary
15 Nov 2023
Brilliant. Best tour I have been on - and I have been on a lot - this tour was a real stand out from the many tours available. Brian, a native of Edinburgh, not only knows his stuff he brought to life the whole experience with fantastic, unexpected details and stories. Bags of fun and personality. I could not recommend Brian's tour enough. You won't be disappointed.
Cassie
28 Oct 2023
Verified booking
Travelled in couple -
Oct 2023
It was a very interesting tour with an original approach. Through his personal experience, Brian let us learn more about the city of Edinburgh and the movies and books related to it. Really recommend it!
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Who is this tour for?
Accessibility
Non suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Groups
Accepts reservations up to 12 people.
Pets
Not suitable for 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
Electronic or credit card payment is accepted.
When do you want to go?
Sun
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