As of 28/05/2023, 321 of our 326 Tripadvisor reviews awarded us five-stars!
OLD EDINBURGH PRIVATE TOUR
The Old Edinburgh tour is an excellent experience for anyone wanting to understand the history of Edinburgh whilst exploring the evocative streets, closes and wynds of the Old Town. Throughout your tour, you'll hear a carefully picked selection of the city's fascinating stories from Robert, your award-winning, local Edinburgh tour guide.
BOOK THIS TOUR
Prices start at £85 for a single-person private tour
Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance
Lowest price guarantee
This tour is rated '5-star' on Tripadvisor
Please note; This tour regularly sells out. We suggest booking as soon as possible!
CALENDAR
"We had a fabulous day out with Robert! He is totally delightful to spend time with, and it’s a great way to learn about the city. You see things you wouldn’t otherwise, of course, and he caters the tour to the interests of the group, making sure it is fun and interesting to all. Highly recommended!"
Jennifer, Tripadvisor, September 2023
DETAILS
Meet inside the main entry of Greyfriars Kirkyard (next to Bobby's Bar).
2-hour duration (approx).
Private tours start at 10am and 2pm.
Moderate gradients throughout, uneven paving, steps.
Finishes near to Castlehill on the Royal Mile, but we can finish at a location which best suits you.
Tickets are sent via email. Your guide will check your details at the start of the tour - don't worry if you didn't bring your tickets.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Here are five of the places we can visit on your private tour. There are more! How long we spend on each story and how much walking we do is up to you!
Greyfriars Kirkyard;
Find out about our famous pooch, Greyfriars Bobby, and learn how bodysnatchers operated.
The Grassmarket;
Learn of an important (and troubling) royal wedding, and you can choose from two infamous hangings to hear about!
The West Bow and Ovir Bow;
Hear about an unwelcome present for Mary, Queen of Scots, and learn about a worryingly scientifically challenged gentleman.
Parliament Square;
Your guide will reveal an important place which no longer exists and of conspiracy theories behind the death of Deacon Brodie.
Kirk o'Field;
Your tour ends with a bang! Well, not for us, but it did for a very important person.
WHY TAKE THIS TOUR?
An authentic Scottish experience
Robert will wear his kilt for your private Edinburgh tour. He will give you the low-down on this legendary piece of clothing. Robert was born in Edinburgh, and has lived here all his life.
Picture-perfect photo opportunities
If you like taking snaps on your vacation, this is the walk for you! Your Edinburgh tour guide can point out possible shots throughout the tour.
A tour tailored to your own interests
This private Edinburgh tour gives you some flexibility to focus on the stories, people and places which interest you. Some of our guests on this tour like to visit the Museum of Scotland for one of the best views in Edinburgh.
Walk in the footsteps of
royals and rogues!
On this tour, you'll visit places once known to Mary, Queen of Scots, Bonnie Prince Charlie Deacon, William Brodie and the murderers Burke and Hare.
Archive images help you see Edinburgh as it once was
We've got many pictures and photographs to show how Edinburgh once looked. There's something special about standing in a place and seeing how it looked. Few visitors to Edinburgh will get this experience.
Sustainable touring
Historic Edinburgh Tours are enthusiastic members of the City of Edinburgh Cemetery Guide Scheme, and your guide will explain how our groups will move around the burial grounds, staying on paths. He will also explain how you can donate to the Council for the upkeep of these historic grounds.
TRUST US WITH YOUR TOUR
Certificate of Excellence award winner 2017 and 2018.
Tripadvisor Traveller's Choice award winner 2020 and 2023.
As of December 15, 2022, 99.6% of our reviews have been five stars.
We've been leading Edinburgh tours for ten years.
GUEST REVIEWS
"Robert was exceptional!! His knowledge of Edinburgh’s history, coupled with a great sense of humour and storytelling prowess makes for an unforgettable tour. You leave Edinburgh with an appreciation greater than that of its unforgettable architecture. Highly recommend!"
Susan B, Tripadvisor, July 2022
"We had such a great time with Robert! His knowledge of Scotland and Edinburgh is extensive and he explained things so well to us. His explanation of the term "gardyloo" is not to be missed. Just don't be surprised if he puts something interesting in your hand :-)
We loved every minute of the walk...I highly recommend it!"
CSC, Tripadvisor review, August 2018
YOUR MEETING PLACE
Your guide will meet you just inside this gateway to Greyfriars Kirkyard, next to Greyfriars Bobby's Bar at the top of Candlemaker Row.
Google Maps shows only an approximate location.
F.A.Q. SECTION
Q: A member of my group has special mobility requirements.
A: Edinburgh’s Old Town is formed around a ‘Crag and Tail’ geological formation which means it does have some quite steep gradients up and down, but the city is for everyone to enjoy, it might just mean making some alterations to the route. We enjoy altering our private tours to ensure accessibility is achieved.
If you contact us before you book, we can suggest some possible alternatives and can also discuss which of our other tours might be best suited to you.
Q: What happens if it rains?
A: Don't worry, we will be there! As the great Scottish comedian Billy Connolly says, there's never the wrong weather, just the wrong clothing!
Q: What happens if we are running late?
A: Since we now only do private tours, your guide is only there for you. Sometimes things happen and you know you will be running late. Within reason, and with some warning, we can try to accommodate this.
Your guide may be happy to meet you at a slightly later time, but please let him know what is happening, as soon as you can. You can text him on 07590026077. We've had times when guests have been on delayed trains and Robert waited in a local cafe. Please, where possible, don't make him wait outside in the rain!
If you are running late and haven't contacted Robert, he is authorised to leave twenty minutes after your agreed start time. No refund will be given after this point.
Q: Are there toilets?
A: We strongly recommend that you 'pay a visit' before your tour as there are limited opportunities to use public toilets en route.
We recommend visiting the Museum of Scotland (just across the road from our usual Greyfriars Kirkyard starting point). The toilets are on the ground floor. The Museum of Scotland is a free-to-visit attraction and is well worth a visit. It also has two excellent cafeterias.
Greyfriars Bobby's Bar, right next to Greyfriars Kirkyard, has an excellent range of food and drink and has toilets for customers to use.
Q: Are your private tours 'child-friendly'?
A: Our tours are usually what we would describe as more 'adult' tours, however, your guide is a qualified primary school teacher and knows how to pitch our stories appropriately. He can also provide appropriate alternatives. If you let us know well in advance, we can offer more flexibility.
We do require that children under 16 attend with an adult.