“Thanks Robert! Your knowledge and delivery today were superb, and you got the children just right! I’ve already started recommending your tours” P. Browning - Class Teacher
Just some of the learning questions answered on our Mary Queen of Scots in Edinburgh tour
MARY, QUEEN
OF SCOTS’
EDINBURGH
TOUR
The main events in Mary’s life took place in a wide variety of locations. Scotland, France and, ultimately, England all served as stages for Mary’s story. We can’t (and don’t) cover all of Mary’s life in this tour, but we will take your classes to the scenes of incredible importance in Mary’s life. From a long-lost palace where Mary spent her childhood, to the site of the home of one of her most bitter rivals, this tour allows your children to explore the city as Mary would have known it. We think there’s something inspiring about visiting the places where history happened! This tour is not an expository lecture. We’ve incorporated numerous opportunities for ‘think, pair, share’ and other strategies. Although your guide has over twenty years of experience as a primary teacher, this tour has been designed by him to let your pupils use and discuss a variety of different types of evidence. This tour is a carefully crafted experience for your pupils, one which will allow them to use pieces of historical evidence and discover the Edinburgh places where Mary once walked.
Important information for the class teacher
Wet weather informationThis tour is an ‘outside’ tour, and there are no areas where we can shelter out of the rain. We do realise that a wet and windy day probably isn’t going make for positive memories!We’re pretty flexible and will happily reschedule your date. There’s no extra cost for this. We realise this is useful if you are travelling on foot or using public transport. If you have organised transportation, then please know that, whatever the weather, we will be there for you!If you’d like to reschedule your tour, please let us know by 8.30 am on the morning of your tour. My mobile number is 07590 026 077.
Accessibility information Although pupils won’t be walking for the full two-hour duration of this tour, there are limited places where we can offer rest areas. We’ve put together a page highlighting some relevant accessibility issues that occur on this tour route. We’ve put together a page highlighting some relevant accessibility issues that occur on this tour route. We can suggest some route alterations if your class requires this. There are limited options for this, however. Sadly, the Old Town is hilly and not brilliantly paved. All our tour routes cross at pedestrian crossings, and any alternative solutions might include streets which don’t have proper crossing areas.We’ve put together an accessibility information sheet with some information for your risk assessment print-out. You can access these here.
Risk assessmentRisk assessment is something which your governing body will legally need you to carry out and, as such, we can only offer some suggestions and recommendations for your paperwork.While we can’t offer these as your official risk assessment, please click here to download our suggested risk assessment information and route instructions.We’ve put together an accessibility information sheet with some information for your risk assessment print-out. You can access these here.
Toilets and added value to your tour (!)We’ve got no ‘toilet’ stops on our tour, but you are welcome to ask the Museum of Scotland if you can use theirs. Most of our schools’ tours of Edinburgh start just across the road from there. You may also want to book a teacher-led guided tour/exploration of the Museum of Scotland. This is free. They also offer a series of paid workshops. Booking something either of these options will allow you to ask for the use of their lunchroom. We also recommend checking out the educational workshops at Riddle’s Court. These come with a cost. A lunchroom is sometimes available.
Please contact us so that we can discuss your castle tour requirements.Email us at;robert@historicedinburghtours.co.ukYou can also call/text us on; 07590 026 077
Please contact us so that we can discuss your castle tour requirements.
Obviously, Mary spent time in places other than Edinburgh, but there are many things that happened here.Mary spent some of her childhood in a Castlehill palace, and the reasons behind this help explain why her reign was a troubled one. Although we don’t visit Holyroodhouse, we will visit the site of the murder of Henry, Lord Darnley. Your pupils will also see a replica of Mary’s tomb, and they’ll find out about support for Mary even after she’d left Scotland.
“What were the important places in
Mary’s Edinburgh?”
We’ll visit quite a few places which were important in Mary’s life. Your class will see the site of the long lost palace of Mary’s mother, Mary de Guise. When she was an infant, Mary would have known this place well. We’ll also find out about the welcome Edinburgh gave to Mary when she returned to Scotland after her first husband’s death.Your pupils can visit the High Kirk of St Giles (for a 50p extra fee which we give directly to the Kirk). They’ll also see where John Knox lived and where Mary spent her last night in Edinburgh.
“What happened to Mary’s second
husband, Henry, Lord Darnley?”
Your "Mary" tour of Edinburgh starts with a bang…almost literally! We'll use 'crime scene' maps of the infamous Kirk o'Field site to learn about Mary's second husband's assassination.The Kirk o'Field site is a fascinating and relevant part of your Mary tour. Henry, Lord Darnley, was murdered on February 10, 1567, and we'll take your pupils right to the heart of the crime scene! It could be argued that this assassination was one of the most significant events in Mary's history.
“What evidence can we use to find out
what Mary’s Edinburgh was like?”
We think it’s inspiring to use copies of the famous “Kirk o’Field murder scene” at the very place shown in this map!Your pupils will use special laminated sheets to discover the past. There are plenty of opportunities for ‘think, pair, share’ as we compare images from the past with the streets we can see today. Your class will also see the replica of Mary’s tomb and a coin which tells us a lot more than they might expect!
“What was life like in Mary’s Edinburgh?”
We know that a little ‘colour’ can help your pupils imagine what life was like for the people who lived during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots. We can lead your class right into an Old Town close. These important little side-streets are where most of Edinburgh’s social life happened. Your classes can find out about typical domestic arrangements, including (of course) what people did with their ‘household waste’! “Gardyloo!”
“Why was Mary’s reign so important?”
There’s are many reasons so many classes study the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots and we’ll try to answer some of these on your tour.Your pupils will learn about the significance of Mary’s tomb. Mary’s son, James, became the first King of Scotland and England and commissioned a grand tomb. We will see a replica of this tomb in the Museum of Scotland. Classes will also find out about the intolerance of Mary’s time when they visit the site of the palace of Marie de Guise. We’ll also learn about the armed struggle which took place even after Mary had left Scotland.
WELCOME TO QUEEN MARY’S EDINBURGH!
USE EVIDENCE TO DISCOVER OUR CITY’S STORY
2020 TRAVELLER’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER
YOUR SECOND LEVEL MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS IN EDINBURGH TOUR
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT ON THIS TOUR?
WE’RE GOOD TO GO!
COVID-19 AND YOUR SAFETY
Historic Edinburgh Tours Ltd have successfully achieved the ‘Good to go” standard from Visit Britain which shows we follow current government COVID-19 guidelines and that we have processes in place to maintain cleanliness and aid social distancing.You can find out more about our COVID-19 policy here.
“Thanks Robert! Your knowledge and delivery today were superb, and you “Thanks Robert! Your knowledge and delivery today were superb, and you got the children just right! I’ve already started recommending your tours” P. Browning - Class Teacher
Just some of the learning questions answered on our Mary Queen of Scots in Edinburgh tour
“What things happened to Mary while
she lived in Edinburgh?”
Obviously, Mary spent time in places other than Edinburgh, but there are many things that happened here.Mary spent some of her childhood in a Castlehill palace, and the reasons behind this help explain why her reign was a troubled one. Although we don’t visit Holyroodhouse, we will visit the site of the murder of Henry, Lord Darnley. Your pupils will also see a replica of Mary’s tomb, and they’ll find out about support for Mary even after she’d left Scotland.
“What were the important places in
Mary’s Edinburgh?”
We’ll visit quite a few places which were important in Mary’s life. Your class will see the site of the long lost palace of Mary’s mother, Mary de Guise. When she was an infant, Mary would have known this place well. We’ll also find out about the welcome Edinburgh gave to Mary when she returned to Scotland after her first husband’s death.Your pupils can visit the High Kirk of St Giles (for a 50p extra fee which we give directly to the Kirk). They’ll also see where John Knox lived and where Mary spent her last night in Edinburgh.
“What happened to Mary’s second
husband, Henry, Lord Darnley?”
Your "Mary" tour of Edinburgh starts with a bang…almost literally! We'll use 'crime scene' maps of the infamous Kirk o'Field site to learn about Mary's second husband's assassination.The Kirk o'Field site is a fascinating and relevant part of your Mary tour. Henry, Lord Darnley, was murdered on February 10, 1567, and we'll take your pupils right to the heart of the crime scene! It could be argued that this assassination was one of the most significant events in Mary's history.
“What evidence can we use to find out
what Mary’s Edinburgh was like?”
We think it’s inspiring to use copies of the famous “Kirk o’Field murder scene” at the very place shown in this map!Your pupils will use special laminated sheets to discover the past. There are plenty of opportunities for ‘think, pair, share’ as we compare images from the past with the streets we can see today. Your class will also see the replica of Mary’s tomb and a coin which tells us a lot more than they might expect!
“What was life like in Mary’s Edinburgh?”
We know that a little ‘colour’ can help your pupils imagine what life was like for the people who lived during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots. We can lead your class right into an Old Town close. These important little side-streets are where most of Edinburgh’s social life happened. Your classes can find out about typical domestic arrangements, including (of course) what people did with their ‘household waste’! “Gardyloo!”
Important information for the class teacher
“Why was Mary’s reign so important?”
There’s are many reasons so many classes study the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots and we’ll try to answer some of these on your tour.Your pupils will learn about the significance of Mary’s tomb. Mary’s son, James, became the first King of Scotland and England and commissioned a grand tomb. We will see a replica of this tomb in the Museum of Scotland. Classes will also find out about the intolerance of Mary’s time when they visit the site of the palace of Marie de Guise. We’ll also learn about the armed struggle which took place even after Mary had left Scotland.
Wet weather informationThis tour is an ‘outside’ tour, and there are no areas where we can shelter out of the rain. We do realise that a wet and windy day probably isn’t going make for positive memories!We’re pretty flexible and will happily reschedule your date. There’s no extra cost for this. We realise this is useful if you are travelling on foot or using public transport. If you have organised transportation, then please know that, whatever the weather, we will be there for you!If you’d like to reschedule your tour, please let us know by 8.30 am on the morning of your tour. My mobile number is 07590 026 077.
Accessibility information Although pupils won’t be walking for the full two-hour duration of this tour, there are limited places where we can offer rest areas. We’ve put together a page highlighting some relevant accessibility issues that occur on this tour route. We’ve put together a page highlighting some relevant accessibility issues that occur on this tour route. We can suggest some route alterations if your class requires this. There are limited options for this, however. Sadly, the Old Town is hilly and not brilliantly paved. All our tour routes cross at pedestrian crossings, and any alternative solutions might include streets which don’t have proper crossing areas.We’ve put together an accessibility information sheet with some information for your risk assessment print-out. You can access these here.
Risk assessmentRisk assessment is something which your governing body will legally need you to carry out and, as such, we can only offer some suggestions and recommendations for your paperwork.While we can’t offer these as your official risk assessment, please click here to download our suggested risk assessment information and route instructions.We’ve put together an accessibility information sheet with some information for your risk assessment print-out. You can access these here.
Toilets and added value to your tour (!)We’ve got no ‘toilet’ stops on our tour, but you are welcome to ask the Museum of Scotland if you can use theirs. Most of our schools’ tours of Edinburgh start just across the road from there. You may also want to book a teacher-led guided tour/exploration of the Museum of Scotland. This is free. They also offer a series of paid workshops. Booking something either of these options will allow you to ask for the use of their lunchroom. We also recommend checking out the educational workshops at Riddle’s Court. These come with a cost. A lunchroom is sometimes available.
Please contact us so that we can discuss your castle
The main events in Mary’s life took place in a wide variety of locations. Scotland, France and, ultimately, England all served as stages for Mary’s story. We can’t (and don’t) cover all of Mary’s life in this tour, but we will take your classes to the scenes of incredible importance in Mary’s life. From a long-lost palace where Mary spent her childhood, to the site of the home of one of her most bitter rivals, this tour allows your children to explore the city as Mary would have known it. We think there’s something inspiring about visiting the places where history happened! This tour is not an expository lecture. We’ve incorporated numerous opportunities for ‘think, pair, share’ and other strategies. Although your guide has over twenty years of experience as a primary teacher, this tour has been designed by him to let your pupils use and discuss a variety of different types of evidence. This tour is a carefully crafted experience for your pupils, one which will allow them to use pieces of historical evidence and discover the Edinburgh places where Mary once walked.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT ON THIS TOUR?
YOUR SECOND LEVEL MARY,
QUEEN OF SCOTS IN EDINBURGH TOUR
WE’RE GOOD TO GO!
COVID-19 AND YOUR SAFETY
Historic Edinburgh Tours Ltd have achieved the ‘Good to go” standard from Visit Britain.You can find out more about our COVID-19 policy here.