Your tour starts just inside the main gate of Greyfriars Kirkyard. You'll find out about Edinburgh's famous 'wee dug'; Greyfriars Bobby. There are a number of versions of his story. We'll let you make your own mind up!
Candlemaker Row and the Grassmarket will be next on your route. You'll find out about one of Scotland's most significant weddings and how it affected Edinburgh. You'll follow the route of the pre-wedding party.
Your tour will take in a number of locations along Edinburgh's famous Royal Mile. We'll see where Mary, Queen of Scots spent part of her childhood, we'll visit a charming little courtyard (with a royal link) and we'll discover the very strange story of Deacon William Brodie and his hanging. We get to cover a brief history of St Giles before visiting the site of the old Mercat Cross. You'll learn about the significance of this location in the story of Prince Charles Edward Stewart ('Bonnie Prince Charlie') before we visit an atmospheric Old Town close. The stories here will be rather memorable...
The Cowgate is often ignored by other tours, but we'll make the most of it when we discover what life was like for Edinburgh's Victorian poor.
We'll visit two stops which belong to the famous University of Edinburgh. Burke and Hare, the infamous Irish murderers, came to where we make our penultimate stop. You'll find out how this pair worked, why they were able to murder so many people...and finally what happened to them.We may even look at the 'traditional' Highland outfit your guide will be wearing. Your final stop takes place near to Old College (or, if it's open to us, inside Old College). This is possibly one of the most fascinating places on our tour. It looks incredible now...but the story we share is even more explosive. Literally!
Private Old Edinburgh Tour - Walk In The Footsteps Of Royals And Rogues!
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Tour Information
Key Details
- Mobile Voucher Accepted
- Hotel pickup Available
- Instant Confirmation
- Lowest Price Guaranteed
- Duration: 2 Hrs
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Language:
English
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Departure Time :
7pm Friday, 2pm Saturday
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Return Details :
This tour starts just inside the main entrance to Greyfriars Kirkyard. The grave of Greyfriars Bobby sits here, just in front of the Kirk itself.The main entrance sits just next to Greyfriars Bobby'.. read more
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Cancellation Policy : This activity is non-refundable Tours booked using discount coupon codes will be non refundable.
Overview
Welcome to Historic Edinburgh Tours! We will take you on a fascinating journey through the historic streets of the Old Town. You'll get to explore the very places where some of Scotland's most famous (and infamous) characters once walked and lived. From Mary, Queen of Scots to Bonnie Prince Charlie, Deacon Brodie and more, this is an unmissable opportunity to discover Edinburgh's rich history.
Robert, your local guide, will come dressed in a kilt for your private tour. He will also carry a book of archive images. Robert will show you the city's iconic landmarks while sharing fascinating insights into its past. With our archive images, you'll be able to see how Edinburgh has changed over the years - and even compare it to its present-day counterpart. This is an experience not to be missed for history buffs and tourists alike!
Know More about this tour
Itinerary:
Your tour starts just inside the main gate of Greyfriars Kirkyard. You'll find out about Edinburgh's famous 'wee dug'; Greyfriars Bobby. There are a number of versions of his story. We'll let you make your own mind up!
Candlemaker Row and the Grassmarket will be next on your route. You'll find out about one of Scotland's most significant weddings and how it affected Edinburgh. You'll follow the route of the pre-wedding party.
Your tour will take in a number of locations along Edinburgh's famous Royal Mile. We'll see where Mary, Queen of Scots spent part of her childhood, we'll visit a charming little courtyard (with a royal link) and we'll discover the very strange story of Deacon William Brodie and his hanging. We get to cover a brief history of St Giles before visiting the site of the old Mercat Cross. You'll learn about the significance of this location in the story of Prince Charles Edward Stewart ('Bonnie Prince Charlie') before we visit an atmospheric Old Town close. The stories here will be rather memorable...
The Cowgate is often ignored by other tours, but we'll make the most of it when we discover what life was like for Edinburgh's Victorian poor.
We'll visit two stops which belong to the famous University of Edinburgh. Burke and Hare, the infamous Irish murderers, came to where we make our penultimate stop. You'll find out how this pair worked, why they were able to murder so many people...and finally what happened to them. We may even look at the 'traditional' Highland outfit your guide will be wearing. Your final stop takes place near to Old College (or, if it's open to us, inside Old College). This is possibly one of the most fascinating places on our tour. It looks incredible now...but the story we share is even more explosive. Literally!
Inclusions
- Local guide
Exclusions
- Gratuities
Additional Info
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
Traveler Reviews
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We had so much fun on this tour. Robert was personable and very knowledgeable, and he was able to cater the tour according to what we were interested in. Because Robert is a teacher, he was wonderful with our son and kept him engaged the entire time. He checked in throughout to make sure he was providing the right information for our interests and really seemed to care. I can tell he likes what he does, and he's very good at it. My son loved learning about his kilt and outfit, too. I highly recommend this tour. It's worth every penny.
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We had booked a private tour with Robert to see the medevial Edinburgh. We walked a long loop through the old town and Robert showed us all the places we had asked for. He impressed us with his knowledge, he answered all our (many) questions and entertained us with details and even Burns poems! We learned a lot about Edinburgh and loved every minute. Highly recommended!
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Robert made the first tour of our trip a memorable one! He is personable and knowledgeable. We had a great time exploring old Edinburgh on foot and learning about the medieval way of living. I'd highly recommend the private tour.
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Had a lovely time with our guide Robert who told us everything we needed to know about Old Edinburgh. He was very knowledgeable, kind and patient with our group. Thank you!
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The perfect way to start our visit in Edinburgh!!! Robert was amazing and so knowledgeable and fun!! We all had a wonderful time and saw things and learned history that we never would have known on our own!! Robert was the best!!! If you want a fantastic, fun tour of Edinburgh, his tour is a must!!!
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Robert was our tour guide and he was Amazing!!! Robert was an absolute dream of a guide - very knowledgeable, personable, and so so so funny. We learned and laughed a LOT while seeing some amazing views of Edinburgh’s Old and New towns. I can not recommend this tour enough 10/10!!!
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Robert was an excellent tour guide. My two teenage boy really enjoyed the tour and all the stories and insights he had about Edinburgh. I highly recommend this tour.
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Our guide Robert Howie was born, raised and educated within a few miles of Edinburgh Castle and currently teaches history locally. He was extremely knowledgeable of the history of Edinburgh. He brought us down certain narrow roads and closes we never would have found on our own. He shared information and stories about local royalty, writers and other famous individuals connected to the city of Edinburgh. At the end of the tour he recommended the Pipers Rest Pub which turned out to be an excellent place for lunch
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The whole family enjoyed this private tour with Robert very much. Robert knows how to combine historical facts with details of past and today´s everyday life in Edinburgh in a very humorous and entertaining way. Our two girls (17 and 12), my wife and myself absolutely loved this tour and have gained a much better understanding of the city. Also, Robert was very considerate and tailored the tour to our needs. Highly recommended!
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We arrived in the morning from the US, dropped our bags, and went to meet up with Robert for a walking tour of Edinburgh. Robert was an excellent guide and provided a wonderful introduction to the city. He created a tour specific to our interests and kept us all engaged.
