Full Day City of Edinburgh Private Tour

At the start of the trip you’ll have the opportunity to talk through the day with your local guide. This full-day trip is a comprehensive exploration of Edinburgh’s highlights and many lesser-known locations.

Calton Hill

The day starts with a view over Edinburgh’s old and new towns from Calton Hill. Among the seven hills of Edinburgh, Calton offers a world-famous view over the city as well as quirky, interesting architecture of the buildings atop the hill. This collection is sometimes known as ‘the three failures of Edinburgh.’ It includes the National Monument of Scotland.

Edinburgh New Town Tour

During Georgian times, this huge development helped relieve the swarming city and provided an enlightened new city, the first of its kind in Scotland. A far cry from the poverty and squalor of old Edinburgh, the New Town’s first phase opened in 1750 with grand avenues, mansion houses and parkland.

Edinburgh Old Town Tour

Learn about the effects of the Black Death, the great fire and the developments that led the world to the modern age on this comprehensive tour of Edinburgh’s medieval old city and dark history.

During our visit, we’ll explore much of The Royal Mile, which runs from the Castle to the Palace and runs through the heart of Edinburgh’s old town. We’ll go to St Giles Cathedral and explore the closes (alleys) of Edinburgh, and learn about its history, folklore and stories from long ago.

As the former hanger of Edinburgh’s criminals, the Grassmarket has a sinister past. Your guide will tell you about numerous famous stories regarding executions in the Grassmarket area, including Maggie Dickson’s story, as you climb the ‘Vennel’ and enjoy a unique view of Edinburgh Castle as well as the remains of the Flodden Wall.

Edinburgh is famously the inspiration for Harry Potter. Victoria Street is the inspiration for Diagon Alley and the perfect place to buy a new wand! Victoria Street is a winding cobbled street bordered by eclectic and colourful shops.

Edinburgh Castle Tour (optional)

Edinburgh Castle stands at the highest and steepest part of a volcanic plug at the top of The Royal Mile.

As we walk along the castle Esplanade, a large open parade ground outside the main entrance, the castle comes into view. This is where the Military Tattoo is performed every year in August as part of the Edinburgh Festival.

There are lots of historic buildings at the castle, but the oldest one is St Margaret’s Chapel, built by King David I to commemorate his mother in the 11th century. The Scottish National War Memorial is the castles newest building, designed by Sir Robert Lorimer and completed in 1927.

As part of James IV’s extensive building work at the castle, the Royal Apartments and Great Hall were used as a royal palace by the Stewart monarchs until 1603.

The Honours of Scotland – the Scottish crown jewels are housed the Palace Crown Room alongside the Stone of Scone. Edward I of England removed the Stone in 1296 and took it to Westminster Abbey but it was returned to Scotland in 1996.

As part of the castle’s military heritage, there is a small, mostly ceremonial garrison. Ceremonially, a gun is fired from the castle rampart at one o’clock every day (except Sunday) as an immortal timepiece for the city.

Canongate

At the bottom of the Royal Mile stands Holyrood Palace, the official residence of the monarchy in Scotland. Discover its fascinating history from Mary Queen of Scots to Jacobite occupation and its role in modern royal life.

The modernist Scottish parliament building stands in stark contrast to the Palace across the road and is home to the devolved Scottish national government. Learn about the controversial architecture of this building, how it came to be what it is today and why these buildings are located where they are today.

Outlying ‘villages’

In Edinburgh, there are many neighbourhoods that were once separate villages, but are now part of the city as a whole. The Dean Village is a beautiful, tranquil corner of the city tucked away behind the New Town. The village offers a chance to wander around and enjoy the peace and quiet in this corner. Duddingston Village, behind Arthur’s Seat, offers a great opportunity to learn about the famous clientele of Scotland’s oldest pub; the ‘The Sheep Heid’ Tavern and you can even visit the old Duddingston Kirk.

Leith Docklands

Although technically an independent town, Leith’s extensive docks offer cobbled lanes, old tramways, surprising architecture, and historic bond warehouses that evoke the past of this bustling port in many ways. As you stroll along The Shore’s old canal, imagine what this busy port must have been like.

South Queensferry & Forth Bridges

Venturing out of the city we arrive at South Queensferry, a quaint coastal town on the banks of the Firth of Forth. Marvel at the Forth Bridges; a Victorian Forth Rail Bridge, the Forth Road Bridge and the recent Queensferry Crossing.