Old Town Edinburgh walking tour: Royal Mile & Castle

Walk the Royal Mile and hear how Edinburgh became Scotland's capital

A two-hour guided walking tour of Edinburgh Old Town covers the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, St Giles' Cathedral, Grassmarket and the Writer's Museum with a live English-speaking guide. You'll learn the city's origins, the Reformation, the Great Fire of 1824, and stories of famous residents and infamous characters who shaped the capital. The route includes cobbled streets, historic graves, and stops at landmarks both famous and hidden.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Edinburgh Old Townpass by
2. St Giles' Cathedral15m
3. Royal Milepass by
4. Edinburgh Castlepass by
5. Grassmarket10m

Explore Old Town Edinburgh

• Introduction to Scotland and Edinburgh history
• Walk around St Giles Cathedral
• Learn about city architecture and Great Fire
• Walk up the Royal Mile
• Visit Writer's Museum building
• See Edinburgh Castle from outside
• Hear about former gallows at Grassmarket
• Visit Covenanters Prison gates and hear stories

The experience

You start in Old Town Edinburgh with a guide who knows the city's layered history. The walk takes you up the Royal Mile, the spine of the Old Town, where your guide points out important buildings long gone and the statues and landmarks that remain. Along the way you pass St Giles' Cathedral, where you'll hear about John Knox, the Reformation, and how the Wars of the Three Kingdoms may have started here. The architecture itself tells a story: your guide explains how the Great Fire of 1824 reshaped the city's buildings and streets.

The route moves through the cobbled streets toward Edinburgh Castle, the most imposing building in the city, and you'll learn its origins and why it mattered. You also visit one of the city's oldest standing buildings, now home to the Writer's Museum dedicated to famous Scottish writers. The walk includes the Grassmarket, where you hear about the former gallows site and the characters who met their fate there, as well as the Covenanters and their memorial. A final stop takes you to the gates of the Covenanters Prison, where your guide tells you about bodysnatching in Edinburgh (a practice that shaped the study of anatomy), and the heart-warming story of Greyfriars Bobby.

The tour is wheelchair accessible, and prams or strollers work for infants and small children. Public transportation options are nearby if you need them. Service animals are welcome. The pace suits all fitness levels, and the two-hour length means you can fit it into a morning or afternoon without the day disappearing.

What’s included

• In-person guide in English.
• access to Old Town Edinburgh, the Royal Mile, St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh Castle viewpoint, the Writer's Museum building exterior, Grassmarket, and the Covenanters Prison gates.
• stories about the Reformation, the Great Fire of 1824, bodysnatching in Edinburgh, and Greyfriars Bobby.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00 and 13:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (16 to 60 years) · Senior (61 and older) · Child (6 to 15 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by All-Star Guides

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English, so you follow the commentary comfortably whether you're a first-time visitor or returning to the city. The two-hour length fits a free morning or afternoon without eating your whole day, and the route is flat enough for all fitness levels and wheelchair users.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 15 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Royal Mile and why does the tour spend time there?

The Royal Mile is the main street running through Edinburgh Old Town, and it's the route's centerpiece. Your guide walks you up it while pointing out important long-gone buildings, surrounding landmarks and statues that mark the city's history.

Will I see Edinburgh Castle on this tour?

Yes. Edinburgh Castle is included as a stop on the walk. Your guide explains its origins and importance as the most imposing building in the city, though the tour does not include entry to the castle itself.

What stories will I hear about at St Giles' Cathedral?

At St Giles' Cathedral, your guide covers John Knox and the Reformation, as well as how the Wars of the Three Kingdoms may have started there. The cathedral's history is woven into Scotland's religious and political past.

Is this tour suitable if I'm visiting Edinburgh for the first time?

Yes. The tour is described as the perfect introduction to the city. You'll learn about the origins of Scotland and Edinburgh, hear stories of illustrious and infamous residents, and see both the most famous landmarks and hidden gems that make the Old Town special.

What happens at the Grassmarket stop?

At the Grassmarket, your guide tells you about the former gallows site and the characters who met their fate there, the Covenanters and their memorial, the gates of the Covenanters Prison, the history of bodysnatching in Edinburgh and its role in anatomy studies, and the story of Greyfriars Bobby.

Can I bring a stroller or wheelchair on this tour?

Yes. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. Public transportation options are available nearby, and all transportation options are wheelchair accessible.