Edinburgh Walking Tour: Scottish History Guide for Small Groups
Walk Edinburgh's Old Town with a guide whose family shaped the city
A private guided walking tour of Edinburgh's Old Town, Royal Mile and Georgian New Town with a professional historian: groups stay under 12 people, the guide has deep family connections to the city, and you choose a morning, afternoon or full-day departure. Hotel pickup and drop-off are available if you request them, and the itinerary can shift to match your interests.
Options for this experience
3 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Guided walking tour of Edinburgh
- Start at Usher Hall exterior
- See Edinburgh Castle exterior
- Walk through Old Town closes and wynds
- Explore Royal Mile buildings
- Visit inside St Giles' Cathedral
- Edinburgh Castle 15m
- Edinburgh Old Town 2h 30m
- Royal Mile 2h 30m
- St Giles' Cathedral 15m
- New Town 45m
- Palace of Holyroodhouse 1h
- Scottish National Gallery 50m
What’s included
- Private historian guide.
- hotel pickup and drop-off if you request it.
- walking access to Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, St Giles' Cathedral, and (on the full-day tour) the Georgian New Town and Palace of Holyroodhouse.
- the option to adjust the itinerary to match your interests.
- Every day 09:30 14:00
Information
Three-and-a-half-hour private walking tour of Edinburgh with a professional historian guide: your group stays under 12.
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The experience
The tour starts at Usher Hall (or your hotel if you prefer), a concert hall donated to Edinburgh by Stuart Usher's great-great-uncle: a detail that signals the kind of access these guides have to the city's history. From there, you walk through the closes and wynds of the Old Town, the narrow passageways where much of Edinburgh's story lives. The guide talks through Edinburgh Castle's exterior and the Scottish kings and queens who lived there, then moves into St Giles' Cathedral, where you can step inside to see the architecture that made it the mother church of Presbyterianism.
On the full-day tour, the route extends to the New Town, the 18th-century Georgian district that UNESCO recognizes as the largest continuous expanse of Georgian-era buildings in the world. You'll also see the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official Scottish residence, from the outside unless you arrange entry separately. The Scottish National Gallery is normally a stop if the weather turns wet, but it's your choice whether to go in and see the old masters.
You pick the length that fits your schedule: a morning tour runs 9:30am to 1:00pm, the afternoon goes 2:00pm to 5:30pm, and the full day is 9:30am to 4:30pm. Because the group is private and stays under 12, the pace and the stops can bend to what interests you. If you want to linger on a particular period or building, the guide adjusts. The guide is a professional historian (Stuart Usher, his son Richard, or someone like Dr Alison Duncan or Prof. John Frank), which means the detail goes deeper than a standard tour script.
Top questions
Can I be picked up at my hotel?
You can choose: pickup at your hotel, or go straight to the meeting point. Pickup is included in the price. When you book, you choose your hotel from 65 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you can type in your address.
What's the difference between the morning, afternoon and full-day tours?
The morning tour runs 9:30am to 1:00pm and covers the Old Town, Royal Mile and St Giles' Cathedral. The afternoon is 2:00pm to 5:30pm with the same core stops. The full-day tour, 9:30am to 4:30pm, adds the Georgian New Town and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, so you see both the medieval and 18th-century sides of the city.
Can I start the tour from my hotel instead of Usher Hall?
Yes. The tour can start from your hotel as long as it's in the city centre, and hotel pickup and drop-off are included. If you'd rather meet at Usher Hall, that's the standard starting point.
What happens if I want to go inside Edinburgh Castle or the Palace of Holyroodhouse?
The tour normally shows both from the outside. If you want to enter Edinburgh Castle, admission is £19 per person and can be arranged. The Palace of Holyroodhouse entry is £17 per person if you choose to go inside. Otherwise you see it from the street.
Who are the guides on this tour?
The guides are professional historians including Stuart Usher (who has family connections to Edinburgh's history), his son Richard, and other accredited historians such as Dr Alison Duncan and Prof. John Frank. Each brings deep knowledge of the city's cultural, historical and architectural aspects.
Is this tour suitable if I'm not very fit or have mobility concerns?
The tour involves walking through the Old Town's closes and wynds, which include hills and steps, so you should have at least a moderate level of fitness. Wheelchair access is possible but limited by the terrain. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. The tour runs in all weather, so dress for the conditions.
What's included in the tour price?
The private guide, hotel pickup and drop-off (if requested), and access to all the outdoor sites are included. Entry fees for attractions like Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse or the Scottish National Gallery are separate and optional. Food and drinks are not included.
Operated by Edinburgh Guided Tour. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated today
Edinburgh Walking Tour: Scottish History Guide for Small Groups
3h 30m · EN
from £ 315 per group
≈ US$ 424 in your currency
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.