Discover Edinburgh's Old Town with this free walking tour of one of Scotland's most beloved cities. If you love history and legends or are a fan of Harry Potter, this tour is perfect for you. What are you waiting for?
Highlights
- St. Giles' Cathedral
- The Writers' Museum
- Victoria Street
- The Grassmarket
- Greyfriars Kirkyard
Edinburgh Free Walking Tour
At the scheduled time, we'll meet on the Royal Mile in the middle of Edinburgh to begin this free walking tour of this charming city rife with history and legends! We'll explore Edinburgh's Old Town by visiting some of the city's most emblematic streets, such as Victoria Street.
The tour will kick off at St. Giles' Cathedral, one of Scotland's most important medieval parish churches. You may also hear this 900-year-old church being referred to as the "Mother Church of World Presbyterianism" due to its role in the Scottish Reformation and the Covenanters's Rebellion.
Afterwards, we'll make our way to The Writers' Museum, which is found within Lady Stair's House just off the Royal Mile. This small, yet incredibly impactful museum recounts the lives of 3 giants of Scottish literature: Robert Burns (1759-1796), Walter Scott (1771-1832), and Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894). The museum is home to portraits, works and other personal items which once belonged to these renowned writers.
Continuing onwards, we'll make our way to Victoria Street, one of the most photographed spots in the whole city. This street oozes a fun and youthful vibe, with many tourists flocking here to capture photos of the colourful shopfronts and eclectic architecture. Victoria Street was also the inspiration for the famous wizarding street of Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter film series!
At the end of Victorua Street lies the Grassmarket, a marketplace which dates back to the 14th century. This bustling square was also the site of public executions and one of Edinburgh's most notorious riots. These riots were known as the Porteous Riots and took place during April 1736.
Lastly, we'll end up at Greyfriars Kirkyard, considered the world's most haunted graveyard! Here, we'll hear all about the paranormal happenings, including the story of the MacKenzie Poltergeist. However, not all of these stories are to be feared. We'll also learn of Scotland's most treasured K9, Bobby the Skye Terrier!
Also, located not too far from the cemetery is the Elephant House Café, where J.K Rowling wrote Harry Potter while sitting in a window seat overlooking a rather Hogwarts-esque school!
Finally, this tour will come to an end after 2 hours of exploring this magical and unique city. Until next time!
Important
Groups of more than 10 people are not permitted on the tour.
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