Discover the architecture, history & everyday life of people in Edinburgh accompanied by a private tour guide. The most exclusive way to explore Scotland's capital city!
Edinburgh Private Tours
When booking, you can choose between a tour of the Old Town of Edinburgh, a tour of Edinburgh Castle or a ghost tour of the city if you're feeling brave enough! Each tour includes an exclusive guide just for your group.
Old Town Tour
On the Edinburgh Old Town Private Tour we'll learn about the history of this medieval city, which is over 3000 years old. We'll travel all the way back in time to discover how it was first inhabited by the tribes, then the Picts to the Highlanders who first sported kilts - which have become a symbol of the city. We'll learn about significant buildings in the capital such as St. Giles Cathedral and the City Chambers. On the tour we'll wander through the city's iconic and beautiful streets like Royal Mile, Chambers Street and Victoria Street. Did you know that Victoria Street was the inspiration for Diagon Alley in J.K Rowlings Harry Potter novels?
We'll also visit the Greyfriars Bobby statue, the city's most loyal and most loved dog and hear the story of why he really was man's best friend. The statue sits next to Greyfriars Cemetery which is full of paranormal activity. Also this cemetery was said to have inspired J.K. Rowling to write Harry Potter. Do the names McGonagall, Moodie or Riddell ring any bells...? Along the tour we'll also see other iconic sites of the city such as the Grassmarket, the National Museum of Scotland, Saint Giles’ Cathedral, the Heart of Midlothian and the Mercat Cross.
Timetable: Daily, 9 am to 7 pm every hour
Ghost Tour
Join us to delve into the dark and sometimes disturbing past of Edinburgh. This city, beautiful though it may be today has been plagued by illness, murders and much more.
We'll learn about how the Black Death took over the city and killed much of the population. Perplexed by this horrific disease, many doctors tried various and sometimes interesting techniques such as dressing in robes and bird masks... We'll visit the site where which was a black market for corpses.
During the tour we'll visit one of the cemeteries in the city centre, where we'll learn about the city's most famous serial killers, William Burke and William Hare.
Then we'll climb to the top of Calton Hill, which was a favourite site for witch and warlock burning. We'll hear gruesome tales and what caused so many individuals to end up being burned at the stake. This iconic hill is home to many historic buildings and monuments such as the observatory, the Nelson Memorial and the Scottish National Monument. We'll find out why these are known as 'Edinburgh’s Disgrace'.
Timetable: Daily, 9 am to 7 pm every hour
Castle Tour
Edinburgh Castle is an icon of the city. Did you know that this impressive citadel actually sits atop an extinct volcano that formed 70 million years ago. The castle has been home to many kings and queens but it was besieged 26 times, making it the most besieged castle in the whole of the United Kingdom!
During the tour we'll visit the royal palace, where James Stuart, the king who famously unified the English and the Scottish crown, was born. We'll also get to marvel at the Scottish crown jewels, which are the oldest in Europe. The castle is also home to the 'Stone of Destiny', also known as the 'Stone of Scone'. This block of red sandstone was used for centuries in the coronation of the monarchs of Scotland. We'll also talk about its museums and its prisons, where banknotes were counterfeited in the 19th century.
Timetable: Daily, 9 am to 1:30 pm every half hour
Advantages of a private tour
Booking a private tour, you'll have a more personalized service that includes an exclusive guide. You can book the tour any day of the week, choosing the itinerary that best suits your tastes. In addition, you'll save money if you're a large group.
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