Scotland · HISTORY TOURS IN EDINBURGH
This is the shortlist to send a friend: 15 history tours in Edinburgh worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Explore Edinburgh’s Old Town on a lively two-hour walk covering St Giles Cathedral, Mercat Cross, Castle views, tales, and practical tips.
“Ben was great! He was very informative and a relaxed tour guide and answered all of our questions we had!”
Explore Edinburgh’s Old Town, Canongate Kirkyard, and South Bridge vaults with a small-group guide on this lively 90-minute tour.
“Alistar was a great tour guide and was very knowledgeable!! Great great tour!! Fun stories!! Just fun”
Explore Edinburgh’s South Bridge vaults with a small group, vivid storytelling, dark tales, artifacts, and practical advice before you book.
“A great tour - a fun and interesting introduction to a side of Edinburgh that we would have otherwise walked straight past without noticing. The 2 guides made a real effort to engage everyone throughout the tour. Thank you!”
Explore Edinburgh’s Old Town on a two-hour guided walk covering medieval stories, key landmarks, local tips, and Greyfriars Kirkyard.
“This was a great 2 hour tour that hit the highlights and got us comfortable to explore more on our own. Thanks to Gavin, we were cared for, entertained, and left with great ideas on what to do next.”
Explore Edinburgh’s darker past on a two-hour Royal Mile walk covering executions, plague, body snatchers, graves, and grim city legends.
“Advertised as 90 mins, lasted 2 hours. Stories at a couple of stops could have been shortened considering the weather.(Started drizzing rain) Lovely guide however very little interaction with tour participants.”
Explore Edinburgh’s witch trials and darker past on a lively 75-minute walk from St Giles’ Cathedral to Grassmarket.
“Juniper was a fantastic tour guide! She was super engaging and energetic and we loved the energy she brought to the witches tour! Once we got to the end, we could’ve kept going but it was also a great short tour for anyone looking to learn more about the history of witches and more importantly women in Edinburgh. We’ll be keeping this in mind for our next visit ! Thank you Juniper! - Raven, Dina & Maisie”
Review of Edinburgh’s Pubs & History Walking Tour, with local beer tastings, Old Town stories, three pubs, and practical booking advice.
“Nice easy stroll and beer tasting. Learned about local history. Friendly guide. Would recommend. Gets chilly at night so dress warm.”
Review of Edinburgh’s History Lovers Old Town Walking Tour, with Royal Mile sights, graveyard tales, castle views, pricing, pace, and tips.
“Madge runs a great tour! We were a large group, but she made sure to gather us around her and speak loud enough for all to hear, while still being aware of others trying to get around us. Her stories brought history to life and provided great context and appreciation for the sights around us. The two hours went by quickly and were an excellent way to spend our first jet lagged arrival day in Edinburgh. Thank you Madge!”
Review of Edinburgh’s private Greyfriars Kirkyard tour, with guide Robert Howie, private pricing, practical tips, and who should book.
“Enjoyed learning about so many colourful characters buried within the Kirkyard. The guide was knowledgeable, entertaining & very friendly. Would definitely recommend.”
Explore Edinburgh’s coffee past, Old Town closes, and a centuries-old underground café on this intimate 90-minute walking tour.
“Such a fun tour! Sara was a great and informative tour guide. We loved her storytelling and the coffee :)”
Explore St Andrews, Fife’s coast, Dunfermline Abbey, and Lady’s Tower on a small-group day trip from Edinburgh.
“We had a wonderful day on this tour! The best part was Lady Jane's Tower and the views, OMG, the views!!!! St. Andrew's was beautiful, but we needed more time there. By the time we walked to grab food, we barely had enough time to do the castle tour, much less explore the picturesque town. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the history of Scotland and was able to answer all of our questions! It also helped that we had a beautiful sunny day--I even got some new freckles!”
Walk Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, uncover overlooked corners, and taste tablet, haggis, and whisky on this lively two-hour tour.
“Very energetic tour guide, definitely loves what he does. Learned some very interesting things about Edinburgh.”
Review of Edinburgh’s private Royal Mile tour with guide Robert, royal stories, hidden closes, flexible pacing, pricing, access, and booking tips.
“Robert was great, very knowledgeable as to be expected but also great with the kids and brought the history to life. You have no idea what you are missing walking the mile on your own.”
Trace Edinburgh’s medical past on a private 2.5-mile walk from the Royal Mile to the former Royal Infirmary.
“Words will not be chosen lightly… To say our experience exceeded our expectations is a terrible injustice. We learned so much meaningful and profound information we had never heard of before. The entire time was filled with wonderful & surprising insights into the history of healthcare. But it wasn’t just the information- the delivery was superbly entertaining so the time passed magically through the walk. This experience is one of a lifetime - DONT MISS IT!”
Trace Outlander through Edinburgh on a 2-hour walking tour with period-costumed guides, Jacobite history, weapons, and Old Town filming sites.
“Adi the Jacobite guide was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. He connected sites in Edinburgh to the show. He was also attentive to those on the tour. His passion for the period helped make the tour.”
Loch, castle, cask and close. Every kind of Scottish day, and the best of each.
