Edinburgh: History Lovers Old Town Walking Tour
Overview
Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
Discover the history Edinburgh's most historic quarter in a personal small group setting with an expert local guide.
On this intimate 2 hour Walking Tour, you’ll find out how Edinburgh has evolved and developed over the past 2000 years. What were the major events that shaped it's development and who were the famous/infamous characters behind these events? We answer these questions and many more! Tours in English language only.
You'll see all of Edinburgh's most important landmarks, and some lesser known Old Town locations as well. This tour is perfect for the discerning traveller who wants the real history of the Old town.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Wheelchairs and Strollers can be used on this tour, but the Old Town is hilly and has cobblestones
What To Expect
Royal Mile
Traverse Edinburgh’s historic thoroughfare, see buildings dating back to the 1400s and hear some of the major events which shaped its history. We end the tour here.
Greyfriars
Explore Edinburgh’s world famous graveyard, hear how this site inspired renowned authors from Mary Shelley to J.K. Rowling contributed to medical science and the story of a certain very loyal dog.
Options
Summer 2026
What‘s Included
This tour includes an expert local guide
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
240 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great tour! Highly recommended it.
A1529VKconnief,Jun 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Loved this tour. Highly recommended it. Lots of interesting places and information. Tour guide did really well on gathering everyone together before telling about the area.
Unkept promise
Philippe L,Jun 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00Attention: we booked a guide for a town trip in French: the guide spoke only English, and the group included both English-speaking and French-speaking clients: we had to cancel the service: very disappointed with Viator. However, we were refunded. But we were unable to enjoy the expected service.
Can’t miss!
Kirsten J,Jun 1, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Fantastic tour! Our guide was very knowledgeable and a great story teller. She gave us recommendations for places to visit after the tour and they were all great!
A Fantastic Way to Discover Edinburgh!
Anca O,Jun 1, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We did the two-hour walking tour in the afternoon, and honestly, we could have kept going for another couple of hours! We love history and discovering the hidden stories and legends behind a city, and Kieran was the perfect guide for that. He shared lots of fascinating stories about Edinburgh and pointed out things we would never have noticed on our own. His sense of humor made the tour both entertaining and engaging, so we learned a lot while having some laughs along the way. As Outlander and Harry Potter fans, we also enjoyed hearing about Edinburgh's connections to both worlds, as well as learning about other movies and TV series that were inspired by the city. It made the tour even more interesting for us. We had a short time in Edinburgh, and this tour was the perfect way to get to know the city beyond simply walking around its beautiful streets. Edinburgh is such a beautiful and magical place, and you can really feel that atmosphere as you explore it. We had a fantastic time and would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the city. Don't hesitate to book it—you won't regret it!
Adequate
891bb,May 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00Nice to get a city tour from a friendly guide but overall the level of information and history was marginal. Still say go ahead with the tour but we found our best tours through historical site docents who were passionate about the sites and also had depth and breadth of overall UK History.
Must to do
Neva E,May 23, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was a great experience; we enjoyed listening to descriptions of the city and its stories. The route wasn't tiring at all, it added a lot to my life. That's a lovely thought, with love.
EXCELLENT WALKING TOUR!
Chopper088,May 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We arranged for a private 2 hour tour of old town and new Town and our guide, Zander hit all the main highlights and told us so many interesting facts and tidbits of history. He was so pleasant and knowledgeable! We highly recommend Local Eyes!
Great way to get an overview of Edinburgh!
Erika O,May 18, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was a great way to kick off our trip to Edinburgh! We got a great lay of the land and learned a ton in our two hour tour. Highly recommend!
Informative & Fascinating
Nathaniel K,May 18, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Our guide Shanna was great - informative, funny, easy to understand, really knows what she’s doing and clearly enjoys doing it. In addition to being an excellent guide, she had very recently studied Scottish history at the graduate level and was very knowledgeable in answering follow-up questions!
Great Experience
martinlockhartp,May 17, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Guide Toni was extremely knowledgeable about the historical information presented and was enthusiastic about sharing that knowledge. In fact, perhaps a budding teacher of history? Took care to ask if everyone was following presented information/had questions or was able to navigate the varied walking surfaces and inclines. We enjoyed the castle and tour enhanced the experience greatly.
Related Experiences
Operated by Local Eyes Tours