Private Tour
Private Old Edinburgh Tour - Walk in the footsteps of Royals and Rogues!
Overview
Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
Welcome to Historic Edinburgh Tours! We will take you on a fascinating journey through the historic streets of the Old Town. You'll get to explore the very places where some of Scotland's most famous (and infamous) characters once walked and lived. From Mary, Queen of Scots to Bonnie Prince Charlie, Deacon Brodie and more, this is an unmissable opportunity to discover Edinburgh's rich history.
Robert, your local guide, will come dressed in a kilt for your private tour. He will also carry a book of archive images. Robert will show you the city's iconic landmarks while sharing fascinating insights into its past. With our archive images, you'll be able to see how Edinburgh has changed over the years - and even compare it to its present-day counterpart. This is an experience not to be missed for history buffs and tourists alike!
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Greyfriars
Your tour starts just inside the main gate of Greyfriars Kirkyard. You'll find out about Edinburgh's famous 'wee dug'; Greyfriars Bobby. There are a number of versions of his story. We'll let you make your own mind up!
Grassmarket
Candlemaker Row and the Grassmarket will be next on your route. You'll find out about one of Scotland's most significant weddings and how it affected Edinburgh. You'll follow the route of the pre-wedding party.
What‘s Included
Local guide
Gratuities
Options
Private Tour for 2 people
Duration: 2 hours
Private Tour for 3-5 people
Duration: 2 hours
Private Tour for 1 person
Duration: 2 hours
Private Tour for 6-10 people
Duration: 2 hours
Reviews
229 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
10/10 Experience!
reneetS7566GU,,Dec 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an excellent experience with Robert. As a local, he was incredibly knowledgeable and brought the Old Town to life with great stories and rich history. Beyond that, he was simply a genuinely kind and engaging person. I would absolutely recommend Robert to anyone looking for an Old Town tour in Edinburgh.
Engaging Tour
antoniat273,,Dec 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Your exceeded my expectations. Robert’s delivery was engaging and friendly. We got so much more information than we expected, all presented in such an interesting way - you can tell he’s a primary school teacher! Would recommend 100%. I’ve been on many walking tours and Robert was fantastic.
Great guide!
laurie w,,Sep 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Robert is an awesome guide. Very knowledgeable, lots of fun. He was able to customize the tour to our interests! His knowledge of Edinburgh history is unsurpassed
Very informative and engaging tour
Meander20021986544,,Sep 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Robert is knowledgeable and passionate about the history of Edinburgh and provides both interesting and engaging tours.
Great guide and tour
Wanderer31074133072,,Sep 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Robert was a fantastic guide. This was a very informative tour and a great way to see a few sites off the main path. Great value and certainly worth it.
Great walk around the...
Carolyn E,,Aug 28, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Great walk around the city. Our guide Robert started by asking about our visit and our interests and tailored our tour to match. He also accommodated our pace and told us great historical facts and stories.
Great tour with Robert
Dani A,,Aug 19, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Robert was great with explanations customized to our needs. The tour was very interesting with some great tips. Highly recommended!
Fun and informative
Corrie W,,Jul 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Robert was a fabulous guide. He was entertaining, funny and very informative. You could tell that he was a teacher- he even brought props. We learned so much about old Edinburgh and Scottish history. I highly recommend this tour to everyone. It was a great way to start our vacation!
Terry4423,,Jul 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This really was a 5 star experience and an absolute joy. I would recommend it (and specifically Robert) to anyone thinking of doing a walking tour of Edinburgh. Robert is a brilliant , incredibly knowledgeable and engaging guide. Because it's a private tour he was able to ask what we we were looking for out of the tour and respond to that in a great way. We live 30 minutes from Edinburgh and will definitely back for more. Our visitors weren't that bothered about going into Edinburgh as they'd visited before and 'knew the city' . Their comment after the tour was ' we now realise we didn't know the city!'
By living we learn........
Stay57865414343,,Jul 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Robert made History come to life whilst walking around Edinburgh. His enthusiasm is contagious, knowledge is endless. He makes the tour relevant to your careers too. Its entertaining learning, with poems and stories and a few funny props. 5* Robert....thank you. Naomi and Steve
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Operated by Historic Edinburgh Tours