Edinburgh: Recommended tours & tickets

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!

Ah, Edinburgh! They don't call it "The Jekyll & Hyde City" for nothing. During the day, a respectable figure, with its astonishing architecture and wondrous history. But when the sun sets, it tells an entirely different story... Hear all about the darker history of Edinburgh: murderers, thieves, cannibals, hangings and decapitations, witches, the Plague and streams of human waste. Learn about the most notorious citizens of Edinburgh and how ghost stories are born. This is not a ghost tour: we don't need costumes or people jumping from behind the corners, Edinburgh's Dark History itself is enough to make your skin crawl. And oh, how we love to share it with our visitors...

This private guided walk with our unique guides (Stuart Usher or his son Richard, Professional Historians such as Dr Alison Duncan or David Forsyth, other prominent guides such as Prof. John Frank), will both entertain and enthral your group. Your party (up to 12 people) will be the only visitors on the walk. Stuart Usher's family have historic connections with Edinburgh (his great-great Uncle, Andrew Usher, donated the magnificent Usher Hall to the city, where the tour normally starts) and his deep knowledge of the city's cultural, historical and architectural aspects means he has a unique perspective. You can book a morning tour (9.30am to 1.00pm), an afternoon tour (2.00pm to 5.30pm) or our full-day tour (9.30am to 4.30pm) You can have flexibility on itinerary should you choose, e.g. if you have special interests in certain aspects of Edinburgh, and we can even arrange a starting point to suit you (e.g. your hotel) as long as it is in the city-centre.

The Royal Mile Walking Tour offer a glimpse of the history, characters and events that have shaped Edinburgh's Past.  You might learn a little, laugh a little or maybe even both on this informative, interesting and friendly small group (maximum of 8 people) 2 to 2.5 hour walking tour. If you plan to visit Edinburgh Castle at the end of the tour please book your castle tickets in advance for the time slot that matches the tour end time.

This walking tour is designed to give you a broad understanding of Edinburgh, it's history and culture.  The tour runs for around two hours taking in many of the sites of the Old Town which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We strive to be informative yet entertaining on this tour, delivering an overview of Edinburgh with the passion it deserves.

This tour is led by Edinburgh Guided Tour — a small team of exceptional Guides, including PHD Historians, a Professor, and a Museum Manager. Each guide handpicked for their intelligence and warmth. Their passion for Edinburgh shines through in every story they tell, from royal scandal to Enlightenment genius, from Harry Potter to historical rogues. We keep our group size small — never more than 12 guests — so every participant enjoys a personal experience. No straining to hear in a crowd of 30! Our guests consistently give us amazing reviews. These are not your average guides. They will Make History Come Alive. • Guided Walking Tour of the Royal Mile and surrounds • See the secret closes and wynds and all of the major sites • Learn of the famous writers, poets, and economists who have made Edinburgh their home • Visit famous landmarks such as St Giles Cathedral, Grassmarket, and Greyfriars’ Kirkyard • Take the opportunity to capture some amazing photographic opportunities

JK Rowling... she’s sold a few books - what?! ✒ On this tour, we dive deep into her history. Learn to use failure as a springboard, be inspired, stay committed & conquer the world. Discover the events that moved her & the cafes which fueled her. Experience how, through a caffeine-charged imagination, a penniless single mother put a dent in the Muggle-verse. ◘ Learn the entire genesis of Potter, from lightning striking on a Manchester train to becoming a pillar of British culture & shaping generations. ◘ Reviewers say it’s a good introduction to our Hogwartian old town, discover fabulous gothic scenes off the Muggle track, the stonework of Rowling's imagination. ◘ There’s magic, I never got my letter so I’m giving you yours. ✒ Darker than an Azkaban prison cell, more brilliant than all the gold in Gringotts, 4+ hours long for those with double the love. Stand on the shoulders of Rowling, Nimbus-charge your originality & drive; fill that aching Potter-shaped hole inside ϟ

Led by either the holder of a PhD in Scottish history or a guide with decades of experience providing historic tours in Scotland’s capital, this 90-minute tour is a fascinating journey through Edinburgh’s celebrated Old Town. Revel in the majesty of the famous Royal Mile with its stunning architecture, but also visit the secluded closes and courts lying just off the High Street and discover their dramatic stories. Find out about the world famous poets, novelists, philosophers and inventors who called this neighbourhood home but also the notorious thieves, murderers and bodysnatchers who stalked the streets after dark. The tour includes a trip through Canongate Kirkyard and a visit to our underground vaults below South Bridge, where you will find out how it came to be and who used to live there.   

Join this 2-hour walking tour to explore the magical places that all Harry Potter fans should see in Edinburgh. With your guide, walk the streets that inspired J.K. Rowling and learn about the dark history of witches and wizards of Edinburgh.

See Edinburgh’s shady side. The gruesome and the glorious. The ghostly and the ghastly. This 2-hour tour is a wickedly entertaining walk on the wild and dark side of the Scottish capital. Explore the spots where murders, monsters and mayhem have become things of legend, and visit Old Calton Burial Ground or Canongate Kirkyard, two of Edinburgh’s most chilling cemeteries. Throughout the tour, hear real-life tales of witches, body-snatchers, vampires, cannibals and more from your entertaining guide.

Journey along Edinburgh's Royal Mile hearing some of Edinburgh's darker history before visiting the infamous hidden and supposedly haunted vaults beneath the South Bridge in Edinburgh Old Town. Hear tales of how the poor and unfortunate lived in these former slums. Explore these dimly lit vaults by candlelight, once the haunt of criminals, body snatchers and witches alike, said by some to now be occupied by a few of the spirits of these inhabitants long since dead. Each vault has stories of crime, disease, death and lots more... with which your guide shall enlighten you in all the gory details! You will see a genuine witchcraft temple, recently used by a Wiccan coven and you will enter their former temple. Join us to learn why it is no longer safe for them to practice their craft in that vault. DARE you step inside the infamous stone circle?

To truly experience a city, you must deep dive into its culture, and there's no better cultural tradition to explore in Edinburgh than through its ghost tales, myths and legends. On this private tour, get a cultural awakening as you learn more about ghosts, myths and legends and why it's such a unique part of the city's character. Learn from its history to the present influence that still lingers in Edinburgh as you visit the Robert Fergusson statue, Canongate Kirkyard and more. Thanks to this cultural experience, you'll be able to see Edinburgh from a different perspective - the way the locals live it every day! Withlocals Treasures of Edinburgh Tour™ is one of Withlocals' signature tours available in major cities worldwide. We work with passionate local guides who earn a fair fee. We support local economies by only offering local products and preventing over-tourism with only small non-intrusive groups. Our tours are carbon-neutral and away from the standard tourist routes.

Make the most of your time in Edinburgh. Spend a couple of hours strolling through the streets of Edinburgh's Old Town. Hear about Edinburgh's history, characters and events that shaped this wonderful city. The Royal Mile leads down from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. If you have a special interest let us know we can tailor for you. Harry Potter, Outlander or the Jacobite's or a mix of everything, history, architecture and people from the past.

Explore the historic and vibrant city of Edinburgh in your own time, with an award-winning unlimited 24 hour hop-on hop-off bus tour. From the open-top deck you’ll have a fantastic 360 degree view of the spectacular surroundings, which are a blend of stunning natural beauty, and wonderfully historic architecture. This Scottish sightseeing adventure will take you to all of Edinburgh's key points of interest, including Waverley Bridge, Grassmarket, Johnston Terrace, Old Town, Canongate, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Our Dynamic Earth and much more! There's also an informative audio tour commentary on the double-decker bus, so you can make sense of the fabulous sights you're experiencing. With access to 14 stops around the city, and the ability to hop on and off the bus as much as you please within the given time period, you can truly immerse yourself into the culture of this charming destination.

Prepare to be scared silly on a 75 minute ghost bus tour around Edinburgh’s ghoulish haunts. Under the guidance of a creepy onboard conductor, cruise around Edinburgh’s most terrifying and impressive sights, such as Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile. Ride in a double-decker 'Routemaster' vintage bus and feel your hairs stand on end as you hear shocking tales of grisly executions, unspeakable tortures and grim grave robbers. Discover the city’s sinister side and steel yourself for some frights on board.

See Edinburgh like never before with Scotland’s official Hop-on-Hop-off open-top tour! We’ve got the best seats in town and the ultimate way to explore the capital. Hop on and hop off as much as you like to truly take in the sights of our city tour, including Edinburgh Castle, National Museum of Scotland, Dynamic Earth, Greyfriars’s Bobby, Grassmarket and so many more! Your 24-hour ticket means you can pack in all the must-sees at your own pace. Plus, our super-friendly team is here to make sure your time on board (and beyond) is unforgettable. Let’s make your Edinburgh adventure one to remember!