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Edinburgh Castle Tour: VIP Access & Royal Mile
5.0
3 Ratings
Edinburgh
Discover Edinburgh’s charm in a day with VIP access to Edinburgh Castle, guided Royal Mile tour, and Holyrood Palace secrets.
Discover Edinburgh’s charm in a day with VIP access to Edinburgh Castle, guided Royal Mile tour, and Holyrood Palace secrets.
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Edinburgh Castle - Gain exclusive early access to Edinburgh Castle before it opens to the public. Relish the tranquility as you explore its stunning views and iconic landmarks, such as the Crown Room, Great Hall, and St. Margaret’s Chapel.
- Lawnmarket - Take a leisurely stroll through the Lawnmarket and take a moment to admire the exterior of…
- Edinburgh Castle - Gain exclusive early access to Edinburgh Castle before it opens to the public. Relish the tranquility as you explore its stunning views and iconic landmarks, such as the Crown Room, Great Hall, and St. Margaret’s Chapel.
- Lawnmarket - Take a leisurely stroll through the Lawnmarket and take a moment to admire the exterior of St. Giles’ Cathedral, a magnificent Gothic masterpiece and a significant site in Scotland’s religious history.
- Royal Mile - Wander along the famous Royal Mile, where your guide will unveil its cobblestone streets, hidden gardens, and intriguing tales of Edinburgh’s history. Then, proceed to the Canongate area to uncover its historic allure, 16th-century architecture, and ties to the British royal family at Canongate Kirk.
- Palace of Holyroodhouse - Finish your tour at Holyrood Palace, the official residence of the British monarchs in Scotland. Discover its beautiful gardens, state rooms, and abbey ruins at your leisure with a self-guided audio tour.
What's Included
- Local English-speaking guide
- Self-guided audio tour of Holyrood Palace
- Early access ticket to Edinburgh Castle
- Local English-speaking guide
- Self-guided audio tour of Holyrood Palace
- Early access ticket to Edinburgh Castle
What's Not Included
- Hotel Pick-up/Drop-off
- Gratuities
- Hotel Pick-up/Drop-off
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Discover the best of Edinburgh in a single day, avoiding the crowds. Begin with special early entry to Edinburgh Castle for a VIP tour of Scotland’s most renowned landmark. Walk through centuries of history alongside a knowledgeable guide. Your guide will animate the historic Royal Mile with tales of its notable figures, cobblestone streets, secret…
Discover the best of Edinburgh in a single day, avoiding the crowds. Begin with special early entry to Edinburgh Castle for a VIP tour of Scotland’s most renowned landmark. Walk through centuries of history alongside a knowledgeable guide. Your guide will animate the historic Royal Mile with tales of its notable figures, cobblestone streets, secret alleys, and historic sites. Visit King Charles’s official Scottish residence, Holyrood Palace, and uncover the Monarchy’s secrets.
- The tour is in English.
- This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
- The castle is reached across the esplanade – a wide area of smooth tarmac, with an uphill gradient of 5 degrees.
- Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
- Photography and filming are not permitted inside the Palace
- Eating and drinking are not permitted inside the Palace’s State Apartments.
Location
354 Castlehill
Castlehill
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a green Walks sign. This tour meets at Scotch Whiskey Experience located at 354 Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(3 Ratings)
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1 star
Sam
Aug 1, 2025
Crown Jewels, secret gardens and a palace 10/10 reccommend - This wasn’t just a tour — it was a journey through centuries of Edinburgh’s layered history, and Tom from Walks was the perfect guide to lead it.
One of the most unforgettable parts? Getting early access to Edinburgh Castle and seeing the Scottish Crown Jewels before the gates officially opened. That quiet, crowd-free moment made the experience feel truly special — like we were getting a behind-the-scenes glimpse into history.
Tom is one of those rare guides who strikes the perfect balance between historical depth, humor, and warmth. He walked us through winding closes and iconic landmarks with the kind of storytelling that pulls you in and keeps you hooked — from cannonballs in castle walls to unicorns on the Scottish coat of arms, and even a personal story about his mother-in-law baking scones for soldiers stationed at the castle.
He has a gift for making complex history not just understandable, but alive and meaningful. And even when logistics got tricky (late arrivals, shifting groups), he handled everything with grace and good humor.
The structure of the tour — from Castle Hill to the Lawnmarket and beyond — gave a deep sense of Edinburgh’s past and present. Tom didn’t just show us the city. He made us feel it.
If you’re looking for a tour that’s rich, thoughtful, and totally unforgettable, book with Walks — and ask for Tom if you can.
The structure of the tour — from Castle Hill to the Lawnmarket, and the fishbone layout of the Royal Mile — gave a deep sense of Edinburgh’s evolution. You don’t just learn facts with Tom, you feel the heartbeat of the city.
If you want a walking tour that feels like a conversation with a local who truly loves and understands this city, Tom with Walks is the one. Edinburgh came alive because of him.
Pro Tip: ask about the secret gardens
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alyssa_k
Jun 22, 2025
Highly recommend! - The ability to skip the line and enter the castle before the public and receive an entertaining, knowledgeable small group tour was by far the way to see Edinburgh Castle! Highly recommend! We then had a great walk down the Royal Mile with our guide Tom who was very kind and full of information about the history of the Royal Mile as well as recommendations for food and shops along the way. Very nice and patient guide that kept the tour moving. The end of the experience includes admit ticket to Holyrood Palace and gardens, but you don’t have to go right away, you just have to use your ticket by the end of day. So, you can easily find lunch after the Royal Mile and rest then continue on to the palace to finish your day. You do have to get to the end of the Royal Mile, to the palace to get your ticket for entry. So if you’re tempted to break off and shop/eat beforehand you won’t get your ticket for the palace because the guide obtains this for you at the gate. All in all, one of our better tours so far. Have done well with Walks UK tours so far.
Review provided by Viator
