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Edinburgh Private Walking Tour: Enjoy a Unique Guide Experience and Personalised Itinerary
4.9
242 Ratings
Edinburgh
Experience a unique and personalized private walking tour of Edinburgh with our knowledgeable guides. Explore the city’s cultural, historical, and architectural aspects at your own pace.
Duration:
3 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Edinburgh Guided Tour - The starting point of the tour (if not your hotel) is the splendid Usher Hall, a wonderful Concert Hall gifted to the city by Stuart Usher’s great-great-uncle. We do not normally go inside.
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Edinburgh Castle - Gusts will see the majestic Edinburgh Castle (exterior only) and your guide will talk you through its tumultuous history and the lives of the many Scottish Kings and Queens who lived there. If you wish to see inside the castle this can be arranged but there will be an extra charge (
19 per head) for admission. - Edinburgh Old Town - Walk with our accredited guide throughout the many ‘closes’ and ‘wynds’ of Edinburgh’s Old Town and see the buildings associated with many seminal moments in Scottish history.
- Royal Mile - Walk with our accredited guide throughout the many ‘closes’ and ‘wynds’ of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile in the ‘Old Town’ and see the buildings associated with many seminal moments in Scottish history.
- St Giles’ Cathedral - Guests can visit inside the cathedral which is the ‘mother church’ of Presbyterianism. Stunning architecture and amazing internal detail.
- New Town - On the full-day tour, see the splendid 18th-century architecture of this Unesco Designated World Heritage Site that boasts the largest continuous expanse of Georgian-era buildings in the world
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Palace of Holyroodhouse - On the full-day tour, guests will see and hear about this Palace which is the official Scottish residence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. You would not normally go inside but this can be arranged (admission
17 per head). - National Galleries of Scotland: National - Normally visited if weather inclement but it is the client’s choice whether or not to go in and see the splendid array of ‘old masters’.
What's Included
- Private tour
- Professional guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off if requested
What's Not Included
- Cost of food and drinks
Additional Information
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.
- Wheelchair possible but there are hills and steps
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Location
The Usher Hall
Lothian Road
Please meet your guide outside the central entrance of the Usher Hall.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(242 Ratings)
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Rooster1232
Aug 24, 2024
The ultimate Edinburgh experience. - David was extremely well versed in the history and architecture of Edinburgh. We thoroughly enjoyed the tour and his great sense of humor.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
795gretaz
Aug 15, 2024
Best way to learn about Edinburg and Scotland! - David Forsyth captured our attention from the minute we met him! Outgoing, incredibly knowledgeable, with plenty of fun and fascinating stories and facts.
We would highly recommend this 3 1/2 tour--the time whizzes by. I would recommend booking close to when you first arrive so you can get a feel for the city and its layout. Thank you David for introducing us to Edinburg--we loved spending the morning with you. A perfect way to begin our Scotland stay! Awesome!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Joanne_e
Aug 13, 2024
Historical tour of Edinburgh - We had a wonderful experience. Alastair, was very engaging and extremely knowledgeable. Would highly recommend this tour if you wanted to get a great historical overview of Edinburgh.
Review provided by Viator
Christophercb3871kx
Aug 10, 2024
Wonderful and informative day in Edinburgh! - We had an amazing day with Alison! The private tour is the way to go and spending a day with someone as knowledgeable as Alison is a rare treat. We laughed a lot and learned a lot. Thanks for the great experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Fcarter
Aug 9, 2024
Amazing tour in Edinburgh - we had a very larger group and Stuart was amazing. He was so knowledgeable and patient with the group. He was great with the teenage girls and keeping them engaged. Lovely tour, lovely city
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lesley_d
Aug 8, 2024
Best imaginable tour of Edinburgh - Our tour guide David was brilliant. He customized our tour to fit our personal interests. Since our family is very interested in history, David applied his deep historical knowledge of Scotland to tell us insightful stories, explain the context of events and places, and expand on the biolgraphies of fascinating characters from the past. He did not shy away from any question, no matter how difficult or random. I cannot recommend this tour enough.
Review provided by Viator
Michelle_c
Aug 6, 2024
Tour Guide Adaptable to Our Needs; Loved the Sites with an Emphasis on Harry Potter - This was one of the best tours I have been on. Our tour guide, Alastair Sim, was phenomenal. He adapted to all of our needs--short time, a member of our party in a wheel chair, and our desires of what to see. When he learned we'd already taken a tour of the Castle, he asked what we wanted to see. We didn't know, so he prompted with questions like: Do you like Game of Thrones or Harry Potter. We responded that we liked Harry Potter.
Alastair then completely changed what he had originally planned and took us on a good walking tour that included many wonderful sites in Edinburgh along with a few specific to Harry Potter, but not limited just to HP. He was kind and patient as we pushed a wheel chair up steep hills and over cobblestone roads. His knowledge of Scotland was phenomenal. If you can get Alastair on a tour, you will be in for a treat!
Review provided by Viator
Ali_k
Jul 29, 2024
Edinburgh live experience - Great Tour
Alison is knowledgable and so humble, she made the tour so efficient and enjoyable.
I highly recommend this tour as Edinburgh deserves a full day to understand the history, architecture and the urban plan of the city.
Review provided by Viator
Lavon_r
Jul 25, 2024
Around the Royal Mile - Our tour was with Craig Davidson and he was amazing - he gave us a Royal Mile tour while somehow avoiding the crowds and herding our group of cats! He also gave us very thoughtful dining recs! Thankful for the awesome taste of Edinburgh
Review provided by Viator
Richard_k
Jul 28, 2024
Viator Big Disappoinment Would Not Recommend - Viator unfortunately has very poor customer service. The walking tour was not as described / booked.
Viator apparently contracts through third party tour guides. When a problem comes up the third party tour guides cannot or will not help and Viator blames the third party.
I would recommend you find a tour guide directly and book with them. Watch out for scam/sham websites that claim it is a direct booking site but ultimately goes through Viator.
Never have had a problem with tour guides directly booked.
Review provided by Viator
