Edinburgh Castle Walking Tour: Discover Centuries of Rich Scottish History

422 Ratings

Edinburgh

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Uncover centuries of Scottish history on a captivating walking tour of Edinburgh Castle. Explore the iconic landmark, hear tales of battles and royalty, and enjoy breathtaking views of the city and countryside.

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Cancellation: 1 day learn more

Highlights

Royal Mile - A brief walk from St. Giles to Edinburgh Castle’s Esplanade, where you will be introduced to the History of Edinburgh and the Castle.
Edinburgh Castle - Walking tour of the Edinburgh Castle grounds. You’ll be introduced to the History of Edinburgh Castle, its residents and buildings. Highlights include:
St. Margaret’s Chappel, the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh,
Mons Meg, a 6.6 tonne cannon,
The Great Hall, where monarchs could eavesdrop on their court,
The Honours of Scotland, the oldest crown jewels in the United Kingdom,
A cemetery for dogs.

Please note that this is a visit of the Castle grounds only, as due to the reduced size of some indoor spaces and the popularity of the Castle, tour guides are not allowed into enclosed spaces.

What's Included

Admission to the historic castle

Additional Information

Join us on an unforgettable journey through millennia as we explore the iconic Edinburgh Castle on a walking tour that will bring Scotland’s rich history to life!

As you explore, your knowledgeable guide will regale you with tales of battles won and lost, royalty and rebels, and the colourful characters who have called the castle home over the centuries. You’ll be greeted with breath-taking views of Edinburgh and the surrounding countryside, providing a unique perspective on this beautiful city.

Whether you’re a history buff or just looking for a unique and educational experience, a tour of Edinburgh Castle is a must-do activity in Scotland’s capital. Come and discover the rich cultural heritage of this iconic landmark, and immerse yourself in the history of one of the most fascinating places in all of Europe!

*IN ENGLISH ONLY. Tickets to Edinburgh Castle are included, and the tour takes place inside. Due to guidelines imposed by HES, guides are not allowed inside the covered areas.

Location

West Parliament Square

Our meeting point will be in West Parliament Square, in front of St. Giles Cathedral, just across the square. Look for the white umbrellas with the logo of All-Star Guides, and please allow yourself 10 minutes before departure so you can start on time.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

4.8

(422 Ratings)

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Cruiser790283

Jul 25, 2024

One of the best - Can’t express how enjoyable the tour was. Our guide was informative also with a sense of humor. He set us up with the info to tour the grounds ourselves confidently. The tour lasted about 90 minutes and then we moved on to investigate each building for the next 2 hours. This was amount the top 3 tours we’ve ever been a part of. Cheers.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Thomas

Jul 25, 2024

Well organized, informative, recommended - Dave was a well organized and informative guide. Provided highlights and allowed us to explore things at the end on our own.

Review provided by Viator

Runu_k

Jul 24, 2024

Great trip - Eleanor Our guide was good. Tour was well organized and was worth it. Another guide from same company was answering questions from random people about random things. Very polite. Cannot remember his name now.

Review provided by Viator

Navigate298554

Jul 23, 2024

Well organized and executed tour. - All tickets through the castle directly were sold out a few days ago when I tried to buy one. The lightbulb went off to try a third party tour supplier. My choice was completely accidental, but All Star through Viator had availability. Eleanor was a terrific guide.She had a high level of energy and knew her history. She managed to wrangle a group of people through a very crowded day at the castle. I had called the day before to get more specific directions on where to meet and the man (sorry I don’t know name) was extremely kind and said he would personally call me if I failed to show. It was very organized in and supportive of visitors. I highly recommend this outfit. My tour was July 23.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Nanabhenso

Jul 23, 2024

Great exposure to the key castle highlights - Kiran delivered a highly educational tour of the castle. Although in parts he was unable to enter sites (due to tour guide restrictions), he remained engaging and kept the tour moving at a great pace. This tour arrangement gives good exposure to the key features of castle with grounded historic context. We took note of the particular attention paid to those attendees with mobility needs with no detraction from the group experience. Recommend centing the tour around the 1pm cannon blast. Red coat cafe atop the castle is a pricey lunch but the back room is well worth the views. Good place to rest your legs after the tour.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Catherine_g

Jul 22, 2024

Best way to visit Edinburgh Castle! - I believe our guide was Elena—very knowledgeable about the history a d sights of the castle. Highly recommended vs the standard audio tour and worth the charge!

Review provided by Viator

Cameron_b

Jul 22, 2024

Loved it! - Our tour guide Robert was great. So knowledge and really brought the castle to life for us. Also included a bit of feminist and queer history in his tour as well which was appreciated.

Review provided by Viator

Pjones45

Jul 21, 2024

Informative, interesting, essential. - We had a fantastic time and got to learn an extraordinary amount about the castle. Elena told us about all sorts of lore that I would have missed with the automated tour, and pointed out things to explore after the tour finished! A must for anyone interested in really learning about the history of the castle, town, and of course, centuries of tumultuous Anglo/Scottish relations!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Octobere2016

Jul 21, 2024

Highly recommended - The rich history within these castle walls makes you want to learn even more! Our tour guide, Matthew, was funny, witty, and informative- makes it all the more fun. I highly recommend taking this tour if you're visiting Edinburgh.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Steven_h

Jul 21, 2024

Highly recommended - Our tour guide Eleanor was terrific. Very knowledgeable and interesting. Highly recommended. The pace was just right and her recap at end was a good idea.

Review provided by Viator

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up to 15 guests

1 Adult