Edinburgh Private Walking Tour: Enjoy a Unique Guide Experience and Personalised Itinerary
5.0
203 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
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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
Experience the unique perspective of our specially chosen guides (Stuart Usher, his son Richard, or Professional Historians Dr Alison Duncan or David Forsyth) on this private guided stroll. Your group, limited to a maximum of 12 individuals, will be the sole attendees of the expedition. Coming from a family with rich historical ties to Edinburgh (his great-great Uncle, Andrew Usher, bestowed the splendid Usher Hall upon the city where the excursion typically begins), Stuart Usher possesses an unrivalled understanding of its cultural, historical and architectural facets.
Tours can be reserved for the morning duration (9.30am to 1.00pm), afternoon occasion (2.00pm to 5.30pm) or the complete day (9.30am to 4.30pm)
Customization of the trip based on your preferences is an option, for instance if you have an inclination towards certain aspects of Edinburgh, and a tailored starting location (such as your hotel) that lies within the city boundary can be arranged for your convenience.
- 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
5.0
(203 Ratings)
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Susanne_v
Apr 21, 2024
Highly Recommend a tour with Alison! - My husband and I had a wonderful 2- half days of touring with Alison. We loved the background history, tales and hidden gems she bestowed upon us. She kept us entertained and awake on our day of arrival from the states. After the second tour we felt we had a good grasp of the lay of the city. She was lovely, considerate, professional and we loved Scottish baroque that was easy to understand but added to her stories!
Review provided by Viator
Thehedge1
Apr 15, 2024
David's superb professional introduction to Edinburgh's history and architecture. - Our group was composed of German, French, Greek, Spanish and British people and this review is based on comments made in different languages. From David, we learnt the Scots word dreich which was very appropriate for a wet and misty Edinburgh day lit up by a fascinating and detailed insight into the city’s history and architecture. David’s tour was delivered with passion and humour and was a thoroughly informative and entertaining introduction to the city. We particularly appreciated learning about Scotland’s strong historical connection with the rest of Europe and its contribution to the enlightenment.
Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rob_b
Apr 14, 2024
Craig was the best, the absolute best !!!! - Our guide, Craig, was the best. Highly highly recommended. Personable, flexible, thoughtful, incredibly well-informed, and a genuine/deep history buff . . . . . exactly what we needed. And Craig adjusted all along out collective 7-hour journey. He was the best possible outcome!!
Rob, Judy, and Maia
Review provided by Viator
Emily_b
Apr 3, 2024
The way to see Edinburgh in a day! - This tour was one of my family's favorite memories of our time in Scotland. David made the history of Edinburgh enjoyable for every member of our party, from my 12yr old son to 65 yr old mother. The weather was cold and wet and my kids stayed with it the whole time without complaint. Would do a full day again if we ever back in town. Many thanks!!!
Review provided by Viator
Z8027pmjohnc
Mar 25, 2024
Your search is over. This is the tour! - This tour was worth every penny. Allison is an Oxford-educated historian who has a granular knowledge of Edinburgh and its royal heritage. From the outset, she tailored our one-on-one tour to suit my interests, and she made everything - from major turning points in history to the minutiae of everyday living through the centuries - feel relevant and accessible through her engaging storytelling. She was marvelous company, and everything I did after this tour was more meaningful because of what I learned. I simply cannot speak highly enough of Allison. She is a consummate professional, and you should seek no other tour in Edinburgh.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Heidicu5547ct
Mar 13, 2024
A most excellent tour of Edinburgh - We went on a 2 hour guided tour with a group of students. We were fortunate to have Alison as our guide. She expertly led us through the nooks and crannies of the lovely city of Edinburgh. Alison is the most kind, knowledgeable and attentive guide. She was excellent at giving precise instruction (which is important when guiding a group of teens) and we high recommend her for your next tour of Edinburgh.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Voyage68101190117
Feb 13, 2024
A journey through time. - Exploring Edinburgh on a private walking city tour is an immersive experience in history and culture. From the imposing Edinburgh Castle to the elegant New Town, every cobblestone street and ancient building tells a story of Scotland’s rich heritage. With a knowledgeable guide sharing captivating tales of the city’s past, an Edinburgh tour is a must do for anyone seeking to uncover the secrets of this enchanting destination
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chris_p
Jan 28, 2024
Stewart Usher was super... - Stewart Usher was super informative and set good pace around old Edinburgh. He is passionate about Edinburgh and Scottish history.
Review provided by Viator
Timothy_m
Jan 17, 2024
Old Town Edinburgh has so much to offer! - Craig was a very knowledgeable tour guide about Edinburgh, as well as Scotland, history. This was a big win for me, as the reason I pay the premium for a private, local guide is so I can geek out on history and integrate what is being shared with everything else I have learned about history. My only recommendation would be that if you want to see BOTH Old Town and New Town, book the full day tour. Old Town has too much to cover to try to do both in 4 hours.
Review provided by Viator
Christopher_m
Jan 9, 2024
A great day in Edinburgh - My family had a fabulous tour with Allison. She was very knowledgable and kept the tour interesting and fun for us all. We loved learning about the rich history of Scotland and Edinburgh. I would highly recommended this tour to everyone, especially history buffs (like me)!
Review provided by Viator
