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Royal Mile Guided Walking Tour in Edinburgh
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Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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From $30.28
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Royal Mile Guided Walking Tour in Edinburgh
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance. Learn more
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation
- 24 hours prior100% refund
- Within 24 hoursNo refund
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Learn more about cancellations
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Safety measures
Keeping you safe during COVID-19
Vaccine? Quarantine? Masking?
Vaccine? Quarantine? Masking? We know, there’s a lot to keep track of. Be sure to check local guidelines so you’re aware of all travel requirements before you go.
What you can expect during your visit
Face masks provided for travelers
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitized between use
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
COVID-19 vaccination required for guides
Safety precautions are provided by the tour operator and are not checked by Viator for accuracy
More questions?
(888) 651-9785
3 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Good for avoiding crowds
Overview
Explore famous landmarks and hidden secrets in Edinburgh on this walking tour. Explore Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile with a guide, and gain insight into famous writers and inventors who have called the city home. Hear tales of Scotland's national bard—Robert Burns—and discover top landmarks such as St. Giles’ Cathedral and the National Galleries of Scotland. Capture Edinburgh through the eye of your camera as you go, and find out what makes this ancient city tick.
- Guided walking tour of Edinburgh
- Follow a guide along Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile
- Learn of the famous writers, poets, and inventors who have lived and worked in Edinburgh
- Visit landmarks such as St. Giles’ Cathedral and the Scottish National Gallery
- Photograph the city at your leisure on route
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From $30.28
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What's Included
Professional guide
Small group (maximum 10 participants)
Gratuities
Departure & Return
The Usher Hall , Lothian Rd, Edinburgh EH1 2EA, UK
The Mound , The Mound, Edinburgh, UKYour guide will be waiting for you outside the central entrance of the Usher Hall (there are 3 entrances and he will be outside the middle one).
The ending point is at the National gallery of Scotland, just off Princes Street.
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Children under 12 are free
- Children 12-16 pay 75%
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
- OPERATED BY Edinburgh Guided Tour
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Learn more about cancellations.
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
What is the policy on face masks and attendee health during Royal Mile Guided Walking Tour in Edinburgh?
A:The policy on face masks and attendee health is:
- Face masks provided for travelers
Q:
What is the policy on sanitization during Royal Mile Guided Walking Tour in Edinburgh?
A:The policies on sanitization are:
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
- Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
- Gear/equipment sanitized between use
Q:
What is the social distancing policy during Royal Mile Guided Walking Tour in Edinburgh?
A:The policy on social distancing is:
- Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Q:
What measures are being taken to ensure staff health & safety during Royal Mile Guided Walking Tour in Edinburgh?
A:The policies on staff health & safety are:
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
- Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
Traveler Photos



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Traveler Tips
- "It's really more convenient to have a walking tour in small groups like we had - you are always in contact with the guide, can hear and catch the very single word!" See review
- "I highly recommend this tour and it is limited to 10 people, so you will be able to keep up and hear everything!" See review
- "Highly recommended for a broad based understanding of this city." See review
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Reviews
5.0
635 Reviews
5 stars
593
4 stars
28
3 stars
9
2 stars
4
1 star
1
Reviews by Viator travelers
We perform checks on reviews
Showing 1-10 of 635 reviews
A delightful zig zag of the Royal Mile!
Jacqueline_B
, Jun 2022
Alison was our guide, and I am delighted with my experience under her knowledgeable guidance. She wove the stories of Edinburgh and Scotland together skillfully so I could track the events. Thanks to her I now have command of the Royal Mile neighborhood, and I plan to return to zig zag close after close. Finally, she is a wonderful storyteller! Great job, Alison!
What a great tour for first time in Edinburgh!
Donald_S
, Jun 2022
We had a great afternoon walk with Mr. Stuart yesterday. As a first time visitor to Edinburgh, let alone on my first day, I couldn’t give a higher recommendation!
See first when you arrive
Victoria_D
, Jun 2022
Enjoyed walking the city. It is a great way to get the lay of the land. Would recommend to all first timers to Edinburgh.
Thousand of years beautifully woven into a nice 3 hour walk
Craig_G
, Jun 2022
Allison was a fantastic guide! She really brings the stories to life. I love the history of this beautiful fairytale city and she recreates it all through the stories of individual lives and events. Too many high points to choose a favorite.
1 traveler found this review helpful
Excellent experience
Philip_W
, Jun 2022
Very informative look at the history of the area and not just a list of buildings. Our guide was Allison who definitely brought things to life with her humor and knowledge. Highly recommend
Book this tour NOW!! Amazing guide!
Michelle_D
, Jun 2022
Stuart was an excellent guide to the city! He brought Edinburgh to life with humour, stories, and history. Loved exploring the city with him as our guide and also provided excellent recommendations!
Loved the history of Edinburg
Dorothy_K
, Jun 2022
I enjoyed learning the history of Edinburg and figuring how how to walk through the back alleys. Our guide was knowledgeable and interesting. Could answer all out questions
Do take this lovely tour
Tessa_v
, Jun 2022
Allison our lovely guide, knew the history well and was able to tell us vividly about it. We really enjoyed her stories.
1 traveler found this review helpful
Great way to learn the Royal Mile history in a couple of hours
DavidT
, Jun 2022
This walking tour covered a lot of ground, and had many interesting talking points. I enjoy walking tours to learn the history while I can stand and look at the area where it happened, and I learn so much more than walking and looking it up myself or reading a plaque. The guide was good, but was hard to hear at times over the crowd and city noise. Still, it was a good walk and I would do it again.
Response from Host , Jun 2022
Dear DavidT
Thank you so much for your superlatiive Review. Being in the company of others who are likewise keen to learn the history of the city is so much more enjoyable than walking around oneself, as you said. Thanks for reminding us to keep talking loudly. Edinburgh is pretty noisy at this time of year!
Best wishes
Stuart U.
Enjoyed the walk!
Tracy_N
, Jun 2022
Great experience with many backstories shared. We were taken to some places you would normally miss just walking on your own.
Exceptional tour and guide
John_V
, Jun 2022
Allison was an incredible guide. Easily “best ever”, and we do a lot of guided tours. Personable, smart with unique and interesting stories. She made history “come alive” while keeping your interest and making the details understandable and approachable. She clearly loves her job, it shows, and those on tour benefit from it
Outstanding!
Response from Host , Jun 2022
Dear John
Thank you so much for your marvellous Review of your Tour with us and we are delighted that you enjoyed it so much. Making History 'come alive' is a knack that many guides lack. Fortunately our Alison does have this knack. We would love to entertain you again in Edinburgh.
Best wishes
Stuart U.
Great intro to a great city
Anonymous
, Jun 2022
What a treat to learn about Edinburgh’s history from someone whose family is part of that history. Stuart’s knowledge is wide ranging and interesting. This 70 year old appreciated the gentle pacing although we covered a lot of ground, also the limited group size.
Don’t think twice. Sign up. Alison was amazing.
Amita_A
, Jun 2022
Absolutely fantastic! Alison, a historian and our guide, is an amazing storyteller. She even carried books with her that she read passages from to bring stories to life.
I’d actually made a mistake on the time and had missed my tour. But Dave, from the tour operator, was incredibly kind and let me join the next day’s tour.
Well exceeded my expectations for a city tour. Don’t think twice. Sign up. You won’t be disappointed.
Response from Host , Jun 2022
Dear Amita
Fulsome thanks for your superlative Review. We are dselighted that you very much enjoyed your Tour with Alison. We always try and accommodate our clients if they have made a mistake in their booking application and we were delighted that our business manager, Dave, could switch your booking to the next day.
Best wishes
Stuart U
A day in Edinburgh
BRIAN_N
, May 2022
Highly recommend this informational walking tour of Edinburgh. For all you literature enthusiast, you will be walking in the steps of great philosophers and novel writers. You’ll see where they socialized and debated one another. After the tour is done, you can on your own accord, stop in one of the oldest pubs you learned about on your walking tour.
Response from Host , Jun 2022
Dear Brian
Thank you so much for your marvellous Review. We had a great time together on Monday past. Edinburgh was blessed with great philosophers and writers in past centuries. We even have one now in the person of the great JK Rowling with her Harry Potter books. I take it that you visited the White Hart Inn in the Grassmarket after the Tour. Good choice.
Best wishes
Stuart U.
Alison was very...
Mariam_S
, May 2022
Alison was very professional, caring and friendly. We had my elderly mom with us and she kept making sure she was ok all along. 3 hours went by so fast. It was overall a wonderful experience. Learnt so much about Scotland’s history. If it’s one thing you want to do on Scotland then do the Royal mile. Highly recommend it.
Response from Host , Jun 2022
Perfect afternoon to soak up lore and sights
Bradford_P
, May 2022
Led by the brilliant, wry Allison, we had a lovely afternoon traversing the Royal Mile. Great stories, great information, at not too fast a clip; 10/10 recommend to one and all!
Amazing
Sheila_I
, May 2022
The wonderful lady who did the walking tour Alison so knowledgeable made it so interesting a big thank you to her
Mr Usher was very...
Greg_W
, May 2022
Mr Usher was very entertaining and informative. We loved the personal touch of a fine scots gentleman.
1 traveler found this review helpful
Royal Mile Walking Tour
Mary_D
, May 2022
Excellent tour! Very knowledgeable about the area and it’s history! Took several breaks along the way and made quite easy to keep up.
Tour of the Royal mile
Beverly_E
, May 2022
Stewart was very knowledgeable about the history of Edinburgh, he told us so many interesting stories.
We also went to many out of the way places that we would have never found on our own. Well worth our time.
Response from Host , May 2022
Dear Beverly
Thanks so much for your great Review. Edinburgh has a long and v interesting history and quite a lot of it is associated with its many 'Closes'. For example Riddles Close where the great David Hume lived in the mid 1700's. [lease do come to our fair city again, Beverly .....we would love to see you again.
Best wishes
Stuart U
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