Edinburgh Canongate History Walking Tour

The Canongate is the hidden gem of historic Edinburgh. The lower, less visited part of the Royal Mile used to be Edinburgh’s neighbouring town. Monks and farmers lived here first, then aristocrats in their splendid mansions, and eventually the destitute workers of the industrial age. Like Mary Queen of Scots and Adam Smith before us, we will walk the cobbled streets and discover 900 years’s worth of history.
The tour is family-friendly and wheelchair-accessible. Dogs are welcome.

This is a guided walking tour of the Canongate, entry to the palace and/or any museums is NOT included.

Meeting Point

The World's End

2-8 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1TB, UK

World's End Pub, the blue building on the corner of the Royal Mile and St Mary's street

What to expect:

Duration: 2 hours

The Netherbow

43-45 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR

Luckily for all of us, the tastefully decorated city gate of old no longer stands here.

5 minutes

White Horse Oyster & Seafood Bar

Royal Mile, 266 Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8AA, UK

The alleged adventures of an innkeeper with a drinking problem and a well-travelled convict.

10 minutes

Chessels Court

Chessels Court, 240 Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8AB, UK

Edinburgh's first hotel was also the first one to go bankrupt.

10 minutes

Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh

Moray House School of Education and Sport University of, Holyrood Rd, Edinburgh EH8 8AQ, UK

This campus building was home to a lady with a green thumb.

10 minutes

Cannongate Tolbooth

Edinburgh

Enjoy some haggis, neeps and tatties and think of all the people who died here...

10 minutes

Bakehouse Close

Edinburgh

No respectable family man wanted to be seen here.

10 minutes

The Museum of Edinburgh

142 Canongate, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH8 8DD

18th century billboards and a neighbour with a short fuse

10 minutes

Canongate Kirk

153 Canongate, Edinburgh, EH8 8BN

What is this Dutch church doing in Scotland?

5 minutes

Robert Fergusson Statue

Cannongate, Edinburgh

The three famous Roberts of Scottish literature

5 minutes

Dunbars Close Garden

137 Canongate, Edinburgh, EH8 8BW

A not-so-secret garden

10 minutes

Adam Smith's Panmure House

Panmure House, 4 Lochend Cl, Edinburgh EH8 8BL, UK

No doubt Adam Smith would appreciate the fact that nowadays people study economics in his very own home.

5 minutes

Golfer's Land

65 Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8BS, UK

Who knows whether or not the Scots really invented golf – however, they were certainly arguing about it even in the 17th century.

10 minutes

The Scottish Parliament

Edinburgh, EH99 1SP

After a 300 year break, the Scottish Parliament now meets in this polarising building.

10 minutes

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Canongate, Edinburgh, EH8 8DX

The tour ends at the Royal Family’s Scottish residence. Palace entry is not included, but if you like you can visit on your own.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included