Edinburgh Private Guided Cultural Walking Tour

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.

Meeting Point

The Usher Hall

Lothian Rd, Edinburgh EH1 2EA, UK

Please meet your guide outside the central entrance of the Usher Hall.

What's included:

• Private tour
• Professional guide
• Hotel pickup and drop-off if requested

Not included:

• Cost of food and drinks

What to expect:

Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes

Edinburgh Guided Tour

Edinburgh

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.

10 minutes

Edinburgh Castle

Castlehill, Edinburgh, EH1 2NG

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.

15 minutes

Edinburgh Old Town

Edinburgh, EH1

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.

2 hours, 30 minutes

Royal Mile

High St., , Edinburgh, EH1 2PB

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.

2 hours, 30 minutes

St Giles' Cathedral

High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1RE

Guests can visit inside the cathedral which is the 'mother church' of Presbyterianism. Stunning architecture and amazing internal detail.

15 minutes

New Town

Edinburgh

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

45 minutes

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Canongate, Edinburgh, EH8 8DX

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).

1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included

National Galleries of Scotland: National

The Mound, Edinburgh, EH2 2EL

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'.

50 minutes