Edinburgh Medical History Walking Tour: Surgeons and Scandals

Let an Edinburgh doctor take you on a deep and fascinating trip into our medical and surgical history!
On this three to four hour tour, we'll be circumnavigating the Old Town, visiting the sites and buildings where our medical history was forged, and learning how Edinburgh transformed from a sleepy outpost into a world-renowned powerhouse of medical training and research. We'll hear of student drudgery and drunkeness, of lightning-fast surgeons, and of the women who battled tirelessly to be the first to study medicine here. Not to mention scandals, feuds, and famous former Edinburgh medics such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Charles Darwin, and the man who became Dr Frankenstein!

Meeting Point

Hunter Square

Hunter Square, Edinburgh EH1, UK

We will meet you in Hunter Square, the little plaza behind the Tron Church on the Royal Mile.

What's included:

• All guiding and commentary is inclusive.

What to expect:

Duration: between 3 hours and 4 hours

Royal Mile

High St., , Edinburgh, EH1 2PB

We'll begin the tour walking down Edinburgh's oldest street, finding out about the origins of Edinburgh Medicine and Surgery, and seeing the alleyway where our College of Physicians began.

45 minutes

Cowgate

Cowgate, Edinburgh, UK

Just off the Cowgate we'll locate Robertson's Close, site of 'The Little House', our first teaching hospital, before exploring the complex of its successor, the first Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

1 hour

Surgeons' Hall Museums

Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9DW

Here at the Surgical profession's historic home, we'll have our refreshment break, as well as hearing about the years-long battle for women to be admitted to the Medical School.

45 minutes

University of Edinburgh

Old College South Bridge, , Edinburgh, EH8 9YL

Here at the Medical School's former home, we'll hear much more about Edinburgh's developing importance as a medical centre, as well as about the drudgery and compensations of medical student life!

20 minutes

Bristo Place

Bristo Pl, Edinburgh EH1, UK

We'll pass by the site of Charles Darwin's old med student lodgings, on our way to the imposing 1880's Medical School and graduation hall.

25 minutes

Lauriston Place

Lauriston Pl, Edinburgh, UK

Our tour culminates in the magnificent entrance plaza of our former Royal Infirmary, where we'll hear stories of some of the great doctors and surgeons which graced the institution.

15 minutes