Edinburgh Castle and Royal Mile Tour

2 in 1 Tours
This tour combines a guided visit of Edinburgh Castle (Skip-The Line-Tickets Included) and Walking Tour of the Royal Mile.

Ideal for those who wish to make the most of their time by visiting the Castle and learning about the Fascinating History of the City.

The tour will begin on the Royal Mile, where we'll discover its highlights, including the Mercat Cross, St. Giles Cathedral, Victoria Street and the Grassmarket. We will learn what the closes are and recall the dark stories behind some of the most popular ones.

In Edinburgh Castle, we'll talk about Kings and Queens, Battles and Sieges and understand how the building changed over the centuries. We'll walk underneath the Portcullis Gate, explain the role of the Argyle Battery, and what the dungeons were used for. After the tour, you will have time to visit the Roofed Buildings of the Castle at your Leisure.

Meeting Point

180 High St

180 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1QS, UK

We will meet travellers outside of the Fringe shop. Your guide will be holding a navy blue umbrella.

What's included:

• Entrance ticket to Edinburgh Castle
• Local Tour Guide

What to expect:

Duration: 2 hours, 15 minutes

Royal Mile

High St., , Edinburgh, EH1 2PB

Our tour will start on the Royal Mile. Your tour guide will offer an introduction to the city and the history of the Old Town.

10 minutes

Mercat Cross

Mercat Cross, Edinburgh

As we walk on the Royal Mile we will see some of the city 'closes' and understand what these narrow lanes were used for. We'll also stop at the Mercat Cross, a site once used for public announcements and punishments. Can you spot the unicorn at the top?

10 minutes

St Giles' Cathedral

High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1RE

In front of the Mercat Cross we will see St. Giles Cathedral. We'll talk about the architecture of the most important church in Scotland, and discover the history of the Presbyterian religion.
We will also walk to West Parliament Square to talk about the Act of Union.

25 minutes

Writers' Museum

Lady Stairs House Lady Stair's Close Lawnmarket, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 2PA

We leave St. Giles behind us and proceed on the Royal Mile. On our way, we will point out the Heart of Midlothian and explain what this mosaic heart is. A few minutes later, we will enter Makars’ Court, just off the Royal Mile. Here, with the Writer’s Museum as a backdrop, we will talk about Scotland’s most important writers, including Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.

15 minutes

Victoria street

Victoria St, Edinburgh

From the Writer's Museum we will walk down a few steps to get to Victoria Street, one of the most picturesque streets of the Old Town. As we walk down the street, you will see quirky shops and colourful facades.

10 minutes

Grassmarket

21 Grassmarket, Old Town, Edinburgh, EH1 2HS

As we reach the bottom of Victoria Street, we will see a large plaza in front of us. This is the Grassmarket, an area famous for its pubs, but with a very dark past!

10 minutes

Edinburgh Castle Esplanade

Castle Hill, Edinburgh, EH1 2NG

From the Grassmarket we will take some steps to reach the Castle Esplanade. As we walk up the hill we will see the dark spike of the Hub, and explain what this building is. Once on the Castle Esplanade, we will enjoy stunning views of the city and see where the Edinburgh Military Tattoo takes place.

15 minutes

Edinburgh Castle

Castlehill, Edinburgh, EH1 2NG

It is finally time to enter Edinburgh Castle. Once inside, we’ll delve into the history and secrets of this building, and recall the fascinating stories of kings, queens, battles and sieges. After the guided tour you will have the opportunity to explore the indoor areas of the castle at your own pace.

40 minutes • Admission Ticket Included