Edinburgh Castle & The Royal Mile

About This Tour

This is a private, half day walking tour. Your guide can meet you either at your Edinburgh city centre accommodation or on the Edinburgh Castle esplanade.

Tour Itinerary

Experience the perfect introduction to Scotland’s Capital with our expert Blue Badge guides as you take in Edinburgh’s rich history on this tour situated within a UNESCO World Heritage site.    

We begin our tour with a visit to Edinburgh Castle. Perched upon an extinct volcano the castle with its long, rich history is one of the oldest fortified places in Europe and a symbol of the city. Follow in the footsteps of kings, queens, soldiers, and prisoners as you discover this world-famous fortress.  

Among the many fascinating points of interest here are the Honours of Scotland. More commonly known as the Scottish Crown Jewels, they are the oldest Royal Regalia in Britain and were first used together at the coronation of Mary, Queen of Scots in 1543. You will also discover the oldest building in Edinburgh – St Margaret’s Chapel which dates back to the 12th century, the Royal Palace, Great Hall, and more. 

After visiting the Castle we make our way down the esplanade to begin our tour of the Royal Mile. The street gets its name from the fact that it is a ‘Scots mile’ long and connects two royal residences, the Castle at the top of the hill and the palace of Holyrood House at the bottom. This particular part of Edinburgh known as the Old Town is characterised by the survival of the narrow closes, wynds, and courtyards leading off the main streets, which give it a distinct medieval feel that can still be recognised to this day. We will discover several of these features on our tour as we immerse ourselves into the history and significance of the Mile and the landmarks along it. 

Among the many landmarks and points of interest we will see are: 

St Giles Cathedral
Although founded in 1124 by King David I of Scotland, the current St Giles Cathedral building dates more recently to the 14th century. Daily church services are still held there today. Enjoy the beautiful architecture and stained glass windows as you learn about the Cathedral’s role in Scottish history. 

The Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament building situated at the easterly edge of the Old Town has been the official home of the Scottish Parliament since its opening in 2004. Building of the 4 acre site started in 1999 following a referendum result 2 years before in which the Scottish population voted for devolution, giving the Scottish Parliament the power to legislate in all areas that are not explicitly reserved to the UK Parliament. The unique design of the building makes this an unmissable modern Edinburgh landmark.  

The Palace of Holyroodhouse
The Palace of Holyroodhouse is Her Majesty The Queen’s official residence in Scotland. The history of the Palace starts in 1128 when King David I of Scotland founded Holyrood Abbey, the ruins of which are still standing in the Palace grounds today.  At the beginning of the 16th century James IV constructed a new palace adjacent to the Abbey. Over the years the Palace has been the site of royal births, deaths, murders, burials, plots, and wars. Today it is still used as a Royal Palace and is the setting for State ceremonies and official entertaining. It is also open to the public to visit.