Old Town Walking Tour

Edinburgh’s Old Town is best understood on foot, and this tour packs a lot into two hours. You’ll follow the Royal Mile from St Giles’ Cathedral toward Holyroodhouse, with stories of rebellion, Jacobite politics, Mary Queen of Scots, and Outlander filming locations along the way. Guide Charlotte leads in handmade period costume, adding a bit of theatre without turning the walk into a history lecture.

I like the small-group approach and the way the tour links famous sights with less obvious corners such as Tweeddale Court and Bakehouse Close. I also like the practical pace: you get a fast orientation to the Old Town, plenty of photo stops, and a guide who can suggest places to visit afterward. The main consideration is weather. Edinburgh rain and cold can make any outdoor tour harder, and this experience may be canceled if conditions are poor.

Key points at a glance

• Two hours from St Giles’ Cathedral: A useful first look at Edinburgh’s Old Town, ending where you started.
• Charlotte’s costume and storytelling: Her friendly, energetic style brings Jacobite and Scottish history to life.
• Outlander locations included: See Bakehouse Close, Canongate Cemetery, and the area used for Jamie’s printing shop.
• Rebellion is the main theme: Greyfriars Kirkyard, Parliament Square, Mercat Cross, and Old Parliament House all connect to Scotland’s political struggles.
• Small groups, up to 30 people: The cap allows a more personal walk, though 30 is still a fairly large group on narrow Old Town lanes.
• Good value at $24.72: The price is modest for a guided two-hour introduction, especially if you want both orientation and historical context.

Starting beneath St Giles’ crown

The meeting point is outside St Giles’ Cathedral on High Street, right in the middle of Edinburgh’s Old Town. The start time is 10:00 a.m., which gives you a useful morning anchor. You can reach the cathedral by public transport, and the tour returns there at the end.

That starting point matters. The Royal Mile is not one straight street, but a chain of streets and closes running between Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Beginning at St Giles’ places you near Parliament Square, the High Street, and several of the city’s oldest lanes. A guide can help you read this crowded stretch of stone, steps, courts, and narrow passages before you attempt it alone.

Charlotte’s costume is part of the experience from the first meeting. It helps you spot her, but it also sets the tone. This is not a silent architecture walk. You’ll hear stories of political defiance, Jacobite loyalties, and the people who made Edinburgh’s streets a stage for conflict.

The tour is described as an award-winning rebellious walking tour, and rebellion is the thread tying the route together. That focus gives the walk a clear shape. Instead of presenting disconnected dates, Charlotte connects places to the arguments, plots, proclamations, and religious disputes that shaped Scottish identity.

Greyfriars Kirkyard and the stories beneath the stones

Greyfriars Kirkyard brings a darker mood to the walk. Its covenant legends connect to the religious and political struggles that shook Scotland. The cemetery is not simply a picturesque stop for old gravestones. It gives Charlotte a setting for stories about loyalty, punishment, and resistance.

You should expect storytelling here rather than a formal cemetery tour. The appeal is the setting and the way the legends connect to larger questions about power and belief. If you enjoy Scottish history with a dramatic edge, this section should be one of the highlights.

The ground may be uneven, and Edinburgh’s older streets are not always kind to tired feet. Wear shoes with a firm sole. The route is suitable for most people and is described as stroller-friendly, but a stroller may still need care on old paving and around tight corners.

Parliament Square and Old Parliament House

From the kirkyard, the walk turns toward Parliament Square, where debates about Scottish independence took place. This is an important stop because it links the street beneath your feet with the country’s political story. You are not just looking at another old Edinburgh façade. You are standing near a place where the future of Scotland was argued in public and private.

Old Parliament House adds another layer. The tour presents it as a place where rebels plotted, which fits the walk’s focus on resistance and political upheaval. Charlotte’s strength is making these sites feel connected. You can expect her to explain why the buildings mattered, rather than simply point them out and move on.

This is also where a guide adds real value over a self-guided walk. Plaques and buildings tell you what existed, but they rarely explain how one place relates to the next. A good guide turns the Old Town into a sequence of cause and effect.

Mercat Cross and the power of public words

At ancient Mercat Cross, listen for the stories of freedom proclamations and public announcements. Crosses like this were practical civic spaces, but they also carried symbolic weight. News, laws, and declarations were made where ordinary people could hear them.

The stop works well for a short tour because it shows how public life once operated. Before modern news systems, the square and the market were places where information traveled by voice. The tour’s emphasis on proclamations fits the wider theme of rebellion, since public words could rally support or challenge authority.

You’ll also have chances for photographs. The tour is not rushed from one point to another, and the guide has been praised for allowing time to take pictures. That small detail matters on a walking tour, especially in a city where nearly every turn produces a new angle of stonework, closes, or steep streets.

Niddry Street and the Old Town’s less obvious corners

Niddry Street brings the tour away from the most obvious postcard views. Edinburgh’s Old Town is full of lanes that look ordinary until someone explains what happened there. The route uses these less familiar spaces to reveal stories that you might miss while walking the Royal Mile alone.

You may find this part more rewarding than the major monuments. Famous buildings are easy to locate, but the smaller courts and streets help you understand how the old city worked. They also give the tour a more personal feel, since the route is not limited to the standard castle-and-cathedral circuit.

The walk’s short length means you will not explore every corner of the Old Town. That is the trade-off. You get a lively introduction rather than a complete survey of Edinburgh. I would use this tour to get your bearings, then return later to the places that catch your interest.

Royal Canongate and Mary Queen of Scots

The route follows Royal Canongate, where Mary Queen of Scots once walked. This part of the Royal Mile carries the tour toward the Palace of Holyroodhouse and gives the guide a chance to connect royal history with the later Jacobite story.

Mary Queen of Scots is one of those figures who can dominate Edinburgh sightseeing, so it helps that she appears as part of a larger narrative. The walk does not present the Old Town as a list of famous names. Instead, it uses Mary, the Jacobites, and the city’s rebels to show how different periods overlap in the same streets.

The Canongate section is also useful for orientation. If you plan to visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse, this walk helps you understand its position at the lower end of the Royal Mile. The tour itself does not include admission to the palace, and the listed stops are experienced from the walking route.

Tweeddale Court and Bakehouse Close

Tweeddale Court is one of the tour’s more secretive stops. These enclosed spaces are easy to pass without noticing, especially when the Royal Mile is busy. A guide gives you a reason to pause and look at the layout of the old city.

Bakehouse Close will be especially appealing if you watch Outlander. It was used as a filming location, including the area associated with Jamie’s printing shop. The tour does not treat the show as the only reason to visit, which is the right balance. The location has its own atmosphere and historical character, while the television connection gives fans an extra layer of recognition.

You should keep your expectations sensible. The tour visits actual filming locations, but it is still a history walk through a working city. You are not entering a theme park set, and there is no indication that special interiors or production displays are included. The fun comes from recognizing the setting and hearing how the real place fits the story.

Canongate Cemetery near Holyroodhouse

The walk continues toward Canongate Cemetery, close to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. This adds a quieter, more reflective stop near the end of the route. It also suits the tour’s slightly haunting mood, especially when Charlotte connects the cemetery to Edinburgh’s past and to Outlander.

Cemeteries can be atmospheric, but they are also places where a respectful pace matters. Expect stories and context rather than a long stop at every monument. The cemetery works as a final historical note before the tour returns to St Giles’ Cathedral.

The endpoint is practical. Since you finish at the meeting point, you can easily continue sightseeing, find lunch, or use Charlotte’s suggestions for places to visit next. One useful detail from the experience is that she has offered follow-up tips to help people plan the rest of their time in Edinburgh.

Bagpipes, costume, and Charlotte’s guiding style

Bagpipe music adds a clear Scottish note to the walk. Combined with Charlotte’s period costume, it gives the tour a lively sense of occasion. These touches could feel forced in the wrong hands, but here they support the historical theme and help distinguish the experience from a plain city walk.

Charlotte is the sole owner, guide, and manager of Walk The Old Town. That matters because the experience has a personal feel. She is not simply delivering a fixed script and sending you on your way. Her style is described as funny, friendly, and highly engaged, with strong command of Scottish history and Outlander.

I would book this tour partly for that guiding style. The strongest praise centers on Charlotte’s energy, clear explanations, friendliness, and ability to keep attention over more than two hours. She has also led large groups, but the maximum group size is 30, so the feel can vary depending on the day.

The costume is handmade and authentic, according to the tour description. You should see it as an added storytelling tool, not a promise of historical reenactment. The walk remains accessible and conversational.

What $24.72 gets you

At $24.72 per person, this is fairly priced for a two-hour guided walk in central Edinburgh. You are paying for a local guide, a planned route, historical context, and the convenience of seeing several hard-to-connect sites in one outing. There is no separate admission charge for the walking route.

The value is strongest if this is your first day in Edinburgh. A good orientation can save you time later, and the route covers areas you might otherwise pass without understanding. It is also a sensible price for Outlander fans who want filming locations tied to real Scottish history.

The value is weaker if you prefer to explore at your own pace or already know the Old Town well. You will cover a lot, but you will not get long visits inside museums, palaces, or historic buildings. This is a walking and storytelling experience, not an admission-based sightseeing package.

The tour is often booked well ahead, with an average booking lead time of 57 days. That suggests you should reserve early if the 10:00 a.m. time suits your plans. The tour is offered in English, and confirmation is provided at booking.

Who should book this Old Town walk?

I would recommend it to first-time visitors who want a quick sense of Edinburgh’s historic center. It also fits families, Outlander fans, people interested in Jacobite history, and anyone who prefers stories over long museum visits.

The tour is suitable for most participants and welcomes service animals. It is near public transport and stroller-friendly. Still, you should be ready for an outdoor walk through old streets, courts, and cemetery grounds. Good walking shoes and weather layers are sensible.

It is less suitable for anyone needing a fully indoor activity or a slow, step-free route. The experience requires good weather, and if conditions force a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. The booking itself is otherwise non-refundable and cannot be changed for personal reasons, so check your plans before paying.

FAQ

Where does the Old Town Walking Tour start?

It starts at St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1RE, UK.

What time does the tour begin?

The tour begins at 10:00 a.m.

How long does the walking tour last?

The tour lasts approximately two hours.

Where does the tour finish?

It ends back at the starting point at St Giles’ Cathedral.

Is the tour suitable for children and strollers?

Yes. Most people can participate, the tour is suitable for the whole family, and it is stroller-friendly.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If the experience is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a lively first look at Edinburgh’s Old Town, especially with Jacobite history and Outlander locations folded into the route. Charlotte’s costume, stories, music, and personal style give the walk more character than a basic orientation tour.

Skip it if you want extensive indoor visits, a very slow pace, or a fully weatherproof activity. At $24.72, though, the risk is modest. For most first-time visitors, this is a practical way to meet Edinburgh through its streets, scandals, political battles, and tucked-away corners before exploring the city on your own.