Scotland’s captivating capital has something to offer the whole family. Our 2h30 private walking tour is designed to engage children and teenagers while discovering the exciting stories buried within the Upper Old Town and Upper New Town.

When we say “Old” we mean REALLY old! And when we say “New”, well what we really mean is the Georgian era of the 18^th-Century. Find out, in all its stinky, colourful detail, why the New Town had to be built!

Are you ready?  Then put on your walking shoes and let’s go!  Throughout the tour we’ll test your knowledge with our fun quiz, because even though Edinburgh is small, historically and culturally, it has a lot to say.  By the end of the tour, we are sure that you’ll know everything there is to know about this fascinating city!

We start in the Upper Old Town, so-named because it is over 1000 years old (let’s face it, that’s old!) with its origins dating back to the reign of King David I (1124-53) and beyond. He was quite a busy king and an early adopter of women’s rights too, entering wars and fighting on behalf of his niece Matilda on more than one occasion!

Probably the most famous walk is along the Royal Mile, the Old Town’s backbone which houses many landmarks of interest including St. Giles Cathedral and the Mercat Cross. Discover how the Royal Mile got its name and experience the atmospheric closes and ‘wynds’ (a narrow alley) each concealing signs of tumultuous events while hearing tales of medieval life and trade from our knowledgeable guides.

Edinburgh Castle built high up on Castle Rock (which is actually an extinct volcano!) keeps watch over the city and is an imposing sight as we walk along. Discover its strategic importance, royal connections and the turbulent history that has shaped this iconic fortress. Did you know the Castle has been besieged 23 times? Thankfully the last time was 1745 and it’s been pretty quiet since then!

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Medieval times were pretty gruesome and they loved a public execution! The Grassmarket dates back to these times where there were markets, social gatherings and executions – sometimes all at once!

Perhaps appropriately, we move from Grassmarket to Greyfriars Kirkyard (or Cemetery). It is a surprisingly beautiful place where you can learn both the heart-warming story of Greyfriars Bobby and the spine-chilling tales of the Covenanters executions and the body snatchers. Spoiler alert – it didn’t end well!

If you know a bit about Scottish history, then you might know that the Scots and the English have had their, how shall we say, “Disagreements” in the past! Fed up with fighting, in 1560 the Scots built Flodden Wall around Edinburgh (what is now the Old Town) to repel the English. It was a great success at keeping the English out. Unfortunately, it also imprisoned the locals! As the population grew, the only way was up. Higgledy-piggledy tenements appeared, towering over the labyrinth of passages and alleyways below. You can imagine the squalid conditions, the overcrowding, the crime, the plague and the pestilence which ensued.

Edinburgh, at this time, was not a nice place to live!

The residents of Edinburgh couldn’t stand it anymore and in the mid-18^th-Century New Town was born!

As we wander through the elegant Georgian streets of New Town you can admire what is a masterpiece of architecture and planning from the symmetry of beautiful St Andrew Square to the grandeur of the surrounding neoclassical buildings.

The culture vultures among you can rejoice too because you will hear about the Enlightenment and cultural renaissance that flourished in these parts.

And if all this were not enough, Edinburgh is also the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature, celebrating storytelling and the written word, a long-time life force of Edinburgh’s art and culture scene. You can marvel at the soaring Scott Monument, a Gothic masterpiece dedicated to Scottish writer, Sir Walter Scott whose contributions to the world of literature are rich and well-recognised around the globe. And he is not alone of course. Writers as diverse as Robert Burns, Robert Louis Stevenson and JK Rowling, to name a few, have been inspired by and have enriched the city, which boasts the largest literature and arts festival – The Edinburgh Festival – every summer!

Discover your own favourite location on this entertaining kid-friendly walking tour – Edinburgh is a city like no other, and for one so small, it surely punches way above its weight.

And if you also want to visit the beautiful castle of Edinburgh with children, have a look at our Edinburgh Castle Kids Tour!