Historical Edinburgh Tours That Everyone Will Enjoy
Explore the many amazing historical locations of Edinburgh with these tours.
Edinburgh, Scotland is a city steeped in history. Founded sometime between the 6th and 7th centuries, it has existed through countless wars, regime changes, and cultural identities. It stands to reason then that Edinburgh has plenty to offer its visitors. Are you thinking about taking a vacation to Edinburgh? Are you hoping to visit some of its most historical sites?
If so, you’ll be best served by taking part in a tour. There are many different Edinburgh tours available, but which ones are the most worthwhile? These are some historical Edinburgh tours that everyone will enjoy.
Sandeman’s New Europe Edinburgh Castle Tour
If there’s any one thing you want to see while visiting Edinburgh, it’s the Edinburgh Castle. Perhaps the best tour to take in order to see the castle is the one offered by Sandeman’s New Europe. This 2 to 3-hour tour will take you in and around the entire area of the Edinburgh Castle. You’ll learn a little bit about everything, from the castle itself, to wars that occurred around the castle, to its surrounding geography, and everything in between. Typically starting at 2:00 PM, the tour is available in a number of languages, including English, German, and Spanish. Costing around 30 British pounds, it’s fairly affordable, especially for one of the top historical tours in all of Edinburgh. With your tour purchase, you also get full access to the castle, allowing you to explore it by yourself for up to an hour and a half after your tour has ended.
Usher Royal Mile Historic Walking Tour
Another part of Edinburgh you’ll want to check out while you’re in town is the Royal Mile. This street is characterized by a number of renowned landmarks, from St. Giles’ Cathedral, to the Scottish Parliament, and much more. A good tour to participate in so that you can take in the wonder of the Mile is the Usher Royal Mile Historic Walking Tour. This tour won’t take you into any specific buildings, but will deliver you plenty of interesting information about the buildings as well as the people who made them famous. Altogether, the tour typically takes around 3 hours and costs around 30 British pounds. Lead by a father and a son named Stuart and Richard Usher, respectively, you’ll learn about famous figures such as Alexander Graham Bell, Sir Walter Scott, and many others.
Mercat Historic Underground Old Town Tour
Another one of many Edinburgh tours that you’re going to want to take is a tour through Old Town Edinburgh. One of the most unique things about Old Town is its intricate system of undergrounds vaults and tunnels. If you want to tour this underground section of Old Town, you’re going to have to do it with Mercat Tours. Mercat is the only tour company in Scotland with access to the underground section of Old Town. This tour lasts around 1 hour and 15 minutes, and costs around 15 English pounds, making it very affordable compared to other Edinburgh tours. Throughout it, you’ll be provided with tons of intriguing information on the history of the underground, from its inhabitants, to its engineering, and much more. You’ll get to see the vaults and the tunnels, and get to experience part of Edinburgh which many don’t.
New Town Walking Tour by Go Scotland Tours
Another part of Edinburgh you’ll want to check out is New Town. This is the central part of Edinburgh, and has much to offer, specifically in the way of 18th and 19th century Scottish architecture. A good tour to take if you want to check out New Town is the New Town Walking Tour by Go Scotland Tours. This tour lasts around an hour and 15 minutes, and costs around 10 English pounds. On this tour, be lead down the famous George Street by a professional and informative guide. Along the way, you’ll see landmarks such as the Assembly Rooms, and learn pertinent information about the history and culture of the area. From scientists, to politicians, to community leaders, to inventors, and otherwise, there’s not much that you won’t learn about New Town.
Scottish Parliament Tour
If you’re interested in the government of Scotland, you’re going to want to check out the Scottish Parliament. The best way to tour the Parliament is by scheduling an appointment with the Parliament administration itself. The administration offers self-guided visits and guided visits, both of which are available free or charge. Open to the public from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, you’ll be allowed to walk through designated areas of the parliament, taking in history, architecture, and more. Guided tours last around 1 hour, and will provide you with tons of interesting information about the Parliament itself. You’ll also get to check out the “A Parliament for the People” exhibition; an exhibition which shows you the importance and functionality of the Parliament.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
One last place you’ll want to check out while visiting Edinburgh is the Palace of Holyroodhouse. This is the Scottish residence of Queen Elizabeth II, and is located at the end of the Royal Mile. You can visit Holyroodhouse Palace all throughout the year, either by tour or by a self-guided visit. There are a number of different tours available, some of which only include the Palace itself, and some of which include other landmarks such as The Queen’s Gallery. Tours range anywhere from 10 British pounds to 35 British pounds. For a typical visit to the Palace, you can expect to be there around an hour and a half. This will provide you with enough time to see everything from the State Apartments, to the Queen’s room, and otherwise. Palace of Holyroodhouse will provide you with a bit of everything, from history, to culture, to government.
Interested in Learning More About Edinburgh Tours?
Are you thinking about visiting Edinburgh and Scotland in the near future? Looking for information about the city of Edinburgh as well as more information about Edinburgh tours?If so, you’re in the right place. Scotland Vacations is the place to come if you’re thinking about a getaway to Edinburgh, Scotland.
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