Edinburgh’s Old Town: The Origin of Scottish Design
History through the lens of Edinburgh's most influential architects. Self-guided walking AUDIO TOUR, with an architectural designer as your narrator.
The audio tours are location aware, so you will hear directions and stories as you move. You can pause anytime.
On this audio tour, you will explore the fascinating historical buildings that give the area its character, and admire award-winning contemporary architecture like the famous Scottish Parliament.
You’ll meander through narrow closes, beneath stepped gables and turrets, pausing at breathtaking viewpoints. The narrator will also show you the easy-to-miss details on the buildings, and share old maps and drawings as you walk Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile.
Along the way, you’ll see:
- The oldest tenement on the Royal Mile
- An unusual, lesser-known side of the National Museum of Scotland
- The difficult-to-find Riddle’s Court, once a merchant's house
- The elegant Sugarhouse Close, a beautifully-restored 19th century brewery
- The sweeping views from Victoria Terrace
Along the way, we’ll also answer questions like:
- Is the Old Town really that old?
- Which medieval Scottish castles inspired Victorian buildings in Edinburgh?
- Why did construction of the Scottish Parliament go ten times over budget?
From £8.50 per adult
Departure days
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
January — December
Contact details
4, Hunter Square
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
EH1 1QW
Tour information
Tour Stops
Tour gallery
Tour company information
Cobble Tales - Architecture Tours of Edinburgh
Explore Edinburgh’s history through its buildings on itineraries created by architects. We offer audio tours for individuals and private guided tours for groups in English and French. Every purchased tour supports the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.
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