• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Curious to know more about Edinburgh’s history? Join a local history expert on an insightful tour that will show you a side of the city that can’t be found in any book. This experience will open your eyes to the past and origins of Edinburgh from a local perspective as you learn about Robert Louis Stevenson.

Destination

Edinburgh, Scotland

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

3 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English

Included

• Private guide
• CO2 Neutral: all tours carbon emissions are offset

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 4 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at Outside of Leo's Beanery - Edinburgh to start your journey

   View on Maps

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. Robert Louis Stevenson

   Your history tour in Edinburgh will focus on Robert Louis Stevenson. Learn the impacts, insights and hear stories related to this historic event from your knowledgeable host. Discover the city as you retrace history and go in-depth on the effects this part of history has on Edinburgh

4. Historical Highlights

   Check out main landmarks related to the theme of your history tour and connect their relevance through fantastic stories and facts from your expert local host

5. Hidden Treasures

   During your tour, you’ll also uncover hidden gems that will show you a different perspective of history as you know it, something you can’t easily find in a history book!

6. Storytelling Journey

   As you discover the historical side of Edinburgh, you’ll be able to go back in time thanks to the amazing stories and storytelling skills of your local host. Feel free to ask any questions and feel as if you are relieving history in the present time

7. Make it yours

   Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

   Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

   Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

DeEtta G🇺🇸 United States

(About local Monica)

15 August 2024

Such a pleasure to meet Monica and have her be our tour guide! She is professional and knowledgeable about Scotland, as well as personable and entertaining, with fascinating stories about Scotland's history. She is truly a people person, enjoys getting to know you and adapts her guidance to suit your interests. Joyful!

Jana

(About local Alec)

24 April 2024

Marvellous Edinburgh city and its history introduced by highly educated and friendly local Alec - highly recommended! Jana and LukasHistory of Edinburgh

Julie🇺🇸 United States

(About local Monica)

4 June 2025

We had a great tour of Edinburgh Castle with Monica. She customized it to accommodate my bad knee, which was so helpful. Monica told us many wonderfully rich and historic tales that tied the history of Scotland together using the castle as thread. Highly recommend booking With Locals and requesting Monica. I could have spent days listening to her stories of Scotland. Wonderful tour of Edinburgh Castle

Christiane

(About local Alice)

2 June 2025

We had a wonderful afternoon with Alice, learning and walking around the city. We included the castle as well! We had flown in very early that morning and Alice more than kept us awake and entertained. Would certainly love to tour with Alice again. A wonderful afternoon in Edinburgh

Unknown

(About local Alice)

2 June 2025

This experience was exactly what we needed to introduce us to Edinburgh. So much interesting history and perfectly tailored to our taste. All Alice’s restaurant/ shop recommendations were also on point. Couldn’t recommend Alice more.Perfect!

Eric🇺🇸 United States

(About local Svend-Erik)

1 June 2025

Svend was very informative and flexible for what we wanted out of the tourMary Queen of Scotts

Paige🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local Monica)

1 June 2025

Monica gave us a bespoke introduction to Edinburgh. As we mentioned things along the way, she took us points of interest unique to us. We saw incredible views of the city from hidden lanes and back streets. And, her stories were so interesting, we didn't realise we had spent 5 hours with her! I would highly recommend this tour and Monica as a guide.Great introduction to Edinburgh

Emilie🇫🇷 France

(About local Alice)

30 May 2025

Alice's tour was the one of the most captivating of the guided tours we have been on. Even though we were quite tired from our long day, she managed to get our attention from her first to her last word. What a storyteller! If you're looking for a informative and entertaining tour full of ghastly anecdotes and exhilarating tales, I would 100% recommend Alice !The most wonderful storyteller

Kathleen🇺🇸 United States

(About local Neil)

30 May 2025

Neil gave my husband and me a stellar tour of Edinburgh. He was interesting, informative and so very knowledgeable, particularly of the history and literature of Scotland. Neil is, as well, a funny, smart, engaging person and made our visit a memorable one. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide. A perfect day with Neil

Kal🇺🇸 United States

(About local Neil)

30 May 2025

We had a great time with Neil. He was timely, knowledgeable and had a bunch of great stories and trivia of the amazing history and literature of Edinburgh and Scotland. We learned so much from him and the tour was efficient and fantastic. Would highly recommend Neil without hesitation.Great time with Neil

Ethan

(About local Alec)

30 May 2025

Alec was an absolutely fantastic guide. He walked us through the streets of Edinburgh, stopping at places we never would have stopped at before, recounting fabulous stories. He is extremely learned, and is able to tailor tour to what his audience cares about and is fascinated in. I would 10/10 recommend people booking this tour!Knowledgable, interesting, and helpful!

Daniel

(About local Alice)

28 May 2025

We had an amazing experience on our ghost and history tour in Edinburgh, all thanks to our fantastic guide, Alice. Her storytelling skills were truly outstanding—she transported us back in time with vivid tales that made the city’s dark past come alive. Alice struck the perfect balance between eerie ghost stories, intriguing myths, and fascinating historical facts. It wasn’t just spooky—it was an immersive journey through Edinburgh’s rich and mysterious history. What made this tour even more special was that it was just the two of us, making the experience incredibly personal and intimate. It felt far more engaging than the larger group tours we’ve been on before. If you want a unique, memorable, and spine-tingling experience in Edinburgh, this tour with Alice is a must!Edinburgh’s Dark Past Brought Alive

Marianne🇦🇹 Austria

(About local Neil)

28 May 2025

If you’re going to walk around Edinburgh with Neil, you’re in for an absolute treat!! Being born and raised in Edinburgh, he knows every single nook and cranny (and close) there is! I asked Neil to pack in as much information about Edinburgh and Scotland as he could since it was my first time in this beautiful country and the start of my trip. And booooy did he deliver! The 3 hours just flew by as we walked up (up!!!!) and down the city, passing all the important spots and little hidden gems while listening to the stories (historical and personal) behind it. He is undeniably a fan of Robert Louis Stevenson, and after the tour, you surely become one too… With Neil by your side, you could walk to the world’s end and beyond ;-) And the care before and after the tour, making sure you are finding your way around the city and sending you the links and photographs of the “storytime”-Spots is just the nicest and sweetest touch! There isn’t a second chance for a first impression. And because of Neil, my first impression of Scotland couldn’t have been better!! Thank you so much Neil! You were a delight to tour with!☺️🤩🥰Fantastic Tour and beyound!!!

Brian

(About local Alice)

26 May 2025

We booked two consecutive days of tours with Alice. Even before we arrived, she was so helpful on recommendations, we felt like we had a personal concierge for our visit. The first day was a five hour tour of Edinburgh overall which included both New Town and Old Town sites. Her storytelling just brought everything we saw to life. You could absolutely tell that she loved Edinburgh and loved sharing it with us. Even while resting with a wonderful snack, she captivated us with a story. The second day was a shorter two hour tour of just Edinburgh Castle but her knowledge and storytelling took us back to the thirteen, fourteen and fifteen hundreds. There were so many kings and queens she told us about, I don’t know how she ever kept them straight! It was a simply delightful day with a delightful guide. Alice, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for kicking off our Scotland trip in such a warm, personal, Scottish fashion. You were brilliant!!!Amazing Two days with Alice!!!

Terri

(About local Alice)

26 May 2025

Loved having a personalized tour with Alice on our first day in Edinburgh. We covered alot of ground and she shared stories, recommendations and tons of the history that Scotland is famous for. Perfectly pleasant in every way

kammerinke

(About local Svend-Erik)

24 May 2025

Perfect. Funny. Lots of Humor. Lots of knockledge. Thanks a lot, Erik!Perfect.

Susan

(About local Alice)

24 May 2025

Alice is a masterful storyteller. She effortlessly communicated fascinating information on Edinburgh's places and people. Additionally. Alice was approachable and a joy to spend time with. Highly recommend!!Top notch tour.

Bill🇺🇸 United States

(About local Alice)

22 May 2025

Lovely afternoon of local stories and knowledge. Alice was very personable and we enjoyed her company very much. Three hours flew by. Love Alice and love Edinburgh. Thank youLots of fun and stories too!

Jessica🇮🇹 Italy

(About local Russell)

22 May 2025

Great introduction to Edinburgh,

Lila🇺🇸 United States

(About local Alice)

20 May 2025

Alice was prompt at the meeting point. Her tour is easy going, and her storytelling brings Edinburgh’s history alive. We enjoyed and actually remember the stories. If you want a fun approach to learning about Edinburgh’s characters, this is a great tour.Fun tour and learning experience

Colin🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Alice)

18 May 2025

We recently had the pleasure of taking a private walking tour of Edinburgh Castle with Alice, and it was nothing short of exceptional. Alice was a wealth of knowledge, not just reciting facts, but weaving together stories with such insight and enthusiasm that the castle’s centuries of history came vividly to life. Her background as a trained actress truly shone through in the way she delivered each tale; every moment felt theatrical in the best possible way, as though we’d stepped into the past. Some of our favorite moments included exploring the dungeons and hearing the gripping, often chilling stories of those who were held there, as well as learning how the castle evolved through the ages, from royal residence to military stronghold and beyond. Alice guided us through each chapter with clarity, passion, and a genuine love for her craft. The tour ended perfectly with the firing of the midday gun, a fitting finale to a couple of unforgettable hours. We highly recommended for anyone who wants to experience Edinburgh Castle in a truly meaningful and memorable way. Alice is a guide in a league of her own. An amazing way to bring history to life

Dan🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Alice)

18 May 2025

We had a really wonderful 2 hours with Alice at Edinburgh Castle. Her knowledge of the castle and local history was brought to life by her incredible talent for telling stories. It was the highlight of our stay in Edinburgh. Story time with Alice!

s26ss7nhwv

(About local Monica)

17 May 2025

Monica was absolutely fantastic. She took what we wanted and really ran with it. She was extremely knowledgeable. Absolutely recommend!Fantastic!

Diana

(About local Alec)

16 May 2025

Alec was an excellent guide who tailored his tour according to our interests. Personable , Knowledgeable, and well paced. As usual, WithLocals offers great private tours. Thank you, Alec Walking Edinburgh with Alec

Dot🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Russell)

15 May 2025

Had a fantastic afternoon with Russell. Took us to the main sights but lots of nooks and grannies too. Great knowledge of the city and those who have made it what it is today. Three hours flew by!Great Day

Christa🇺🇸 United States

(About local Alice)

15 May 2025

Alice was an absolutely wonderful guide! She captivated us with the stories she shared. All four adults in our group talked about how great she was for days afterwards and how much we enjoyed her walking tour. I would highly recommend booking an experience with Alice! A wonderful experience in Edinburgh!

Laura🇺🇸 United States

(About local Alec)

14 May 2025

We had a fantastic experience on our Castle Tour with Alec! He was an outstanding guide—knowledgeable, engaging, and clearly passionate about the local history. Alec shared fascinating stories and historical insights that really brought the castles to life. He explained everything in a way that was easy to understand and helped us truly appreciate what we were seeing. We walked away not just entertained, but also having learned so much. Highly recommend touring with Alec!

Brenda🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Svend-Erik)

13 May 2025

Eric was very informative and really knew his history! Loved hearing his many stories-truth and fiction! Answered all of our questions and would highly recommend Happy Seniors

Shantel🇨🇳 China

(About local Monica)

13 May 2025

She is very patient with children, answers all questions seriously, and is enthusiastic throughout the journey, making it a very enjoyable trip. She’s really nice and knowledgeable.

Kasper

(About local Russell)

12 May 2025

We had a very pleasant walking tour through Edinburgh and The Royal Mile with Russell. He knows a lot about the city and its history, and he is a very interesting and good guide. We recommend you to try it:-)Very nice walking tour!

Judi & Jim🇺🇸 United States

(About local Monica)

11 May 2025

We thoroughly enjoyed our private tour with Monica. She regaled us with stories and made history come alive. She lead us to the main sights and took us off the beaten track. She was a quick study of our interests and personalized her presentation for us. Consequently, our Edinburgh visit will be memorable. An Enlightening and Enjoyable Day

Monte🇺🇸 United States

(About local Neil)

10 May 2025

Neil knows the best views, restaurants and neat places to pop in for more info about Robert Louis Stevenson. He was very patient with ALL our questions picture taking and encouraged us to try haggis. We actually liked it! The hours flew by because we were having such a good time. He recommended other things for us to do in our own as well. HIGHLY recommend!The best custom tour of Edinburgh

Dawn

(About local Alice)

9 May 2025

Just the best 2.30hrs spent in s long time Alice was amazing 👏 Wow what a fab experience.

Craig🇿🇦 South Africa

(About local Alice)

9 May 2025

Thank you, Alice, for a fascinating couple of hours. You certainly know how to tell a good story, and it is always a pleasure to listen to someone, who not only knows what they are talking about, but who clearly enjoys what they are doing as well. You made old Edinburgh come alive for me, thank you. Will hopefully be back before too long, with my wife this time, and we will certainly look to book with you again. Many thanks Craig Dobson

David and Karen🇺🇸 United States

(About local Neil)

7 May 2025

We thoroughly enjoyed our Edinburgh walking tour with Neil. Having grown up in the city, Neil was a wealth of information on the history of Edinburgh and Scotland in general. He showed us unique places in the city that the larger group tours were sure to overlook. Neil also provided extra information and insights that helped with our trip both before and after the walking tour. We highly recommend anyone that is looking for a great tour of Edinburgh to strongly consider booking with Neil and WithLocals!Great Tour with Neil

tish🇺🇸 United States

(About local Alice)

5 May 2025

I always take the time to look at all of the tour guides available for the time of day and the day that I would like to go on a tour in the city I’m in. All of the tour guides seem to have good qualities so it’s a little tricky to pick the right one, but if you pick Alice, you won’t be sorry. I think Alice’s best quality was her storytelling ability. She’s very professional, friendly and knowledgeable. I enjoyed her company very much. She really knows a lot about Edinburgh. If you select her as your guide for the city, you will not be sorry. Thank you Alice for showing us your city! Select Alice for Edinburgh tour guide

tish🇺🇸 United States

(About local Alice)

5 May 2025

We were lucky enough to choose Alice as our guide for two tours while we were in Edinburgh. She’s a great storyteller, friendly, on time and very professional. Her knowledge of the city and all things Edinburgh are top-notch. Let her show you her Edinburgh and you won’t be sorry that you selected her as your guide.Choose Alice as your guide

Marcus🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Alice)

4 May 2025

Thank Alice for the great stories, history and Insider knowledge about Edinburgh. We learned a lot. We can highly recomment the three hours tour. We would do it everytime again. a lot with nice stories, everytime again

Anita

(About local Alice)

3 May 2025

We enjoyed every minute of our three-hour tour with Alice. She told us many interesting And historica facts And showed us around in a passionate way. Definitely worth asking Alice to be your guide. 10 points. Lovely storyteller!!

Nadia🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Alice)

2 May 2025

Thank you Alice for the lovely tour we did through the city. She is an amazing storyteller. We’ve learned so much about the history of the beautiful Edinburgh. I promised myself to go back and back you again! Thank you!

Ron

(About local Russell)

1 May 2025

Thanks, Russell, for sharing Old Town Edinburgh with us! The tour gave us a better sense of Edinburgh's history, spanning must-see sites like the castle to quirky gems that we would never have discovered on our own. What truly set this experience apart was the personal touch: Russell tailored the tour to our interests, made great recommendations for the rest of our stay, and even shared some favorite local spots that weren’t in any guidebook. We left not only with a deeper appreciation for Edinburgh, but also with a stronger sense of connection to the place and its people.Old Town Edinburgh with a personal touch

Margaret🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Alice)

29 April 2025

Our personal tour of Edinburgh with Alice was nothing short of fantastic. She’s got that rare gift of blending history with humor — one minute we were learning about the scandals of the time , next we were laughing about medieval mishaps. Her storytelling made the city come alive; it felt less like a tour and more like time-traveling with a witty local friend. We saw hidden gems, heard tales you won’t find in guidebooks, and even learned how manage to avoid many stairs!! If you’re looking for a guide who’s fun, informative, and full of character — Alice is your person!Fantastic time!

Barry🇺🇸 United States

(About local Alec)

25 April 2025

We have found food tours to be outstanding in that they give more information about the city not just the food and the tour with Alec was no exception. We learned so many interesting facts and stories about Edinburgh. It was tailored to our interests and flowed perfectly. We spend the second day in Edinburgh exploring in detail all the interesting places Alec shared with us. Outstanding tour. One of the best we have ever done. Highly recommend.Great day in Edinburgh

Ki Jin🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local Gains)

24 April 2025

We had a wonderful walking tour of Edinburgh with Gains. He took us to interesting places within the city which are not popularly visited. He was patient, kind and understanding and adapted the tour according to our interests Interesting and informative tout

Theodore

(About local Russell)

23 April 2025

Russell is very accommodating and a wealth of information about history of Edinburgh! He is enthusiastic and very personable. We learned so much and were fascinated with historic information he was able to provide us! It was our first exposure to Edinburgh and we are excited to explore on our own with some of the suggestions he provided us. I would recommend him wholeheartedly to any who wish to learn from someone who is passionate about his hometown! Minnesota to Edinburgh

Filip

(About local Russell)

21 April 2025

Thank you Russel ! For all the historic story’s , the funny conversations , the tour and your time . For the great tips for good pubs , restaurants and for teaching us some Scottish phrases . Ay , Slainte mhath ! And hope you have fun when you come to Brugge Thank you so much

Meghan

(About local Monica)

21 April 2025

My husband and I had a wonderful morning with Monica exploring various parts of Edinburgh. This city is stunning and Monica made it even better. We learned about the early beginnings of Edinburgh as well as current times. Monica was engaging, funny, and full of great stories. She also gave us terrific recommendations for things to see and places to eat. We took her advice and had lunch at the Cannonball Pub by Edinburgh Castle right after the tour. And we can’t wait to take the tram to Leith that she told us about. We highly recommend Monica to get a terrific flavor of Edinburgh and learn a bit, too. Perfect tour of Edinburgh

Anke🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Alice)

19 April 2025

Thank You for guiding us through the wonderful city! We enjoyed it very much!Perfect tour!!

Clare

(About local Alice)

17 April 2025

Despite cold, wet weather we had a great time with Alice. Knowledgeable, amusing and a great story teller who gave us insight into the history of Edinburgh that you simply can’t get on your own. Well worth it.Great tour with Alice

Warren🇺🇸 United States

(About local Alice)

16 April 2025

Alice is a great guide in Edinburgh, very friendly and filled with knowledge and stories. She made the excursion very enjoyable and a lot of fun. Very helpful!