Top 12 History Tours in Scotland

1.Old Town Walking Tour History and Tales in Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,168 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $24Our pick

Join Little Fish Tours for a two-hour English walking tour through Edinburgh’s Old Town. Guides such as Max, Greg, Angus, Jule, Ben, and Euan bring streets, churches, schools, and local tales to life. Expect a gentle pace, outdoor sights, cobbled lanes, and a route that ends within five minutes of the Royal Mile.

“Great tour with Jess - she was friendly and so knowledgeable, weaving facts with interesting stories around some key locations in the city centre. She kept the group engaged and made us laugh. Pace was good and a really lovely way to see new things in the city. We have lived here for years and learned so much! Thanks Jess”

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2.Old Town Historical and Underground Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,574 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $27

Walk Edinburgh’s Old Town with guides such as Holly, Chihon, Emily, and James, then descend into the Niddry Wynd and South Bridge vaults. Expect Scottish history, local stories, Canongate Kirkyard, and plenty of time for questions. The group is capped at six, but bring sturdy shoes for stairs and uneven ground.

“Holly was amazing! Funny, engaging, and extremely knowledgeable. Honestly, wish it could’ve lasted longer!”

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3.Multi-Sensory Small-Group Historic Vaults Tour in Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,384 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $37

Meet your English-speaking storyteller at Mercat Cross, walk through Old Town closes, then enter the Blair Street Underground Vaults beneath South Bridge. Guides such as Linda, Veni, Nicola, and Charles bring the chambers to life with stories of workshops, taverns, poverty, and crime. The tour ends at the Vaults Museum.

“Our tour guide Margaret-Ann is very welcoming and knowledgeable about the vaults history, her passion for the subject clearly shines through. The tour was interactive and interesting, I would definitely recommend it. The meeting place is also very clearly marked and easy to find.”

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4.Edinburgh Old Town: Historical Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,016 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $24

Meet at 10:30 am on Edinburgh’s High Street for a two-hour guided walk through the Old Town. Your guide may be Gavin or Urs, both praised for humor, useful local tips, and clear historical storytelling. The route ends at Greyfriars Kirkyard. English is offered, with French also listed in the tour details.

“Very informative. Now I see the city with different eyes. History and places were a good match. There were also many tips.Auto-translated”

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5.Dark History

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 814 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $22Best value

Follow the Royal Mile from Parliament Square to Canongate Kirk for two hours of Edinburgh’s darker past. Guides such as James, Joe, Robert, Kieran, and Lydia bring executions, plague, crime, and grave-robbing to life. Expect an English-language walk, free outdoor stops, a maximum of 30 people, and weather exposure.

“Our guide, Joe, was great! The weather was less than ideal but he was on point nonetheless. The material was interesting and informative, very cool.”

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6.Witches & Haunted History Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 632 reviews · 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $24

Follow a costumed storytelling guide such as Juniper, Hazel, or Angelica from St Giles’ Cathedral to Grassmarket. In about 70 minutes, you’ll hear about Scottish witch trials, Mary Queen of Scots, North Berwick witches, Edinburgh’s execution ground, and the women and men caught in fear and superstition. Expect cobbles, steep lanes, outdoor storytelling, and a lively English-speaking guide.

“Witch Hazel was a pure delight! This is one of the best historical tours I have ever been on. She took a somber topic and treated it with reverence and respect, while also adding a touch of levity, magic, and mystery. She was such a fantastic guide. And we lucked out with the weather. This was a treat for my birthday and I can’t think of a better way to have spent my afternoon.”

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7.Pubs & History Walking Tour with Beer Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 266 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $63

Walk Edinburgh’s Old Town with a guide such as Wag, Iain, Christy, Sara, or Mhairi, stopping at three pubs for included tastings of cask ale, sour beer, and modern Scottish styles. You’ll hear stories about brewing, trade, architecture, and local life in a group capped at 12 people. The tour starts and ends on St Giles’ Street.

“Sara was excellen! She gave us lots of information about different types of beers plus history behind them in Edinburgh. We went to several pubs on this tour and she happily gave us great directions to get back to our hotel”

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8.History Lovers Old Town Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 216 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $24

Spend about two hours walking from Princes Street through Edinburgh’s Old Town with guides such as Madge, Kieran, Zander, Shanna, and Katie. Expect stories about graveyards, writers, body snatchers, royal events, old pubs, and medieval life, ending on the Royal Mile. The pace is relaxed, but good shoes are essential.

“If you want a good historical overview and exposure to Edinburgh, this tour is for you. David does a great job presenting history in an interesting and entertaining story form. This is definitely worth the price of admission.”

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9.St Andrews Old Course History Tour, for the Golfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 150 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $25

Join local guide Richard for a 75-minute small-group walk through St Andrews and along the Old Course. You’ll hear how golf developed, see the first and 18th holes, visit Grannie Clark’s Wynd and the Road Hole, and receive professionally taken photos on Swilcan Bridge when tournaments are not taking place.

“Learnt a lot of new facts about the old course tour was very informative, with humour added in to make the tour a fun time . Would highly recommend this tour to the keen golfer to have knowledge and insight to This amazing course . Richard was such a great what is tour director”

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10.St Andrews Tours: Town, Golf and Old Course History

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 138 reviews · 1 hour 45 minutes (approx.) · from $27

Meet a local English-speaking guide, often Richard, a St Andrews author and former caddie, for a walking tour linking the university, cathedral, castle, Old Course and Swilcan Bridge. You will cover town history and golf lore, walk across part of the course at your own risk, and finish with photos beside one of golf’s best-known landmarks.

“Beautiful Historical City....Our tour guide Richard was very informative not only on the golf aspect of the tour but on the city aspect as well. We highly recommend this tour and Richard as your guide!”

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11.Pubs & History Walking Tour with Beer Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 81 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $63

Spend about two hours walking from George Square through Glasgow’s Merchant City, stopping at three pubs for Scottish beer tastings and stories about the city’s brewing past. Guides such as Mhairi, Iain, Leigh, and James bring a personal touch, explain styles and brewing methods, and shape tastings around the group when possible.

“Ian was our guide, and he was fantastic. He was extremely knowledgeable about the history as well as the beers we tried. It was great to learn about the history of the city/country and try some local beers in the process. Would recommend and do again!”

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12.Aberdeen’s Ancient Heritage and Folklore

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $135

Spend 7.5 hours with Jacqueline of Grampian Escapes Tours exploring Pictish forts, carved stones, ancient circles, and local folklore around Aberdeenshire. The small group, with no more than seven people, allows room for questions and possible custom stops. Bring lunch, walking shoes, and poles for the hill sections.

“Jacqueline was an amazing guide! The tour ended up with just me so she was so accommodating and asked me what I was interested in seeing for a more personalized experience. I had a great time and got to see some wonderful sites and hear great history/folklore.”

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