Frequently asked questions

About the tours (12)

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All our free tours start on the Royal Mile, in front of The Copper Still, at 154 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1QS. Get directions.

The Pub Crawl starts at The Tron, a pub at 9 Hunter Square, Edinburgh EH1 1QW.

Yes. Our tours run every day and in all weather. You’ll find the start times on each tour’s page.

For the free tours, look for the yellow umbrellas at our meeting point on the Royal Mile. Our team wear yellow jackets with the City Explorers logo.

For the Pub Crawl, you’ll find us inside The Tron, downstairs, next to a big sign.

Each guide follows a slightly different route, so there is no single finishing point for the free tours. They always end a short walk from the start, and your guide will be happy to give you directions to wherever you’re heading next.

The Pub Crawl ends at around 12.30am in one of the best clubs in the Old Town. You can stay until closing time, usually 3am.

It depends on the tour, the guide and the group’s questions. Approximately:

  • Edinburgh Free Tour: 2 hours.
  • Free Ghost Tour: 1.5 hours.
  • Free Dean Village & New Town Tour: 2 hours.
  • Free Harry Potter Tour: 1.5 hours.

There’s no upfront cost to join. Our guides work exclusively on tips, so at the end of the tour everyone gives what they feel the experience was worth.

No need to bring cash: all our guides carry their own card readers.

All our tours run separately in English and in Spanish, each led by a native-speaking guide.

Mostly, yes. Depending on the route each guide follows, there may be some architectural barriers. Let us know your needs and the date and time you plan to join, and we’ll happily design a fully accessible alternative that keeps the essence of the tour.

Absolutely. Lots of children join us and they usually have a great time.

Yes. There are a few steps along the way, but if you can lift the pushchair over them you’ll be fine. Just let us know and we’ll lend you a hand.

Yes, your pet is welcome. We just ask you to keep it under control at all times and make sure it behaves.

About bookings (7)

Groups of up to 12 people are welcome on any of our free tours. Larger groups — even if they make several separate bookings — can’t be accepted at the meeting point and should book a private tour.

Of course — the more the merrier. Groups of any size are welcome on the regular Pub Crawl, and we can also organise a private Pub Crawl for you.

Just turning up is fine in most cases, but we recommend booking online: on busy days, if tours reach capacity, guests with a booking have priority.

Open your confirmation email and select Change booking. Then choose a new available time and confirm the change.

Open your confirmation email, select Cancel booking and confirm the cancellation.

For paid tours, the deadlines in our terms and conditions apply.

Yes. Just come to the meeting point before the start time and, if there are places left, you can join one of our groups.

About 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. It gives us time to get organised and, on busy days, places are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Still have a question?

Send us a message and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours (most messages are answered within 2 hours during business hours).

Free Tours

154 High Street
Edinburgh EH1 1QS