Free Dean Village & New Town Tour
About our free Dean Village & New Town tour
Two hours around elegant Edinburgh: the Georgian New Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Dean Village, a fairy-tale hamlet hidden in the heart of the city. Pay what you think it was worth.
If you are keen to delve deeper into the history of Edinburgh, if you'd like to avoid its most touristed spots or if you want to discover its best kept secrets, you can not miss the Free Dean Village & New Town Tour.
In the Free Dean Village & New Town Tour, you'll discover all the secrets of one of the most historical neighborhoods in Edinburgh, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Be fascinated by the transformation experienced by one of Europe's leading cities during the Age of Enlightenment.
During the second half of the 18th century, Edinburgh transformed from a dark, dirty, and uncomfortable city into a modern, open center that welcomed some of the most brilliant minds of the European Enlightenment. On this tour, you'll learn how it managed to influence the world we know today.
During the tour, we'll take you to Dean Village, a quaint little hamlet that looks straight out of a fairy tale, hidden away in the heart of the city. Founded by monks in the 12th century, it has remained almost untouched over the centuries and is one of the most picturesque spots in Edinburgh.
Take this walk through some of the most elegant streets of the city, enjoy its gardens and parks, its incomparable views, and take advantage of some of the best photo spots in Edinburgh. Discover the most interesting shops, pubs, and restaurants of Edinburgh and appreciate a 100% Scottish experience.
On Sundays, don’t miss the chance to pop over to the Stockbridge farmers' market after the tour. It's just a short stroll from Dean Village and definitely worth a visit.
Duration: 2 hours
Check departure days and times in the calendar. Book to secure your place.
Language: English
Prefer Spanish? See the Free Tour de Dean Village & New Town.
Meeting point: 154 High Street
In front of The Copper Still on the Royal Mile. Open in Google Maps.
Pay what you like
Booking is free. At the end, you decide how much to give your guide, in cash or by card.
Look for the yellow umbrellas!
What you’ll see in the Dean Village and New Town
The construction of the New Town and the great transformation of Edinburgh
Dean Village, a fairy-tale hamlet in the heart of Edinburgh
The ideas of the Scottish Enlightment
The Scottish inventions and their great influence througout all the world
The Princes Street Gardens, the most appreciated by Edinburgh citizens
Some of the best neoclassic and Georgian architectural examples in the UK
The evolution of the old financial district of Edinburgh
The Scottish Prime Minister's house and Scottish politics
The Scottish National Gallery
Calton Hill, the acropolis of Edinburgh
The best panoramas of Edinburgh
The main street for shops, pubs and restaurants
The memorials of the Scottish heroes
...and much more!
Your guide may adapt the route to the needs of each group.
How does a free walking tour in Edinburgh work?
- Free booking, no commitment: you can move or cancel your booking if your plans change.
- You decide freely at the end of the tour how much to give.
- Guaranteed quality, backed by thousands of happy travellers.
- Local guides who know Edinburgh inside out.
How much should you tip on a free walking tour?
There is no fixed amount. As a guide, most travellers give between £10 and £50, depending on how much they enjoyed the tour. You can pay in cash or by card.
Free New Town tour: good to know
Booking confirmation
Your confirmation email or a screenshot on your phone is all you need.
Card payments
You can tip your guide in cash or by card. Our guides carry their own card reader.
Groups
Groups of up to 12 people can join our free tours. If you are more, please book a Private Dean Village & New Town Tour.
School groups
School groups of any size should book a private tour.
Reduced mobility
Let us know in advance and we will adapt the route so it is accessible, without changing the essence of the tour.
Pushchairs
There are a few steps and some uneven paving, but the tour can be done with a pushchair.
Minimum group size
Tours need a minimum of 6 people, children included, to go ahead.
Weather
Tours run come rain, snow or shine. Please dress for the weather.
Children
Children are very welcome as long as they are accompanied by an adult.
Dogs
Well-behaved dogs are welcome on a lead.
What our guests say about the Free New Town Tour
City Explorers has a 5.0 rating on Google from 27,002 reviews. Here is a selection of real reviews, updated every week. Tap any review to read it in full.
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Dr Rory can tell a story! I couldn't believe how quickly the tour ended. When I looked at my watch and hour and a half had passed! Get a tour, get it with Rory !
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Griem was a fantastic tour guide ! He was very helpful, showed a great amount of knowledge about the city, and I loved his sense of humour:))
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Great tour, got all the major sights and lots of history. Kenny, our guide, was very knowledgeable and eloquent he made the tour very interesting and fun at the same time.
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I highly recommend this tour! Rory’s gory stories were amazing, you can really tell he loves the job and makes the tour feel very special!
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Cobin was an awesome guide. We got a lot of interesting information on our tour. He was clever and very engaging. He paced the tour so we could all follow along and he was very careful that we were all with him and safe. Thanks Cobin for an interesting morning!
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Absolute riveting. Our tour guide Dan was a gem and a really fantastic storyteller. He has great knowledge and even had some extra facts. Highly recommend.
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He’s a charming gentleman with a great sense of humor and interesting stories about the city of Edinburgh. I highly recommend! It was a very fun tour!
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Kenny did a wonderful job of blending, history, modern recommendations and gorgeous views all while not allowing any of us to get separated. Big highlight!
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Graham was an absolute delight. His tour gave us not only a great sense of Edinburgh as a city, but the history and stories that led to it being what it is now. You can tell that he loves what he does, and it was a privilege to meet Edinburgh through his eyes
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We joined the tour on the third day of our four-day visit to Edinburgh; I wish I had joined on the first day, as I would have explored the city with a better understanding. Our guide, Kenny, was very professional. I definitely recommend it.
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Emma was such a great tour guide, she was so knowledgeable on the history of the city while throwing in a few funny stories - on top of making sure everyone was OK with all the Edinburgh steps! Would highly recommend this at the start of your trip to get your bearings!
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Kenny was the best guide we could ever have for our first walk in Edimburgh. He gave us the perfect mix between history and fun. Totally recommended!
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Emma was great-full of good historical information about the area and tips for what to see in present day Edinburgh! I would just like to let her know that according to our visit to the castle, the Stone of Scone was moved away from there 3 years ago!.
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Excellent tour from Dan today, on what may be the last sunny weekend for a long time! Dan was entertaining, engaging, and willing to answer any silly questions about traffic cones on statues' heads.
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Our Guide Theis was absolutely amazing. She was very passionate about Edinburghs history and very good story Teller! Great Tour to start a Great Holiday :)
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Route was easy (subjectively), stops were spaced well and at good locations. Guide SJ was informative, good amount of theatricality along with information, learnt about sites to visit that I would have never found otherwise.
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Kenny the guide was exceptional, very knowledgeable and funny, took us around at a good pace and left time to ask questions and take in the sights.
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Had 2 Amazing tours had Graeme both times as a tour guide very informative and interesting and very knowledgeable when asked questions during the tour and happy to give recommendations for other experiences in Edinburgh.
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Ema is a high professional guide, friendly and helpful. She speaks very clearly - perfect for Americans, Canadians and another people for whom English not a mother language. Highly recommend her to everyone.
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Great option if you want to learn some great facts about the city you are exploring! The guides are very informative and each one gives the tour its own touch.
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Had a great tour of Edinburgh with Graeme. He was very knowledgeable, easy to hear even in a large group, and set a great pace. This is worth your time!
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Cobin was a wonderful guide, providing a lot of history but in the manner that was both entertaining and full of wit. We thoroughly recommend doing this city tour.
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Cobin was incredibly friendly and very funny. He did a fantastic job of keeping our small group entertained while also highlighting all the important facts and key highlights. I could have listened to him for hours! Definitely highly recommended.
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Graham was a fantastic tour guide - a really social tour of Edinburgh centre. Really knowledgeable and personable. Tailored the stories and tales to our questions. Would highly recommend!
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Couldn't have asked for a better tour of the city. Rory was phenomenal, funny and clearly knows the city and its history like the back of his hand. The most welcoming, honest and interesting tour I've taken Thanks for a great afternoon.
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Kenny was a fantastically knowledgable guide! He was able to transport historical facts about Scotland in an incredibly entertaining and funny way, making them all the more memorable. Highly recommend the tour with him!
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Cobin is really funny. We enjoyed the entire two hours. It looks like Cobin really likes his job. We got a lot of information in a fun way.
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We had a wonderful time in the tour. It was very informative and Dr. Rory was very good with the stories and keep the tour lively!
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Excellent guided tour given by Sarah for the Edinburgh City tour and Graham for the Dean Village tour ! Highly recommended!
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Greame was our guide for the day. He took us around the new town and had quite a few historic tidbits to share. Answered all our questions to best of his knowledge and made the tour fun.
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Selected real reviews from Google · Updated 20 October 2026