A Tour of Edinburgh’s New Town with David Wheater
David’s personal tour of Edinburgh’s Georgian New Town is very much a tour for people who love beautiful architecture, stunning galleries, serene gardens and historic kirkyards. From Georgian squares, classical mansions, Victorian pubs, and secret gardens to world-class art and magnificent photo opportunities, this tour of Edinburgh’s UNESCO World Heritage site is a pure delight, led by a local who’s called it home for more than 50 years.
An introduction to David’s personal tour of Edinburgh’s Georgian New Town
About The New Town Tour
Most visitors to Edinburgh quite understandably visit the Old Town first, but Edinburgh's beautiful New Town has just as much to offer. In fact, at over 250 years old, the New Town is in many respects older than what you see in the Old Town today! From beautiful Georgian architecture, magnificent garden squares and parks, to stunning galleries, Palladian mansions, and impressive monuments, this tour has it all. It's also a great option for visitors who might find the Old Town too busy, especially during the annual Fringe Festival in August.
Meeting in lovely St Andrew Square gardens, in the heart of the New Town, David will give you a warm welcome to the city and give you an overview of the history and development of the New Town, which was built in 7 major phases between 1767 and 1850. David will tell you the story of the unofficial crowned king of Scotland and the secret tunnel running under the New Town, which was once a mushroom farm. We'll visit one of the most beautiful galleries in Scotland, see its magnificent hall of heroes, and learn all about the philanthropist owner of the Scotsman newspaper, who made it all possible. We'll learn all about Caledonia and many of Edinburgh's best-known historical figures, including Mary, Queen of Scots and our national bard, Robert Burns. We'll also discover some amazing artefacts in the library, including the death masks of the infamous Edinburgh murderers, Burke & Hare, which once belonged to the Edinburgh Phrenological Society.
Then it's to one of Edinburgh's most beautiful mansions, Dundas House, designed by William Chambers in 1772. Inside is one of Edinburgh's most beautiful interiors that at one time gave the resident bank a surprising commercial advantage over its nearest rivals. We'll then visit an old Victorian pub which has become an Edinburgh institution, discover a secret garden hidden in the heart of the city and learn about an Edinburgh eccentric who made one of the world’s first balloon flights in the city. Then it's off to the Wellington Statue to take exquisite photos of the Balmoral Hotel and then on to the biggest monument to a writer in the world, the gothic Scott Monument, which is 182 years old and adorned with over 60 statues from the novels of Sir Walter Scott.
We'll then stroll along one of the most beautiful parks in Britain, where David will explain more about the history of Edinburgh and help you take fantastic panoramic photos of the city skyline and Edinburgh Castle. On to one of the best national galleries in the world, we'll see some of Edinburgh's most iconic pictures: Raeburn's Skating Minister, the Porteous Riot, and the world-famous Monarch of the Glen, by one of the UK's most revered artists, Landseer. Then it's off to perhaps the most impressive building in Edinburgh, which is now home to Edinburgh University School of Divinity, and the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. David will help you take great photos here and portraits of yourselves as a souvenir of your visit to Edinburgh. We'll also learn about two of Scotland's most famous queens, Mary, Queen of Scots, and her impressive French mother, Mary de Guise. We'll learn about their tumultuous and adventurous lives and the extraordinary execution of Mary at the behest of her cousin, Elizabeth, at Fotheringham Castle in 1587. David will show you a photograph of Mary de Guise's palace, which was demolished to make way for New College, and share a little secret clue about its former existence.
Towards the end of the tour, we'll admire the world's first floral clock and explore beautiful Princes Street Gardens. David will show you the exquisite Gardener's Cottage, a Polish bear that fought in the First World War, and one of the best places to photograph the castle, next to one of the most beautiful fountains in Scotland. To finish off, we'll visit a hidden garden in the West End, a truly beautiful church and historic kirkyard where Agatha Christie got married, and finish off at the New Town's most beautiful square - the magnificent Charlotte Square by Robert Adam.
- and much, much more!
To find out more, please visit our New Town page for more information about the tour, or click the button below.
This private, exclusive tour runs only four times a month, on a first-come, first-served basis, so please book early.
