Edinburgh & South Queensferry
The capital’s greatest hits at your own pace, then out to the coast — Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Victoria Street and The Elephant House, finishing beneath the three great Forth Bridges at South Queensferry. Just your party and your driver-guide.
from
£550
per tour — not per person
- Private vehicle & driver-guide
- Door-to-door hotel pickup
- Free cancellation, no deposit
★★★★★
Replies within 24 hours · No card details needed
Full day, unhurried
Your party only
Collected at your door
Any day you choose
The Capital, Then the Coast
Edinburgh is a compact city that rewards a guide who knows its closes and shortcuts. This private day begins with the essentials — the Castle on its rock, the Royal Mile down to Holyrood, and the narrow wynds of the Old Town — at a pace set by you, not a tour flag.
You’ll walk Victoria Street, the curved and colourful row said to have inspired Diagon Alley, and pass The Elephant House where Harry Potter first took shape. Viewpoints at Calton Hill and Arthur’s Seat give you the city laid out below.
Then out of town to South Queensferry, a pretty coastal village beneath the three great Forth Bridges — a Victorian engineering marvel, a modern cable-stayed crossing, and the world’s first major road suspension bridge, all in one view.
Tour Highlights
- Edinburgh Castle & the Royal Mile
- St Giles' Cathedral & Victoria Street
- The Elephant House — Harry Potter's birthplace
- Calton Hill & Arthur's Seat viewpoints
- Dean Village, the city's hidden corner
- The three Forth Bridges at South Queensferry
A City Built on a Rock
From the castle esplanade the whole city falls away below you — the medieval Old Town tumbling down its ridge, the elegant Georgian New Town laid out beyond, and the Firth of Forth glinting past both. Few capitals reveal themselves so completely from a single spot.
- Views from Castle Rock and Calton Hill
- The Old Town's hidden closes and wynds
- Georgian New Town elegance
Join Your Driver-Guide For This Private Tour From Edinburgh
Walk Scotland’s capital with a local who knows which closes to slip down — then head for the coast, entirely at your own pace.
From the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle to the hidden wynds of the Old Town, colourful Victoria Street and the cafés of the Royal Mile, your driver-guide sets the rhythm around you. Out at South Queensferry, the three great Forth Bridges stretch across the firth — a fitting finish to a day of royal history, city legend and open water.
The Itinerary
A guide, not a timetable — every stop below can be swapped, extended or dropped on the day.
9:00am · Pickup from your door
Your driver-guide collects you from your Edinburgh hotel, apartment or cruise terminal.
9:30am · Edinburgh Castle & the Old Town
The Castle on its volcanic rock and the tangle of closes below it — the Royal Mile down towards Holyrood, with the stories most visitors walk straight past.
11:00am · Victoria Street & The Elephant House
The curved, colourful street said to have inspired Diagon Alley, and the café where Harry Potter was first written — plus St Giles' Cathedral on the Royal Mile.
12:30pm · Lunch in the Old Town
A break in the city centre. Your guide will point you to somewhere good and wait while you take your time.
2:00pm · Dean Village, Calton Hill & Arthur's Seat
The hidden riverside hamlet of Dean Village, then the classic Edinburgh viewpoints — Calton Hill's monuments and the volcanic ridge of Arthur's Seat above the city.
3:30pm · South Queensferry & the Forth Bridges
The coastal village and its three landmark bridges, then a scenic run back into the city — dropped at your door by around 5:00pm.
Moments From This Tour
A glimpse of the castle rock, the Old Town closes and the Forth Bridges — swipe through to see more of your day.
Exactly What Your Day Includes
What's Included
- Private vehicle for your party alone
- Professional local driver-guide all day
- Door-to-door hotel pickup and drop-off
- Fuel, parking and road tolls
- Bottled water and travel blankets
- Route changes on the day, at no charge
Not Included
- Edinburgh Castle admission (approx. £18pp)
- Other attraction entry fees
- Lunch and refreshments
- Forth boat cruise, if added
- Gratuities — appreciated, never expected
Why This Day Beats the Coach
Private, Never Shared
Just your party in the vehicle, so your guide can actually talk to you and the day bends to your interests — not a fixed coach route.
£550 for the Whole Car
Priced per tour, not per seat. Six travelling together pay around £92 each — comparable to a seat-only coach ticket, in a private vehicle.
Change It On the Day
Linger longer at the Castle, add a Forth boat trip, skip a stop — tell your guide and the day reshapes around you.
Questions About This Tour
Is the £550 per person or for the whole tour?
For the whole tour. Whether one of you travels or all six, the price is the same — £550 for the vehicle, the driver-guide and the full eight hours. Attraction tickets and lunch are extra.
Where do you collect us from?
Anywhere in Edinburgh — hotel, apartment, guest house — or from Leith cruise terminal or the airport. Give us the address when you book and your guide will be waiting outside.
Do we go inside Edinburgh Castle?
You can. Tell us when you enquire and we’ll build in time for a visit and reserve tickets; admission is paid separately, currently around £18 per adult. Prefer to admire it from outside and spend longer elsewhere? That’s fine too.
Can we change the stops?
Yes. Add a Forth boat cruise, spend longer on the Royal Mile, or drop South Queensferry for more time in the city — just say so beforehand or on the morning.
What if the weather is poor?
The tour runs regardless — much of the day is a short walk from the vehicle, and Edinburgh has its own atmosphere in the rain. Genuinely unsafe conditions are the only reason we’d rearrange, at no cost.
Is it suitable for limited mobility or children?
Largely, though the Old Town is hilly and cobbled in places. Driving distances are short and we can tailor the walking. Tell us about any needs, child seats included, and we’ll plan around them.
How do we pay, and can we cancel?
Nothing is due to enquire. Once the day is agreed we take a small deposit, with the balance on the day. Cancel up to 48 hours beforehand and the deposit is refunded in full.
Check Your Date
Send us your dates and we’ll confirm availability and email the full plan — usually within a few hours, always within 24. No deposit, no obligation.
- £550 for the whole vehicle
- Free cancellation up to 48 hours
- Prefer to talk? +44 7398 181234
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