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Royal Edinburgh: free self-guided audio tour of Edinburgh
Royal Edinburgh is a free self-guided audio walking tour of Edinburgh, United Kingdom: 5 stops in about 1 h 40. The Itinerarly app walks you from one stop to the next and plays a short narrated story when you arrive, in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese.
| Stops | 5 |
|---|---|
| Duration | about 1 h 40, including time at each stop |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Distance | about 3.5 km in straight lines between the stops (a little more on foot) |
| Start | Edinburgh Castle |
| Finish | Scott Monument |
| Price | Free (some sights charge their own entry ticket) |
| Languages | English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese |
From the castle to Holyrood through the Old Town
The stops, in order
- Edinburgh CastlePerched on a 350-million-year-old volcanic rock, Edinburgh Castle towers over the city like a crown of stone. A royal fortress since the 12th century, it was besieged more than twenty times, making it one of the most contested sites in Europe. It holds the Honours of Scotland—the crown jewels—and the Stone of Destiny, on which kings were crowned.
- Royal MileThe Royal Mile is the backbone of the Old Town, a long cobbled street running down from the castle to Holyrood Palace. Over a little more than a Scots mile stand medieval houses, shops, pubs and tall buildings called tenements, threaded with narrow alleys, the closes, where history hides at every step. Kilted bagpipers, whisky and tartan shops, street performers: the atmosphere is unique, especially during the famous August Fringe Festival.
- St Giles' CathedralSt Giles' Cathedral, recognisable by its crown-shaped spire, has been Edinburgh's principal church for almost nine centuries. At the heart of the Scottish Reformation, it was the pulpit of the fiery preacher John Knox, who defied Queen Mary, Queen of Scots, here. Inside, do not miss the Thistle Chapel, a neo-Gothic jewel of finely carved woodwork dedicated to Scotland's oldest order of chivalry.
- Palace of HolyroodhouseAt the foot of the Royal Mile rises the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the British monarchy in Scotland. Founded as an abbey in the 12th century, it became a royal palace and the stage for famous dramas: it was here that Mary, Queen of Scots, saw her Italian secretary Rizzio murdered with fifty-six dagger blows before her eyes in 1566. You can visit its historic apartments, the Great Gallery with its hundred and eleven royal portraits,…
- Scott MonumentThe Scott Monument is the largest monument in the world dedicated to a writer. This 61-metre Gothic spire, blackened by time, was raised in 1844 in honour of Sir Walter Scott, father of the historical novel and author of Ivanhoe. Beneath the central arch sits his white marble statue, with his faithful dog Maida.
How to take this tour
- Install the free Itinerarly app on iPhone or Android and create a free account.
- Open Guided tours, choose Edinburgh, then Royal Edinburgh.
- Start whenever you like: the app guides you to Edinburgh Castle and the story plays when you arrive at each stop.
Other audio tours of Edinburgh
Planning a whole day? See one day in Edinburgh.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Royal Edinburgh tour in Edinburgh free?
- Yes. It is one of 3 free self-guided audio tours of Edinburgh in the Itinerarly app. Some sights charge their own entry ticket.
- How long does the Royal Edinburgh tour take?
- About 1 h 40 for 5 stops, including time at each stop.
- Where does the Royal Edinburgh tour start and finish?
- It starts at Edinburgh Castle and finishes at Scott Monument.
- Which languages is the narration in?
- English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese, with natural-sounding synthetic voices.