As of 28/05/2023, 321 of our 326 Tripadvisor reviews awarded us five-stars!
GREYFRIARS KIRKYARD
TOUR
The Greyfriars Kirkyard tour is perfect for everyone who wants to know more about Scottish history. Hear about martyred Covenanters, an amusing artist, an infamous ghost, grave robbers, the Irish murderers Burke and Hare, a tortured spy and the devoted wee dog, Greyfriars Bobby. You'll learn about these characters as you stand only inches from where their bodies lie buried!
BOOK THIS TOUR
Prices start at £70 for a single-person private tour
Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance
Lowest price guarantee
This tour is rated '5-star' on Tripadvisor
Please note; This tour regularly sells out. We suggest booking as soon as possible!
CALENDAR
"Would highly recommend the Private Greyfriars Kirkyard tour! Robert was not only very knowledgeable but made the tour fun and interactive and tailored the tour to our personal interests...Well worth the money!! Want to say a big thank you for providing us with such an amazing experience..."
Emma J, Tripadvisor review, July 2022
DETAILS
Meet inside main entry of Greyfriars (next to Bobby's Bar).
1.5-hour duration (approx).
Finishes in the Kirkyard. Cafes and toilets available in the nearby Museum of Scotland.
Private tours start at 10am and 2pm.
Moderate gradients throughout, slippy cobblestones, one set of stairs.
Tickets are sent via email. Your guide will check your details at the start of the tour - don't worry if you didn't bring your tickets.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Here are five of the places we can visit on your private tour. There are more! How long we spend on each story and how much walking we do is up to you!
Greyfriars Bobby;
Find out about our famous pooch, Greyfriars Bobby, and get to know the different versions of the faithful wee dug's story.
Tomb detectives;
Learn about the symbology of Greyfriars and find out why we use a photo of flared trousers to help you understand the past (!)
The Covenanters;
Greyfriars Kirkyard and the story of the Covenanters are inextricably linked. Find out what happened here and why this was such an important struggle.
A really unimpressive gift;
Get to know the story of one of Edinburgh's most fascinating storytellers, and hear one of his stories about a truly terrible wrapped-up present.
Not forgetting...;
Burke and Hare and the 'bodysnatchers', Harry Potter, the Flodden Wall and the infamous 'Bluidy Mackenzie'! You can also try out our very own replica torture device!
WHY TAKE THIS TOUR?
Hear the stories next to where the characters lie
Your Greyfriars Kirkyard tour takes you around the last resting places of some incredible historical characters.
Picture-perfect photo opportunities
Greyfriars Kirkyard is a superb place for photos, including Memento Mori on gravestones and a brilliant view of Edinburgh Castle.
A tour tailored to your own interests
If you want to look at the darker side of Edinburgh's history, we can do that. Want to include some of the (supposed) Harry Potter places in the tour? We can do that too!
Greyfriars Kirkyard - the history of a nation
This tour isn't just a walk around the gravestones of some people who lived in old Edinburgh; it's the story of people and events that shaped our nation's history.
Archive images bring to life the history of the Kirkyard
On this tour, you'll see archive images showing some of the 'residents' of the Kirkyard and scenes from their lives.
Responsible tourism
We are proud to be members of the City of Edinburgh Cemetery Guide Scheme. Your tour guide will explain how our groups will move around the burial grounds, staying on paths and how you could donate to the Council for the upkeep of these significant cemeteries.
TRUST US WITH YOUR TOUR
Certificate of Excellence award winner 2017 and 2018.
Tripadvisor Traveller's Choice award winner 2020 and 2023.
As of December 15, 2022, 99.6% of our reviews have been five stars.
We've been leading Edinburgh tours for ten years.
GUEST REVIEWS
"My family wanted a private tour of the kirkyard to get all our questions answered and this was perfect. Relaxed, not too long for younger kids and Robert ,our guide, created a custom experience for our family."
Bino83, Tripadvisor review, August 2022
"We’ve just finished the private Greyfriars Kirkyard tour conducted by Robert. Robert asked my partner and I what we were interested in and tailored the tour accordingly. He was friendly, engaging and informative. We would thoroughly recommend Robert and this tour. Our daughter booked this tour for us after her own great experience."
Jane M, Tripadvisor review, February 2022
YOUR MEETING PLACE
Your guide will meet you just inside this gateway to Greyfriars Kirkyard, next to Greyfriars Bobby's Bar at the top of Candlemaker Row.
Google Maps shows only an approximate location.
F.A.Q. SECTION
Q: A member of my group has special mobility requirements.
A: Edinburgh’s Old Town is formed around a ‘Crag and Tail’ geological formation which means it does have some quite steep gradients up and down, but the city is for everyone to enjoy, it might just mean making some alterations to the route. We enjoy altering our private tours to ensure accessibility is achieved.
If you contact us before you book, we can suggest some possible alternatives and can also discuss which of our other tours might be best suited to you.
Q: What happens if it rains?
A: Don't worry, we will be there! As the great Scottish comedian Billy Connolly says, there's never the wrong weather, just the wrong clothing!
Q: What happens if we are running late?
A: Since we now only do private tours, your guide is only there for you. Sometimes things happen and you know you will be running late. Within reason, and with some warning, we can try to accommodate this.
Your guide may be happy to meet you at a slightly later time, but please let him know what is happening, as soon as you can. You can text him on 07590026077. We've had times when guests have been on delayed trains and Robert waited in a local cafe. Please, where possible, don't make him wait outside in the rain!
If you are running late and haven't contacted Robert, he is authorised to leave twenty minutes after your agreed start time. No refund will be given after this point.
Q: Are there toilets?
A: We strongly recommend that you 'pay a visit' before your tour as there are limited opportunities to use public toilets en route.
We recommend visiting the Museum of Scotland (just across the road from our usual Greyfriars Kirkyard starting point). The toilets are on the ground floor. The Museum of Scotland is a free-to-visit attraction and is well worth a visit. It also has two excellent cafeterias.
Greyfriars Bobby's Bar, right next to Greyfriars Kirkyard, has an excellent range of food and drink and has toilets for customers to use.
Q: Are your private tours 'child-friendly'?
A: Our tours are usually what we would describe as more 'adult' tours, however, your guide is a qualified primary school teacher and knows how to pitch our stories appropriately. He can also provide appropriate alternatives. If you let us know well in advance, we can offer more flexibility.
We do require that children under 16 attend with an adult.