TRIPADVISOR REVIEW OF THE SLUMS OF VICTORIAN EDINBURGH TOUR
WHAT HAVE OUR GUESTS SAID?
“I have been living in Edinburgh for 6 years so
far, but he showed us “hidden” places I have
never seen before and told us stories I have
never heard. Robert was very knowledgeable
and managed to bring us back in time through
facts and stories, which were told in very
fascinating way, but also through many
illustrations which were very helpful to enhance
our imagination. I was shocked how difficult was
the life of poorest in Victorian times.”
MirkaB - TripAdvisor review of the Victorian poverty tour - June
2019
“Victorian Poverty
Tour”
YOUR PRIVATE VICTORIAN EDINBURGH TOUR
LET US REVEAL THE STORY OF EDINBURGH’S LONG-LOST SLUMS
“My husband and I did this tour with Robert last
night. It was RIVETING!! Robert's knowledge is
extensive, and his manner is thoroughly engaging.
The subject matter is hard, but we learned an
enormous amount about this side of Edinburgh's
history. Robert's preparation is obviously extensive
and it shows. I cannot recommend his tours highly
enough.”
Starycats- Tripadvisor - December 2019
TRIPADVISOR REVIEWS = 100% WERE 5 STAR REVIEWS
SLUM LIFE IN
VICTORIAN
EDINBURGH
TOUR
(This tour is run
privately)
Walk in the footsteps of the capital's 'forgotten' citizens as we discover what life was like for those who were at the 'bottom' of Victorian society.
When you take our Victorian Edinburgh tour, you’ll really
discover a ‘tale of two cities’. The opulent and affluent New
Town and also the impoverished and packed Old Town. At
one time the Old Town had been the most important part of
Edinburgh, by the mid-nineteenth century it was an area of
extreme poverty. These two worlds clashed when middle,
and upper-class people went into the slums and reported
back. It’s these eyewitness accounts which we will use to help
us understand an oft-forgotten period in Edinburgh’s history.
Life in the slums will be brought vividly to life through
excellent storytelling, archive images and eyewitness
accounts. Inequality and extreme poverty will be laid bare
before you. This is our most emotionally challenging tour,
and we think it is our most fascinating. You’ll also see how the
positive sides of human nature sometimes broke through the
unfairness. It’s not all doom-and-gloom, but it will make you
see our history in a very different light.
Are you ready to ‘meet’ Victorian Edinburgh’s slum dwellers?
Stop 1 - Greyfriars Bobby, an undiscovered grave
and why Greyfriars Kirkyard is the worst place to
start a tour about Victorian poverty!
Stop 2 - The Edinburgh Poorhouse and why the
famous novel ‘A Christmas Carol’ wasn’t too
fictitious…
Stop 3 - Opposite the Royal Infirmary. The story
of Dr Littlejohn and Edinburgh’s ailments.
Stop 4 - Life in a slum dwelling - what life was
like in a furnished room.
Stop 5 - The Grassmarket - ‘Party time’ in the
lodging houses! This Edinburgh walking tour
isn’t just about the hard times!
COVID-19 AND YOUR SAFETY
We have achieved the “Good to Go” standard for the COVID-
19 procedures we’ve put in place to give you a safe tour.
You can find out more about our COVID-19 policy here.
Call us +44 (0)7590 026 077
CONTACT US
robert@historicedinburghtours.co.uk
+44 (0)7590 026 077
28/2 BRIDGE ROAD
EDINBURGH
EH13 0LQ
Registered in Scotland - SC454482
ONLINE EXPERIENCES
© Historic Edinburgh Tours Ltd 2020
WHY MIGHT YOU WANT TO DISCOVER THE LIFE OF EDINBURGH’S VICTORIAN POOR?
WE SHARE FIVE THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT THIS TOUR!
Stop 6 - Old Fishmarket Close - When a night
in the nick was a good thing.
Stop 7 - Junction of North Bridge and the High
Street - why a small valley between the Old
Town and New Town, was effectively a massive
chasm between two worlds.
Stop 8 - Blackfriars Street and St Mary’s Street
- we enter the sites two of the most
impoverished slum areas in Edinburgh.
Stop 9 - Outside St Patrick’s Church in the
Cowgate. A heart-warming story of a football
rivalry.
Stop 10 - The Netherbow. The story of three
long-lost houses and a cheering story about a
fundraising raffle ends our Victorian
Edinburgh tour on a high note!
OUR ASSURANCES TO YOU
WHY SHOULD YOU CHOOSE US?
QUIBBLE-FREE REFUND
We offer a full refund if
you cancel your tour more
than 12 hours before your
tour is due to start.
A PICTURE TELLS A
THOUSAND WORDS
Your guide will carry an A3
folder packed with ‘then and
now’ images to help you
imagine Edinburgh as it once
was.
FRIENDLY GUIDE - IN A KILT!
Robert was born in
Edinburgh and has lived here
all his life. He researched all
our tours and has an
extensive knowledge of
Edinburgh and her history.
ACCESSIBILITY OPTIONS
If you have someone with
mobility issues, please
contact us in advance so
that we can offer some
appropriate changes to the
route.
PERFECT FOR CHILDREN
Your guide is a qualified
primary school teacher and
knows how to engage your
children.
CONVENIENCE
Your tour is private. You can
choose when it starts and we
can make some alterations to
the route if needed. You've
got the freedom to ask all the
questions you want!
THE SECRETS WE SHARE
THE SITES WE TAKE YOU TO
FIVE REASONS WHY WE THINK
YOU’LL LOVE THIS TOUR!
WHY TAKE A WALK WITH US?
When you take our Victorian Edinburgh tour, you’ll really
discover a ‘tale of two cities’. The opulent and affluent
New Town and also the impoverished and packed Old
Town. At one time the Old Town had been the most
important part of Edinburgh, by the mid-nineteenth
century it was an area of extreme poverty. These two
worlds clashed when middle, and upper-class people
went into the slums and reported back. It’s these
eyewitness accounts which we will use to help us
understand an oft-forgotten period in Edinburgh’s history.
Life in the slums will be brought vividly to life through
excellent storytelling, archive images and eyewitness
accounts. Inequality and extreme poverty will be laid
bare before you. This is our most emotionally challenging
tour, and we think it is our most fascinating. You’ll also
see how the positive sides of human nature sometimes
broke through the unfairness. It’s not all doom-and-
gloom, but it will make you see our history in a very
different light.
Are you ready to ‘meet’ Victorian Edinburgh’s slum
dwellers?
“A BRILLIANT TOUR!”
“The past is brought vividly to life through a
combination of Robert's experienced story telling,
with visual aides which tell the remarkable story
of the buildings, people and events of his beloved
city. The best spent two hours of a packed
weekend for these two first-time visitors.”
Pennyslad - Tripadvisor
VICTORIAN EDINBURGH TOUR
DISCOVER THE STORIES OF LIFE ON OUR
“If this is your first time in Edinburgh (actually even
if it’s not), Robert’s talk is a brilliant way to start. He
is a fantastic speaker, storyteller and personality. He
delves back and forth in time, using great
illustrations and photographs from his folder, and
really makes the city come alive.
One of the best walking tours I’ve ever taken; a really
unforgettable experience.”
Alcabe - TripAdvisor review of The Old Edinburgh Walking Tour -
September, 2018
“Don’t miss this!”
AVERAGE TRIPADVISOR RATING FOR THIS TOUR =
COVID-19 AND YOUR SAFETY
We have achieved the “Good to Go” standard for the COVID-
19 procedures we’ve put in place to give you a safe tour.
You can find out more about our COVID-19 policy here.
© Historic Edinburgh Tours Ltd 2020
Text/Call us :
+44 (0)7590 026 077
ONLINE EXPERIENCES
QUIBBLE-FREE REFUND
We offer a full refund if you cancel your tour more
than 12 hours before your tour is due to start.
FRIENDLY GUIDE - IN A KILT!
Robert is your local guide. He was born in Edinburgh
and has lived here all his life. He researched all our
tours and has an excellent knowledge of Edinburgh’s
history.
ACCESSIBILITY OPTIONS
If you have someone with mobility issues, please
contact us in advance so that we can offer route
changes.
PERFECT FOR CHILDREN
Robert, your guide, is a qualified primary school
teacher and will help keep your children engaged.
CONVENIENCE
Your tour is private - you can choose when it starts.
You can ask all the questions you want to!
OUR ASSURANCES TO YOU
WHY SHOULD YOU CHOOSE US?
A PICTURE TELLS A THOUSAND WORDS
Your guide will carry an A3 folder packed with ‘then and
now’ images to help you imagine Edinburgh as it once was.
Stop 1 - Greyfriars Bobby, an undiscovered grave
and why Greyfriars Kirkyard is the worst place to
start a tour about Victorian poverty!
Stop 2 - The Edinburgh Poorhouse and why the
famous novel ‘A Christmas Carol’ wasn’t too
fictitious…
Stop 3 - Opposite the Royal Infirmary. The story
of Dr Littlejohn and Edinburgh’s ailments.
Stop 4 - Life in a slum dwelling - what life was
like in a furnished room.
Stop 5 - The Grassmarket - ‘Party time’ in the
lodging houses! This Edinburgh walking tour
isn’t just about the hard times!
Stop 6 - Old Fishmarket Close - When a night in
the nick was a good thing.
Stop 7 - Junction of North Bridge and the High
Street - why a small valley between the Old Town
and New Town, was effectively a massive chasm
between two worlds.
Stop 8 - Blackfriars Street and St Mary’s Street -
we enter the sites two of the most impoverished
slum areas in Edinburgh.
Stop 9 - Outside St Patrick’s Church in the
Cowgate. A heart-warming story of a football
rivalry.
Stop 10 - The Netherbow. The story of three
long-lost houses and a cheering story about a
fundraising raffle ends our Victorian Edinburgh
tour on a high note!
THE SECRETS WE SHARE
THE SITES WE TAKE YOU TO
SLUM LIFE IN
VICTORIAN EDINBURGH
TOUR
(This tour is run privately)
Walk in the footsteps of the capital's 'forgotten' citizens as we discover what life was like for those who were at the 'bottom' of Victorian society.
