Edinburgh Festival Voluntary Guides Association
Edinburgh Festival Voluntary Guides Association
Edinburgh Festival Voluntary Guides Association
5
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Monday
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Tuesday
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Wednesday
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Thursday
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Friday
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Saturday
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Sunday
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Full view
About
Walking tours of Edinburgh's historic Royal Mile run by expert local guides. During the Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe, tours run twice per day and are completely free with no need to book in advance. The times given for tours relate to this period, in 2023 Sunday 6 August- Sunday 27 August inclusive. Tours can also be arranged at other times of the year for a small fee. Small groups (typically 6 - 8 people per tour).
Edinburgh, Scotland
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2023
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5.0
154 reviews
Excellent
149
Very good
4
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Coastal52724749411
1 contribution
Sep 2023 • Friends
As my friend was totally blind, we were desperate to find a custom walking tour that can tend to our needs with reasonable price. We were so thrilled that we found Edinburgh Festival Voluntary Guides Association.
Elspeth McLean responded to us quickly when we got in touch and kindly arranged a tour for us even with a very short notice in such a busy time in Edinburgh. We incredibly appreciate the effort as my friend was gonna fly out back to our home country in Vietnam later that month. It might be a very long time before he would have another chance to visit the UK.
Victor was our guide and he was amazing! We appreciate his caring for details like making sure my friend always stood in a place that could avoid any eager tourists accidentally touching him, which makes a huge different for his experience as a blind person. Victor's true stories about Edinburgh were above an beyond. They hooked us in and helped us to truly relive the stunning history of Edinburgh. We couldn't expect better.
Overall, we highly recommend the tour and association. Truly amazing.
Elspeth McLean responded to us quickly when we got in touch and kindly arranged a tour for us even with a very short notice in such a busy time in Edinburgh. We incredibly appreciate the effort as my friend was gonna fly out back to our home country in Vietnam later that month. It might be a very long time before he would have another chance to visit the UK.
Victor was our guide and he was amazing! We appreciate his caring for details like making sure my friend always stood in a place that could avoid any eager tourists accidentally touching him, which makes a huge different for his experience as a blind person. Victor's true stories about Edinburgh were above an beyond. They hooked us in and helped us to truly relive the stunning history of Edinburgh. We couldn't expect better.
Overall, we highly recommend the tour and association. Truly amazing.
Written 18 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much for your review of the tour arranged for your blind friend. We are very glad that you appreciated Vic's tour.
Written 25 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
TARene
Natick1 contribution
Sep 2023 • Couples
Eric provided a wonderful tour of the New Town! We enjoyed the social and architectural history of the area plus our side conversations about education. Not to be missed: Dundas House, Sir Walter Scott’s home, and the Oxford Bar (where Sir Ian Rankin drinks). Highly recommend.
Written 17 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Many thanks for taking the time to review Eric's New Town tour, we are very glad you enjoyed it.
Written 25 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Pioneer18460677193
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Couples
Many thanks to the Festival for its initiative to organise free walking tours with local guides. It is an excellent idea to help tourists get the genuine feeling of the city. I was very lucky to be in the group of Ms Gladys Bain who was extremely polite and patient with all of us, described and explained the historic context in a very vivid way and related really nice stories connected to several spots we visited. My husband and I would like to express our thanks once again. We enjoyed the whole tour very much. Gladys, keep up the good work and offer all your knowledge in this very enthusiastic manner of yours!
Written 12 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the trouble to leave such a detailed and positive review of your tour with Gladys. The EFVGA has been providing these tours ever since the 1st Edinburgh Festival in 1947.
Written 13 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Chuck
New Orleans, LA4 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
We had the best guide ever! He was very knowledgeable about the history and the City of Edinburgh. I would highly recommend taking this service to start your journey in Edinburgh. You could tell our guide loved the City in which he lived. Thank you so much!
Written 3 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the trouble to leave such a positive review of your tour with EFVGA.
Written 9 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
BilstonDeb
Greater London, UK5 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
We did the free Royal Mile walking tour with Mike as part of the Edinburgh fringe. Learnt lots in a really friendly atmosphere. Mike took us into hidden, quiet spots which were amazing as well as giving us greater insight into well known places on the Royal Mile. Well worth the 1.5 hours walk. Would recommend for new and old visitors to Edinburgh.
Written 30 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the trouble to leave such a positive review of Mike's tour.
Written 9 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Michelle C
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Friends
A fantastic way to enjoy the Royal Mile during the Fringe Festival! Our guide Mike took us down a number of quiet closes and explained the history of the homes, buildings and squares. The tour was over too quickly for us even though it was close to 2 hours.
Written 29 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the trouble to leave such a positive review of Mike's tour.
Written 9 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
James T
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Friends
Had a great tour through Edinborough Royal Mile with our guide Eric today, who was extremely knowledgable and a great guide. Learnt a lot on this one and he had many a titbit of information from all sorts of questions.
It was no surprise at all when we found he was a teacher for 40 years, recommend doing a tour with him. James
It was no surprise at all when we found he was a teacher for 40 years, recommend doing a tour with him. James
Written 26 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James, many thanks for taking the time to leave this review and I am glad that you enjoyed Eric's tour.
Written 27 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Gordon Feeney
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Solo
Excellent tour. Even for someone born and bred in Edinburgh it was highly informative and I learned lots from the excellent Scots-Greek guide.
Based in and around Edinburgh's Royal Mile this was a compact tour but with lots of history every hundred yards (metres if you're European 😄).
Highly recommend you give it a go when you visit.
Based in and around Edinburgh's Royal Mile this was a compact tour but with lots of history every hundred yards (metres if you're European 😄).
Highly recommend you give it a go when you visit.
Written 26 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Many thanks for taking the time to leave this review and I am glad that you enjoyed Veni's tour.
Written 27 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Richard Holliday
Burnham, UK2 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Great tour, engaging
, interesting, wonderful service. Our guide obviously loved his job. I can’t recommend them highly enough
, interesting, wonderful service. Our guide obviously loved his job. I can’t recommend them highly enough
Written 25 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Many thanks for taking the time to leave this review and I am glad that you enjoyed your tour.
Written 27 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Trevor C
2 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Thanks to Richard for a fantastic tour showing us great spots in the city that we otherwise might of missed along with their interesting history. Recommend this free tour to all!
Written 23 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Many thanks for taking the time to leave this review and I am glad that you enjoyed Richard's tour.
Written 27 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
No questions have been asked about this experience