Discover the stranger side of Edinburgh on a walk through its most famous graveyard. Explore how Edinburgh’s grisly history shaped the city today: how the medical school changed the landscape of cemeteries, how public hangings used to be for public entertainment, and how Edinburgh’s mysterious stories even helped to inspire Harry Potter. From serial killers, ghosts and even a loyal dog, Greyfriars Kirkyard is the heart of Edinburgh’s gruesome past.
This is a private live virtual tour. Our professional, local guide will be showing you Edinburgh’s most fascinating sights in real time, directly from the streets of Edinburgh. You will be connected via video call and you can then explore the city together. With your experienced guide you will see more than just the Edinburgh of today, you’ll also get a glimpse back in time because each tour is complemented with an excellent selection of multimedia. You will be shown historic photographs and videos to help with explanations, stories and the historical context of Edinburgh's incredible and turbulent past. You can’t get any closer to history without a time machine!
The entire tour is designed to be as interactive as you desire. You can ask questions, you can request to go back and look at something again, you have all the freedom and participation of a private walking tour, all from the comfort of your own home.
The video calling software used for the tour is called Zoom. You will need to have it downloaded on your laptop, tablet or cellphone – with a connection to speakers or headphones – in order to participate in the tour. Also, remember to keep an eye on the time difference when choosing a time for your private virtual experience, as all times stated are in Edinburgh time!
We begin the tour in the Grassmarket, the site of the most prolific city gallows in Edinburgh. In the 18th Century public hangings were one of the greatest forms of public entertainment and your guide will tell you the local legend of Maggie Dickson.
Learn about grave robbers and serial killers, whilst standing in the grounds of Greyfriars Church. Edinburgh is said to be the most haunted city in Europe, and your guide will take you to the most haunted place in the whole of the city, the mausoleum of George McKenzie.
Arguably the most important part of Greyfriars Kirkyard is the Covenanters Prison, where the National Covenant was signed. Learn about the impact this had on the Church of Scotland, as well as the stories of 1200 men who were arrested and placed in the Covenanters Prison.
See the inspiration for Harry Potter's Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as your local guide shows you the stunning George Heriot's School.
We finish the tour with the story of Greyfriars Bobby, a skye terrier who sat by his owner's grave for 14 years. This local dog's grave is the most visited in the city.
Cancellation policy:
- For groups of 1-6 people: free cancellation up to 48 hours in advance.
- For groups of 7+ people: free cancellation up to up to 7 days ahead. From 6 days in advance to 48 hours in advance, a 50% fee will apply.
- Cancellations less than 48 hours ahead or no-shows result in no refund.
This interactive virtual experience transports you back to the very beginning of Berlin’s story, visiting the Nikolai Quarter – the oldest part of the city. Explore charming cobblestone streets, learn how Berlin got its name and how it developed from a fishing village built on a swamp to one of the most visited cities in the world.
This interactive virtual experience introduces you to two of Berlin’s most beautiful squares and the area around Unter den Linden – the German capital’s iconic central boulevard. From Museum Island, the city’s cultural heart, your professional, local guide will walk you down Unter den Linden and then through Bebelplatz and Gendarmenmarkt.
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