The story of Edinburgh is a story of both the Old Town, which is old, and the New Town, which despite its name, is also old. Dating from 1767 the New Town was designed by a young architect named James Craig and is so completely different in its style, history and personality to the Old Town, that both towns must be experienced to have any understanding of the city. Discover the great intellectual awakening of the 18th Century as new thinkers, philosophers, inventors, and scientists shaped Scotland and in turn helped Scotland shape the modern world.
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!
Standing at the site where he was born, we begin the tour by talking about a very well known Scot, Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes.
Opened in 1889, your guide will show you the world's first purpose built portrait gallery, designed in the gothic revival style.
Learn about some of Scotland's most controversial figures, such as Henry Dundas, a prominent politician who defended the slave trade. More recently, the site of Black Lives Matter protests, your guide will explain how the statue of Dundas is regarded today.
Learn about James Clark Maxwell, a Scottish scientist who contributed significantly to the field of mathematical physics, as well as James Watt, who helped to perfect the steam engine. Hear the story of Professor Peter Higgs, a Nobel prize winner who helped discover the Higgs Boson particle, and learn about Dolly the Sheep, the world's first mammal clone.
Learn about the construction of Edinburgh's New Town, a masterpiece of city planning, designed by James Craig. Also, hear the story of James Braidwood, the founder of the world's first municipal fire service in 1824.
Stand on the spot where Alexander Graham Bell was born. Perhaps one of the most well known inventors, his development of the telephone changed the modern world. But not only that, it was a Scottish inventor, John Loggie Baird, who invented the television, one of the most important commodities ever created.
Discover Scotland's influence in the field of medicine, as your guide talks about James Young Simpson, the pioneer of anesthesia, as well as Alexander Fleming who accidently discovered penicillin.
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.
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