A Free Walking Tour of Edinburgh City
Are you ready for an amazing day exploring Edinburgh? This walking tour starts and ends at Haymarket Hotel, taking you through some of the coolest sights in Scotland's capital city. The best part? It's all free! Let's get started on our Edinburgh adventure!
Morning: West End to Old Town
Haymarket Hotel to Dean Village via Water of Leith
(20-minute walk)
After your fully-cooked breakfast at Logan's Bar, start your day by heading to Douglas Crescent. On the far, tree-lined corner of Magdala Crescent and Douglas Crescent, you'll see a tall staircase down to the Water of Leith. (Cross the street at the red post box). Once you're on the walkway, turn right and start following the river upstream. This beautiful path will take you away from the busy city streets and into a green oasis right in the heart of Edinburgh.
As you walk, you'll be surrounded by trees and the peaceful sound of the flowing river. Keep an eye out for wildlife - you might spot herons, kingfishers, or even otters if you're lucky!
After about 15 minutes, you'll pass under the impressive Dean Bridge. Look up to see its tall arches towering above you. This bridge, built in the 1800s, carries traffic high above the river valley.
Continue along the path for another 10 minutes, and you'll reach an area with some old mill buildings. These were once powered by the river. Just beyond here, you'll arrive at Dean Village.
As you enter Dean Village, you'll feel like you've stepped back in time or into a fairy tale. This hidden gem used to be where people made flour for Edinburgh. Now, it's a beautiful spot with old buildings and the peaceful Water of Leith flowing through it. Don't forget to take lots of photos of the colorful houses and the picturesque Well Court building.
This riverside walk is a bit longer than the direct route, but it's much prettier and more relaxing. You'll get to see a different side of Edinburgh that many tourists miss!
Dean Village to the Royal Mile
(30-minute walk)
From Dean Village, walk east along the Water of Leith Walkway. You'll pass by St. Bernard's Well, a pretty building by the river. Keep going until you reach Stockbridge, an affluent neighbourhood with lots of cafes and shops.
Stop in on Circus Lane, one of the most picturesque streets in Edinburgh.
Head south on North Bank Street, which will take you uphill to the Royal Mile, the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town.
Royal Mile
Exploration (1-2 hours)
The Royal Mile is the main street of the Old Town. It's actually a bit longer than a mile and is full of interesting sights. Here are some free things to check out:
St Giles' Cathedral: This beautiful church has been around for 900 years! You can go inside for free and admire the stunning architecture.
The Heart of Midlothian: Look for a heart-shaped pattern on the ground near St Giles'. Legend says spitting on it brings good luck!
Scottish Parliament Building: This modern building is where Scottish politicians meet. You can take a free tour, but you need to book in advance.
The Palace of Hollyrood House The King's official residence in Edinburgh and the home of Scottish royal history. Free to enter the courtyard.
Edinburgh Castle sits at the top of the Royal Mile. While it's not free to enter, the views from the castle esplanade are amazing and totally free! Listen out for the one o'clock gun. More info on this on The Haymarket Hotel Blog.
Grassmarket
From the Royal Mile, walk down George IV Bridge and turn right onto Victoria Street. This curvy, colourful street is said to be the inspiration for Diagon Alley in Harry Potter!
At the bottom of Victoria Street, you'll find yourself in Grassmarket. This area used to be where they sold cattle, but now it's full of cool shops and restaurants. It's a great place to grab lunch and do some people-watching.
Free photo op
Stand at the west end of Grassmarket for a perfect view of Edinburgh Castle towering above you. Or climb the stairs to the Vennel Viewpoint for "the" castle picture.
Old Town to New Town
Grassmarket to Greyfriars Kirkyard
(5-minute walk)
After lunch, head to Greyfriars Kirkyard, an old graveyard that's full of history. It might sound spooky, but it's actually a peaceful place with beautiful old tombstones and great views of the city.
Free photo op
Find the grave of Greyfriars Bobby, a loyal dog who guarded his owner's grave for 14 years. There's also a statue of Bobby just outside the kirkyard.
Greyfriars Kirkyard to National Museum of Scotland
(5-minute walk)
Just a short walk from Greyfriars is the National Museum of Scotland. This awesome museum is totally free and has exhibits on everything from dinosaurs to space travel. You could spend hours here!
Free photo op
Take the elevator to the 7th floor for a free panoramic view of Edinburgh from the museum's roof terrace.
National Museum to Calton Hill
(20-minute walk)
From the museum, walk east along Chambers Street, then north on North Bridge. This will take you to Princes Street, the main shopping street in Edinburgh's New Town.
Cross Princes Street and keep going east until you reach Calton Hill. It's a bit of a climb to the top, but the views are totally worth it!
Free attractions on Calton Hill:
National Monument: This looks like an ancient Greek ruin but was actually never finished.
Nelson Monument: Climb to the base for free views of the city.
City Observatory: Check out this cool old building where astronomers used to study the stars.
New Town to Haymarket
Calton Hill to Princes Street Gardens
(15-minute walk)
Head back down Calton Hill and walk west along Princes Street. You'll pass by lots of shops and cafes. On your right, you'll see the Scott Monument, a huge Gothic tower dedicated to writer Sir Walter Scott.
Keep walking until you reach Princes Street Gardens, a beautiful park right in the centre of the city.
Free photo op
Find the Ross Fountain in the gardens for a perfect picture with Edinburgh Castle in the background.
Princes Street Gardens to Haymarket
(20-minute walk)
Exit the gardens at their west end and walk along Shandwick Place. Turn off at the large Gladstone Memorial Statue at Shandwick Place tram stop. Short walk down Walker Street and take a left onto William Street. You're only 7 minutes walk away from your bed at The Haymarket Hotel so this might be a good place to stop for dinner or a spot of shopping to round off the day. We have a whole blog dedicated to the hidden gem that is William Street here.
Cross Manor Place and take the path through St Marys Cathedral. Stop in for free and to hear the organ player practising if you're lucky. Left down Palmerston Place, left again along Glencairn Crescent, past all the Georgian buildings until you return to Coates Gardens and The Haymarket Hotel for a well-deserved rest!
Extra Tips:
Wear comfortable shoes! This tour involves a lot of walking and some hills.
Bring a water bottle. Scotland has some of the freshest water in the world so no need to buy plastic bottles of water. Just ask for a refill at a cafe or pub.
Edinburgh weather can be unpredictable. Bring a light jacket or umbrella just in case.
If you get tired, don't worry! Edinburgh has a great bus system. You can hop on a bus at any point to get back to Haymarket.
Extra Paid Attractions:
If you have some extra money to spend, here are some cool paid attractions along the route:
Camera Obscura and World of Illusions on the Royal Mile: Full of optical illusions and tricks.
Dynamic Earth, near Holyrood: An interactive journey through Earth's history.
The Scotch Whisky Experience, on the Royal Mile: Learn about Scotland's famous drink (for adults only!).
This tour takes you through the heart of Edinburgh, showing you both famous landmarks and hidden gems. You'll see ancient history in the Old Town, beautiful Georgian architecture in the New Town, and plenty of amazing views along the way. By the time you get back to Haymarket Hotel, you'll have seen the very best of what Edinburgh has to offer - all for free! Have fun exploring our amazing city, and as always, enjoy your stay!
