Private tour in Edinburgh John M
5.0
(8) reviews
6 hours
30 minutes
1
6 hours
30 minutes
1
John M.
5.0
Guide rating
55
Reviews
Tours delivered
12 hrs
Avg. response time
Welcome to Scotland, and to Edinburgh in particular! Edinburgh is a wonderful place to explore and discover, shimmering with the life of the present, glowing with shades of the past, full of visual surprises and stunning views. I am a native Scot, and have lived my whole life here in Edinburgh. I have been showing friends, family and visitors to my beautiful city and country for many years, and love introducing guests to what makes Edinburgh such a fascinating and many-sided city. I am a graduate in history from Cambridge University, with a Scottish legal training. I am deeply interested in the history, architecture, literature and culture of my native land, and really enjoy sharing this with others of all backgrounds and ages. It is my constant pleasure to share my enthusiasm and show visitors old and young both what it is like to live in contemporary Scotland, as well as what life was like here in the past, what has made us what we are. My tours are designed to entertain and inform travellers not only about the best known places, but also the quirky and unexpected. When I am not guiding visitors, I am an enthusiastic reader of history and literature and enjoy walking, landscape and fishing. I have extensive experience in guiding individuals, family groups, and shore excursions both on short, whole day and longer tours in Edinburgh and throughout Scotland. I look forward to showing you the sights and sounds of my native place. I am a graduate in History (M.A. Cambridge), and in law (Ll.B., Edinburgh), and a lover of Scotland's and Edinburgh's culture and history, with many years' experience of showing visitors round my home country and city. I do not have any restrictions in regard to my guiding, I can offer a full range of experiences.
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message John M.
See my beloved city through the eyes of a loving, if critical, native! Edinburgh is sometimes seen as a dignified and beautiful old lady, but it is also like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, the double character created by its most famous writer, Robert Louis Stevenson. The New Town, so full of grand buildings, long vistas and public gardens is the nice Dr Jekyll; while the mediaeval Old Town with its countless narrow alleys (closes), high buildings and frankly gory past, is the wicked Mr Hyde. Explore the Royal Mile and see highlights as well as gruesome balackspots. Promenade the New Town's broad streets, peeking beneath the genteel curtains at the secrets behind the rich facades. Find out how you can visit Canada (Nova Scotia) while not leaving Edinburgh. Discover why the World's End pub really is (for some at least) the end of the world. And all while enjoying one of the most visually arresting city landscapes in the world.
We had a private tour with John M. in Edinburgh. He's a lifelong resident, and was extremely pleasant and knowledgeable. I had several communications, via the website, with John prior to the tour so he knew what we wanted to do and was accommodating and helpful. I had never used the Tours By Locals website before, and think it's terrific, especially if ones doing tours from a cruise.
We provided a detailed review right after the tour with this excellent guide, but somehow TBL deleted it. We have nothing but positive things to say about it.
Extremely knowledgeable! If you like history, this is your guide!
Had a great tour with John. He has a deep knowledge of Edinbourgh and it's history. Would recommend John for any tour around Edinbourgh.
We spent a wonderful day with John touring Edinburgh. He met us at the cruise terminal and then gave us an overview of the city including a stop at the home of Robert Louis Stevenson before taking us to tour Edinburgh Castle. We enjoyed our lunch at a local fish and chip restaurant and went on to complete the tour with stops along the royal mile. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with John. The tour was interesting and very informative. He even managed to stop at a pharmacy for us. Highly recommended!
Mr McPhee was a wealth of knowledge. Loved that he walked around with us and told us so much along the way. Beautiful town.
- From your port, we will drive into the city passing through the Georgian New Town to admire its neoclassical architecture and spectacular views before crossing into the Old Town and the Castle Esplanade. If you would like, we can then visit the Castle before gradually descending the Royal Mile to Holyrood Palace, exploring the buildings, history, lifestyle and culture of the old Town. - Find out how the shape of the city influenced cultural and social life, and how the modern and the ancient co-exist today. - While we will have a car to carry ur, there will be some walking, so sturdy walking shoes or boots are recommended at all seasons, along with wind/waterproof clothing as appropriate. This is a suggested itinerary, let me know what you would like to see and do and I will customize the tour accordingly.
Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.
Our main transport will be a rental car/people carrier. We will get out and walk at various times, though. Distances covered on foot may be about 1 mile at a time.
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
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AI-generated. Please confirm details with your guide
6 hours
30 minutes
1
6 hours
30 minutes
1
If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a 20% deposit!
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