Edinburgh George Street Tours

Guided Tours of Edinburgh's world famous George Street

Let our guide introduce you to the New Town of Edinburgh. Enjoy a two-hour walk along George Street, which was to be the main street of Edinburgh's New Town, when it was first designed by 22-year old James Craig in 1766. You will see at every interchange, a statue to a famous Scot or King.

Meet our guide at the Rose Fountain in Princes Street Gardens, which was originally 'Nor Loch' where the sewage was drained down from the Old Town. The walk will take you first past Alexander Graham Bell's house, West Register House, The First Minister's official residence - Bute House - and on down George Street with its notable buildings and statues.

Taking a hot or cold drink along the way, hear the history of the New Town's beginings, learning about life in the eighteenth century Edinburgh and how it has grown out of the Old Town. Ending our walk with a look inside the beautiful main city branch of the Bank of Scotland and the Royal Bank of Scotland's Head Office in St Andrew's Square.

George Street Tours

Departing:

From the Rose Fountain in lower Princes Street Gardens, close to St John's Church at the West End of Princes Street

Departure Times:

10.30am and 2pm - Mon Wed Fri and Sun only 10.30am
April until September (excluding 9th until 22nd Aug)

Prices:

Adults £10 Senior Citizens/Students/Children £6
Groups over 15 - £8

Bookings:

Please book in advance on our 24 hour telephone service: 0131 661 2492
We accept all major debit /credit cards
Please arrive 5 mins before tour departure time

The History of Edinburgh's George Street

The other main streets in Craig's Plan were Queen Street and Princes Street, flanking George Street on the north and on the south Castle Street with Frederick Street and Hanover Street forming a grid. It was to be another quarter of a century before all the houses in George Street were built. However the street layout is still the same as it appears in Craig's Plan. The extension of the New Town west, north and east happened between 1802 and 1822.

Our Guides will introduce you to a different Edinburgh from the Old Town, more affluent buildings of merchants moving their families to a cleaner and safer place. The main street of this new town is much wider than the Old Town so the larger and grander carriages could pass without incident. It is 115ft wide with the main squares of St Andrew and Charlotte at each end. Charlotte Square was named after the wife of George III, the orginator of George Street. The houses are much grander here too with enough room to accommodate the servants of the now new rich.

Although George Street was originally a residential area, during the 19th and 20th centuries several financial institutions set their Head and Regional Offices in these houses. As times have changed, these offices have been replaced by many bars, nightclubs and up-market shops.