The History Behind Outlander Tour

The best part of The History Behind Outlander Tour is the way it ties fiction to real Edinburgh places. You walk from the Royal Mile to Canongate Kirkyard, stopping at sites linked to the Jacobite era and to the show, including Bakehouse Close, the setting used for Alexander Malcolm’s Printshop.

I like the period clothing and weapons display, which give the history some welcome weight, and I like the way guides such as Adi connect the streets to the Jacobite rebellion instead of treating Outlander as a string of photo stops. The main drawback is the small amount of time at each location, and the non-refundable booking policy means you need to be sure of your plans.

Key points to know before booking

• Bakehouse Close links directly to Alexander Malcolm’s Printshop, one of the tour’s strongest Outlander connections.
• Adi and other period-clad guides bring the Jacobite period to life with stories, weapons, and practical detail.
• The route stays in Edinburgh’s Old Town, ending at Canongate Kirkyard near Holyroodhouse.
• A full weapons display is included, and you may handle legitimate historical parts of the collection.
• The tour costs $89.29 per person for about two hours, which is fair if you value both the show and Scottish history.
• The group can reach 34 people, so you should expect a guided walk rather than a private experience.

Why this Outlander walk works in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a strong setting for an Outlander tour because the Old Town still gives you narrow closes, old stone walls, churchyards, and ceremonial streets in a compact area. You are not riding between distant film locations. You are walking through the same historic core where the tour can explain the show beside the real places that inspired or represented its world.

The focus is not only on Claire and Jamie. You hear about the Jacobite rebellion, the Scottish Parliament, the Jacobite court, weapons, local characters, and the loyalties that shaped eighteenth-century Scotland. That wider frame matters. If you know the television series well, it helps separate documented events from dramatic invention. If you do not know every plot detail, the tour can still work as a short introduction to Edinburgh’s political and social past.

The experience is led by a local history expert in period clothing. Adi is specifically praised for his enthusiasm, attention to the group, and ability to connect Edinburgh sites to the show. That combination is useful here. A guide who only recites dates would miss the fun, while a guide who only performs the fiction would leave you with little sense of the actual rebellion.

You should plan on roughly two hours. The route begins at 2:00 pm outside the VisitScotland Edinburgh iCentre at 249 High Street and ends at Canongate Kirkyard. Since the stops sit along the Old Town’s historic streets, expect walking on uneven stone and some standing while the guide talks. A moderate level of fitness is advised.

Starting on the Royal Mile at 2:00 pm

The Royal Mile is an easy meeting point, but it is also one of Edinburgh’s busiest streets. Arrive with enough time to find the VisitScotland iCentre at 249 High Street and get settled before the 2:00 pm start.

The first ten minutes are used for introductions and a quick explanation of how the tour works. That sounds basic, but it gives you a chance to understand the route before the group moves into the tighter lanes and closes of the Old Town.

The Royal Mile is also a good place to begin the story because it links the castle end of Edinburgh with Holyroodhouse. As you set off, the guide can place the later stops within the old center of political and royal life. You get the broad picture first, then move into smaller spaces where the Outlander references become more specific.

Mercat Cross and the public life of old Edinburgh

The next stop is Mercat Cross, where the guide spends about ten minutes discussing Edinburgh’s past and the landmark’s place in city tradition. This is a useful pause early in the walk because it shifts the focus from television scenery to the public life of the city.

Mercat Cross helps explain how announcements, trade, and civic events shaped Edinburgh. The stop is short, so you should not expect a full lecture on every part of the city’s past. Instead, it provides context for the political tensions that appear later in the tour.

This is one of the points where the guide’s delivery matters most. The tour’s strongest praise centers on guides who make the period clear and engaging without turning it into a gimmick. You are getting a walking tour with a theatrical touch, but the aim is still to explain people, power, and conflict.

Parliament Square and the road to Jacobite rebellion

At Parliament Square, the group spends another ten minutes discussing the old seat of power in Edinburgh and the events that helped set the stage for the Jacobite uprisings. This stop gives the tour its political backbone.

The Jacobite cause cannot be reduced to a simple battle between two sides. The tour uses this part of the route to introduce the Scottish power struggle and the conditions that shaped the rebellion. For an Outlander fan, that background gives more meaning to the characters’ loyalties and dangers. For a visitor mainly interested in Scotland, it offers a compact explanation of why the period was so unsettled.

The stop is outdoors, and the square can be busy. Keep your attention on the guide rather than expecting a long period to wander or take photographs. The reward here is the explanation, not a major filming-site reveal.

Bakehouse Close and Alexander Malcolm’s Printshop

Bakehouse Close is likely to be the high point for many fans. The group spends about 25 minutes in this more secluded part of Edinburgh, where the location doubled for Alexander Malcolm’s Printshop.

This stop has more substance than a quick photograph. The guide connects the place to the show, then moves into the weapons and armaments used by Jacobite soldiers. That combination makes the visit feel grounded. You see the setting associated with the story, while the weapons display gives you a physical sense of the period’s warfare.

The display is one of the tour’s most praised features. You can expect a full presentation of weapons, with the guide explaining the objects rather than simply carrying them as costume props. The experience includes the chance to handle legitimate historical parts of the collection, according to the tour details. That is a useful distinction for anyone tired of film-themed walks that offer little beyond a costume and a familiar name.

Bakehouse Close is also a practical reminder that Edinburgh’s Old Town is made of small, irregular spaces. The close is atmospheric, but it may feel tight if the group reaches the maximum of 34 people. You should be ready to listen while standing close to others, and you may need patience when taking photographs.

Chessel’s Court and the story of Deacon Brodie

The walk continues to Chessel’s Court for about 15 minutes. Here the guide tells the story of Deacon Brodie, one of Edinburgh’s most mischievous historical figures.

This stop broadens the tour beyond the Jacobites and Outlander. Brodie’s story adds a local character study, showing that Edinburgh’s past was shaped not only by kings, rebels, and soldiers, but also by people whose private lives were far less respectable than their public roles.

Chessel’s Court is another tucked-away Old Town location, so it fits the tour’s aim of showing you corners you might miss on a straightforward Royal Mile walk. Do not expect a long visit or a full biography. The value is in hearing a memorable local tale in the kind of setting where it makes sense.

Holyroodhouse and the Jacobite court

The tour reaches the outside of the Palace of Holyroodhouse for about 15 minutes. The guide discusses the Jacobite court and the Scottish Parliament, tying the royal setting to the political story introduced earlier.

You do not receive admission to the palace, and the tour ends outside the building rather than taking you through its rooms. That is important when judging the price. If you want an interior palace visit, you will need to arrange that separately. If you already plan to visit Holyroodhouse, this stop can work well as historical context before or after your own palace visit.

The exterior gives the guide a fitting place to talk about court politics and royal claims. It also provides a change of scale after the close lanes and courtyards. You get a broader view and some good photo opportunities, though the amount of free time remains limited because the walk has a set route and finish.

Canongate Kirk and a Jacobite-era churchyard

The final part of the tour takes you into Canongate Kirk and its historic graveyard, where the group spends about 15 minutes visiting the resting places of important figures connected with the Jacobite uprisings.

This ending suits the subject. After hearing about rebellion, loyalty, weapons, and political power, you finish among graves rather than at a souvenir shop or a generic viewpoint. The churchyard adds a quieter note and reminds you that these events involved real people, not only television characters.

The tour ends at Canongate Kirkyard on Canongate, near the Palace of Holyroodhouse. That location is useful for continuing your afternoon in the Old Town, though the tour does not provide onward transport. You can treat the walk as a short history lesson before exploring the area on your own.

What $89.29 buys you

At $89.29 per person, this is not the cheapest way to walk the Royal Mile. The value depends on how much you want the combination of Outlander references, local history, a period-clad guide, and the weapons display.

A standard Old Town walk may cover some of the same streets for less money. This tour earns its higher price through its focused subject and added presentation. You are paying for a guide who links specific show locations to the Jacobite period, not simply for access to public streets. The included weapons display and sample Scottish delights also add something beyond a basic commentary walk.

The two-hour duration keeps the cost from becoming an all-day commitment. You can fit it into an afternoon without giving up a major portion of your Edinburgh visit. Still, the group size can reach 34 people, so the price does not buy a private guide or a quiet, custom-paced outing.

I would see the tour as good value for a committed Outlander fan, a visitor with limited time, or anyone who wants a lively introduction to the Jacobite period. I would think twice if you are mainly looking for a palace admission ticket, a small-group tour, or a detailed academic treatment of Scottish politics.

What to bring and how to prepare

Wear shoes that can handle Edinburgh’s old stone streets. The tour lasts about two hours, includes several walking sections, and involves standing at outdoor sites and in historic lanes.

Weather matters. The experience requires good weather, and poor conditions can lead to a different date or a full refund. Edinburgh weather can shift quickly, so a waterproof layer is sensible even when the afternoon begins dry.

The tour uses a mobile ticket, and confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation. The activity is not listed as fully refundable for personal changes, so check your schedule carefully before booking.

The guide may offer local Scottish tastes during the walk. The details of those samples are not specified, so do not treat this as a food tour. Think of them as a small extra alongside the main history and Outlander content.

Who will enjoy this tour most

You are a strong match if you:

• Know the Outlander series and want to see the Edinburgh locations connected to it.
• Enjoy learning the historical background behind fictional characters and plots.
• Like walking tours with a guide who uses costume and objects to make the subject more vivid.
• Want to visit Bakehouse Close, Chessel’s Court, Holyroodhouse’s exterior, and Canongate Kirkyard in one route.
• Prefer a compact afternoon activity rather than a full-day excursion outside Edinburgh.

You may want another option if you dislike group walks, need a very gentle route, or want extended time at each site. The group may include up to 34 people, and the tour moves through public spaces on a fixed schedule.

The current score is 5 out of 5 from 18 reviews, with 100 percent recommending it. The praise centers on the guide’s enthusiasm, the attention to historical accuracy, the weapons display, and the fact that the tour does not feel like a hollow piece of fan service. Those are the qualities I would use to judge it: the Outlander links should open the door, but the Scottish history needs to hold your attention once you are inside.

Should you book The History Behind Outlander Tour?

Book it if Outlander is a major reason you are visiting Edinburgh, or if you want a lively route through the Jacobite period with real Old Town settings. The stop at Bakehouse Close, the period clothing, and the weapons display give it more substance than a simple filming-location checklist.

Skip it if your priority is entering Holyroodhouse, taking a private walk, or keeping costs as low as possible. For the right audience, $89.29 buys a focused story, a useful route, and a guide-led look at Edinburgh’s past. Just allow for group size, outdoor walking, possible weather changes, and the strict non-refundable policy.

FAQ

Where does The History Behind Outlander Tour start?

It starts at the VisitScotland Edinburgh iCentre, 249 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1YJ, on the Royal Mile.

What time does the tour begin?

The scheduled start time is 2:00 pm.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at Canongate Kirkyard on Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8BN.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately two hours.

Is admission to the Palace of Holyroodhouse included?

No. The tour visits the area outside the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and admission is not included.

Is the tour suitable for someone with limited fitness?

A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended. The activity is a walking tour through Edinburgh’s Old Town.

What is included in the tour?

The tour includes a guided walk, a guide in period clothing, a local history expert, a full weapons display, views and photo opportunities, and samples of local Scottish delights.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes. Service animals are allowed.

Can I cancel for a refund?

The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for personal reasons. If the provider cancels because of poor weather or because the minimum number of participants is not met, you will be offered another date or experience, or a full refund.