Natpacker | Backpacking by a girl called Nat

Home / Destinations / Sandemans Edinburgh Tours

Sandemans Edinburgh Tours

free walking tour edinburgh sandemans

Just arrived in Edinburgh and feeling daunted by how much there is to see and do? Not got much time to explore but want to make the most of your trip? Looking for an Edinburgh tour to help you find your feet? Why not try one of the Sandemans New Europe Tours in Edinburgh?

Sandemans Tours include a free walking tour in every city you find them, along with extra tours that have a small fee. The Sandemans Free Walking Tour is a great way to get your bearings in this city which is crammed full of history and sightseeing opportunities. In my mind, the free tour is one of the best walking tours in Edinburgh and I’ve been on it a few times. Here’s a little overview of the Sandeman New Europe tours in the capital of Scotland.

The Sandemans Edinburgh Tours (also known as New Edinburgh Tours) are run by self-employed local guides, so they really know the city. The guides use a mixture of history and storytelling to create an “informal, entertaining and unforgettable tour”. Each guide has their own personal and unique style, so every tour is different.

natpacker At The Meeting Point For Sandemans Edinburgh Tours

All Ready For The Free Walking Tour Of Edinburgh

These self-employed guides work for tips, so although it is a free tour, if you feel they have done a good job remember to tip what you can – but the guides will never pressure you for a tip. And if your free tour leaves you wanting more, there are five additional Sandemans Tours in Edinburgh. There is a charge for these extra tours, but they’re a great way to expand on what you were told on the Free Walking Tour.

Here are the different tours that they offer (all information correct at time of writing):

Sandemans Free Walking Tour of Edinburgh

This Edinburgh Free Tour gives you a great base of knowledge of Edinburgh’s’ history and stories, as well as helping to find your bearings in this city filled with windy alleys and shortcuts. Depending on your guide (as each guide will have their own route and stories to tell) you will be told about and see main tourist sites like Greyfriars Bobby , Mercat Cross and the Writers Museum.

You’ll also hear tales of Bodysnatchers and the real Jekyll and Hyde. And for the Harry Potter fans… the ‘original’ Hogwarts and Voldemorts grave. You’ll meander through the old town of Edinburgh, see the Royal Mile, Grass Market and hear stories of William Wallace and the Stone of Destiny. There’s also a great photo opportunity of Edinburgh Castle.

What’s more, the guides will help you after the tour (if you need it). They’ll happily give you tips on where’s good to eat, accommodation and how to get back to areas that you want to explore further or point out other sights that might interest you.

Grave of Greyfrairs Bobby

Grave of Greyfriars Bobby On Sandemans Edinburgh Tours  

How Much Do You Tip For A Free Walking Tour?

Although this is a free walking tour of Edinburgh, the guides work for tips. They will not pressure you into this, but if you have enjoyed the tour, out of politeness, you should tip. I usually give £10 for a tour, which seems to be the average. Though if I have really loved the guide and thought they have done an amazing job I will double this if I can.

However, it is completely up to you what you tip on a free walking tour. If you can’t afford a £10 tip, give what you can. Just as long as you give something your guide will know you enjoyed the tour.

Most of the guides won’t look what you give, they will simply pocket what you put in their hand whilst talking to you, or some hold out something for you to drop your tip into without looking. So if you can’t afford as much as you would like to tip, you do not need to be embarrassed. Not only will the guides understand, but they do not look so you don’t have to feel uncomfortable.

Edinburgh Castle Tour

The Edinburgh Castle Tour includes admission to the castle itself and you don’t have to queue. You’ll get loads of history on this tour, learn about kings and queens, the dog graveyard and jewels.

After the tour finishes, you’ll have another 1 ½ hours until the castle shuts, so you can explore more on your own. Which you’ll need if you want to explore some of the museums within the castle walls.

NOTE: There is a Charge for the Edinburgh Castle Tour, which includes the Castle Entry Fee

Edinburgh Castle

Explore Edinburgh Castle With Sandemans

Dark Side Tour

The Dark Side Tour with Sandemans covers Edinburgh’s many murderers and monsters. You’ll hear tales of cannibals and vampires, grave robbers and witches, kelpies and selkies to name but a few.

Listen to the tale of the murder of Mary Queen of Scots’ lover and all about Burke and Hare. The Dark Side includes tales of Arthur’s Seat and you will learn about the 17 dolls found there. You can see these dolls in the Museum of Edinburgh , I saw them on my Honeymoon .

For Dickens fans, you may even hear of Scrooge’s grave on this tour.

Note: There is a Charge for the Dark Side Tour you can book this tour here .

Read about my time on the Free and Dark Side Tours in my Day Full Of Tours .

Carlton Hill At Dusk

Carlton Hill On The Dark Side Tour

New Town Tour

The New Town Tour takes you back to the time between 1750 and 1850, the Golden era of Enlightenment.

Find out what happened in these 100 years that changed the face of Scotland and the world. During this time Edinburgh was home to many literacy greats and was the birthplace of great inventors. Hear tales of Sir Walter Scott, John Knoxx and the educational revolution.

Note: There is a Charge for the New Town Tour

Harry Potter Tour

It wouldn’t be a trip to Edinburgh without a little Harry Potter Magic. This tour shows you places that inspired J.K. Rowling, from Diagon Alley to Voldemort’s grave. Hear about the origins of Harry Potter and where characters came from.

You’ll also see where the famous author wrote her books. Learn how Edinburgh’s dark history also gave inspiration for the books.

Note: There is a Charge for the Harry Potter Tour

Diagon Alley Edinburgh

The Original Diagon Alley

Edinburgh Pub Crawl

The Edinburgh Pub Crawl is a cheap way to get a feel for Edinburgh’s nightlife and meet some fun people. You’ll explore watering holes ranging from hidden alley pubs to big clubs. Whatsmore, you get cheap drink deals like ½ price pints as well as a wee dram and 3 shooters being included in the price.

If you love to party, this is the tour for you as if you buy it once you can join again as many times as you like for the whole year. But please remember to drink responsibly, because if the guide feels you have reached your limit you can be cut off from the rest of the tour. The tour aims to show you Edinburgh’s nightlife, not get you legless.

Note: There is a Charge for the Edinburgh Pub Crawl and is for over 18s ONLY

Useful Information For Sandemans Edinburgh Tours

All the Sandemans Edinburgh Tours meet around the same crossroads on the Royal Mile and (very importantly for Scotland) will run whatever the weather. Make sure you’re prepared for the changing weather on the tour as Scottish weather is famous for being unpredictable.

You can either book online (which group bookings of 10 or more must do) or simply turn up about 10-15 minutes before the start of the tour to register/purchase tickets. For tours that have a charge, groups of 10 or more receive a 10% discount.

Sandemans New Europe Meeting Point On The Royal Mile

You Can’t Rally Miss The Meeting Point For Sandemans Edinburgh Tours

The Sandemans Edinburgh Tours are a great way to see the city and learn a lot in a short time. With really helpful and passionate guides, you’ll soon be in love with the city, whichever tour(s) you choose.

Remember the Free Walking Tour is run by self-employed guides, who will not pressure you for tips. But if they’ve done a good job, they deserve a tip.

Want to visit? Take a look at accommodation on  HostelWorld , personally, my favourite hostel in Edinburgh is Castle Rock .

You can also check out more tours in Edinburgh on Get Your Guide .

Sandemans Edinburgh Tours Pin

12 Comments

'  data-srcset=

Edinburgh is my favourite UK city 🙂 I always love a walking tour in a new city, a good way to get to grips with the layout of the place before exploring further on your own.

'  data-srcset=

Edinburgh is my favourite UK city too! So much history there.

'  data-srcset=

This is so interesting, especially the Dark Side Tour! It’s cool how you can see the same city through different lenses/tours. Thanks for sharing!

I’ve done the Dark Side Tour and it is so interesting! Most tour companies in Edinburgh do ghost tours, but I love this one as it tells you about real stuff that happened in Edinburgh. Scary thing one of the stories is quite recent too

'  data-srcset=

This looks like a great tour. I went to Edinburgh university so it was lovely to have a trip down memory lane!

I always wish I’d looked at Edinburgh University after I first went. It’s a beautiful city! Glad you enjoyed the trip down memory lane!

'  data-srcset=

I’ve been to Edinburgh so many times but haven’t gone on a tour of it yet – this one sounds great!

You should definitely take one of the tours, I always find they give a great overview of a city

'  data-srcset=

Oh I can’t wait to get to Edinburgh! Should have been there for Fringe 2020, lets hope we can travel soon!

Oh wow! The Fringe is on my to-do list, it looks amazing. Such a shame you couldn’t go, the pandemic ruined a lot of plans 🙁 Hopefully, we’ll be back to travelling soon! I am hopeful with the jab now out.

'  data-srcset=

I’ve been to Edinburgh, but only shortly. These tours all sound great.

I hope you get to go back and explore Edinburgh fully. Taking the free walking tour gives a great overview of the history of the city 🙂

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Share for others!

Sandeman's New Edinburgh Tours

Photo of Sandeman's New Edinburgh Tours - Edinburgh, EDH, GB.

Review Highlights

Chris K.

“ I'm terrible with names, but did my free tour with a Hufflepuff, and my Castle tour with a red-haired Scottish chap. ” in 9 reviews

Katie S.

“ We had the greatest time on the Darkside Walking Tour in old town Edinburgh w/ tour guide, Angus. ” in 3 reviews

Natasha B.

“ We went on this tour later in the day, after having an equally excellent experience with Angus on the free and very informative walking tour of Old Town. ” in 4 reviews

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

Map

Edinburgh EH1

United Kingdom

Old Town, Newington

About the Business

Edinburgh Historic Walking Tours …

Recommended Reviews

Photo of Username

  • 1 star rating Not good
  • 2 star rating Could’ve been better
  • 3 star rating OK
  • 4 star rating Good
  • 5 star rating Great

Select your rating

Overall rating

Photo of Deana Marie L.

As a solo woman in my thirties, I wasn't sure what to expect from this Harry Potter Tour, but it was fun, educational, and inspiring! Jen Cresswell, our tour guide, was engaging, knowledgeable, and her enthusiasm was contagious! There was a good combination of Edinburgh history and Harry Potter/JK Rowling facts. Also, in comparison to other tours, this tour didn't include as much walking. If you have time to kill in Edinburgh, I highly suggest it! You can see some of this tour in my Edinburgh travel YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qLiFyK2xuY&t=7s https://www.neweuropetours.eu/jen-cresswell-booking-page/?fbclid=IwAR3lrnNKoUEZsQ5zgeMjdktXA3VCZxY2W2THGHPej50d7c2-9ihOzwyvrTA

free walking tour edinburgh sandemans

See all photos from Deana Marie L. for Sandeman's New Edinburgh Tours

Photo of Dugan M.

Our guide Alasdair really made this experience special. He had a way of keeping the entire group engaged while also making it feel like I was just hanging out with a good friend. Without being overly theatrical or dramatic, he exuded both the gravity and humor that these dark stories deserve. He added his own local's touch to make me feel like I was really getting an insider's view of the city. I really appreciated his collection of crazy stories and interesting spaces.

Guide Alasdair describing the view on Calton Hill

Guide Alasdair describing the view on Calton Hill

Photo of Hannah K.

I took the Edinburgh dark side tour and it was great! Heard some fascinating stories and learned a lot. The tours are available in multiple languages. It took me up calton hill, the royal mile, some graveyards, and more.

Photo of Michelle K.

Jen was a great city guide!! So knowledgeable and funny. Thank you for a wonderful introduction to your beautiful city!!

Photo of Katie S.

We had the greatest time on the Darkside Walking Tour in old town Edinburgh w/ tour guide, Angus. We had been in Edinburgh for one day, had walked the Royal Mile, toured the Edinburgh Castle, but still didn't feel like we saw much of this great city. We got to see a lot of cool places we wouldn't normally see and view many landmarks that he was able to describe. We met the group at a central location. There were about 15 in the group and it was very easy to hear and understand Angus, who was extremely entertaining. The tour was not too spooky - more fun storytelling. We enjoyed it greatly and would highly recommend to other travelers!

Photo of Katrina L.

Did the free walking tour with Alastair as the group's guide. He was great - hilarious, friendly, and knowledgeable. The whole tour lasted three hours and you tip whatever you want, so it's definitely worth your money! The tour covers just the Old Town area, but you learn a lot about Edinburgh's history. For Harry Potter fans, the tour also covers pretty much all of the sights/places that were supposedly linked to the creation of Harry Potter. I was planning to do a HP tour (also with Sandeman's) separately, but Alastair was completely honest and said that his tour would cover most of it. I did some Googling and he was right. Would totally recommend for first-time visitors to Edinburgh that are interested in the city's vibrant history!

Photo of Tim F.

Awesome free tour of Edinburgh and highly recommend. This is our second tour with this company (we also recently done one in Paris) and they are just great tours generally. Make sure to reserve online and make sure to bring cash for tipping at the end of the tour. Meeting point is outside the Starbucks on the Royal Mile. Make sure to get there 15 minutes or so before the tour is set to start, as tours can fill up. Our guide, Richard James, although Welsh, has been a resident of the area for 10 years and studied British history at university, and was very knowledgable. Just as important, he has a great ability to tell a good tale and keep the attention of a large and a diverse group of English speaking tourists. Remember they work for tips, so tip well if you end up enjoying the tour as much as I did. Would highly recommend!

Photo of Rachel W.

Can't say enough about how great Paula was as our guide. We had terrific weather, and everyone was in a good mood, and she gave us so much great information. It was just the right pace, and everything was like a story. I wish I had recorded some of them to share with my family. I left a 10 pound tip, hope that was enough?? As an American I struggle with the money. I saw all kinds of things I wanted to see, learned so much, and would definitely do again next place I go. Good for kids, too.

Photo of Onvara A.

I highly recommend taking Sandeman's free tour of Edinburgh. Our tour guide was Fiona, and she was incredible! She was knowledgeable, funny, and entertaining. I don't want to spoil the fun stories and little surprises (especially for Harry Potter fans) that you get during the tour, but I will say that the overview you get of Old Town, Edinburgh is great. Because it's free, tips are encouraged at the end, and the guides definitely deserve it. This tour was better than some tours that I've paid upfront for. My friends and I loved it so much that we decided to go on the paid castle tour with Sandeman's (25 pounds) later that day. Our guide for this tour was Jen, who was good and informative, but the tour covered less than we expected. During the tour, we just walked around on the grounds of the castle, but it was only after the tour that we got to look around inside the buildings and look at the beautiful view.

Photo of Chris K.

I did the free tour with Sandeman as my first thing on the first day I was here. Tour guides are fantastic and work for tips - so they're committed to keeping you engaged and interested throughout, so you will tip them as much as possible by the end to repay their work. The tour spanned ~2.5 hours if I recall right, and covered all of the major sights in Old Town. Fantastic. I loved this free tour so much that I subsequently signed up for the Castle Tour the same afternoon. So much history, but told by such terrifically engaging tour guides. I'm terrible with names, but did my free tour with a Hufflepuff, and my Castle tour with a red-haired Scottish chap. Both fantastic. Would highly recommend doing your city tours with Sandemans and no one else.

2 other reviews that are not currently recommended

Collections Including Sandeman's New Edinburgh Tours

DESTINATION SCOTLAND: EDINBURGH EDITION

DESTINATION SCOTLAND: EDINBURGH EDITION

By Pamela D.

Dolly Mixture

Dolly Mixture

By Eleanor M.

Scotland

By Alexandra M.

Edinburgh

By Stephanie O.

People Also Viewed

Little Fish Tours on Yelp

Little Fish Tours

Rabbie’s Tours on Yelp

Rabbie’s Tours

The Hairy Coo on Yelp

The Hairy Coo

Local Eyes Tours on Yelp

Local Eyes Tours

Mercat Tours on Yelp

Mercat Tours

The Cadies & Witchery Tours on Yelp

The Cadies & Witchery Tours

Mac Tours City Tour on Yelp

Mac Tours City Tour

Secret Food Tours Edinburgh on Yelp

Secret Food Tours Edinburgh

Eat Walk Edinburgh on Yelp

Eat Walk Edinburgh

Highland Experience Tours on Yelp

Highland Experience Tours

Walking Tours Near Me

What to Do Near Me

Other Walking Tours Nearby

Find more Walking Tours near Sandeman's New Edinburgh Tours

Related Cost Guides

Town Car Service

  • Things to Do
  • Restaurants
  • Holiday Rentals
  • Travel Stories
  • Add a Place
  • Travel Forum
  • Travellers' Choice
  • Help Centre

Free walking tour with Alisdair - SANDEMANs NEW Europe - Edinburgh

  • Europe    
  • United Kingdom (UK)    
  • Scotland    
  • Edinburgh    
  • Edinburgh - Attractions    
  • SANDEMANs NEW Europe - Edinburgh

Free walking tour with Alisdair

Great tour! Alisdair was one of the best guides I’ve had. He was informed, educated, social, funny and clearly very passionate about his city and its history. It’s no small feat to keep people entertained and intrigued for two and a half hours in the bitter cold but he managed to do so. The tour included history, interesting tidbits, recommendations etc. I’ll be taking two more tours from this company and one more from this guide. Another thing I liked about the guide is that he was personable and social with all of the tourists. A great experience!

free walking tour edinburgh sandemans

We joined on the free walking tour of Edinburgh by New Edinburgh of Sandemans today. On arrival there was a massive group of tourist so I have to say I was a bit hesitant. However the group quickly got split up, leaving us with about 15 people and our guide, Fiona. I loved how informative the tour was and really enjoyed the little jokes Fiona threw in during all of it. The small break in between was perfect to warm up and the aprox. 2,5 hours flew by. Can highly recommend!

My family and I went on both the free walking tour and the castle tour with Neale and had an exceptional experience both times. It was great to been shown around by a true born and bread local as well. Thank you for your tips, knowledge and hospitality Neale!

As with most of the people on tour, I found this quite interesting because I love Harry Potter! Australian David told us about J.K. Rowling and some of her experiences and inspiration while in Edinburgh. It was great to hear these stories while seeing the relevant locations. I did this one on my own as I don't think my partner would have enjoyed it as much as me! A tour for HP fans.

Greg our tour guide was very informative and enthusiastic throughout with interesting stories to tell. Would highly recommend this tour.

Ali was an incredible guide -- he hosted us on the free walking tour and we loved his style so much we signed up for the castle tour with him for the next day. He delivered incredible stories, kept everything clear and not overcomplicated, and wasn't cheesy at all. The perfect combination of fun and learning. Loved every minute and kept the whole family engaged. Would recommend one of Alistair's tours to anyone.

free walking tour edinburgh sandemans

  • Santiago de Chile
  • Santiago de Compostela

free walking tour edinburgh sandemans

SANDEMANs Tours & Activities

  • San Sebastian
  • Local Experience
  • Private Tour
  • Select Tour
  • Third Party Activity
  • Alternative & Street Art Tours
  • Dark Side & Ghost Tours
  • Excursions & Day Trips
  • Food & Drink Tours
  • International Women's Day
  • New Year's Eve
  • St. Patrick's Day

Old cemetery in Edinburgh during Dark Side Tour

Edinburgh's dark history tour

Prepare yourself for the bone-chilling truth of Edinburgh's dark history.

edinburgh walking tours

3-hour Edinburgh Private City Tour

Enjoy a comprehensive overview of Edinburgh's fascinating history and must-see sites with your priva ...

edinburgh walking tours

2-hour Edinburgh Highlights Private Tour

Make the most out of your visit and discover Edinburgh's top attractions with your private tour guid ...

Haunted places of Edinburgh during the Dark Side Tour

Edinburgh Dark Side Free Walking Tour

No ghost stories - Edinburgh's true history is scary enough!

Discovering the magical world of Harry Potter in Edinburgh

Edinburgh Harry Potter Tour

Discover the magical world of Harry Potter with a walking tour in the city where J.K. Rowling wrote ...

Edinburgh Castle atop Castle Rock

Edinburgh Castle Walking Tour

Our top-rated walking tour of the iconic Edinburgh Castle includes skip-the-line entrance

The Edinburgh Free Tour Group Outside St Giles Cathedral

Free Tour of Edinburgh

Book the original Edinburgh free walking tour and visit many of the city's highlights with a local g ...

Thank you! Your support means more to us than we can express in words. Chris Sandeman and the SANDEMANs Live Community

Give anything you want

Wrong price format. Please enter a valid price.

Please enter a price greater than 0.

Payment is secured with

free walking tour edinburgh sandemans

  • Twitter / X
  • Readers' Choice
  • Food & Drink
  • Arts & Culture
  • Travel Guides

Sandemans Free Edinburgh Tour

Type: Sightseeing , Tours and Excursions

Last updated on August 19, 2016

10Best Says

124 High Street Edinburgh, EH1 1PD

+49 (0)30 510 50030

map

EXPERT TIPS BY: Simon Hill Edinburgh Local Expert

  • Tours and Excursions : "Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather because your tour could last three hours or more."
  • Best for Tours and Excursions Because: Sandemans offer free tours with charismatic and enthusiastic guides.

Things to Do

things to do

Restaurants

restaurants

Nightlife

Best Tours and Excursions in Edinburgh

  • 10 Afternoon Tea Tours
  • 9 The Potter Trail
  • 8 Rabbie's Tours
  • 7 Mercat Tours of Edinburgh
  • 6 Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
  • 5 The Hairy Coo - Free Scottish Highlands Tour
  • 4 Eat Walk Edinburgh
  • 3 City of the Dead Tours
  • 2 Sandemans Free Edinburgh Tour
  • 1 The Cadies and Witchery Tours

Explore Edinburgh

Edinburgh Tourist

Sandemans Tours

Meeting point:  130 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1QS

Sandemans is a large city tour operator, working in 20 cities around the world. Here in Edinburgh, they offer a range of local walking tours and experiences. Including a free, tips-only based tour, where guests pay how much they think the tour is worth. There’s also a range of fixed-price tours, covering different themes.

On the  free tips-based tour , your expert local guide will take you around the city, focusing mainly on the Old Town. Where you’ll see and hear about landmarks including  St Giles’ Cathedral , the  Writers’ Museum , and the  Grassmarket . You’ll learn about many of Edinburgh’s past residents and their fascinating stories. The tours are not scripted, and no two are the same. Each tour lasts about two and a half hours, so you get a thorough introduction to our amazing city. The fixed-price tours cover themes such as the  dark side of Edinburgh ,  Harry Potter locations , the  New Town area  and an  Edinburgh Pub Crawl . There’s also a choice of  private tours  exclusively for your group, which can be tailored for you.

5 things to do with Sandemans Tours

  • Take a walking tour of Edinburgh with an expert local guide.
  • Choose the original free walking tour and pay what you think it is worth at the end.
  • Or choose one of the fixed-price tours, each focusing on different locations or themes.
  • See Edinburgh’s landmarks and attractions and hear the stories behind them.
  • Spot things you might otherwise have missed.

View down the Royal Mile cobbled street in Edinburgh

Related posts

Travelling Gallery Curator Claire Craig with an Untitled piece made from wood by Kenny Hunter

City Art Centre

Edinburgh Dungeon attraction with audience participation

Edinburgh Dungeon

Windows and doorway of National Library of Scotland

National Library of Scotland

logo

Explore Edinburgh with the best-rated Tour Guides

Google My Business rating

Edinburgh Free Tour

The best introduction to edinburgh, secure your space now.

The best-rated Edinburgh Free Walking Tour

  • 10am, 11am & 1pm
  • 154 High Street (Royal Mile)

No card info required

Free Walking Tour of Edinburgh

No trip to Scotland is complete without visiting Edinburgh, its inspiring capital, a cosmopolitan town teeming with genius and culture. On this 2 hours FREE Tour your expert guide will show you the most attractive spots of this seductive city.

Wonderful walking tour

"What a wonderful walking tour with Graeme. A beautiful summer day and an extremely engaging guide. Would definitely book again next time I visit Edinburgh."

Tricia Butterfield

Google (July 23)

It was worth every second

"I did three walking tours with City Explorers and it was worth every second! Definitely recommended. Ashlyn, Emma and Dr Rory were super fun and highly informative."

Sanyukta Desai

Highly recommended!!

"We had a PHENOMENAL ghost tour with Emma! We also had a AMAZING day time walking tour with Glen. Both guides were funny, knowledgeable, and friendly. Could not recommend these tours enough!!!"

Katie Cummings

Free Walking Tour of the Old Town

"Wonderful intro giving us enough info about where to spend our time as well as some great restaurant recommendations. Kenny was amusing, knowledgeable and easy to listen to so I highly recommend this walk."

Annelise Giddings

Google (June 23)

Greyfriars Bobby statue in Edinburgh's Old Town

Tour Description

The FREE Walking Tour starts every day at 10 am, 11 am and 1 pm on The Royal Mile , just in front of a bar called Copper Still (154 High Street).

We believe that everyone, no matter what is one's budget should be able to experience and enjoy what Edinburgh has to offer and we also believe that the price of a tour should correlate with your budget and how much you enjoyed it.

Our Edinburgh FREE Walking Tours are both informative and fun and offer something for everyone.

To ensure the highest quality of our Free Tours, groups of 15 or more people should book a Private Tour .

If you are arranging a booking for a School Group , please book a Private Tour .

This will allow us to give you a more personalized experience. Thanks for your understanding!

Secure your space now for the Edinburgh Free Tour!

Showing up is fine in most cases. However, you will have priority with a booking if tours reach their capacity.

Meeting Point

The FREE Tour starts on The Royal Mile just in front of a bar called Copper Still (154 High Street).

Look for the yellow umbrellas!

Related tours in edinburgh.

Free Ghost Tour

Free Ghost Tour

Every night @ 7pm

Duration: 1.5 hours

Discover the ghostly tales and sinister stories that will get you back to the terrifying past of old Edinburgh.

Free Harry Potter Tour

Free Harry Potter Tour

Every day @ 2pm

Explore the real people and places that inspired JK Rowling to create the Universe of Harry Potter.

Free New Town Tour

Free New Town Tour

Saturday @ 2pm

Duration: 2 hours

Discover the finest part of town and the role Edinburgh played as a center of the Enlightment in Europe.

Edinburgh Castle Tour

Edinburgh Castle Tour

Every day @ 10am, 12.15pm & 1.30pm

Get the best value of your visit to Edinburgh Castle and jump the queue with our skip-the-line tickets.

Edinburgh Pub Crawl

Fri & Sat @ 8pm

Duration: 4.5 hours

Meet amazing people from all over the world and enjoy Edinburgh nightlife at its best 7 nights a week.

Edinburgh Travel Guide

Useful information.

Travel tips you need to know before visiting Edinburgh.

Sightseeing

Discover the most unmissable attractions in Edinburgh.

Things to do

The ultimate guide to things to do in Edinburgh.

Food and drink

Edinburgh's best restaurants, bars and pubs.

Where to stay

Find out the best places to stay in Edinburgh.

Discover how to travel around Edinburgh.

Address 154 High Street Edinburgh EH1 1QS

Email [email protected]

Phone +44 (0) 7858 992030

Leave us a message

We will get in touch with you within 24 hours (most messages are answered within 2 hours during normal business times).

City Explorers WhatsApp

  • Edinburgh Tourism
  • Edinburgh Holiday Rentals
  • Edinburgh Photos
  • Edinburgh Map
  • All Edinburgh Hotels
  • Edinburgh Hotel Deals
  • Last Minute Hotels in Edinburgh
  • Edinburgh Campsites
  • Edinburgh Hostels
  • Business Hotels Edinburgh
  • Family Hotels Edinburgh
  • Edinburgh Green Hotels
  • Romantic Hotels in Edinburgh
  • Luxury Hotels in Edinburgh
  • Spa Hotels in Edinburgh
  • Edinburgh Resorts
  • 5-stars Hotels in Edinburgh
  • 4-stars Hotels in Edinburgh
  • 3-stars Hotels in Edinburgh
  • Marriott Hotels in Edinburgh
  • Hilton Hotels in Edinburgh
  • InterContinental (IHG) Hotels in Edinburgh
  • Staycity Hotels in Edinburgh
  • OYO Hotels in Edinburgh
  • Holiday Inns Express in Edinburgh
  • DoubleTree by Hilton Hotels in Edinburgh
  • Apex Hotels in Edinburgh
  • Courtyard (Marriott Bonvoy) Hotels in Edinburgh
  • Novotel Hotels in Edinburgh
  • Leonardo Hotels in Edinburgh
  • Hotels Indigo in Edinburgh
  • Edinburgh Hotels with Parking
  • Pet Friendly Hotels in Edinburgh
  • Edinburgh Hotels with a Pool
  • Old Town Hotels
  • New Town Hotels
  • West End Hotels
  • Princes Street and Gardens Hotels
  • Broughton & Calton Hotels
  • Cowgate Hotels
  • Leith Hotels
  • Murrayfield Hotels
  • Southside & Holyrood Hotels
  • Airport Hotels
  • Apartment Hotels Edinburgh
  • Boutique Hotels in Edinburgh
  • Downtown Edinburgh Hotels
  • Luxury Spa Hotels Edinburgh
  • Cheap Hostels in Edinburgh
  • Discount Hotels in Edinburgh
  • Edinburgh Hotels with Heated Pool
  • Edinburgh Hotels with Walk-in Shower
  • Edinburgh Hiking Resorts
  • Edinburgh Hotels with Steam Room
  • Things to Do
  • Restaurants
  • Holiday Rentals
  • Travel Stories
  • Add a Place
  • Travel Forum
  • Travellers' Choice
  • Help Centre

What is the recommended tip for this free tour?

  • Europe    
  • United Kingdom (UK)    
  • Scotland    
  • Edinburgh    
  • Things to do in Edinburgh    
  • SANDEMANs NEW Europe - Edinburgh

SANDEMANs NEW Europe - Edinburgh Questions & Answers

free walking tour edinburgh sandemans

Somewhere between £5-10 per person, depending on how much you enjoyed it.

free walking tour edinburgh sandemans

Hi there. I saw people tipping all amounts. Some people tipped £5. Some more. Myself and my boyfriend tipped £20 because it was a 2.5 hour tour with a very charismatic guide and we gave what we felt it was worth!

free walking tour edinburgh sandemans

The guides on the free tours have to pay a per-head marketing/administrative fee to Sandemans based on the number of people there at the start of the tour. The fee can actually be *several euros per person*, so you want to make sure you are compensating your guide and not creating a situation where he or she could incur a loss.

free walking tour edinburgh sandemans

I think the tip should match what you would have paid for a similar tour I.e. approximately £15-18 each. We chose to give £20 each because Fiona was terrific. I'm sure many people are less able to pay or just not very generous.

free walking tour edinburgh sandemans

I was very happy with my tour. My husband and I gave £20.

free walking tour edinburgh sandemans

Sandemans gives a statement up front stating that you decide how much you believe they deserve, after taking the full tour.. so if you love it, tip higher- hate it- tip lower? We really loved our guide so we gave her what we thought an equivalent tour would cost. Hope this helps!

free walking tour edinburgh sandemans

Browse nearby

Ask a question.

Get quick answers from SANDEMANs NEW Europe - Edinburgh staff and past visitors.

Free Walking Tour: Sandemans

This listing is from a previous year, search current listings »

Free Walking Tour: Sandemans

Sandemans New Edinburgh Tours

On this guided walking tour of Edinburgh, an expert guide will show you all the city has to offer. From the narrow alleyways off the Royal Mile to the majestic castle, this tour will bring history to life and show you the sights to define your trip to Scotland's capital. The best way to see the city in two-and-a-half hours. Don't forget to explore the best this city has to offer whilst in town for the festival!

We offer tours in English, Spanish and German, therefore we are a great resource for Spanish and German speakers also.

Text supplied by third party.

Performance times

We have no details of upcoming performances, if you do please let us know .

IMAGES

  1. Edinburgh Free Tour

    free walking tour edinburgh sandemans

  2. Edinburgh

    free walking tour edinburgh sandemans

  3. Edinburgh Free Tour

    free walking tour edinburgh sandemans

  4. Free Tour von Edinburgh

    free walking tour edinburgh sandemans

  5. Should you go on a Sandemans free tour of Edinburgh?

    free walking tour edinburgh sandemans

  6. Free Tour von Edinburgh

    free walking tour edinburgh sandemans

VIDEO

  1. Edinburgh Festival Fringe

  2. Beautiful Edinburgh Old Town 4K

  3. EDINBURGH SCOTLAND, WALKING TOUR, EDINBURGH CITY WALK, VICTORIA STREET, GORGEOUS SUNNY DAY, 4K60FPS

  4. Walking tour Edinburgh @Mike-wx8dj

  5. Edinburgh Walk

  6. What Not To Do In Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 #Travel #Scotland #TravelTips #PlacesToVisit

COMMENTS

  1. Free Tour of Edinburgh

    The gratuity-based Free Tour is the best introduction to Edinburgh! A general overview tour including many of the highlights of the city, the Free Tour usually lasts around 2.5 hours and is provided by a local freelance guide in partnership with SANDEMANs NEW Europe, so tour content can vary depending on your guide's particular area of ...

  2. SANDEMANs NEW Europe

    Tours and Tickets by SANDEMANs NEW Europe - Edinburgh. Edinburgh Darkside Walking Tour: Mysteries, Murder and Legends. 2,415. City Tours. 2 hours. The atmospheric city of Edinburgh is best explored by night, when tales of mystery and murder are at their most frightening…. Free cancellation.

  3. Sandemans Edinburgh

    The Sandemans Free Walking Tour is a great way to get your bearings in this city which is crammed full of history and sightseeing opportunities. In my mind, the free tour is one of the best walking tours in Edinburgh and I've been on it a few times. Here's a little overview of the Sandeman New Europe tours in the capital of Scotland.

  4. Best free walking tour

    SANDEMANs NEW Europe - Edinburgh: Best free walking tour - See 25,016 traveler reviews, 3,460 candid photos, and great deals for Edinburgh, UK, at Tripadvisor.

  5. Excellent FREE walking tour

    SANDEMANs NEW Europe - Edinburgh: Excellent FREE walking tour - See 24,713 traveler reviews, 3,445 candid photos, and great deals for Edinburgh, UK, at Tripadvisor.

  6. Awesome Free Walking Tour of Edinburgh

    SANDEMANs NEW Europe - Edinburgh: Awesome Free Walking Tour of Edinburgh - See 25,027 traveller reviews, 3,460 candid photos, and great deals for Edinburgh, UK, at Tripadvisor.

  7. Sandemans Edinburgh Free Tour

    Discover more about Sandemans Edinburgh Free Tour - one of the top attractions in Edinburgh, Edinburgh and Lothian, including entry prices, opening hours, facilities and more. ... On this FREE 3 hour walking tour they cover all the main sights of the Old City of Edinburgh. Starting on the famous Royal Mile, they lead you through the windy ...

  8. SANDEMANs NEW Edinburgh Tours

    SANDEMANs NEW Edinburgh Tours, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 7,477 likes · 237 were here. ‍♂️Birth place of the Free Tour ⭐️ Incredible walking tours, day trips & experiences across Europe, ...

  9. Sandeman's New Edinburgh Tours

    Specialties: Edinburgh Historic Walking Tours Established in 2007. SANDEMANs New Edinburgh was founded in 2007 by SANDEMANs New Europe. Our mission is to ensure that everyone is able to experience a world-class tour in the cities that we operate in. Our aim is redefine industry standards and set new expectations for the market as a whole. And to support local communities and to give a voice to ...

  10. Free walking tour with Alisdair

    SANDEMANs NEW Europe - Edinburgh: Free walking tour with Alisdair - See 25,030 traveler reviews, 3,460 candid photos, and great deals for Edinburgh, UK, at Tripadvisor.

  11. Edinburgh

    Edinburgh Castle Walking Tour. Our top-rated walking tour of the iconic Edinburgh Castle includes skip-the-line entrance. Info & Booking £ 35. Free Tour - Tips-based.

  12. Sandemans Free Edinburgh Tour is one of the very best things to do in

    Sandemans Free Edinburgh Tour: These free tours of Edinburgh work on a tips only basis and will introduce you to some of the highlights of the city. The exact tour you'll get depends on the guide but you can expect plenty of history, some great story-telling, and a food or drink stop. You should get a real insight into the history of Edinburgh but you can also expect to explore some of the ...

  13. Free walking tour in Old Town Edinburgh

    SANDEMANs NEW Europe - Edinburgh: Free walking tour in Old Town Edinburgh - See 24,995 traveller reviews, 3,457 candid photos, and great deals for Edinburgh, UK, at Tripadvisor.

  14. Sandemans Tours

    Sandemans Tours. Meeting point: 130 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1QS. Sandemans is a large city tour operator, working in 20 cities around the world. Here in Edinburgh, they offer a range of local walking tours and experiences. Including a free, tips-only based tour, where guests pay how much they think the tour is worth.

  15. SANDEMANs NEW Europe

    1-2 hours. With an inordinate amount of historic attractions to go see, you won't want to waste any time during your vacation in Edinburgh…. Recommended by 95% of travellers. from. £42. per adult. Reserve. JK Rowling' s Harry Potter Walking Tour in Edinburgh. 447.

  16. Free walking tour edinburgh

    SANDEMANs NEW Europe - Edinburgh: Free walking tour edinburgh - See 24,822 traveler reviews, 3,451 candid photos, and great deals for Edinburgh, UK, at Tripadvisor.

  17. Edinburgh FREE Tour

    Tour Description. The FREE Walking Tour starts every day at 10 am, 11 am and 1 pm on The Royal Mile, just in front of a bar called Copper Still (154 High Street). We believe that everyone, no matter what is one's budget should be able to experience and enjoy what Edinburgh has to offer and we also believe that the price of a tour should ...

  18. What is the recommended tip for this free tour?

    SANDEMANs NEW Europe - Edinburgh, Edinburgh: "What is the recommended tip for this free tour?" | Check out 7 answers, plus see 25,027 reviews, articles, and 3,460 photos of SANDEMANs NEW Europe - Edinburgh, ranked No.538 on Tripadvisor among 2,045 attractions in Edinburgh.

  19. Free Walking Tour: Sandemans

    Sandemans New Edinburgh Tours On this guided walking tour of Edinburgh, an expert guide will show you all the city has to offer. From the narrow alleyways off the Royal Mile to the majestic castle, this tour will bring history to life and show you the sights to define your trip to Scotland's capital.