Edinburgh’s Old Town Highlights: The Origin of Scottish Design

If you’re curious about the origins of Scottish design then join me, an architecture tutor and tour guide, on a walking tour in the atmospheric Old Town. Together we’ll explore the fascinating historical buildings that give the area its character, and admire award-winning contemporary architecture like the famous Scottish Parliament.

On this tour, we’ll meander through narrow closes, beneath stepped gables and turrets, pausing at breathtaking viewpoints. I’ll also show you the easy-to-miss details on the buildings, and share old maps and drawings as we walk Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile.

Along the way, you’ll see:

• The oldest tenement on the Royal Mile
• An unusual, lesser-known side of the National Museum of Scotland
• The difficult-to-find Riddle’s Court, once a merchant's house
• The elegant Sugarhouse Close, a beautifully-restored 19th century brewery
• The sweeping views from Victoria Terrace

Along the way, I’ll also answer questions like:

• Is the Old Town really that old?
• Which medieval Scottish castles inspired Victorian buildings in Edinburgh?
• Why did construction of the Scottish Parliament go ten times over budget?

Discover Edinburgh’s complex history through the lens of its most influential architects, on a 90 minute walk.