The History Behind Outlander Tour

Edinburgh’s Old Town becomes an Outlander set without needing much stage dressing. Cobblestones, dark closes, old courts, and the palace at Holyrood give this two-hour walking tour a strong sense of place, while the guide connects those sights to the Jacobite rebellion and the show’s characters. I especially like the visit to Bakehouse Close, the real setting used for Alexander Malcolm’s printshop, and the full weapons display, which gives the history some weight beyond costume and photo stops.

I also like that the tour treats Outlander as a doorway into Scottish history rather than the whole subject. Guides such as Adi bring energy and explain the period with care, and the route includes lesser-known corners such as Chessel’s Court and the graves of Jacobite figures. The main drawback is the price, $89.29 per person for roughly two hours, so this makes the most sense if you are keen on Outlander or want a focused introduction to Edinburgh’s Jacobite past.

• Alexander Malcolm’s printshop: Step into Bakehouse Close, the Old Town location used for one of the series’ most recognizable settings.
• A real weapons display: Handle and examine historic weapons and learn how Jacobite soldiers were armed.
• Jacobite Edinburgh: Link Parliament Square, Holyroodhouse, and Canongate to the political crisis behind the uprisings.
• Deacon Brodie’s story: Hear about the Edinburgh character whose double life adds a local twist at Chessel’s Court.
• A guide in period clothing: Expect storytelling with a visual connection to the 18th-century setting.
• A compact Old Town route: Finish at Canongate Kirkyard, close to Holyroodhouse and other Old Town sights.

Outlander Begins on the Royal Mile

The tour starts at the VisitScotland Edinburgh iCentre at 249 High Street, at 2:00 pm. This is a practical meeting point on the Royal Mile, but give yourself time to find it. The Old Town has several similar-looking streets and closes, and the group gathers before moving into the route.

The opening ten minutes are used for introductions and an outline of the walk. That short briefing matters because the tour is not only a list of filming locations. You get the basic setup for Edinburgh, the Jacobite period, and the way real events shaped the drama in Outlander.

Your guide wears period clothing, which helps set the mood without turning the experience into a theatrical show. The best guides keep the costume in the background and let the facts do the work. Adi, one of the guides associated with the tour, is especially good at bringing enthusiasm to the subject while staying attentive to the group.

The route is on foot through the Old Town. You will be walking over uneven streets and stopping in courtyards, closes, and historic spaces. Good shoes matter more than fancy clothes here.

Mercat Cross and Edinburgh’s Public Life

Mercat Cross is the first main stop. This landmark is tied to Edinburgh’s civic traditions and gives the guide a useful place to explain how the city worked in earlier centuries.

For an Outlander fan, this is the point where the story widens. The show’s romance and conflict sit inside a society shaped by religion, politics, class, and public power. Mercat Cross helps explain why town squares and public landmarks mattered so much.

The stop lasts about ten minutes and costs nothing to enter. Do not expect a long archaeological visit or an indoor attraction. Its value comes from the explanation and from seeing the place in context with the rest of the Old Town.

I like this early stop because it keeps the tour from rushing straight to a famous screen location. You first get a sense of Edinburgh as a working city, then move toward the political events that drove the Jacobite cause.

Parliament Square and the Road to Rebellion

At Parliament Square, the guide turns to Scottish politics and the old seat of power in Edinburgh. This is where the Jacobite uprisings begin to make sense as more than a dramatic backdrop.

The tour covers the events that set the stage for the rebellions and links them to the people and conflicts represented in Outlander. You will hear about loyalty, competing claims to power, and the forces that drew men into the Jacobite cause.

The stop takes about ten minutes. It is mostly an outdoor talk, so the experience depends on your guide’s ability to explain complicated events in clear language. That is an important point when choosing this tour. If you want a long academic lecture, this is not it. If you want a brisk account that helps you understand the show’s political setting, it fits well.

The route also gives you a useful orientation to the Old Town. You are not being driven from one location to another. You are walking through the same dense medieval center where narrow lanes and formal squares sit close together.

Bakehouse Close and Alexander Malcolm’s Printshop

Bakehouse Close is the heart of the tour for many Outlander fans. This tucked-away part of Edinburgh served as the setting for Alexander Malcolm’s printshop, and the real location has a strong visual connection to the series.

The stop lasts around 25 minutes, making it the longest part of the walk. That extra time allows the guide to talk about the site, the show, and Jacobite weapons and equipment. You also get the tour’s full weapons display here.

The display adds real substance. Instead of only pointing at a doorway and saying it appeared on screen, the guide explains what soldiers carried and how weapons fit into the period. You may be able to handle legitimate historic pieces or parts of them, according to the experience description and the details shared about the display. Listen carefully to the guide’s instructions and treat the objects with care.

This is also one of the best places for photographs. The close is secluded compared with the Royal Mile, though the space can feel tight when a group of up to 34 people gathers. If you want a clear picture of the setting, stay near the guide and be ready when the group arrives.

Bakehouse Close shows why a location tour can work even when you know the series well. You are not simply checking off a screen location. You are seeing how Edinburgh’s actual architecture supplied the mood and structure for the story.

Chessel’s Court and Edinburgh’s Double Life

Chessel’s Court is another less obvious stop. Here the subject shifts to Deacon Brodie, one of Edinburgh’s most notorious figures.

Brodie’s story fits the city’s older themes of respectable public life and secret private behavior. The guide uses him to show how Edinburgh’s real characters could be as dramatic as fictional ones. This is a welcome change of pace after the Jacobite discussion and a reminder that the city’s past includes crime, ambition, and personal scandal as well as battles and politics.

The stop lasts about 15 minutes. It is another outdoor location, so the guide’s storytelling carries most of the experience. I would give this part extra attention even if Deacon Brodie is not your main reason for booking. It adds local character and helps you see Edinburgh as more than a collection of Outlander backdrops.

The Old Town’s courts and closes are important here. Their narrow entrances and tucked-away spaces make the route feel more personal than a standard city walk along the Royal Mile. You are still in central Edinburgh, but the route moves away from the most obvious street views.

Holyroodhouse and the Jacobite Court

The walk continues toward the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The tour ends its palace section outside the building, so admission to the palace is not included.

That detail matters. You should think of this as an exterior history stop, not a palace tour. The guide discusses the Jacobite court and the Scottish Parliament, adding political context to the building and its setting.

Holyroodhouse gives the route a strong finish in scale. After the close quarters of Bakehouse Close and Chessel’s Court, the palace provides a broader view of royal and national power. It also anchors the story in a place that remains one of Edinburgh’s key historic sites.

If you want to visit the palace interior, plan that separately and do not assume you can add it during this experience. The tour is built around the outside route and its storytelling.

Canongate Kirk and the Final Resting Places

The last stop is Canongate Kirk and its kirkyard. The group visits the historic graveyard and discusses people connected with the Jacobite uprisings.

This is a fitting ending. The route has moved from public streets and political power to the people remembered in stone. A graveyard also slows the pace and gives the final section a quieter mood than the weapons display or the busy Royal Mile.

Admission to Canongate Kirkyard is free. The end point is listed at Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8BN, near Holyroodhouse. Since the tour finishes here, you can continue exploring the Old Town afterward, though the experience itself does not include additional sightseeing or transportation.

The itinerary lists about 15 minutes at the kirkyard. As with the other stops, the actual rhythm can vary with the group, weather, and the guide’s presentation. The full activity is advertised at roughly two hours.

What the Guide Adds to the Experience

The guide is the main reason this tour can justify its price. The route itself is easy to walk independently, and the filming locations are not locked behind admission gates. What you are paying for is the connection between places, people, weapons, and events.

A guide in period clothing gives the tour a clear identity. The strongest part is not the costume alone, but the mix of local history and Outlander references. Adi is described as enthusiastic and attentive, with a strong grasp of the period. Other guides may lead the walk, but you can expect the same general format: an expert-led route with historical explanations and screen connections.

The tour also includes samples of local Scottish delights. The supplied details do not specify which foods are served, so treat this as a small extra rather than a meal. If you have dietary restrictions, the available information does not say how those needs are handled, so ask before booking.

The experience has earned a perfect five-star rating from 18 reviews, with 100 percent recommending it. That is a small sample, but the praise is consistent in the areas that matter most: lively guiding, careful historical detail, and the weapons display. One especially useful point is that the experience is not built only on gimmicks. It aims to explain the real period behind the fiction.

Is $89.29 a Fair Price for Two Hours?

At $89.29 per person, this is not a bargain city stroll. You do not receive palace admission, transport, or a full-day excursion. The tour is about two hours, and all scheduled stops are in central Edinburgh.

The value improves if you are a serious Outlander fan. Bakehouse Close, the guide in period clothing, the weapons display, and the links to the Jacobite story give you things that a self-guided photo walk may not provide.

It can also work for someone who knows little about the series but wants a short introduction to Edinburgh’s Jacobite past. The price is harder to justify if you are only mildly interested in Outlander and already plan to explore these streets on your own.

I would compare the cost with your wider Edinburgh plans. If you want a focused, guide-led activity on a free afternoon, it may be worthwhile. If your budget is tight, you could visit the public locations independently and spend the money on an attraction with included admission.

Timing, Fitness, and Group Size

The start time is 2:00 pm, and the group can include as many as 34 people. That is a moderate-sized group, not a private walk. You should expect some waiting when the guide speaks and some crowding in the narrow closes.

A moderate level of physical fitness is required. The information does not specify a total distance or the number of stairs, but the route uses Edinburgh’s Old Town streets, closes, courts, and a kirkyard. Comfortable shoes are a sensible choice.

The tour runs outdoors and requires good weather. If poor weather forces a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. Service animals are allowed, and the route is near public transportation.

The booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. That makes weather protection useful, but it also means you should choose your date carefully and avoid booking it too early in a trip if your plans may shift.

Who Should Book This Edinburgh Walk?

I would recommend it most strongly to three kinds of people:

• Outlander fans who want to connect the series with real Edinburgh locations.
• Visitors interested in the Jacobite period who prefer stories and places to a formal museum visit.
• First-time Edinburgh visitors who want a short guided route through the Old Town.

You may want to skip it if you dislike walking tours, need an indoor activity, or want extensive time inside Holyroodhouse. It is also not the best choice for someone looking for a private experience, since the group may reach 34 people.

Bring a charged phone for the mobile ticket, wear shoes suited to uneven streets, and arrive ready to walk. Keep your expectations focused: this is a compact historical and filming-location tour, not a full-day Outlander pilgrimage around Scotland.

Should You Book The History Behind Outlander?

Book it if the combination of Outlander locations and Jacobite history appeals to you. The real strength is the balance between recognizable sites, lesser-known Old Town corners, and a guide who can explain why the period mattered.

The price is high for two hours, and the palace interior is not included. Still, the weapons display, Bakehouse Close, period clothing, and strong guiding give the experience more depth than a quick location checklist. For fans who want the stories behind the streets, this is a focused and worthwhile Edinburgh outing.

FAQ

Where does The History Behind Outlander tour start?

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

What time does the tour begin?

The tour starts at 2:00 pm.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately two hours.

Where does the tour finish?

It finishes at Canongate Kirkyard, Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8BN.

Is admission to the Palace of Holyroodhouse included?

No. The tour stops outside the palace, and admission is not included.

Is this a walking tour?

Yes. The route moves through Edinburgh’s Old Town, including the Royal Mile, courts, closes, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and Canongate Kirkyard. A moderate level of physical fitness is required.

Does the tour include a weapons display?

Yes. A full weapons display is included, along with discussion of the weapons and armaments used by Jacobite soldiers.

What is included in the ticket?

The ticket includes a guided tour, a guide in period clothing, a local history expert, the weapons display, views and photo opportunities, and samples of local Scottish delights. Tips are optional and not included.

Can I cancel or change my booking?

The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If the tour is canceled because of poor weather or because the minimum number of participants is not reached, you will be offered another date or experience, or a full refund.