The Mary, Queen of Scots walking tour: review
How the tour runs
It starts at Abbey Strand, in front of the Abbey Strand Apartments just outside the palace gates, and works up the Mile at a relaxed pace to the castle esplanade, stopping at John Knox House, the Mercat Cross and St Giles’ Cathedral on the way. The guide — often Chris — tells Mary’s story on the streets where it happened. It is wheelchair accessible and pet-friendly; the one dress note is no high heels, which anyone who has walked the Mile’s cobbles will understand.
What bookers say
Sean, from the UK: “Best historical tour I have been to in the UK. I came out of this feeling sympathetic for Mary.” That last part is the point of the thing. Martin, from Canada, said Chris explained the reasons behind each turn of events rather than just reciting them; Marion found the Mary history properly in-depth; Kacy from Ireland liked how down to earth the guide was, and Ed and Kris both called Chris knowledgeable.
What works
- The cheapest of the six products, and the only one built around a single story told by a live guide
- Starts at the palace gates, so it pairs neatly with a palace visit the same day
- Relaxed pace, wheelchair accessible and pet-friendly
- Reviewers name the guide and describe actual explanation, not script recital
Worth knowing
- No entries included — palace and castle tickets are separate
- English only, unlike the palace’s nine-language multimedia guide
- Cobbles all the way up — leave the high heels at the hotel
Pair it with palace entry on the same day: the tour gives you Mary’s story, the palace has her actual chambers — the supper room where Rizzio was dragged out and stabbed, and the floor where they show you the stain. The two together are the best £41.50 a history reader will spend in Edinburgh.
Who it suits
Anyone who cares more about the story than the interiors, budget travellers, and people with a dog in tow. If you want entry tickets bundled with a walk instead, the walking tours page compares this with the Potter tour, and the entry ticket review covers the palace half of the pairing.
Other tickets to consider
Skip the queueAudio guide includedEdinburgh: Palace of Holyroodhouse Entry Ticket
Family favouritePalace entry includedEdinburgh: Harry Potter Tour & Palace of Holyrood Entry
Small groupBoth entries includedThe Royal Tour: Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood, Royal Mile
Frequently asked questions
Does the tour include entry to Holyrood Palace?
No — no entries are included. It is a walking tour that starts outside the palace gates and ends at the castle esplanade. Palace entry is £22 booked in advance; the ticket prices page has every 2026 price.
Where exactly does it start?
At Abbey Strand, in front of the Abbey Strand Apartments, directly outside the palace. That’s a 15-minute walk from Waverley Station — the getting there page has the flat-route option.
Can I bring children or a dog?
The pace is relaxed and the tour is pet-friendly and wheelchair accessible, so yes on both counts. The one rule is no high heels — the Royal Mile is cobbled the whole way up.
Do you see Mary’s actual rooms on this tour?
No — her chambers are inside the palace, which the tour doesn’t enter. The Mary, Queen of Scots rooms page covers the north-west tower, the Rizzio murder and the blood-stain question; you need a palace ticket to stand in them.