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Discover the history of Edinburgh on a 3-day tour from London. Explore the city on a hop-on hop-off bus tour, visit the filming locations of the Outlander TV series, and see the real-life Lallybroch.

Highlights

• Discover the history of Edinburgh Castle and the Stone of Destiny
• Explore the city of Edinburgh on a hop-on hop-off bus tour
• Visit the filming locations of the Outlander TV series
• See the real-life Lallybroch and the seat of Clan MacKenzie
• Enjoy a scenic return train journey with reserved seating from London

Description

A day in Edinburgh (Day 1) In a little over four and a half hours, you'll arrive in the Scottish capital ready to begin a day of exploration. Known by locals as 'Auld Reekiue' ('Old Smokey'), Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful and memorable cities in all of Europe - a city full of charm and character with history around every corner. Your Rail Tour includes entrance to the mighty Edinburgh Castle, a 1,100-year-old fortress built on Castle Rock, a long-extinct volcano. Explore the long, bloody history of the castle, from its time as a military fortress, royal residence and prison of war. Board your Hop-on Hop-off Guided Bus Tour and journey around some of the finest and culture-rich destinations in Edinburgh. The Tour takes you to 14 fantastic locations including Grassmarket, a historic market place with incredible views of Edinburgh Castle, John Knox House, a magnificent medieval building dating back to the 15th century and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, The King’s official residence in Edinburgh. The ticket is valid all day so you can hop on and hop off as many times as you like. Outlander Explorer Day tour (Day 2) As we leave the capital we learn about the Old and New Town of Edinburgh as we head towards our first stop of the day, Midhope Castle* – the real-life ‘Lallybroch’ and home of Jamie Fraser. We then visit Doune Castle*, one of Scotland’s best preserved medieval castles and used as the filming location for ‘Castle Leoch’ in Outlander. The castle is also featured as Winterfell in Game of Thrones and Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Our journey takes us on to the Kingdom of Fife, an area of great historical importance and the ancestral home of Scottish monarchs. We spend time for lunch in Culross, the fictional village of ‘Cranesmuir’ where Claire was accused of witchcraft. This charming village is the most complete example of a 17th and 18th century burgh in Scotland today. Our final Outlander filming location of the day is the impressive Blackness Castle, featured as Fort William in the series. The castle also treats us to awe-inspiring views of the iconic Forth Bridge, inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. We arrive back in Edinburgh in the early evening. We return to Edinburgh early evening at approximately 5.30pm. Back to Edinburgh (Day 3) You'll have until late afternoon to explore the higgledy-piggledy medieval streets and courtyards of Old Town, admire the beautiful Georgian architecture found in New Town or head to Carlton Hill for stunning panoramic views of the city. Ascend Castle Hill as you walk in the footsteps of famous Scottish kings and queens and see the 'Stone of Destiny' - a sacred object that has been used for centuries in the coronation of Scottish monarchs. Enjoy last minute shopping, visit the attractions on your 'must-see' list or stroll through the city centre - it's your day!

Includes

Return train journey with reserved seats from London (in chosen travel class) Entrance to Edinburgh Castle Hop-on Hop-off Guided Bus Tour ticket Full day Outlander Explorer Tour Visit to Midhope Castle Visit to Doune Castle Visit to Blackness Castle Insightful stories and historical context from a local guide

Important Information

• Your electronic train tickets and detailed tour information will be sent to you one week before your scheduled departure date via email (or within 24 hours if booked within one week). Train travel is with LNER This Tour is unescorted on Days 1 and 3. The Outlander Explorer tour on Day 2 is fully guided and operated by Highland Explorer Tours, whose terms and conditions apply Outbound: Train departs London Kings Cross at 7:00am – arrives at Edinburgh Waverley at 11:20am. Return: Train departs Edinburgh Waverley at 5:30pm and arrives back at London Kings Cross at 10:09pm Train times are subject to change due to operational requirements. This Tour is not suitable for children under 5 years old. Child age: 5-15 yrs inclusive There may be days where both Midhope Castle and Doune Castle are closed for filming. In that case, the itinerary will be adjusted

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 7 days in advance for a full refund