A French Tour of Edinburgh’s Hidden History: 2025 Review

You know, visiting Edinburgh is always a bit of a special thing, right? You get there, and the city’s old stones seem to tell you stories all on their own. We had, like, walked the Royal Mile a few times before and had seen the castle, so we were honestly looking for something a little different. We sort of stumbled upon the ‘Private Discovery Tour: Edinburgh Strange & Secret History French’, and it really piqued our curiosity. So, a private tour sounded kind of exclusive, and the ‘strange and secret’ part was pretty much exactly what we wanted. But the real selling point for us was, you know, that it was all in French. It felt like a little slice of home, so we just went for it, and what we found was actually so much more than a simple walk through the city.

First Impressions: The Private Tour Experience

So, the moment you meet your guide, you pretty much know this isn’t your standard, flag-in-the-air kind of group tour. Our guide, a very friendly woman named Chloé, met us right outside St Giles’ Cathedral, which was honestly a really easy spot to find. Because it was a private tour, it was just us and her, and that right away changed the whole feel of the thing. There was, you know, no shouting to be heard over a crowd and no rushing to keep up. It was all at our pace, so we could ask a question whenever one popped into our heads. Chloé was from Lyon originally, but she had lived in Edinburgh for like over a decade, and her passion for the city’s darker side was just infectious, really. She spoke this beautiful, clear French that was, like, a total pleasure to listen to, which made the whole experience just so much more comfortable.

The tour started with a simple chat, which was a really nice touch. She asked what we were interested in, so she could sort of adjust the stories she told. We mentioned we loved a good ghost story and were interested in the city’s old medical history, and honestly, her eyes just lit up. This flexibility is something you just don’t get in a larger group, you know. Right away, it felt less like a lecture and more like a friend showing you the secret spots in their hometown. This personalized approach basically set the tone for the entire afternoon. It’s almost as if we were co-creating our own unique exploration of Edinburgh, which was an amazing feeling, to be honest.

Into the Closes: Discovering the ‘Secret’ Edinburgh

Okay, so this is where the tour really came alive for us. Chloé didn’t just walk us down the main streets; she immediately pulled us into one of the “closes,” those super narrow alleyways that shoot off the Royal Mile. You’ve probably seen them, but you might be a little hesitant to just walk down one. The mood just completely changes in there. It’s suddenly darker, you know, and a lot quieter, and you can smell the damp stone. She stopped us in front of a worn-out doorway and pointed to a carving we would have, like, never noticed. And then she began a story about the family who lived there in the 17th century, a story full of intrigue and some pretty grim details, obviously. She wasn’t just reading from a script; she was a genuine storyteller.

We saw so many places that are just completely hidden in plain sight. For example, she took us into a quiet kirkyard—not the famous one everyone goes to—but a smaller, almost forgotten one. She pointed out the symbols on the old headstones, explaining what they meant back then, like the skulls and crossbones weren’t for pirates, but actually represented mortality, you know. Then there was the tale of William Brodie, a respectable city councilman by day and a burglar by night, who supposedly inspired Robert Louis Stevenson’s ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’. Hearing that story while literally standing on the ground he would have walked was just something else. It makes history feel very, very real, right?

Honestly, standing in a dim, silent close while Chloé described the sounds and smells of 18th-century life in fluent French was a moment I won’t soon forget. It was like time travel, but just a little more personal.

The French Connection: More Than Just Language

Now, we have to talk about why having this tour in French was so special. It wasn’t just about convenience or understanding everything perfectly. Chloé used her shared language with us to, like, build bridges between Scottish and French history. For instance, when we were near Holyrood Palace, she talked a lot about Mary, Queen of Scots, who was once the Queen Consort of France. She described Mary’s life in the French court, so we could really picture her returning to this much colder, more severe Scotland. Hearing these details in French just made the connection feel so much stronger, almost personal. It was as if we were discussing one of “our” historical figures, you know.

She also talked about the “Auld Alliance,” the old pact between Scotland and France, which is a piece of history that, frankly, you don’t hear much about on standard English tours. She pointed out French influences in Scottish architecture and even in some old Scots words. It kind of makes you see the city in a whole new way. At the end of the day, you realize that the bond between these two countries is really deep, and having a French guide to point it out makes you feel sort of included in the city’s story. It’s one thing to learn a fact; it’s another thing to have a conversation about it in your own language, thousands of kilometers from home. This part of the experience was seriously incredible.

Is This Strange & Secret Tour Right for You?

So, this is a pretty important question. To be honest, this tour isn’t going to be for everyone. If you’re a native French speaker or a very confident Francophile who wants to get away from the big crowds, then absolutely, you should definitely consider this. It’s also perfect for history buffs who, like, want to get into the really specific, weird details that a general tour would just skip over. If you like dark history, tales of body snatchers, and spooky old graveyards, you will really, really love this. It’s basically designed for the curious traveler.

On the other hand, you may want to look elsewhere in a few cases. If you’re on a super strict budget, a private tour like this is naturally a bit more of an investment than a big group walk, so that’s something to think about. Also, if this is your very first time in Edinburgh, you might want a tour that covers the big highlights like the castle interior or Arthur’s Seat, which this one doesn’t really do. And because some of the stories are a little bit gruesome and spooky, it’s probably not the best choice for families with very young children, you know. You sort of need to be prepared for the ‘strange’ part of the title, because they definitely deliver on that promise.

Some Friendly Advice for Your Tour

If you do decide to go for it, we have a few pieces of advice, really. First, wear your most comfortable shoes, obviously. You will be doing a lot of walking, and Edinburgh’s streets are full of cobblestones and hills, so you definitely want happy feet. Secondly, don’t be shy about asking questions. Seriously, having a private guide is a huge advantage, and Chloé was so happy to answer everything we asked. It really makes the tour your own, you know? Ask about that weird window, that strange street name, or anything else you see.

We also think that booking the tour for the late afternoon is a really good idea. As the sun starts to go down, the city’s old closes and wynds get really atmospheric and just a little spooky. The long shadows pretty much make the stories feel even more alive. And finally, just go in with an open mind. Be ready to see a side of Edinburgh that most visitors completely miss. This tour is about the little details, the hidden stories, and the strange characters who once walked these exact same streets. It’s more or less a peek behind the city’s public face.

Key Takeaways

• This is a private tour, so you get a very personal and flexible experience that moves at your own speed, which is just fantastic.
• The tour is conducted entirely in French, which provides a really unique and comfortable perspective for French-speaking visitors.
• You will definitely explore the ‘strange and secret’ side of the city, focusing on hidden alleyways, obscure history, and darker tales rather than the main tourist attractions.
• It’s absolutely ideal for curious history buffs and people who want to escape large, impersonal tour groups.
• It’s perhaps not the best fit for those on a tight budget, first-time visitors wanting a ‘greatest hits’ overview, or families with very young children.
• You really should wear comfortable shoes and ask your guide lots of questions to make the most of it.

Read our full review: Private Discovery Tour: Edinburgh Strange & Secret History French Full Review and Details

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