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Free tour

As seen on ITV's This Morning - Brian Pendreigh's Film, TV and Books tour

Duration: 2h
Languages: English
Guru: Brian
Quality Verified Registered on October 11, 2023

A bit of history, a bit of trivia and a wee dash of stand-up. Born and bred in Edinburgh, I worked as a staff reporter, feature writer and cinema editor on The Scotsman for 17 years and subsequently wrote regularly for the Guardian and London Times. I have written and edited several books, including The Times on Cinema and On Location - The Film Fan's Guide to Britain and Ireland.

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  • Free booking and cancellation
    Free payment tour, no set price, booking and cancellation are free
  • Accepts electronic payment
    This tour allows payment by electronic means or credit card

Tour description

"Brian was better than the best" Ravati Sukumar, August 2924

Visit some of Old Edinburgh's most amazing locations and hear their history and how they were used in Oscar-winning movies and in blockbusters like Avengers - Infinity War. Learn about links with best-selling authors from Charles Dickens and Daniel Defoe to Arthur Conan Doyle and JK Rowling. This is your chance to get the inside story of Edinburgh, and its literary and cinematic heritage, from an award-winning film critic and author, born and bred in Edinburgh... 

  • Hear how a meeting I had with an American tourist took me to the Oscars and changed my life.
  • Visit the scenic location of "The Kiss" in the Netflix hit One Day.
  • Compare the size of your handprints with those of JK Rowling.
  • Walk the same historic streets that were trod by a famous author who came here as a secret agent 300 years ago.
  • Learn about Edinburgh's link with Marvel superheroes and The Wizard of Oz and why Fast and Furious was not really quite so fast or furious. 
  • Discover the link between James Bond and Sean Connery that goes back to school days.
  • Follow in the footsteps of Julia Roberts when she set a world record with a $10 million fee for a movie no one has heard of.
  • Visit Scrooge's cemetery and hear why Dickens got it all wrong.
  • Find out why the grave of a sea captain who died in obscurity 200 years ago is now visited by dozens of people every day. 
  • Hear about the cute little dog who received the city's highest honour, had two statues erected in his honour and inspired a hit Disney movie.
  • Discover the truth behind Jekyll and Hyde.. and Sherlock Holmes... Conan Doyle, Stevenson, Scott and Burns.
  • This is me on TV talking about the One Day locations https://we.tl/t-oQTSgSn956

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Highlights

What will we visit on this tour?

  • Meeting point:
    43 High St, Edinburgh EH1, UK
    43 High St, Edinburgh EH1, UK
    View on map

    Meet at the wellhead outside the John Knox House, 43-45 High Street (Royal Mile), Edinburgh, EH1 1SR. I will have a large umbrella.

  • 1
    Outside visit
    Royal Mile
  • 2
    Outside visit
    Scott Monument
  • 3
    Outside visit
    Edinburgh Castle
  • 4
    Outside visit
    Victoria Street
  • 5
    Outside visit
    Grassmarket
  • 6
    Outside visit
    JK Rowling’s Handprints
  • 7
    Outside visit
    The Vennel Viewpoint Edinburgh Castle
  • 8
    Outside visit
    Thomas Riddell's Grave
  • 9
    Outside visit
    Greyfriars Kirkyard

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end of the tour the amount that he or she considers appropriate (these usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).

Tour opinions

4.92
Excellent
(12 ratings)
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5.0
Entertainment
4.75
Expression
4.83
Information
5.0
Route
4.83
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Who is this tour for?

Accessibility
Non suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Groups
Accepts reservations up to 24 people.
Pets
Not suitable for pets.

What should you know?

Additional costs:
The tour does not require the payment of entrance fees or additional expenses.
Free cancellation
If you will not be able to attend the tour, please cancel your booking, otherwise the guide will be waiting for you.
Payment methods
Electronic or credit card payment is accepted.
When do you want to go?
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  • Cancellation risk
    This guru has cancelled 4 of the last 6 bookings for this tour.
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  • Cancellation risk
    This guru has cancelled 4 of the last 6 bookings for this tour.
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