Top Aberdeen landmarks
Top Aberdeen landmark tours
Top Aberdeen activities
Top Aberdeen landmarks
Beyond Aberdeen
Aberdeen trip ideas
  • Top Aberdeen landmark tours

Aberdeen Historical & Turbulent Times Walking Tour

1 Review 4.00 out of 5 stars Based on 1 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 100% of reviewers | Aberdeen, Scotland

Loading Options
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 18 (0) days in advance.

180 to 210 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Instant confirmation
Offered in: English

Overview

We will take you on a tour to some of the most interesting historical areas of Old Aberdeen and Aberdeen.

In Old Aberdeen, we explore the buildings of the 15th Century University, a 12th Century Cathedral with an amazing heraldic ceiling and a dark secret. We visit other fascinating areas and buildings and a secret graveyard very few locals know about.

We then take an interesting 25 minute walk to historic parts of Aberdeen’s City Centre.

Whilst exploring impressive historical buildings and areas, including one of the world’s largest granite buildings, you also learn about and visit the sites of the brutal realities of medieval times. Aberdeen has been the site of military invasions, riots and body snatching and you also find out about the local officials who colluded in the 18th century to kidnap and sell children.

Our tour covers 800 captivating years.

Access to Chapel interiors is subject to availability and seasonal opening times. Please contact us for details.

What's Included

  • Guided walking tour of Old Aberdeen and Aberdeen
  • No drinks or snacks included in cost
  • Gratuities
See 2 more

Meeting Location

Meeting point

The Chanonry
Old Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 1RQ, UK

Show on Google Maps

Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

Broad Street
Aberdeen AB10 1AB, UK

The tour ends in the city centre of Aberdeen.

What To Expect

Book Online

Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation.
Read more

Safe & secure • Easy breezy • Hassle-free

St Machar's Cathedral

Stunning cathedral building with an amazing Heraldic ceiling, dating back to the 14th Century. Also infamously where a part of "William Braveheart Wallace" was buried and the scene of many a grave robbing.
Read more

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Seaton Park

St Machars is on the edge of this Stunning and vast public park. The formally private grounds were given to the city in the 20th Century. Famous for it extensive flower beds that make the park very colourful in the summer.
Read more

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Old Aberdeen

This part of the walking tour round Old Aberdeen, includes the famous Powis Gates, The Town House, The Mercat Cross amongst other places and a 16th century secret graveyard that very few locals even know about.
Read more

50 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

King's College Chapel

The original part of Aberdeen University dating back over 500 years and other fascinating historic buildings and monuments. The iconic tower is topped by an imperial crown, a story in itself.
Read more

35 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Spital Walk

We take a 20 minute walk towards Aberdeen City Centre passing many interesting and historic buildings.
Read more

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Marischal College

Marischal College is one of the world’s largest Granite Buildings. Built in 1593, and now guarded by Robert The Bruce it was originally used as a university. This stunning building sits next the Tolbooth and looks down on the location of where many a public execution took place. We walk past the marked site of these gruesome practices.
Read more

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Castlegate

The home of Aberdeen's famous "Mercat Cross", the scene of the notorious Military Riot in 1802 and across from The Tolbooth, Aberdeen's infamous 17th Century prison. Outside this building was the spot where many a soul were publicly hanged and flogged.
Read more

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Provost Skene's House

The oldest building in the city centre which dates back to 1545. It is named after a famous Provost of Aberdeen but more infamously associated Prince William, Duke of Cumberland aka The Butcher of Cumberland. The moniker gained by his brutality during the Jacobite Rebellion. The building is next to Guestrow, the scene of the famous Anatomy Riots and also the site of Scotland's first ever distillery.
Read more

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

St. Nicholas Churchyard

Fascinating graveyard with many famous local names in the grounds of St Nicholas Church which dates back originally to the 12th century.
Read more

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Show 8 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Frequently Asked Questions

(7)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Aberdeen Historical & Turbulent Times Walking Tour?

A: This tour is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded. This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund. Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

This tour is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Still have questions?

We're here to help.
Activity code: C-91620P16

Reviews

4.00
1 reviews

Average 4.00 out of 5 stars based on 1 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and partner sites such as Trustpilot, Viator, and TripAdvisor

5 stars
0
4 stars
1
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0

Loading Options
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 18 (0) days in advance.

Similar Tours & Activities

500 Years of Crime and Punishment: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

From bodysnatching and beheadings to witchcraft and whippings, we share real life stories of crime and punishment from the last 500 years on this self-guided...

45 to 135 minutesFree Cancellation
45 to 135 minutesFree Cancellation
45 to 135 minutes • Free Cancellation
4.1 (29)
from
$10.99

Aberdeenshire Private Half Day Castle & Historic Building Tour
Likely to Sell Out
Likely to Sell Out

Explore Dunnottar Castle, Crathes Castle & Scotland’s Historic Heartlands. Discover Aberdeenshire’s most spectacular castles and historic sites on a fully guided private tour from Aberdeen....

4 hours 30 minutesHotel pickup offered
4 hours 30 minutesHotel pickup offered
4 hours 30 minutes • Hotel pickup offered
5.0 (19)
from
$257.36

Balmoral Craigievar Dunnottar Crathes Castles Private Tour
Likely to Sell Out
Likely to Sell Out

Door to door pick up/drop off & Private Tour with driver/guide. Aberdeenshire has many treasures to offer, and we take you on a private tour...

9 to 10 hoursHotel pickup offered
9 to 10 hoursHotel pickup offered
9 to 10 hours • Hotel pickup offered
5.0 (7)
from
$959.04

Balmoral and Royal Deeside Shore Excursion from Aberdeen

Start your day at the Port of Aberdeen, for a journey filled with breathtaking views and captivating stops. Your first destination is the stunning Falls...

6 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation
6 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation
6 hours 30 minutes • Free Cancellation
4.8 (17)
from
$138.36

Travelers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought

Aberdeen City Centre Walking Tour (2pm)
Likely to Sell Out
Likely to Sell Out

Discover Aberdeen through a local's eyes, discovering local history and culture on this 1.5 hour walking tour with your guide every day at 2pm. Discover...

1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation
1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation
1 hour 30 minutes • Free Cancellation
4.8 (243)
from
$21.03

Dunnottar Castle and Royal Deeside Small-Group Tour from Aberdeen

Combine the majestic heights of Royal Deeside with the epic cliff-top site of Dunnottar Castle. For almost 150 years, the British royal family have travelled...

9 hoursFree Cancellation
9 hoursFree Cancellation
9 hours • Free Cancellation
4.9 (195)
from
$81.98

Loch Ness and the Highlands Small-Group Day Tour from Aberdeen

The battles, beauty, and whisky: This is your perfect introduction to Scotland. You shed a tear as you hear the tales and tragedies of Scotland’s...

12 hoursFree Cancellation
12 hoursFree Cancellation
12 hours • Free Cancellation
4.9 (150)
from
$136.52

Balmoral & Royal Deeside Tour

Starting from Aberdeen we trace the river Dee to Balmoral where you can walk in the footsteps of generations of Royals who have called this...

7 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation
7 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation
7 hours 30 minutes • Free Cancellation
4.8 (92)
from
$148.71

What's Included

Activity name

  • Guided walking tour of Old Aberdeen and Aberdeen
  • No drinks or snacks included in cost
  • Gratuities

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Operated by a business

Protecting you

Activity name

For your protection and stress-free bookings, use our secure platform to pay for bookings. Time Exposure Travel

Report Product Issue

Activity name

Language
Currency

Site Settings

Activity name

Currency

Activity name

Non-refundable

Activity name

Non-refundable

This tour is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

  • This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
  • This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Sorting, ranking, and search results

Activity name

Cool Destinations wants to make your searches as relevant as possible. That's why we offer many ways to help you find the right experiences for you.

On some pages, you can select how to sort the results we display and also use filter options to see only those search results that meet your chosen preferences. You'll see explanations of what those sort options mean when you select them.

If you see a Badge of Excellence label, the award is based on average review ratings, share of bookings with a review, and number of bookings through Cool Destinations over a 12-month period.

The importance of any one factor over any other in a sort order varies, and the balance is constantly being reviewed and adjusted. We're always updating our systems and testing new ways to refine and improve your results to make them as relevant as possible to meet your needs.

Choose an option

Activity name

or

Cool Rewards Terms & Conditions

Activity name

Cool Rewards

  • Cool Rewards is a loyalty program operated by Cool Destinations. Rewards may be earned by any eligible person holding a Cool Destinations account, subject to the Cool Destinations customer Terms of Use.

Earning rewards

  • Rewards can be earned by making bookings on the Cool Destinations website. You will be able to see the value of the rewards you can earn during the booking process.
  • Earned rewards will be issued in a pending state and will move to a confirmed state 24 hours after the start time of the experience.
  • Earned rewards will be available to redeem once they are no longer in a pending state.
  • For bookings that are moved to a different travel date, the rewards will be redeemable after the amended travel date.
  • If a booking where rewards were issued is canceled, the earned rewards will not be redeemable and will be moved to a canceled state.

Redeeming rewards

  • To redeem rewards, you must be logged into your Cool Destinations account.
  • Any available rewards will be automatically applied the next time you make a booking, and their value will be deducted from your order at checkout, unless you choose not to apply them, which requires you to indicate this via the toggle switch. Bookings made using rewards are subject to the standard Cool Destinations Customer Terms of Use.
  • You will not be able to redeem only a portion of your available rewards at checkout. It is only possible to redeem all or none of your available rewards.
  • There is no minimum order value required to redeem your rewards. This means that you can pay for 100% of your order with rewards.
  • Rewards are non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash.
  • If rewards are redeemed against a booking that is canceled or refunded, the rewards will be reissued to your account.

Miscellaneous

  • You can check your Cool Destinations account to see the rewards you have collected at any time. You are responsible for ensuring that your rewards balance is correct.
  • We reserve the right to modify these Cool Rewards Terms and Conditions at any time, with or without notice, including the rules for earning and redeeming rewards. Any changes will be reflected in the updated Terms and Conditions.
  • We reserve the right to terminate the Cool Rewards program and cease issuing any further rewards on future bookings. All pending and available rewards balances will be honored.
  • By earning and redeeming rewards, you agree to these Terms and Conditions, as well as any subsequent changes made to them.