CLICK HERE TO ADD YOUR EVENT

Blood and Guts: The Twists and Turns of Edinburgh’s Medical History - Walking Tour

Join Surgeons' Hall Museums on their 5* weekend walking tour through Edinburgh’s old town and hear tales of old Edinburgh, disease, dissection and curious methods of treatment!

Blood and Guts: The Twists and Turns of Edinburgh’s Medical History - Walking Tour

About Blood and Guts: The Twists and Turns of Edinburgh’s Medical History - Walking Tour

"Blood and Guts walking tour was amazing! We loved the tour guide, all the history and stories we heard. It was also awesome to walk around the museum afterwards.” *****

Join Surgeons Hall Museums on their 5* walking tour through Edinburgh’s old town.

We will take you through the highs and lows of Edinburgh’s world renowned medical history. Discover the intrigues, rivalries and dedication to the cause as our guide leads you through the sites where anatomists, surgeons and physicians worked, operated and squabbled in the quest for medical advancement.

Drawn from the archives at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh you will hear little known accounts of iconic writers, chloroform tea parties, pioneering women, grave robbing and of course Britain’s first serial killers the infamous Burke and Hare.

Hear tales of old Edinburgh, disease, dissection and curious methods of treatment.

Tours will last approximately 75mins and include free museum access from 10am-5pm on the day of your tour.

We always aim to be finished by 75mins, but, due to the nature of a walking tour, factors out with our control may lengthen this. We recommend that you allow for 1 hour 30.

Meeting Point: Please arrive in good time for you tour. Your guide will meet you at the entrance to Surgeons Hall Museums (in front of the sculptures)

Please note that this is an outdoor walking tour that runs throughout the year so please dress accordingly. Not all the sites we visit are dog friendly and therefore we admit assistance dogs only.

We do not sell through any other channels other than our official Eventbrite page. Please be aware that we do not accept re-sold tickets for our events and your name must be on our guest list to be admitted.

Age Guidance: Age 10+

Sponsored Links

Escape The Past
WST
Hilton Glasgow
Local Motive Markets
Open Pass Scotland
Children's Classic Concerts
Wonder & Co

Similar events you might like...

Dr Arnott’s Sampling Sensation

Dr Arnott’s Sampling Sensation

Selected dates between 1st March 2025 - 28th December 2025

Uncover the secrets of 17th-century medicine with a hands-on workshop led by an expert from his time: Dr Arnott, who examined his patients’ health by analysing urine’s colour, smell & TASTE!

READ MORE
Haunted Newhailes

Haunted Newhailes

Selected dates between 10th October 2025 - 19th December 2025

Do you dare join us for a spine-chilling tour of Newhailes House? It's earned a reputation for being haunted!

READ MORE
Haunted Leith Ghost Walk

Haunted Leith Ghost Walk

Selected dates between 21st November 2025 - 28th November 2025
Leith

Join North Edinburgh Nightmares this November on a hair-raising ghost walk through the historic back streets of Leith!

READ MORE
Old Town Ghost Walk

Old Town Ghost Walk

Selected dates between 22nd November 2025 - 29th November 2025
Edinburgh Old Town

Join North Edinburgh Nightmares for a night of thrills and chills in Edinburgh's Old Town that you won't soon forget!

READ MORE
Weekly Tours at St Cecilia’s Hall

Weekly Tours at St Cecilia’s Hall

Selected dates between 28th November 2025 - 17th December 2025

Join our team of volunteers at St Cecilia's Hall for a FREE weekly tour of the collection!

READ MORE
Christmas Market and Open Days

Christmas Market and Open Days

29th November 2025 - 30th December 2025

Edinburgh Printmakers will be opening the doors of our historic building Castle Mills to welcome you to a fun-filled weekend of activities, workshops, and our bespoke Christmas Market!

READ MORE
LGBTQ Tour for Waverley Care

LGBTQ Tour for Waverley Care

30th November 2025
Various Locations Edinburgh

To commemorate World AIDS Day, the Edinburgh Street Historians are doing our critically acclaimed LGBTQ walking tour for the benefit of Waverley Care on Sunday 30th November.

READ MORE
Visit Holyrood Distillery

Visit Holyrood Distillery

30th November 2025

Specially for Edinburgh residents, we have a limited amount of complimentary tickets for our guided Distillery Tour & Tasting. Join us and celebrate Scotland's national day with a dram or two!

READ MORE
Fabulous Old Town Tour

Fabulous Old Town Tour

1st December 2025 - 14th February 2026
Edinburgh Old Town

This free walking tour is fun and funny, performed by local independent tour guides, it will really help you to know the city and understand something about what life is all about!

READ MORE

Sponsored Links

The Chocolatarium
MNB
Fayre Play
Kevin Quantum
Mowgli
Hilton Glasgow
Hostelworld

Find other events in Edinburgh

Sponsored Links

Escape The Past
WST
Hilton Glasgow
Local Motive Markets
Open Pass Scotland
Children's Classic Concerts
Wonder & Co
The Chocolatarium
MNB
Fayre Play
Kevin Quantum
Mowgli
Hilton Glasgow
Hostelworld

Popular Events

Edinburgh’s Christmas: The Polar Ice Bar
Take some time to ‘chill’ at the Polar Ice Bar, the coolest bar in the city, where your table, chairs and glasses are sculpted entirely from ice.
Panto 2025: Jack and the Beanstalk
Join Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Jordan Young for the GIANT of a pantomime we've all BEAN waiting for!
Castle Of Light
Make Castle of Light: Fire and Ice part of your festive plans and enjoy the largest annual projection show in the UK when it returns for its sixth year!
Edinburgh Summer Sessions: Heather On The Hill Festival
Created by Nathan Evans & The Saint Phnx Band, Heather On The Hill Festival is a brand-new family-focused one day festival taking place at the Royal Highland Centre on Saturday 22 August!
Old infirmary to host Remembrance Lighting Ceremony
Canopy Kitchen & Courtyard joins forces with Simpsons Special Care Babies (SSCB) to mark the charity’s 40th anniversary with a Tree of Light installation on Saturday 29th November.

Popular Listings

Corn Exchange Haddington Edinburgh Playhouse Festival Theatre Edinburgh Howden Park Centre Livingston Kings Theatre Edinburgh National Museum of Scotland O2 Academy Edinburgh The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh Traverse Theatre Usher Hall