Tables of Contents: 6 Locations You Miss in Edinburgh Without a Local Guide
- Colinton Tunnel – Edinburgh’s Giant Hidden Mural
- The Rowling Suite at the Balmoral Hotel
- The Charles Darwin Plaque – A Tiny Tribute You’ll Walk Past
- Cramond – The Island Only Accessible at Low Tide
- Paisley Close – Where Edinburgh’s Stories Come Alive
- Sheep Heid Inn – Scotland’s Oldest Pub You Can Actually Visit
6 Hidden Edinburgh Spots You’ll Only Discover with a Local
Since 2019, I’ve had a front-row seat to how social media has completely reshaped tourism in Edinburgh — and honestly, it’s been fascinating to watch.
I’ve seen the queues snake down the street outside Lannan Bakery at all hours. I’ve watched hoards of people on the Vennel fight it out for the same Instagram photo of Edinburgh Castle. To be honest, I can’t remember the last time it was quiet. And Dean Village? Let’s just say it’s becoming less a hidden gem in Edinburgh these days and more “influencer” territory.
Don’t get me wrong, I get it. They’re popular for a reason. But here’s the thing: if you only follow the algorithm, you’ll see a very polished, very crowded version of this city. And Edinburgh has so much more to offer beyond the top tourist spots.
So in this blog, I want to gently pull you away from the obvious. No shade to the cinnamon buns or the castle viewpoints (which I post about too), but let me show you secret places in Edinburgh that don’t trend. The corners with stories. The places you’d walk straight past without realising something brilliant happened there. The details that make people on my Edinburgh walking tours stop and go, “Wait… what?!”
These are six locations you’ll probably miss without a local guide in Edinburgh. And once you know them, you’ll never walk through the city the same way again.
1. Colinton Tunnel – Edinburgh’s Giant Hidden Mural
Colinton Tunnel will always be number one on my list. Back in July 2020, I had the absolute pleasure of being shown around Edinburgh’s largest mural by the project’s founder, Mike Scott. I still think about that walk. At the time it wasn’t quite finished. Scaffolding in places, sections still being refined but even then you could feel what it was becoming.
Six years on, it’s a splendid piece of work. And what I love most is that it hasn’t been left to fade. The team behind it continue to maintain, repair and improve it. It’s not just a mural it’s an ongoing act of care from the community. Professional local artists like Chris Rutterford worked alongside hundreds of local volunteers including school children. You can feel that community spirit when you walk through. It doesn’t feel corporate or curated. It feels loved.
Before the transformation, it was dark, dingy and even spooky. The sort of place where the only sensible option at night was to run. But now it booms with colour, bringing to life the poetry of Robert Louis Stevenson, who lived in Colinton as a child. His poem From a Railway Carriage feels like the perfect match for a former railway tunnel.
How do you get to Colinton Tunnel? The easiest way is to hop on the 10 or 16 bus from Princes Street out to Colinton. It’s straightforward and takes around 35 minutes. From the village, it’s just a short stroll to the tunnel entrance. Alternatively, if you’ve got half a day, you can even walk there via the Water of Leith Walkway. Starting near Dean Village and heading upstream is a brilliant way to see a quieter side of Edinburgh. Keeping your eye open for the 6 Times statues by Antony Gormley or some wildlife including kingfishers or otters. Finishing off grabbing a coffee, maybe a bite to eat on Bridge Road supporting the local businesses. It’s a proper village feel.
Can I Support the Project? Absolutely, the mural is maintained through donations and community fundraising. If you enjoy it or wanting to learn more about its history, consider donating via the Colinton Tunnel Project website. Every contribution helps with ongoing conservation and repairs, keeping the artwork bright for future walkers.
Colinton Tunnel Entrance
2. Balmoral’s Rowling Suite – A Harry Potter Fan’s Must-Know Secret
Once you step out of Waverley Station, it takes all of about five seconds to spot the gorgeous Balmoral Hotel, with its clock tower rising proudly above the skyline. It’s impossible to miss, and while the hotel itself isn’t exactly a hidden gem, what’s tucked away inside certainly is.
The Rowling Suite (Room 552) is where J.K. Rowling finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Talk about a full-circle moment: she went from being a “single parent, recently divorced, not working and very very broke” writing the vast majority of the first book in the quiet corners of Nicolson’s Café. As her success grew, she moved to other cafes like the Elephant House where she drafted later books surrounded by those now-iconic views of the Castle, Greyfriars Kirkyard, and George Heriot’s School.
The journey that began with a single cup of coffee in a humble café ended six months deep in a luxury 5-star suite overlooking Calton Hill. How’s that for a rags-to-riches story?
But what led Rowling to the Balmoral wasn’t just a desire for luxury. It was a need for a clear and focused head away from all the home distractions like the window cleaner, the kids, and the dogs. On one day she realised, “I can throw money at this problem.” So Room 552 was the solution, and the rest is history.
One piece of that history still remains in the room is a marble bust of Hermes that Rowling “vandalised” the moment she finished, scribbling: “JK Rowling finished writing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in this room (552) on 11th Jan 2007.” Is it a coincidence that Hermione is the feminine derivative of Hermes? It’s a poetic little detail to leave behind in the place where the saga ended.
If you’re wondering what it takes to stay in this very room, it isn’t cheap prices often sit between £2,000 and £3,000 a night. But if you’ve got some spare Galleons in your Gringotts vault and fancy booking up for a night with a Butterbeer watching Hagrid’s motorbike touching down on Privet Drive on the TV, you could make that dream a reality.
And if your wizarding adventures are more about walking the streets Rowling loved, rather than living like a Hogwarts prefect, I’ve got you covered. Skip the luxury suite price tag and join me for a magic-filled, 5 star stroll on one of my Harry Potter walking tours, where we explore the real locations that inspired the magic.
J K Rowling Suite – Balmoral Hotel Edinburgh
3. The Charles Darwin Plaque – A Tiny Tribute You’ll Walk Past
And then there’s the Charles Darwin plaque, tucked away on the back of the National Museum of Scotland. Most people walk straight past without a second glance, but pause for a moment, and you’re standing in front of a spot that links Edinburgh to one of the most famous minds in history.
We don’t just mean any Charles, either. Sure, Charles Dickens visited the city but this Charlie D actually lived here. Darwin moved to Edinburgh at just sixteen to study medicine at the university, lodging with his brother Erasmus in Lothian Street, right where his plaque sits today.
It was an academically brutal period that quickly steered him away from his family’s medical tradition. Darwin couldn’t hack it and honestly, I’m not sure even a modern doctor could. Imagine being 17, thrown into an operating theatre, watching surgery on a child with no anaesthetic, and hearing the screaming. Darwin ran out, hands over his ears. A traumatic experience? Definitely. But it also nudged him toward his true calling: natural history.
Within a year, he was already presenting his first scientific paper to the Plinian Society at age 18, based on his discoveries of marine life in the tidal pools around Edinburgh. These formative years shaped the man who would later write The Origin of Species in 1859, the book that completely changed how we understand the natural world.
And now, you can stand exactly where it all began, completely free of charge, and feel a little closer to the genius that once walked these streets.
From Darwin’s dark secrets to the tales of gruesome executions, the City of Edinburgh has a thousand stories to tell. Ready to experience it Like a Local?
Join one of our Edinburgh Walking Tours Today
4. Cramond Island – Walk Across Only at Low Tide
If you fancy a little adventure without leaving Edinburgh, Cramond Island is the perfect escape. But timing is everything. The island sits just off the village of Cramond, about a 40-60 minute bus from the city centre along the north shore of the Firth of Forth. From there, it’s a short stroll down to the tidal causeway but beware: it’s only walkable at low tide. Step out too early or too late, and you’ll be left staring at a small island surrounded by water.
The tides are your best friend here. You can check the daily tide times here and plan your adventure accordingly.
Once you make it across, there’s more than just sand and sea. Cramond Island has a fascinating history, from its WWI and II coastal defences to the nearby Roman Fort along the River Almond. These ruins hint at thousands of years of people settling and defending this coastline. Pop into the National Museum of Scotland and you’ll can even find an amazing Roman Grave sculpture excavated nearby.
Admittedly, if you’re only in Edinburgh for a whirlwind two-day visit, this might feel just beyond reach. But for anyone with a bit more time, it’s the perfect downtime escape outside the city a chance to stretch your legs, breathe in fresh air, and discover a quieter side of Edinburgh that most tourists never see.
Cramond Island Edinburgh
5. Paisley Close – Where Edinburgh’s Stories Come Alive
Back in October 2023, I wrote a full blog about Paisley Close and the story of Joseph McIvor, a 12-year-old boy who survived a building collapse in 1861. Tragically, he lost all of his closest family, but instead of settling down, he chose a life of adventure, working on a merchant ship in the Caribbean. It’s dark, fascinating, and totally unforgettable and seeing the plaque in person gives you just a hint of the drama that unfolded here.
Paisley Close is a reminder of why it pays to be curious in Edinburgh. Every narrow lane, every old tenement has a story hiding in plain sight. If you want the full tale of Paisley Close and its most famous resident, you can read the complete story here.
6. Sheep Heid Inn – Scotland’s Oldest Pub You Can Actually Visit
Now over on the east side of town, you’ll find one of my favourite places to stop for a creamy pint and scran, The Sheep Heid Inn. We couldn’t just do a blog in Edinburgh and not mention a pub, could we?
Tucked into the heart of Duddingston, this is believed to be Scotland’s oldest pub, with records going back to 1360. That alone is reason enough to visit. But what I love about it is the setting.
It’s the perfect reward after hiking up Arthur’s Seat or wandering through Holyrood Park. Whether you come off the hill battered by wind and rain or after seeing a stunning sunset, you’ll feel slightly smug with yourself when ten minutes later you’re in a historic inn holding a pint. Utopia.
Inside, it’s all low ceilings, wood panelling and proper old-world charm. There’s even a wooden bowling alley tucked away at the back the kind of detail you don’t expect but quietly love when you find it.
The Sheep Heid sits just along from Number 8 The Causeway. The house where, in September 1745 during the Jacobite Rising, Bonnie Prince Charlie is said to have held a council of war before the Battle of Prestonpans. It’s quite something to think that such a pivotal decision may have been made in this quiet little village.
If there’s enough time in the day there’s plenty more in the area to do. Walk around Duddingston Loch, explore Duddingston Kirk, pop into Dr Neil’s Garden (often nicknamed “Edinburgh’s secret garden”), or return to town via the Innocent Railway.
It’s one of those rare corners of the city where history, nature and a good pint all sit within five minutes of each other. And somehow, despite being so close to the Royal Mile, it still feels like a village. But Heid and shoulders above the rest.
Sheep Heid Inn
Interested in Finding More Incredible Bars, Breakfasts, Breweries and Restaurants in Edinburgh?
Here Is Your Guide To The Best Bars and Restaurants in the City
Time to Explore Edinburgh Like A Local
I hope this blog helps inspire you to explore Edinburgh like a local and look past the overwhelmingly busy Instagram hotspots. If you’ve enjoyed the article, there is a whole host of useful content in the rest of my blog or you could try join me on an Edinburgh walking tour. Alternatively, if you’d like to support what I do and help me create more content, you can buy me a coffee; it really helps keep the blog and tours going.
