A walking tour of Edinburgh to discover the city’s deep links with Africa and the Caribbean over the past 500 years
The tour will be led by Lisa Williams, founder of the Edinburgh Caribbean Association and Honorary Fellow in the department of History, Classics and Archaeology at the University of Edinburgh. Hear the little-known stories of Edinburgh’s many visitors and residents of African, African American and Caribbean heritage from the 16th century to the present day; with a focus on the Caribbean and Edinburgh’s role in the Transatlantic Slave System. The walk from the New Town to the Old Town will make you see Edinburgh’s statues and buildings in a whole new way! The route itself is fairly gentle, lasts up to 2 hours and has some rest stops along the way.
FAQs
Our meeting point is super close to both Waverley Station and St. Andrew’s Bus Station. Many buses pass close by. We normally gather near the bench at the foot of the Melville Monument (Dundas Statue) but during the Christmas and New Year period we’ll meet directly outside the Costa cafe outlet in the Square. Text or phone me if you can’t find us! Please let me know in advance if you have any special requirements or accessibility issues and we shall do our best to accommodate your needs.
Tours are limited to 20 people max. Please bring a mask and h and sanitizer, but there will be extra available if necessary. Your contact details will also be requested.
Are there ID or minimum age requirements to come on the tour?
14 years plus is advised because of the subject matter and length of tour. We do school visits however in September and October, with music, dance and Caribbean food added to the history presentations, so please get in touch if you work in or have a child at a school in Scotland. Parents have come with babes-in-arms, so you’re welcome to attend with a very wee one in a sling or buggy.
What can I bring into the event?
Wear comfortable walking shoes, bring an umbrella and a lightweight anorak just in case! If the weather is bad, we will stay longer in our indoor stops along the way. Be aware that hot drinks and food cannot be taken in to the National Portrait Gallery, which is sometimes our second stop when it’s open.
Copyright issues
Just so you know, the Black History Walking Tour of Edinburgh is a form of cultural production and has been copyrighted. Please do not duplicate the information on the walking tour map without prior permission.
Accessibility issues
We try to make the tours as accessible as possible, but please get in contact with any concerns, questions or suggestions for improvements. Currently we go up the steps by the Writers’ Museum but we can take an alternative route for those who need a flat surface. At times the lift in the National Portrait Gallery is out of order, so please let us know before hand if several flights of stairs are difficult, and we can remain in the Main Hall.
Safety issues
Please be aware that you need to be reasonably fit for the walk, and are responsible for your own safety. Taking part in the tour means you are participating at your own risk. If you have pre-existing conditions that may be relevant or feel unwell during the tour, please let your guide know. You are also responsible for looking after your own belongings.
Data protection
Your privacy will be maintained at all times. We will never share or sell the information contained in our database to any third parties.
Any client may ask to see the information we hold on them and can request to be removed from our database at any time, for any reason.
We may wish to use images of participants on the tours, If you object to your image being used in this way, we must reasonably consider this and where appropriate remove the image. You will always be made aware if any photography or video is happening and for what purpose.
Booking queries
Refunds are available up to 7 days before the event. Tickets are not transferable. There are discounts available for students and unwaged, so please ask. Unfortunately we cannot take cash during the tour at the moment due to licensing requirements.