A stroll, a quiz, and lots of cheese. This Edinburgh crawl mixes Old Town stories with real tastings at local cheese spots, ending with a glass of wine. I especially love the variety of cheeses you get to try in just two hours, and I like the guide’s playful cheese knowledge challenge.

The one thing to think about is food fit: this tour is not suitable for vegetarians and it also isn’t a good match if you have a gluten intolerance. Plus, you’ll be walking between stops, so bring comfy shoes and expect some weather changes in Edinburgh.

Key highlights worth showing up for

• Blue-flag guide waiting in front of Saint Stephen’s Comely Bank Church
• Cheese quiz and pun challenge that keeps the group laughing while you learn
• Multiple tastings from local shops, not just one quick sample
• Old Town context tied to Edinburgh’s heritage and its cheese culture
• A complimentary wine at the last stop
• Finish in Stockbridge at Mellis Cheese for a satisfying send-off

Starting where Edinburgh feels most like Edinburgh

You meet at Saint Stephen’s Comely Bank Church, in the city center, with your guide holding a blue flag. That matters because it’s easy to find the group fast, and you can skip the morning-by-morning guesswork that slows down tours.

Before you start tasting, your guide gives a short lead-in about Edinburgh and how the city’s identity shaped its food culture. You’ll also get an intro to the idea that cheese is more than a snack here, it’s part of the local story arc that connects land, farming, and what people buy and share.

I like that this tour doesn’t treat history like a lecture. It’s short, practical, and designed to make the next stops make more sense.

The cheese crawl pace: short walks, real shop time

This is a 2-hour walking tour, and the pace is meant to be manageable. Even in reviews, people describe the distance between the start area and the tasting phase as fairly short and doable, which is exactly what you want when the whole point is eating as you go.

You’ll be moving between cheese places in a way that keeps your energy for tasting. There’s time for the guide to talk, time to sample, and enough pauses for questions without making the tour feel rushed.

One small caution: the experience is weather-dependent. If it’s rain-heavy, your guide will likely work around it, but you should still plan for some time outdoors.

George Mewes Cheese and Herbie of Edinburgh: quick context with local personality

Along the route, you’ll pass by George Mewes Cheese and Herbie of Edinburgh. These are not just sightseeing stops. Your guide uses them to set the scene and help you connect names you might see later with what they represent in Edinburgh’s cheese world.

Passing by works well because it keeps the tour moving, and it also helps you avoid turning a food-focused walk into a series of long photo breaks. If you’re coming from a hotel far away, this “see it, learn it, keep tasting” format helps you stay on schedule.

The downside is that you may not spend the same amount of time at every stop. If you love browsing and lingering, you’ll likely want to do extra independent shopping after the tour finishes so you can take your time with the cheeses you liked most.

Inside the tasting stops: what you’re actually paying for

The core of the experience is the tasting portion: multiple cheese samples from local producers and shops. In practice, that means you get to compare textures and flavors without having to commit to big purchases right away.

A common pattern is that you’ll stop at several cheese shops, and you may go inside at some of them while others are more of a pass-by or introduction. Either way, you’re not just walking past storefronts. You’re getting guided sampling designed to widen your cheese comfort zone.

What makes this tour valuable for you is the way the guide ties each sample to something you can remember. That’s where the fun part comes in: the guide builds in cheese facts, then checks your understanding with a quiz. Expect it to feel playful rather than test-like.

The cheese quiz and the puns: learning without the groan

One of the most praised parts of this crawl is the guide’s energy. Names you might hear connected to the experience include Xander, Kieran, Jenny, and Monique, and across those different guides the style is similar: upbeat, chatty, and focused on getting everyone involved.

The quiz is cheese-forward, so you’re not just eating. You’re picking up why certain cheeses taste the way they do, how they connect to place, and what makes them distinct. There’s also a pun element, so you’ll be encouraged to play along with cheese wordplay as a group activity.

If you enjoy guided fun, you’ll probably like the social side too. A lot of the enjoyment comes from the rhythm: sample, listen, talk, and then laugh at the pun attempts.

Finishing at Mellis Cheese Stockbridge with a wine toast

The tour ends at Mellis Cheese Stockbridge, and this is where the day gets its finishing touch. You’ll have a glass of complimentary wine at the last stop, which makes the whole crawl feel like a complete meal-in-miniature rather than scattered snacks.

Stockbridge is a good place to wrap up because it’s the kind of neighborhood where you can keep wandering after the tour ends. If you want a food-related evening plan, this ending point gives you an easy next step without forcing you to rush back to the start.

From a practical standpoint, ending at one named cheese store also helps you remember what you liked. Once you’ve tasted and learned, you can return to buy a wedge or two with more confidence than you’d have after a quick walk-in.

Price and value: $47 for two hours, cheese plus wine plus a guide

At $47 per person for a 2-hour experience, you’re paying for three things at once: guided route planning, guided tasting, and the added boost of wine.

Cheese tastings can be pricey if you do them one shop at a time, and buying multiple full-size items on your first visit often leads to regret. This tour helps you avoid that by giving you enough sampling to figure out what you actually want to take home.

You’re also getting the guide’s city context, including the Old Town storytelling thread that links to Edinburgh’s heritage and cheese culture. That’s hard to replicate on your own unless you’re the type who loves researching before you arrive.

If you’re budgeting, treat this as a “starter tasting course” rather than your whole dinner. It’s designed to make you taste more than you could easily manage on your own in the same time window.

Who this tour fits best (and who might skip it)

This is best for you if:

• You love cheese and want to try more than one style without overthinking it
• You enjoy a guide who mixes facts with jokes and a quick quiz format
• You want a short walking activity that ends in a great shopping neighborhood

It’s less ideal if:

• You’re vegetarian (the tour is not suitable)
• You have a gluten intolerance (also not suitable)
• You hate walking at all, since it’s built around moving between stops

Also, if weather can stress you out, plan your expectations. One of the more reassuring signals from the experience is that guides adjust in tough conditions and keep things fun, even when they’re dealing with rain and timing.

Quick planning tips so you enjoy it more

• Wear shoes you’re comfortable in for a solid walk. This is a tasting tour, not a sit-down meal.
• Eat lightly before you go if you want space for tasting later. You don’t want to arrive so full that the samples feel like work.
• Come curious. If you like asking questions, the quiz and guide chat style gives you chances to do it.
• Bring an open mind about Scottish cheese versus non-Scottish varieties. The tastings are meant to broaden your range, not only reinforce what you already know.

Edinburgh can swing from bright to miserable fast, so pack a layer even in seasons that look mild.

Should you book the Edinburgh Cheese Crawl?

If you love cheese and you want a guided, low-stress way to learn while tasting, I think it’s an easy yes. The standout strengths are the multiple samples, the fun guide-led quiz/pun energy, and the straightforward finish with wine at Mellis Cheese Stockbridge.

If your dietary needs don’t match (vegetarian or gluten intolerance), then skip it. Also skip it if you want a purely historical walk with no focus on food, because the tasting is the main event.

With a 4.6 average rating from 42 bookings, this is the kind of experience that tends to deliver on its core promise: cheese, context, and a guide who keeps it lively without turning it into a lecture.

FAQ

Where do I meet the guide?

Meet in front of Saint Stephen’s Comely Bank Church. Your guide will be holding a blue flag.

How long is the Edinburgh cheese crawl?

The tour lasts 2 hours.

How much does it cost?

It costs $47 per person.

What’s included in the price?

You get a live guide, a walking tour, cheese samples, and a glass of wine.

Is public transport included?

No. Public transport tickets are not included.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes, the live tour guide is English.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

The tour is listed as wheelchair accessible.

Is this tour suitable for vegetarians?

No, it is not suitable for vegetarians.

Is it suitable for gluten intolerance?

No, it is not suitable for people with gluten intolerance.

Is there free cancellation?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.

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