Enlightenment Edinburgh

Discover Edinburgh at the moment it transformed the worlds of history, science, literature and philosophy. On this tour you’ll see a city that was home to an extraordinary concentration of great minds: David Hume, Adam Smith, James Hutton and Walter Scott.  

The enlightenment in Edinburgh transformed philosophy, history, science and literature. From this small stage, a few men laid the foundations of modern economics, and inspired great leaps for modern medicine. But how did Scotland’s capital gain its reputation as the Athens of the North? And what was it about the city that inspired so many thinkers?

A city of global connections

This was not an insular movement. The Enlightenment in Edinburgh was global in ambition and reach, with ideas that crossed borders and sparked change around the world. On this tour, you’ll hear how international students, visitors and correspondents shaped and challenged prevailing beliefs – and how their legacies still resonate today. This rich exchange of ideas reminds us that progress is built through openness, curiosity and collaboration.

Excitement and endeavour

On this tour of Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns, your expert Mercat guide will conjure the excitement and endeavour of the men who met for intense meetings at The Select Society and The Poker Club. We’ll take you to places where it all happened – the university, the Surgeon’s Hall, the observatory. Forget the guide books – this tour brings a city of radical ideas to life.

A tour for everyone

This tour invites you to step into a world where ideas, not titles, shaped society. From radical shifts in education and faith to the birth of scientific inquiry and democratic ideals, the Enlightenment in Edinburgh championed reason, debate and the power of knowledge to transform lives. You’ll discover how Edinburgh’s thinkers challenged hierarchy, questioned dogma, and laid the groundwork for modern values – ideas that remain profoundly relevant today.

Whether you're drawn to science, politics, literature or philosophy, this experience offers a rich, accessible journey through the moments that helped shape the modern world.