On Friday 23 June, to mark this year’s Pride month, local tour guide Hannah Mackay Tait will take Kimpton Charlotte Square guests on an exclusive whistlestop tour of the city’s rich queer heritage.
Guests will be surprised by just how much queer history is held in our ancient streets!
This year, Kimpton Charlotte Square is the main sponsor of Pride Edinburgh. The five-star hotel proudly celebrates individuality and fiercely embraces diversity.
It welcomes varying perspectives, honours different backgrounds, learns from differing beliefs and grows from the multitude of talents, contributions and experiences of all people. It has created spaces where every person can feel welcome and free to be their true selves.
To celebrate Pride month, guests will discover hidden stories on the 90-minute walking tour learning about the lesbian sex scandal that rocked Edinburgh high society in the early 1800s and about the trans magician hosting Scotland’s first queer rights rally in the 1980s.
Guests will then head into Pride Edinburgh on the 24 June with a new appreciation for the generations of queer folk who came before.
Accessibility info: The route covers approximately 3km on paved paths, starting from Kimpton Charlotte Square and finishing on George Street with frequent stops in between, some of which have seating available.
The route has no steps or stairs, with dropped kerbs at crossings throughout, but will involve going up and down some moderate slopes. Some areas are likely to be loud and busy, although we’ll always stop somewhere as quiet as possible.
Hannah will not be wearing a mask to facilitate lip reading, but you are welcome to wear one or not as you prefer.