Edinburgh: The Original Pub Crawl 7 Bars 7 Shots & Discounts

Edinburgh’s Original Pub Crawl is less about finding one perfect pub and more about letting someone else steer the night. You meet inside Bar 50, then walk through the Old Town to seven venues, collecting six shots and one opening bomb along the way. Guides such as Tiana, Tom, Adele, Lewis, and Adam are known for pulling solo visitors and mixed groups into the same circle.

I like the simple value: $20 covers seven bar visits, seven drinks, and entry fees, before any other drinks you buy. I also like the social setup. You can arrive alone and quickly have people to talk with, and the guides make an effort to keep the group together. The catch is pace. This is a six-hour drinking night, not a quiet tour of historic pubs, and the route may include modern nightlife venues rather than traditional Scottish bars.

Key points at a glance

• Seven Old Town venues: Walk between seven bars and clubs instead of guessing where to go on your own.
• Six shots plus one bomb: The provider selects the drinks, with the opening bomb served at the start.
• Guides shape the night: Tiana, Tom, Adele, Lewis, Adam, Esther, Cameron, and others have been praised for energy, group care, and helping strangers connect.
• Strong value at $20: VIP entry and no cover charge apply at the venues visited, with 25% discounts at selected bars and clubs.
• Best for social nights out: Solo visitors, friends, and people keen to meet new people get the most from the format.
• Come prepared for a late night: Bring a passport or ID card, wear closed-toe shoes, and skip sportswear, sandals, flip-flops, and costumes.

Starting at Bar 50 in Edinburgh’s Old Town

The night begins inside Bar 50, where you meet the guide and the rest of the group. This matters more than it may seem. A pub crawl works best when the first few minutes are handled clearly, and the guide sets the rules, explains the plan, and gets people talking before the group heads out.

The provider has run this crawl for more than 13 years, so the format is built around movement, short stops, and group energy rather than a long stay in one place. You are not handed a city map and sent off. The guide leads you from venue to venue, helps the group enter together, and keeps an eye on the head count.

Expect a mixed crowd. The activity attracts solo visitors, couples, friends, and people in larger groups. If you are on your own, the structure gives you an easy opening line: ask someone where they are from, compare the next stop, or join a group game or conversation. Several guides, including Tom, Tiana, Adam, and Adele, have been praised for helping people who arrived alone feel included.

Your identification is important. Bring a passport or ID card. The activity is for people aged 18 and over, and entry rules can be applied at the venues. You should also wear practical shoes. Sandals, flip-flops, open-toed shoes, sportswear, and costumes are not allowed.

The first drink gets the night moving

The included drinks are six shots chosen by the provider, plus one bomb to start the night. That is seven included drinks in total, though the product description sometimes shortens this to seven shots. The useful way to think about it is six regular selected shots and one opening bomb.

The first drink is meant to break the ice. It gives the group a shared start and removes some of the awkwardness that can come with meeting strangers in a crowded bar. After that, the drinks are spread through the evening as you move between venues.

You should pace yourself. Seven included drinks over six hours can still add up, especially if you buy anything else. Food is not included, so eat before joining or plan to buy something during the evening if the schedule allows. The crawl is designed around nightlife and drinking, not a sit-down meal.

The shot selection is made by the provider, so you should not expect to choose every drink. That is part of the fun for some people, but it is also worth noting if you have dietary restrictions, allergies, or strong preferences. Ask the guide before taking anything you are unsure about.

Stop one: the opening venue and group introductions

The first bar visit is where the evening changes from a meeting point into a proper group outing. The guide has to do two jobs here: keep the group moving and make it easy for people to mix. The best guides seem to understand that a pub crawl is not only a list of addresses. It is a social exercise.

Tiana, in particular, has been praised for creating a fun and safe atmosphere and for bringing people together. Tom has been singled out for explaining what would happen at each bar and helping people feel comfortable. Those details matter because the guide’s style can shape the whole evening.

The group may be large. One account describes roughly 40 people, while other outings have been small enough for everyone to talk together. A large group gives the night plenty of energy but can make conversation harder. A small group feels more personal, though it may not have the same party atmosphere.

Stops two and three: moving through the Old Town

Between venues, you walk through Edinburgh’s Old Town. This is not a guided architecture tour, but the walking gives you a quick sense of the city after dark and takes you to places you might not pick by yourself.

That is one of the practical strengths of the crawl. You avoid spending half the evening comparing menus, checking entry rules, and standing outside places that are full. The route is chosen for you, and VIP entry means you do not pay a cover charge at the venues visited. Express security access is also included.

The exact bars are not listed in advance, and the selection can change. You should think of the seven stops as a moving nightlife route, not seven fixed attractions with a detailed historical explanation. Some venues may suit dancing and loud group energy, while others may offer a more relaxed place to have a drink and talk.

This is also where the main drawback appears. If your goal is a carefully chosen tour of old-fashioned Scottish pubs, this may not be the right format. The focus is on a fun night through Edinburgh’s Old Town, and one person specifically wished for more traditional Scottish pubs. The route can show you good local nightlife without promising a classic pub interior at every stop.

Stops four and five: the value of guided entry

By the middle of the evening, the included entry becomes more useful. Edinburgh nightlife can involve queues, cover charges, and uncertainty about which venues are busy or welcoming. The guide handles the group entrance, and the crawl includes VIP entry with no cover charge at the places on the route.

The 25% discount at selected bars and clubs can also help, but read the wording carefully. It does not mean every drink at every stop is automatically discounted. It applies at selected venues, and your free drinks are already covered by the booking.

At this stage, the night often becomes less about seeing new addresses and more about the people you met. Guides have arranged dancing, karaoke, beer pong, and general group time on different evenings. Those activities are not guaranteed parts of every route, so treat them as possible extras rather than promised stops.

If you prefer a quiet drink, the middle section may feel busy or loud. If you want company and a ready-made plan, that same energy is the point. You can still step outside for air or tell the guide if you need help, but you should not book this expecting a slow tasting tour.

Stops six and seven: finishing with the group

The final venues give the evening its last push. By then, some people may have left early, while others are ready to continue. One Sunday outing became quieter as people dropped out, but the group atmosphere remained enjoyable. That is useful context: the night’s energy depends partly on the day, the size of the booking, and the people who stay until the end.

The guide continues to act as the anchor. Good group management matters late in the evening, when people are tired, distracted, or less certain of where they are. Guides have been praised for checking that nobody was left behind, helping people find lost belongings, and making sure the group reached each venue together.

The last stop is not described as a particular club or bar, so you should not book for one named venue. The appeal is the full route and the social night, not a guarantee that the final stop will match your personal taste.

What the guides add to the evening

The strongest part of this activity is the guide. The drinks and entry deal are easy to compare, but the human side is harder to replace.

Tiana has received repeated praise for her energy, kindness, and ability to make people feel included. Tom has been described as friendly, funny, informative, and good at explaining the practical details. Adele has been praised for keeping people smiling, while Lewis has been credited with strong energy and showing people a good night out.

Adam, Esther, Cameron, Robyn, Matt, Gi, Abby, and others have also led groups. Their styles will differ, and you cannot select a particular guide as part of the stated booking. Still, the pattern is clear: the guide can turn a group of strangers into a functioning night out.

The most useful example is accessibility support. One guide helped visually impaired members of a group choose more accessible walking routes, get drink menus, find suitable seating, and move safely between venues. A guide dog was also welcomed and given water. The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible, but venue layouts and street conditions can vary, so contact the provider through WhatsApp if you have specific needs.

Price, discounts, and what you still pay for

At $20 per person, the package offers solid value if you plan to visit several venues anyway. Seven bar visits, seven included drinks, VIP entry, no cover charge, and selected 25% discounts can cost more when arranged separately. The price is especially useful for a first night in Edinburgh, when you may not know which places charge at the door.

You still need money for drinks beyond the included shots, food, and anything not covered by the selected discounts. The package is not an all-inclusive night. It is a low-cost way to organize access and provide a few drinks while you decide how much more you want to spend.

I would also factor in the value of saved time. The guide chooses the route, leads the walks, and handles entry. For a first visit, that can be worth as much as the drinks, especially on a busy evening.

Who should book this six-hour crawl?

You are a good match if you want to meet people, go out dancing, and see several parts of Edinburgh’s Old Town nightlife without planning every stop. Solo visitors should consider it seriously. Several people joined alone and made friends during the evening, with one person even continuing to explore Scotland with friends met on the crawl.

It also suits pairs and small friend groups who want a social night rather than a private one. You will not be left to your own table all night. The guide encourages group interaction, and the activity is built around shared drinks and movement.

You should think twice if you dislike alcohol, large groups, loud nightlife, or walking between venues. Pregnant people and anyone under 18 cannot join. The activity also may not suit you if your main interest is traditional Scottish pub culture, a history talk, or a food-focused evening.

Booking is flexible: you can reserve now and pay later, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. The tour is offered in English, and you can contact the provider by WhatsApp if problems come up.

Final verdict: a strong first-night choice

I would book this crawl for a first or second night in Edinburgh when I wanted company and a ready-made plan. The $20 price is fair, especially with seven venues, seven included drinks, and entry benefits. The guides are the real reason to book, with names such as Tiana, Tom, Adele, and Lewis repeatedly associated with a welcoming group atmosphere.

I would not choose it for a quiet evening, a detailed history tour, or a guaranteed run of traditional Scottish pubs. Pace yourself, eat beforehand, bring identification, and wear proper closed-toe shoes. If you want to meet people and let Edinburgh’s Old Town nightlife unfold without doing the planning yourself, this is a practical, lively choice.

FAQ

Where does the Edinburgh pub crawl meet?

Meet your guide inside Bar 50.

How long does the pub crawl last?

The activity lasts six hours.

How many venues does the crawl visit?

The route visits seven bars in Edinburgh’s Old Town.

How many drinks are included?

Six selected shots and one bomb are included, for seven drinks in total.

Is entry to the venues included?

Yes. VIP entry and no cover charge are included for the venues visited on the night.

Are discounts included?

Yes. You receive 25% discounts at selected bars and clubs.

What identification should I bring?

Bring a passport or ID card.

Can people under 18 join the activity?

No. The activity is not suitable for children under 18. It is also not suitable for pregnant women.