A new city tour with a sexy twist

BEWARE that person sidling up to you as you browse that masterpiece or thumb through that yet-to-be-purchased novel. They may be about to flirt with you.

In a new and potentially-romantic chapter in city life, Scotland is about to get its first flirting tour.

Led by social anthropologist Jean Smith, the first tour will take place later this month in Edinburgh with participants visiting galleries, bookstores and other public places where they will be instructed on how to have close encounters with like-minded people.

Venues will not include those normally associated with flirting - such as pubs and clubs - but will include the National Galleries of Scotland, Princes Street Gardens, bookshops and supermarkets.

The 25 tours take 90 minutes and as well as visiting some of the city's prime tourist sites, Smith will demonstrate how to send out the right signals at the right time to strangers without having to be in a typical party or pub setting to put them into practice.

Participants will be encouraged to approach strangers who catch their eye at any of the locations and use their new-found skills to flirt with them and perhaps even gain a phone number or two.

Smith, an expert on reading body language, will teach opening gambits depending on the situation. In an art gallery it might be as simple as asking the person you like the look of what they think of an artwork and then taking the conversation on from there.

"Flirting is a skill," said Smith. "One is inept only if one doesn't try. People are so afraid of stepping out of their comfort zones and being rejected that they build up unreal scenarios as to what might happen if they actually take action.

"By showing people, for themselves, how fun flirting is, they actually experience talking to strangers for themselves, and in turn, realising there is nothing to be scared of. Flirting combined with Edinburgh's beauty, history and humour seem like a great match."

Smith believes the city's inhabitants can be coy at times when it comes to introducing themselves to someone they are interested in.

"Edinburghers need a gentle push in the right direction," said Smith. "They seem hesitant to seal the deal. You can't go on seeing everyone as 'just friends'. At some point one must give a clear signal of intent."

The National Galleries said it would welcome the tour. A spokesperson for the National Galleries said: "The National Galleries of Scotland welcomes all visitors, chaste or flirtatious, although our preference is for the public to fall in love with the collections."

Smith, who has worked as a relationships advisor for firms including Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft and Unilever, has previously run a series of flirting tours around London. She also runs seminars in flirting and individual coaching sessions for those who find it difficult to meet someone.

"Every day we miss out on spontaneous opportunities to meet someone special, simply because we're too shy to strike up a conversation with a stranger," said Smith.

During the Edinburgh Fringe later this year, Smith will also host a show which campaigns to make flirting an Olympic sport. The audience will be given the rules of the ‘flirtathlon' with tips and techniques on how to meet the right person. The show will also look at communication techniques and how to start up short conversations with anyone from a colleague to a shop assistant."