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underground tour edinburgh free

Historic Underground Tour in Edinburgh

Get exclusive access to the Blair Street Underground Vaults – the largest system of underground caverns in Edinburgh. Built in the 18th century beneath South Bridge, we’re the only walking tour company with access.

Beneath the bustle of Edinburgh’s Old Town you’ll discover a dark, damp world unchanged since the 18th century. Your expert guide will lead you deep into the Blair Street Underground Vaults, and together you’ll explore their history – including how they became home to the city’s most destitute inhabitants.

Want to see Edinburgh’s darkest secret? Descend into the vaults, exclusive to Mercat Tours.

It’s a story rooted in Edinburgh’s Georgian past – grand feats of engineering, the expansion of the city, and those who were left behind in its darker corners.

But why were the vaults built? And who used them? Save your questions for your Mercat tour guide, a masterful storyteller who will bring the history of the vaults to life – and talk you through some of the artefacts that have survived.

Your walking tour will end in our Discovery Room complete with 3D model and artefacts.

Dates & times Daily: 12:00, 14:00, 16:00

Tickets are always limited. Book online in advance for the best ticket price.

Duration 1 hours 15 minutes

Tour location Start point: Mercat Cross, High Street End point: Blair Street Underground Vaults, Blair Street, off Hunter’s Square

Travel Time:

Cafe St Honorė

Edinburgh & Lothian

Nelson Monument

Union of genius, novapizza vegetarian kitchen, hendersons salad table, hula juice bar, pomegranate express, city observatory, travellers journeys nearby, exploring edinburgh in the haar, a stroll around dean village, a day trip to fife's east neuk, the mighty red squirrel, exploring the glasshouses at glasgow botanic gardens, local inspiration, from fields to form: an insightful conversation with basketmaker anna liebmann, cultivating scottish willow and crafting timeless baskets, blooming beauty: seilich skincare’s wild journey from scottish meadows to radiant skin, inside albys: edinburgh’s sandwich shop success story, agnes randolph and the siege of dunbar castle, edinburgh castle and the black dinner, a prince’s murder at falkland palace, meet sara, owner of castaway, best picnic spots in edinburgh, secret gardens in edinburgh’s city centre, the best restaurant in scotland named in national awards, edinburgh’s lesser-known museums, a daring escape from dalkeith palace, a royal warning at linlithgow palace, a slow travel guide to culross, meet stephanie lothian, co-owner of williamstone farm steadings, april in edinburgh, meet illustrator emily hogarth, the scottish seawolf of culross, march in edinburgh, crawford priory’s ghostly menagerie, the defence of dunbar castle, explore the world’s first digital unesco trail, february in edinburgh, january in edinburgh, december in edinburgh, doom & gloom at castle campbel, november in edinburgh, win an overnight stay at dunstane houses in edinburgh, fife’s hidden gems, october in edinburgh, the secrets buried in roslin glen, the murderous craigmillar bond, old edinburgh’s unlikely criminal, lochend park, newhailes house, the jacobite garrison of the bass rock, the 16 best castles to visit near edinburgh, corstorphine walled garden, tantallon castle and the 1st earl of douglas, jupiter artland, meet laura wilson, owner of the dundonald guesthouse and cottage, melrose abbey and robert the bruce’s heart, thomas randolph and the capture of edinburgh castle, st monans church, edinburgh hotels, the coastal villages of fife, duddingston village, the great hall in the scottish national portrait gallery, dunbar’s close, the stockbridge duck race, the meadows, the national museum of scotland, 5 surprising facts about stockbridge, how edinburgh changed the world: the scottish enlightenment, getting to edinburgh, the stockbridge colonies, dean village: a peaceful oasis on the doorstep of the city, the history of edinburgh’s stockbridge, why is edinburgh called ‘the athens of the north’, the history of the new town, the history of edinburgh’s old town, the creation of victoria street, 5 surprising facts about the grassmarket, the last hanging, the history of the grassmarket.

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underground tour edinburgh free

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Mercat Tours Ltd, Edinburgh, Scotland

"History is a damn good story, what it needs is a damn good telling"

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Historic Underground

  • Ghostly Underground
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Evening of Ghosts & Ghouls

Secrets of edinburgh's royal mile.

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Mercat tour

  • History Walks /
  • Get exclusive access to the Blair Street Underground Vaults – the city’s oldest, deepest vaults
  • Discover the history of day-to-day life in Old Town Edinburgh’s wynds and closes, as well as in the vaults
  • See authentic 19th Century artefacts found in the vaults
  • Visit our Discovery Room, with 3D models and displays
  • Mercat exclusive audio devices - be immersed and get lost in the stories...
  • Choosing Mercat is ' Good for you, Good for Edinburgh ' - our team, community and planet

About this tour

Edinburgh vaults.

Get exclusive access to the Blair Street Underground Vaults – the largest system of underground caverns in Edinburgh. Built in the 18th Century beneath South Bridge, we’re the only walking tour company with access.

Beneath the hustle and bustle of Edinburgh’s Old Town, you’ll discover a dark, damp world that has remained unchanged since the 18th Century. Your expert Storyteller will lead you deep into the Blair Street Underground Vaults, and together you’ll explore its perfectly preserved history – including how it became home to the city’s most destitute inhabitants.  

Underground tours

Want to see Edinburgh’s darkest secret? Descend into the vaults, exclusive to Mercat Tours.

It’s a story rooted in Edinburgh’s Georgian past – grand feats of engineering, the expansion of the city, and those who were left behind in its darker corners. But why were the vaults built? And who used them?

All your questions will be answered throughout the duration of our Historic Underground tour, where our award-winning storytellers bring the history of the vaults to life.

Customer review

"very interesting, learnt a lot about edinburgh history and how the vaults came about, also how they were used.", book ticket, please select a date and time, tour details, dates & times.

Daily; morning & afternoon Private group bookings

Reconnect with friends and family on a tour just for you. Book online now, or we're happy to help on email [email protected]

Donate to help us reconnect vulnerable communities through storytelling - learn more about  Our Stories, Your City .

  • Everyone has a warm welcome from us;
  • Local Edinburgh residents eligible for concession rates (EH postcodes)
  • Complimentary tickets are available for carers, to book call us on 0131 225 5445 .
  • Read how we include you  here
  • See our  Euan's Guide Review s.
  • Language: English. Learn more on our FAQs

If you are a returning visitor and booked directly through Mercat Tours, you’re eligible for our Returner’s Reward

  • 1 hours 15 minutes

Tour location

  • Start point: Mercat Cross, High Street
  • End point: Blair Street Underground Vaults, Blair Street, off Hunter's Square

Need help booking?

Get in touch with us and one of our experts will be able to give you advice on our tours.

Other tours you might like

Stories of blood, guts & gore in the Old Town, then a whisky or soft-drink in a candlelit cellar to warm the heart.

Evening. Ages 5+.

The perfect introduction to Scotland’s capital – and fastpass skip-the-line entry at Edinburgh Castle (optional extra).

Morning/Afternoon

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Don’t forget to buy a Mercat Tours souvenir guidebook with your ticket.

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underground tour edinburgh free

Old Town Historical and Underground Tour

Join a local historian on our historical walking tour around Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile. Learn about Edinburgh’s fascinating history, literature heroes, infamous criminals and battles that shaped our city into what is today.

This tour will take you into parts of Edinburgh that you did not know existed, off the tourist trail. Hear about how the first skyscrapers in the world were built in Edinburgh, indeed we hosted the tallest buildings in the world long before any other country caught onto the trend.

Find out who the famous local criminal was that became the inspiration for Jekyll & Hyde. Learn where the word Black Market came from, where Ebeneezer Scrooge is buried (yes, really) and how Edinburgh University worked closely with the serial killers Burke & Hare.

Edinburgh’s history is long and fascinating, made even more special when told by our enthusiastic and passionate guides.

Our tour includes a visit to Edinburgh’s Underground Vaults, one of the most hidden and historic places in all of Edinburgh. Your guide will tell you about our Underground’s dark history and some of the strangest things that happen down there as well as some famous historic characters connected to our specific vaults.

From £18 per adult

Departure days.

  • W Wednesday

January — December

Contact details

Tour information

  • Edinburgh - City Centre
  • Medium Group (17-30)
  • Small Group (1-16)
  • Ghosts and Supernatural

Tour prices

From £18 Per Adult £12 Per Child £17 Concession

Prices are subject to change depending on season

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City of Edinburgh Tours

Tour company information

City of edinburgh tours.

Since 2012 we have been conducting underground ghost tours in the Old Town of Edinburgh, showing our customers the secrets of this historic city. We offer a daily historical tour of the Old Town and a nightly pub crawl, additionally, we provide a Spanish ghost tour every evening. All our tours are available on private request and can be conducted in French and German. For our ghost tours and the Outlander tour, all our guides dress in period costume and play a character from Scotland’s bloody past

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Opening times

7 days a week from 11.30 AM to 10.30 PM December 25th Closed

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The content of many of our web listings is provided by third party operators and not VisitScotland. VisitScotland accepts no responsibility for (1) any error or misrepresentation contained in third party listings, and (2) the contents of any external links within web listings ((1) and (2) together hereinafter referred to as the "Content"). VisitScotland excludes all liability for loss or damage caused by any reliance placed on the Content. The Content is provided for your information only and is not endorsed by VisitScotland.

Join our special MEDICAL HISTORY TOURS only on SATURDAYS

Click here to book.

Real Mary King's Close Logo

STEP DOWN INTO EDINBURGH'S HIDDEN HISTORY

underground tour edinburgh free

Journey Back In Time

Imagine a warren of streets frozen in time, where centuries of stories are just waiting to be told. Discover authentic truths about Edinburgh's dark past, and find out what it was really like for the people who lived, worked, and died on the Close.

FIND OUT MORE

underground tour edinburgh free

Dr Arnott’s Sampling Sensation

Every Saturday,  uncover the secrets of 17 th -century medicine with a hands-on workshop led by an expert from his time: Dr Arnott. Examine his patients using his favourite method… by analysing urine’s colour, smell and TASTE! ALL your senses will be required as you examine patients’ samples and create your own herbal cure.

underground tour edinburgh free

Free Audio Guides

If you require translation, we offer free audio guides via our mobile app in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin, Dutch, Portuguese, Polish and Hungarian. To find out more click here .

Find out more

Book a private tour.

Enjoy your very own Private Tour of The Real Mary King’s Close for you and up to 19 additional guests. Located in the heart of   Edinburgh’s Old Town , your guests will go on a journey through time on these now hidden streets where they will uncover some of the city’s deepest secrets. 

Read the Mary King’s Close Blog

The Real Mary King’s Close Blog is where you can gain a deeper understanding of Scotland’s turbulent history and beyond. Read fascinating tales, researched by our team, and find out more about our  newest tours , collaborations, charity efforts and special events.

Read the blog

Explore uniquely preserved streets....

Journey back in time and follow in the footsteps of former residents. Step down and explore the rooms, streets and spaces underneath the famous Royal Mile - a unique glimpse into the city's past, and Edinburgh's only preserved 17th century street.

EXPLORE UNDERGROUND

underground tour edinburgh free

Meet The Residents

Experience over 400 years of history, and discover the stories of your character guide. From myths and legends, to the deadly plague epidemic and a famous royal visitor – there’s a myriad of tales just waiting to be told on this one hour guided tour.

underground tour edinburgh free

Find Us On The Royal Mile

A ten minute walk from Edinburgh Castle, across from the magnificent St Giles Cathedral.

Use postcode: EH1 1PG

Browse a beautiful range of hand-crafted and locally sourced gifts, homeware and souvenirs. All items are handmade by local artisans or sourced from the best of Scotland’s rich produce and craftsmanship.

Mary Ogle’s Coffee Cart

Treat yourself to our delicious takeaway teas and coffees sourced from  Brodies 1867 , local coffee roasters in Edinburgh for over 150 years.

Mary King's Blog

Interview with ross macrae, iconic mary king’s close residents’ forgotten gravestone restored by volunteers, newsletter signup.

Be the first to hear about our special events and latest news.

underground tour edinburgh free

The Real Mary King’s Close 2 Warriston’s Close High Street Edinburgh EH1 1PG

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Edinburgh Walking Tours

underground tour edinburgh free

Featured Tours

underground tour edinburgh free

Old Town + The Royal Mile Free Tour

Old town + the royal mile free tour highlights.

  • Historical introduction to Edinburgh
  • Victoria Street
  • Grassmarket
  • Greyfriars Cemetery
  • Mysteries about Harry Potter
  • Mackenzie and paranormal activity
  • National Museum of Scotland
  • Writers Museum
  • St. Giles Cathedral
  • Presbyterianism
  • Public executions
  • Maggie Dickson
  • Heart of Midlothian
  • Mercat Cross
  • Fringe Festival

Edinburgh is one of the most historic cities in Scotland and the entire United Kingdom and should be on your bucket list.

The city's rich past, royal legacy, and elegant medieval streets will make you wish you never had to leave.

The well-known spots are also close together, which makes it a perfect walkable city.

underground tour edinburgh free

There are 4 types of free walking tours available in Edinburgh, Scotland:

  • Harry Potter-themed Tours
  • Ghost Tours

We are a group of local walking tour guides who lead daily walking tours in Edinburgh. We have also written several self-guided walks and recorded two city audio tours.

And, in the video below, Margaret, one of our local guides, takes you on a virtual walk of Edinburgh's Old Town.

We let you know about your options, provide schedules, and explain what you will see on each tour.

Hope to see you on one of our tours!

TOUR CALENDAR

Below is a calendar of some of the great walking tours available in Edinburgh, all from local guides.

Searching Availability...

More Tour Options?  More tours are available in the individual tour sections below.

  • Harry Potter Sights

This schedule above is for tours in English. Click here for  tours in other languages , such as Spanish, German, or Italian.

This model of "free" tours is tours that are free to take. There's no need to pay at the end, but you can if you want. Engaging locals adds to the experience by offering understanding and insights. You can pay what you think the walk was worth at the tour's end, even nothing.

According to reviews on TripAdvisor, most people give €5 to €20 per adult to the tour guide when they like the tour.

These free tours are usually well-reviewed, and as good as any other walking tour in Edinburgh.

OLD CITY AND ROYAL MILE TOUR

This section provides information about each of the pay-what-you-like Edinburgh tours which cover the older parts of the city, including historical details to show how Edinburgh became such a notable location.

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You can expect to see the following sites during these tours:

  • Edinburgh Castle
  • Canongate Church
  • Scottish Parliament
  • Queen’s Palace

If you want to learn more about these locations, please consider taking our GPS-led audio tour one of the pay-what-you-wish walking tours listed below.

We offer a 2-hour guided walk daily at 10:00 a.m. and again at 11:00 a.m. In summer months, you'll find afternoon tours as well. Book this tour here .

GPS-Enabled Audio Tour

We also offer an audio tour of historic Edinburgh, researched, written, and recorded by one of our own tour guides, that you could take whenever you wish.

Map of Edinburgh Attractions

Here’s a sample.

  • Purchase an audio tour (£2.30)
  • Get a confirmation email with .mp3, pdf, and embeddable Google Map
  • Enjoy the tour(s).

NEW CITY TOUR

As the name implies, this section will cover some of the more notable modern areas of the city, providing details about the recent history of Edinburgh.

Edinburgh New City Tour

If you’re looking for tips about the best places to eat or the most interesting newer attractions in the city, this is probably the best type of tour to take.

While on a New City tour, you can expect to see popular landmarks and sites such as these:

  • Princes Street Gardens
  • Scottish Prime Minister’s House
  • Scottish National Gallery
  • The main street for shops, pubs, restaurants
  • Best views in the city
  • Calton Hill

To see these sites and learn more about them, consider taking the following tours.

City Explorers

In addition to their Old City tour, this company also offers an outing that covers the newer, more modern areas of Edinburgh as well.

This New City tour is available in both English and Spanish every Sunday and Thursday at 14:00 (2 pm).

FREE HARRY POTTER EDINBURGH TOUR

Did you know that Edinburgh was actually one of the biggest influences on the Harry Potter franchise?

Many of the locations from the book are inspired by real-life places in this city.

To learn a bit more about these sights, or to visit on your own, take a look at our self-guided tour of Potter locations in Edinburgh.

And, in the video below, Margaret, our local Edinburgh Muggle, takes you on a virtual tour of Potter locations in the city.

Discover how Edinburgh became the birthplace of this young prodigy wizard who would eventually take the world by storm

There are at least two companies currently offering pay-what-you-wish walking tours which cover the many ties between Edinburgh and Harry Potter.

You can expect to see and learn about some of the following locations on this tour:

  • The Original Diagon Alley
  • The Inspiration for Hogwarts
  • The Elephant House
  • Where Lord Voldemort Was Buried
  • Cafes and Hotels Which Inspired J.K. Rowling
  • Discover the Origins of Quidditch

If these sites and subjects are of interest, consider taking one of the following free walking tours.

Free Harry Potter Tour Edinburgh

We also offer an audio tour of Harry Potter sights in Edinburgh, researched, written, and recorded by one of our own tour guides.

Harry Potter Tour Route Map

  • Get a confirmation email with .mp3, .pdf, and embeddable Google Map

FREE EDINBURGH GHOST TOUR

The history of this city is filled with legends and myths, but there’s also a darker side to Edinburgh’s past. 

Learn about some of the creepier and more disturbing aspects of Edinburgh’s past, including tales of witchery, body-snatching, assassinations, and even the plague.

underground tour edinburgh free

You can expect to see or hear about some of the following subjects:

  • Haunted Graveyards
  • Burke and Hare Murders
  • History of Public Executions
  • The Real Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
  • History of Witch Trials

Consider one of the following pay-what-you-wish ghost tours if you want to discover the haunted history of this city.

Ghosts and ghouls, vampires and cannibals - Edinburgh's dark history with Brian Pendreigh

This 2 hour name your own price ghost tour is highly reviewed but does not run daily.

Like most evening ghost tours in Edinburgh, it covers the witches and other darker side aspects of Edinburgh history, not just ghost stories.

Book a free ghost tour here .

If you can't attend the free tour, check out our ticketed Ghost Tour which runs every night.

Free Tours with Tourist Passes

If you're planning to explore multiple attractions in Edinburgh, the Edinburgh City Pass may be your best value for the trip.

With this pass, visitors can access free walking tours at no additional cost, including:

  • Edinburgh Castle Tour
  • The Royal Yacht Britannia
  • The Scotch Whisky Experience
  • Palace of Holyroodhouse
  • Edinburgh Bus Tours
  • Auld Reekie Tours
  • Edinburgh Zoo
  • Museum of Edinburgh

By purchasing the Edinburgh City Pass, you not only gain access to these amazing spots of the old city of Edinburgh but also enjoy the best value of your visit without the need to queue.

Whether engaging with local history or uncovering sinister stories, this pass offers a more personalized experience for your Edinburgh exploration.

We have a g uide to the Edinburgh City Pass to help you decide if it is a good deal for your trip.

RELATED POSTS

  • Top Things to Do in Edinburgh
  • How to Get Discounts to Edinburgh Attractions
  • Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tours

About The Author

underground tour edinburgh free

Stephen Pickhardt

And much, much more, north america, united kingdom & ireland, middle east & india, asia & oceania.

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Explore Edinburgh with the best-rated Tour Guides

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Edinburgh Free Tour

The best introduction to edinburgh, secure your space now.

The best-rated Edinburgh Free Walking Tour

  • 10am, 11am & 1pm
  • 154 High Street (Royal Mile)

No card info required

Free Walking Tour of Edinburgh

No trip to Scotland is complete without visiting Edinburgh, its inspiring capital, a cosmopolitan town teeming with genius and culture. On this 2 hours FREE Tour your expert guide will show you the most attractive spots of this seductive city.

Wonderful walking tour

"What a wonderful walking tour with Graeme. A beautiful summer day and an extremely engaging guide. Would definitely book again next time I visit Edinburgh."

Tricia Butterfield

Google (July 23)

It was worth every second

"I did three walking tours with City Explorers and it was worth every second! Definitely recommended. Ashlyn, Emma and Dr Rory were super fun and highly informative."

Sanyukta Desai

Highly recommended!!

"We had a PHENOMENAL ghost tour with Emma! We also had a AMAZING day time walking tour with Glen. Both guides were funny, knowledgeable, and friendly. Could not recommend these tours enough!!!"

Katie Cummings

Free Walking Tour of the Old Town

"Wonderful intro giving us enough info about where to spend our time as well as some great restaurant recommendations. Kenny was amusing, knowledgeable and easy to listen to so I highly recommend this walk."

Annelise Giddings

Google (June 23)

Greyfriars Bobby statue in Edinburgh's Old Town

Tour Description

The FREE Walking Tour starts every day at 10 am, 11 am and 1 pm on The Royal Mile , just in front of a bar called Copper Still (154 High Street).

We believe that everyone, no matter what is one's budget should be able to experience and enjoy what Edinburgh has to offer and we also believe that the price of a tour should correlate with your budget and how much you enjoyed it.

Our Edinburgh FREE Walking Tours are both informative and fun and offer something for everyone.

To ensure the highest quality of our Free Tours, groups of 15 or more people should book a Private Tour .

If you are arranging a booking for a School Group , please book a Private Tour .

This will allow us to give you a more personalized experience. Thanks for your understanding!

Secure your space now for the Edinburgh Free Tour!

Showing up is fine in most cases. However, you will have priority with a booking if tours reach their capacity.

Meeting Point

The FREE Tour starts on The Royal Mile just in front of a bar called Copper Still (154 High Street).

Look for the yellow umbrellas!

Related tours in edinburgh.

Free Ghost Tour

Free Ghost Tour

Every night @ 7pm

Duration: 1.5 hours

Discover the ghostly tales and sinister stories that will get you back to the terrifying past of old Edinburgh.

Free Harry Potter Tour

Free Harry Potter Tour

Every day @ 2pm

Explore the real people and places that inspired JK Rowling to create the Universe of Harry Potter.

Free New Town Tour

Free New Town Tour

Saturday @ 2pm

Duration: 2 hours

Discover the finest part of town and the role Edinburgh played as a center of the Enlightment in Europe.

Edinburgh Castle Tour

Edinburgh Castle Tour

Every day @ 10am, 12.15pm & 1.30pm

Get the best value of your visit to Edinburgh Castle and jump the queue with our skip-the-line tickets.

Edinburgh Pub Crawl

Fri & Sat @ 8pm

Duration: 4.5 hours

Meet amazing people from all over the world and enjoy Edinburgh nightlife at its best 7 nights a week.

Edinburgh Travel Guide

Useful information.

Travel tips you need to know before visiting Edinburgh.

Sightseeing

Discover the most unmissable attractions in Edinburgh.

Things to do

The ultimate guide to things to do in Edinburgh.

Food and drink

Edinburgh's best restaurants, bars and pubs.

Where to stay

Find out the best places to stay in Edinburgh.

Discover how to travel around Edinburgh.

Address 154 High Street Edinburgh EH1 1QS

Email [email protected]

Phone +44 (0) 7858 992030

Leave us a message

We will get in touch with you within 24 hours (most messages are answered within 2 hours during normal business times).

City Explorers WhatsApp

City of Edinburgh Tours

Underground Ghost Tours, History Tours, & Walking Tours in Edinburgh.

Experience the underground horror in edinburgh.

Our entertaining and professional ghost guides will lead you on a walking tour through Edinburgh’s hidden wynds and secret courtyards.

Come with us and explore the secrets of the underground beneath Edinburgh’s streets whilst hearing some of Scotland’s darkest stories, the curious, the uncanny and the terrifying.

Every City is full of secrets, Edinburgh is no exception.

Dare you descend?

  • Most Popular
  • Hour Glass 1 Hour and 15 Minutes
  • Tags Ages 5+

World Famous Underground Ghost Tour @ 18:10; 18:45; 19:45

Edinburgh is undoubtedly the most haunted city in the world! are you ready to find out why? Let one of Edinburgh most infamous sons or daughters lead you round the dark side of Edinburgh’s Old Town.

  • Tags Ages 18+

Extreme Paranormal Ghost Tour Edinburgh @ 21:15

For the hardened Ghost hunter, or the non-believer, this late night walking ghost tour is not for the faint-hearted! Explore the mysterious Greyfriars Kirkyard cemetery and more at night.

Tour of Terror @ 20:45

Shiver at the weird noises… on this 75 minute guided ghost tour into Edinburgh’s extremely dark past, haunted streets, and winding wynds.

  • Hour Glass 1 Hour

Old Town & Underground Ghost Tour @ 13:15; 15:15; 17:15

The Old Town & Underground Ghost Tour will then take you on a guided tour of Edinburgh’s underground vaults, for close encounters with the paranormal!

  • Hour Glass 1 Hour and 30 Minutes

Old Town & Underground Historical Ghost Tour @ 11:00; 14:15

Join a local historian on our historical walking tour around Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile. Learn about Edinburgh’s fascinating history, literature heroes, infamous criminals and battles that shaped our city.

  • Hour Glass 1 Hora y 15 Minutos
  • Tags Edades 5 +

EL TOUR DE FANTASMAS Y LAS BÓVEDAS SUBTERRÁNEAS @ 20:15

Serán conducidos por el pasado oscuro de Edimburgo y sus alrededores incluyendo el cementerio más encantado del mundo.

  • Hour Glass 1 Hour and 45 Minutes

Original Whisky Tasting Experience @ 13:00; (17:00 in August)

The ultimate whisky tasting in the birthplace of Scotland’s national anthem. Enjoy 3 distinct whisky’s and learn the true history of Scottish whisky on this walking tour.

Charles Dickens Edinburgh Literary Tour

Delve into Edinburgh’s literary legacy with a tour tracing the paths of renowned writers like Dickens and Stevenson, including a visit to the alleged grave of a legendary fictional character.

Private Tours in English, Spanish, French & German

Daily ghost walk and historical tours are available for private booking with additional tours available on request only. Customize your groups walking tour of Edinburgh today!

AWARDS & REVIEWS

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Tour was amazing and soldier jock didn't let them down. Lovely guy and done an amazing job. Had to deal with an unusual situation and he done it professionally

A perfect spooky treat for the family just before Halloween!! our tour guide was brilliant! she was very enthusiastic and got all the group joining in. Will definitely do it again!

Our guide was amazing. They went by the name James Barry. When we come back, we are definitely going to take the tour again and would love it if James could be our guide again. Lovely service. Amazing body language while telling stories. Well done.

Fantastically fun and spectacularly spooky evening walk full of historical stories and ghost tales with tour guide Soldier Jock who was very engaging, interesting yet friendly - ish! Would highly recommend

We was lucky enough to have Dr. Knox as our guide. He was fantastic. Made sure he spoke to everyone on the tour individually. Made fun of everyone. His storytelling and humour was just perfect. The tour was fascinating especially the underground bit at the end.

We went on the night tour with Soldier Jock, and what a brilliant time we had! Jock was informative and captivating with his stories, and there was a great blend of humour and horror on the tour. It was so interesting seeing a side of Edinburgh that's a lot darker than you first expect. Definitely recommended - thanks again, Soldier Jock!

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  1. 2023 Underground Walking Tour in Edinburgh

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  2. Historic Underground Tour in Edinburgh

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  3. Underground Edinburgh Tour of South Bridge Vaults Review

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  4. Edinburgh Underground City

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  5. Is There Really An Underground City in Edinburgh?

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  6. Edinburgh: Underground Vaults Tour

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COMMENTS

  1. Historic Underground Tour in Edinburgh

    Dates & times. Daily: 12:00, 14:00, 16:00. Tickets are always limited. Book online in advance for the best ticket price. Duration. 1 hours 15 minutes. Tour location. Start point: Mercat Cross, High Street. End point: Blair Street Underground Vaults, Blair Street, off Hunter's Square.

  2. Underground City of the Dead

    Home to the 'South Bridge Entity'. Descend into a section of Edinburgh's legendary Underground City, where a population once lived in utter misery. Forgotten for centuries and only recently unsealed, this part of the vaults is known as Damnation Alley . With good reason. Black as Satan's jammies, with a fascinating history to match, these ...

  3. The Vaults Tour

    Haunted Vaults Tour. Departs: Edinburgh - City Centre, Edinburgh. Price from: £20pp. Join this tour in Edinburgh and visit the vaults beneath Old Town, dating back to the early 18th century. Your costumed guide will tell you about murders, the persecution of witches and the people who inhabited this scary place.

  4. Underground Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh Old Town

    Step off the tourist trail and explore the Scottish capital's hidden secrets on this underground walking tour in Edinburgh. Follow a guide from the South Bridge in Edinburgh Old Town down below street level, where a series of ancient vaults lie. As you explore the dark passageways, learn why the vaults were built, hear of the poor souls who sought refuge in the depths and discover a hidden ...

  5. Edinburgh underground vaults tour

    Join us for a walking tour of Edinburgh led by our expert guides. Enjoy a detailed history of the city, and visit the Blair Street Underground Vaults. book now. ... All your questions will be answered throughout the duration of our Historic Underground tour, where our award-winning storytellers bring the history of the vaults to life. Customer ...

  6. Edinburgh: Underground Vaults Tour

    Full description. Experience a guided walking tour that takes you beneath the streets of Edinburgh's Old Town into a dimly lit space that many considered to be haunted. Your tour visits the vaults of the South Bridge that date back to the 1700s. These are the same vaults mentioned on Most Haunted Live as one of the scariest places on Earth.

  7. EDINBURGH VAULTS: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go ...

    Underground Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh Old Town. 4,120. Recommended. 94% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Historical Tours. from . ... Small Group Ghost Tour incl. Underground Vaults & free drink in Megget's Cellar. 361. Recommended. 95% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher ...

  8. Underground Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh Old Town

    Greet your guide on the Royal Mile and escape the tourist trail to discover Edinburgh's deepest secrets on this underground walking tour through the Edinburgh Vaults. These infamous vaults fill all 19 arches of South Bridge in Edinburgh's historic Old Town. As you walk, you'll learn the hideous conditions in which Edinburgh's poorer ...

  9. Edinburgh: Historic Underground Vaults Daytime Tour

    Edinburgh: Historic Underground Vaults Daytime Tour. 4.5 / 5 440 reviews. Activity provider: Mercat Tours. Add to wishlist. View all 5 images. 1 / 5. This is a chance to descend and discover our world famous Underground Vaults - the deepest, largest and most extensive in the city.

  10. Old Town & Underground Historical Tour

    The World Famous Underground Ghost Tour starts from our Old Police Box, 124A High Street, Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 1QS. Our tickets box is just outside the Tron Kirk and directly infront of Starbucks.

  11. Plan your Visit

    Plan your visit to The Real Mary King's Close. Get ready for your tour of Edinburgh's only preserved 17 th century underground street. The Real Mary King's Close is one of Scotland's most unique historic sites. Open throughout the year, the warren of underground spaces can be accessed from the Royal Mile. BOOK NOW.

  12. Small Group Edinburgh Night Walking Tour with Underground Vaults

    Explore a sinister side of Edinburgh on this late-night ghost walking tour that includes the Blair Street Vaults under South Bridge. Stroll mysterious alleyways as you listen to your guide's grim and ghastly tales of treason and torture. Then venture underground for a candlelight tour of the 18th-century chambers and hear haunting stories of supernatural forces lingering in the city's ...

  13. Small Group Edinburgh Underground Vaults Historical Walk 2024

    Discover the Edinburgh Vaults—aka South Bridge Vaults—18th-century underground chambers that lie far below the city. On this underground walking tour with an entertaining and informative guide, hear tales of this dark and almost-forgotten place built below one of Edinburgh's busiest thoroughfares. See evidence of excavated storage spaces, human habitation, taverns with wine vaults and more!

  14. Old Town Historical and Underground Tour

    Tour company information. Since 2012 we have been conducting underground ghost tours in the Old Town of Edinburgh, showing our customers the secrets of this historic city. We offer a daily historical tour of the Old Town and a nightly pub crawl, additionally, we provide a Spanish ghost tour every evening. All our tours are available on private ...

  15. The Real Mary King's Close

    One of Edinburgh's top attractions and only preserved 17th-century street. ... we offer free audio guides via our mobile app in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin, Dutch, Portuguese, Polish and Hungarian. ... Book a Private Tour. Enjoy your very own Private Tour of The Real Mary King's Close for you and up to 19 additional guests.

  16. Edinburgh: Underground Vaults Tour

    Full description. Experience a guided walking tour that takes you beneath the streets of Edinburgh's Old Town into a dimly lit space that many considered to be haunted. Your tour visits the vaults of the South Bridge that date back to the 1700s. These are the same vaults mentioned on Most Haunted Live as one of the scariest places on Earth.

  17. Old Town Historical and Underground Tour 2024

    90 Minute tour of Edinburgh's Old Town and South Bridge vaults. Tour led by a well trained, highly knowledgeable and personable guide. Relaxed nature of the tour allows for plenty of questions and further discussion. Learn about the extraordinary events which shaped this great city. Access to our exclusive section of underground.

  18. 2024 Underground Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh Old Town

    The Edinburgh Vaults, one of the city's most fascinating sights, can only be accessed on a tour. This one focuses exclusively on the vaults, an underground warren below South Bridge in Edinburgh's Old Town. Step inside with a local guide who'll reveal tales of hardship and struggle in 18th-century Edinburgh, grisly stories from the city ...

  19. Free Tours by Foot

    Old Town + The Royal Mile Free Tour. You will learn about the history of this medieval city, with more than 3000 years, from St Giles Cathedral & Edinburgh Castle walk along the Royal Mile to see the main sites of Edinburgh. Schedule: Daily. Start Time: 10:00, 11:00, 16:00. Tour Language: English.

  20. Edinburgh FREE Tour

    Tour Description. The FREE Walking Tour starts every day at 10 am, 11 am and 1 pm on The Royal Mile, just in front of a bar called Copper Still (154 High Street). We believe that everyone, no matter what is one's budget should be able to experience and enjoy what Edinburgh has to offer and we also believe that the price of a tour should ...

  21. World Famous Ghost Tour in Edinburgh

    The Old Town & Underground Ghost Tour will then take you on a guided tour of Edinburgh's underground vaults, for close encounters with the paranormal! Book Now Learn More All Tours World Famous Underground Ghost Tour @ 18:10; 18:45; 19:45 City of Edinburgh Tours +44 (0) 131 220 6868 [email protected] ...

  22. Small Group Ghostly Underground Vaults Tour in Edinburgh

    Ideal for those fascinated by the supernatural, this tour of Edinburgh's underground vaults is sure to make your spine tingle. With a ghoulish guide, descend into the darkened depths of the Blair Street Vaults and hear vivid retellings of torture, murder, and body snatching. Abandon thoughts of manufactured frights and prepare to experience the sinister side of Edinburgh on this small-group ...

  23. City of Edinburgh Tours

    Old Town & Underground Historical Ghost Tour @ 11:00; 14:15. Join a local historian on our historical walking tour around Edinburgh's famous Royal Mile. Learn about Edinburgh's fascinating history, literature heroes, infamous criminals and battles that shaped our city.