Exclusive Underground Vaults Multi-Sensory History Tour
Description
Edinburgh’s Master Storytellers, Mercat Tours, are redefining the walking tour, promising to enrich and deepen your connection with Edinburgh’s people and its past far beyond your visit. Take the Story Home: evoke the memories: - Smell the leather and smoke - Touch original artefacts - Listen to the tour playlist Get exclusive access to the Blair Street Underground Vaults. 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. Step into the depths of the Blair Street Underground Vaults on a multi-sensory journey of perfectly preserved history and learn how these vaulted chambers became home to the city’s most destitute inhabitants. This is more than a walking tour, it’s an unmissable immersive experience.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Meet your master storyteller at the Mercat Cross, where they will lead you down the closes and wynds while you breathe in the scent of Edinburgh's past.
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. Step into the depths of the Blair Street Underground Vaults on a multi-sensory journey of perfectly preserved history and learn how these vaulted chambers became home to the city’s most destitute inhabitants.
Continue your journey in our Vaults Museum, where authentic historic artifacts and informative interactive displays provide further insight into the vaults' past.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children over 5yrs only
- Tours are guaranteed all year round, so please dress for the weather, with comfortable shoes.
Reviews(1,462)
Fantastic experience! Our guide Michael was very animated and made the history come to life and thoughtfully answered our group’s questions.
Thank you for your lovely feedback! We’re delighted you enjoyed exploring Blair Street Underground Vaults with Michael and that the experience was both informative and entertaining throughout. Mercat Team.
Veni was an excellent tour guide and gave us insights to something uniquely Edinburgh, the historic bridge vaults!
Thank you for your lovely feedback! We’re delighted you enjoyed exploring Blair Street Underground Vaults with Veni and discovering this unique part of Edinburgh’s history. Mercat Team.
Great visit with great guide - Veni was brilliant blending her character with the history of the vaults
Thank you for your lovely feedback! We’re delighted you enjoyed exploring Blair Street Underground Vaults with Veni and that the experience was both fascinating and engaging throughout. Mercat Team.
I did not tell my tour guide about this at the time because I didn’t want to be THAT person, but something grabbed/stabbed me in the shoulder neck area while down in the vaults. Mind you, I was NOT in a ghost tour so this was very unexpected because I’ve never had anything like this happen to me. Once we got upstairs to the museum, I was reading the plaques and one mentioned an entity that likes to hurt people in the shoulder/neck area. I was SHOCKED. I was trying to brush it off as just an insanely painful cramp, but I definitely think something grabbed/stabbed me while down there. Besides the experience, Great tour, my tour guide was amazing! The picture attached is the room the incident happened in.
This was a fun and informative tour. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and had a wonderful personality. Great information and details
Thank you for your lovely feedback! We’re delighted you enjoyed exploring Blair Street Underground Vaults and that the experience was both fun and informative throughout. Mercat Team.
I enjoyed touring the vaults under Blair Street with my wife
Thank you for your lovely feedback! We’re delighted you and your wife enjoyed exploring Blair Street Underground Vaults together and hope to welcome you back again. Mercat Team.
Tour was fun, informative, and interesting. Michael was a great guide--enthusiastic and knowledgeable!
Thank you for your lovely feedback! We’re delighted you enjoyed exploring Blair Street Underground Vaults and that the experience was fun, informative, and engaging throughout. Mercat Team.
A chance to experience lots of different parts of the hidden vaults under the South Bridge. I really enjoyed this. Our guide, Mally was great and threw himself into things woth gusto. I felt like we'd got a real feel for the history of this unique place. The content was well chosen for an international audience with key info given assuming no prior knowledge. Steps to climb with a sturdy handrail, probably between 20 and 40 and uneven surfaces in the vaults, Cool temperature in the underground spaces. It is outside for 15 minutes or so - you'll still need waterproof/umbrella if it is raining. Highly recommend this one hour visit to the vaults, a unique place.
Thank you for your lovely feedback! We’re delighted you enjoyed exploring Blair Street Underground Vaults and discovering this unique part of Edinburgh’s history. We’re pleased the experience was accessible and enjoyable, and thank you for your recommendation. Mercat Team.
Incredible, interesting! Linda was amazing, charming, funny, had great energy. I really enjoyed the tour to see the one of the 12 vaults that were left untouched. You must check out their tour!
Thank you for your lovely feedback! We’re delighted you enjoyed exploring Blair Street Underground Vaults and discovering this unique part of Edinburgh’s history. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back again. Mercat Team.
The vaults tour was fantastic! Veni did a wonderful job and was a great storyteller. It was full of details and the access is pretty good. The only note I'd give it is that I would have liked it more if it was a bit longer, an hour felt short. Great job!
Thank you for your lovely feedback! We’re delighted you enjoyed your visit to Blair Street Underground Vaults with Veni, and that you found the experience so detailed and engaging. We appreciate your thoughts on the duration too. Mercat Team.
