Underground Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh Old Town
Description
Journey along Edinburgh's Royal Mile hearing some of Edinburgh's darker history before visiting the infamous hidden and supposedly haunted vaults beneath the South Bridge in Edinburgh Old Town. Hear tales of how the poor and unfortunate lived in these former slums. Explore these dimly lit vaults by candlelight, once the haunt of criminals, body snatchers and witches alike, said by some to now be occupied by a few of the spirits of these inhabitants long since dead. Each vault has stories of crime, disease, death and lots more... with which your guide shall enlighten you in all the gory details! You will see a genuine witchcraft temple, recently used by a Wiccan coven and you will enter their former temple. Join us to learn why it is no longer safe for them to practice their craft in that vault. DARE you step inside the infamous stone circle?
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- not suitable for children under 5 years of age, children under 2 years of age are not allowed on tour.
- Entrance/Exit to the vaults is via a 2 foot tall step followed by single flight spiral staircase.
- Mezzanine staircases of 5-7 steps inside vaults between levels.
- Alcohol/Drugs are strictly forbidden and anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be turned away.
- Non-service animals are not allowed.
- • Some historical content may be of a distressing nature with regards but not exclusively to Torture, Hangings, Death
- The walking pace and terrain may not be suitable for those with any difficulty walking.
- We do not have any luggage storage so please make alternate arrangements.
- No toilet stops or toilets available during tour.
Reviews(9,058)
I've always been fascinated by haunted history, so I was really looking forward to this tour and it completely exceeded my expectations. Walking through the underground vaults by candlelight gave me goosebumps, and there was something truly special about standing in a place with so much history and hearing the stories where they actually happened. James made the experience unforgettable. You could tell he genuinely loves what he does. He was funny, passionate, and an incredible storyteller who had everyone completely absorbed from the moment we started. He brought the history to life in a way that was both fascinating and genuinely creepy, and I found myself hanging on every word. This wasn't just another tourist attraction it felt like stepping back in time. It's an experience I'll be talking about for a long time, and if you're visiting Edinburgh, I honestly think this tour is a must. Thank you, James, for such a memorable evening. I can't recommend it highly enough!
Excellent experience.James gave us a spooky informative tour,we really enjoyed it.
A really well paced and interesting tour. Our guide Jordan was full of little bursts of history of the context building towards why the vaults exist. He pitched the tour with a combination of humour and fact that kept the tour exciting and interesting yet informative. Would definitely recommend to anyone visiting the city.
James was knowledgeable and funny and kind! Great trip. My 17 year old was in a crap mood before it and much better after!
Based on all of the great reviews, we were expecting something completely different. As my 15 year old said, “eh, it was mid”. There wasn’t much to see. The tour guide was nice, but didn’t have much to work with. I would not recommend.
Brilliant guide James.. very informative and paced the tour well. Bit of a challenge to find the meeting destination as it had no land marks due to building work. Aim for the tourist information pod and loiter outside the red phone box
Our tour of the underground vaults and tunnels was absolutely incredible, easily one of the highlights of our time here! Our guide, Jordan, made the experience truly special. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the history of the vaults, sharing fascinating stories and insights that brought the past to life. His passion and depth of knowledge kept everyone fully engaged from start to finish. If you are looking for an interesting, immersive, and educational tour, I cannot recommend this enough. Huge thanks to Jordan for a memorable experience!
Definitely one of the best tours we have done! James, our tour guide was personable and informative. The vaults come with an interesting piece of Edinburgh history and is a must for travelers
James our tour guide was really good. He had the typical Scottish accent and told great stories about Edinburgh and the vaults.
Asa small group we were looking for something meaningful to do on our last morning in Edinburgh and this came up on the searches. Louisa was our guide and made the tour interesting and interactive. It definitely gave us food for thought about this fabulous city. Highly recommended.
