Our meeting point is in WEST Parliament Square, across the square in Front of St. Giles Cathedral. Search for the white umbrella with the logo of All-Star Guides.
Description
Ah, Edinburgh! They don't call it "The Jekyll & Hyde City" for nothing. During the day, a respectable figure, with its astonishing architecture and wondrous history. But when the sun sets, it tells an entirely different story...
Hear all about the darker history of Edinburgh: murderers, thieves, cannibals, hangings and decapitations, witches, the Plague and streams of human waste. Learn about the most notorious citizens of Edinburgh and how ghost stories are born.
This is not a ghost tour: we don't need costumes or people jumping from behind the corners, Edinburgh's Dark History itself is enough to make your skin crawl. And oh, how we love to share it with our visitors...
Schedule & prices
Runs
Every day
Start times
3:00 PM and 6:00 PM
Next available
Thu, Oct 8
Adult (ages 16–60)
$24
Senior (ages 61+)
$20
Child (ages 6–15)
$16
Infant (ages 0–5)
Free
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 7.
Tour Options
Edinburgh - Dark History
Itinerary
Old Town
Pass by
A walking tour down the Royal Mile of Edinburgh, where your guide will share with you the darker history of Edinburgh.
Heart of Midlothian
10 min
Former site of the Old Tollbooth, one of Edinburgh's most notorious buildings. Hear about some of the characters once imprisoned and/or executed here, and why it ultimately became recognised by Sir Walter Scott as the Hard of the Midlothian.
St Giles' Cathedral
10 min
What seems like the car park hides a secret, as well as the burial place of one of the most controversial figures in Scottish history.
Mercat Cross
10 min
Another infamous execution site. Hear about the importance of the building in the life of the city, and about a literal killing machine which was once kept inside St. Giles Cathedral.
Royal Mile
40 min
Walk down the Royal Mile, where you'll hear about some of Edinburgh's notorious citizens, the Black Plague, and how the city's poor sanitary conditions eventually led to a most peculiar tradition.
John Knox House Museum
5 min
Learn about the architecture of 16th century Edinburgh, and witness one of the most "authentic" corners in the city centre.
Canongate Kirk
40 min
Wander among graves of old, hearing about body snatchers, cannibals, and learn how ghost stories are born.
What's included
Included
In-Person guide
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
5.0
917 reviews
5
882
4
31
3
4
2
0
1
0
How it compares in Edinburgh
Rated higher than 70% of 440 reviewed tours in Edinburgh
Starting price $24 is 62% below the typical $64 for tours of similar length in Edinburgh
Excurgo comparison of 1,235 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Edinburgh - Dark History take?
Edinburgh - Dark History lasts about 2 hours. The itinerary has 7 stops.
How much does Edinburgh - Dark History cost?
Prices start at $24 per person for this Edinburgh experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Edinburgh - Dark History run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM.
How much does Edinburgh - Dark History cost for children?
Children aged 6–15 pay from $16, adults from $24. Infants go free.
Can I cancel Edinburgh - Dark History for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Our meeting point is in WEST Parliament Square, across the square in Front of St. Giles Cathedral. Search for the white umbrella with the logo of All-Star Guides. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Edinburgh - Dark History offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 30 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(917)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
A
Adventurer271157
October 1, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Robert Fergusson was a Phenomenal Poet
Robert guided my husband and I and four others on the Dark Side of Edinburgh tour. He went at a casual pace in the evening that was easy to keep up with. Robert was full of information. He entertained questions and we learned facts about Edinburgh we didn’t know we even wanted to know! Robert kept us engaged. He played his harmonica as we walked from site to site. He laughed with us and he ended the tour on a positive note despite the name of the tour. Mostly, we enjoyed his warm personality and his empathy toward poet Robert Fergusson (whose birthday is coming up on the 17th). I highly recommend this tour!
E
elliewO3859JM
September 30, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Enjoyable
Our guide Jack was very knowledgeable, engaging and a good laugh. He gave great recommendations of other places to visit. And for £18 pp it was worth the money for a 2 hour tour, to learn about the darker side of such a beautiful city.
S
Shagun_C
September 27, 2026 · via Viator
We had a fantastic...
We had a fantastic experience on the Edinburgh dark history tour, bringing the city’s dark and fascinating past to life through captivating stories and historical insights. Everything was explained in an interesting and entertaining way, making the tour both informative and memorable. We thoroughly enjoyed. Highly recommended for anyone visiting the city!”
N
Natalie_C
September 26, 2026 · via Viator
Great eccentric history tour!
This was a great tour. Perfectly timed, to the minute - 1 hr 30 min. Our guide was engaging enough to keep my 11 yo daughter fully engaged and recalling stories for the rest of the night. If that's not telling enough, I don't know what is!
K
kirstymD5009YB
September 26, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
It's all down hill...in a good way.
Myself and my partner had an excellent time on the tour! The guide was in depth and knowledgeable. A charming wee tour. 2 hours long but it flies in and the route is all down hill.
M
Mark_G
September 24, 2026 · via Viator
I think Callum may be a...
I think Callum may be a walking Wikipedia, he seemed to have an answer to every question and gave us great detail about all the macabre bits of the Royal Mile. Great tour and value, definitely recommend.
S
Scott_B
September 24, 2026 · via Viator
Amazing tour
Toni is incredible, just a smart, engaging, kind person. I would take any of her tours. A good way to think about this tour is as the people’s history tour of Edinburgh, which, frankly, is pretty dark. Would recommend for every visitor to Edinburgh.
H
Henry_O
September 23, 2026 · via Viator
A good lesson on the REAL Scottish history
All I can say was that I learned a lot about the history that probably goes unreported in some textbooks! Tori was a great guide as well!
A
Aileen_H
September 23, 2026 · via Viator
@Robert Fergusson
Very lively, interesting and entertaining tour with knowledgeable guide (thanks Robert!). If macabre side facts, the scary living beings of Edinburgh and doing justice to the story of some of the poor souls are your thing - the tour ist perfect for you.
D
D528OUmaryb
September 23, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Rich History and Folklore
Toni was very knowledgeable and hosted pleasantly! Will do it again.
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