R
Great tour!
Very nice tour! Grant was a nice tourgide. Thank you for that!
Exclusive Underground Vaults Multi-Sensory History Tour
+4 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 1h 15min
- Price from
- $38 / person
- Location
- Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Rating
- 4.7 / 5 · 1,542 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 18
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Mercat Tours
- Meeting point
- Mercat Cross, High St, Edinburgh EH1 1RF. Look for the 8 sided monument with white Unicorn on top. You will find a member of our visitor services team waiting here to check you in. They will be dressed in black, holding an iPad, wearing an orange lanyard & holding a black & orange umbrella.
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
Mercat Cross
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.
Edinburgh Vaults
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.
What's included
Included
Visit to our Vaults Museum, with interactive 3D models and the Vaults Revealed audio-visual display
Evoke the memories - Take home an exclusive Scent Card
Exclusive access to Blair Street Underground Vaults
Touch original artefacts
Enhanced with hand-picked sounds of Edinburgh and delivered through TourTalk audio devices
Exclusive Sounds of Edinburgh Tour Playlist
Exclusive multi-sensory tours; with master Storyteller guides
Traveller Ratings
4.7
1,542 reviews
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.
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 Exclusive Underground Vaults Multi-Sensory History Tour take?
Exclusive Underground Vaults Multi-Sensory History Tour lasts about 1h 15min. The itinerary has 3 stops.
How much does Exclusive Underground Vaults Multi-Sensory History Tour cost?
Prices start at $38 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.
Can I cancel Exclusive Underground Vaults Multi-Sensory History Tour 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 Mercat Cross, High St, Edinburgh EH1 1RF. Look for the 8 sided monument with white Unicorn on top. You will find a member of our visitor services team waiting here to check you in. They will be dressed in black, holding an iPad, wearing an orange lanyard & holding a black & orange umbrella. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Exclusive Underground Vaults Multi-Sensory History Tour 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 18 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Children over 5yrs only
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(1,542)
G
Interesting and entertaining
An enjoyable tour made interesting, informative and entertaining by Veni our tour guide
K
Not to be missed
Linda was a fabulous guide for our tour! Her wealth of knowledge and sense of humor made it so memorable. The other staff was also very helpful, and the whole experience gave us a new sense of the heartbeat of Edinburgh. Highly recommend this and would give Linda more than 5 stars if we could!!
8
Great experience!
Sophie was an incredible guide and storyteller! I could listen to her tell me ghost stories all day. Visiting the vaults was such a cool experience on our trip. They also accommodated our group very kindly when a member of our group was ill and had to leave early.
L
Great tour, must do!
Absolutely loved this tour. Marina was knowledgeable and the right amount of spooky, with a haunting lilt which she deployed at select moments to add atmosphere. The history was fascinating, and I appreciated being given a proper sense of how the vaults were arranged under the bridge and road and how they were used throughout their history. I particularly liked the microphone/headset combo which helped to hear the tour in busier areas.
L
Great historical perspective!
Michael was engaging, friendly and entertaining. He welcomed us before the tour. The sound system allowed us to hear all the informative commentary, He warned us about uneven flooring ahead of time. Michael was descriptive about the history and living conditions of the underground sometime adding humorous notes. We would recommend this tour to get a well rounded perspective of living conditions in historical Edinburgh.
Operator response
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted you enjoyed exploring the Blair Street Underground Vaults with Michael and appreciated the historical stories, humour and clear guidance throughout the tour. Mercat Tours
B
Underground Vault tour
Excellent tour with Grant Entertaining and informative Historical and anecdotal
Operator response
Thank you for your lovely feedback! We’re delighted you enjoyed exploring the Blair Street Underground Vaults with Grant and found the tour both entertaining and informative. Mercat Tours
R
Outstanding storytelling
Our guide Michael conveyed the history and stories of the Vaults so wonderfully knowledgeably, vividly, and entertainingly that I could have listened forever. History lesson with wit and a touch of creepiness.
Operator response
Vielen Dank für Ihr wunderbares Feedback! Wir freuen uns sehr, dass Ihnen die Geschichten und die Geschichte der Blair Street Underground Vaults mit Michael so gut gefallen haben und dass die Mischung aus Humor und Grusel genau Ihren Geschmack getroffen hat. Mercat Tours
J
The Hidden Edinburgh
Grant was an excellent guide. Great stories and historical information. Highly recommended.
Operator response
Thank you for your lovely feedback! We’re delighted you enjoyed discovering the hidden history of Edinburgh with Grant and found the stories and information so interesting. Mercat Tours
U
Recommended
Veni told stories vividly and made the tour very informative and entertaining. One learned a lot about the city's history.
Operator response
Vielen Dank für Ihr wunderbares Feedback! Wir freuen uns sehr, dass Ihnen die Tour mit Veni gefallen hat und Sie so viel über die Geschichte Edinburghs erfahren haben. Mercat Tours
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| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exclusive Underground Vaults Multi-Sensory History Tour | 1h 15min | 4.7 (1,542) | $38 | |
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 Haunted Vaults and Graveyard Walking Tour in Edinburgh | 1h 30min | 4.8 (2,107) | $35 | View |
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from$38
4.7(1,542) Free cancellation