I
Definitely worth a tour, and be sure to ask for John Kincaid!
John Kincaid was Awesome!! Thanks for all the knowledge! Amazing tour!
Old Town Historical and Underground Tour
+5 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 1h 30min
- Price from
- $27 / person
- Location
- Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Rating
- 4.8 / 5 · 1,963 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 28
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- City of Edinburgh Tours
Description
Led by either the holder of a PhD in Scottish history or a guide with decades of experience providing historic tours in Scotland’s capital, this 90-minute tour is a fascinating journey through Edinburgh’s celebrated Old Town. Revel in the majesty of the famous Royal Mile with its stunning architecture, but also visit the secluded closes and courts lying just off the High Street and discover their dramatic stories. Find out about the world famous poets, novelists, philosophers and inventors who called this neighbourhood home but also the notorious thieves, murderers and bodysnatchers who stalked the streets after dark. The tour includes a trip through Canongate Kirkyard and a visit to our underground vaults below South Bridge, where you will find out how it came to be and who used to live there.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 11:00 AM and 2:15 PM
- Next available
- Wed, Oct 7
- Adult (ages 22–64)
- $27
- Senior (ages 65+)
- $26
- Youth (ages 18–21)
- $26
- Child (ages 5–17)
- $17
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 6.
Tour Options
Itinerary
City of Edinburgh Tours
Tron Kirk Niddry wynd Vaults Canongate Kirkyard
What's included
Included
For those who want to learn more about Edinburgh’s past this tour is a must do!
Access to our exclusive section of underground.
Learn about the extraordinary events which shaped this great city.
90 Minute tour of Edinburgh’s Old Town and South Bridge vaults.
Relaxed nature of the tour allows for plenty of questions and further discussion.
Tour led by a well trained, highly knowledgeable and personable guide.
Not included
N/A
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.8
1,963 reviews
How it compares in Edinburgh
- No. 26 by number of reviews among 1,237 tours in Edinburgh
- Starting price $27 is 58% below the typical $64 for tours of similar length in Edinburgh
Excurgo comparison of 1,237 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
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 Old Town Historical and Underground Tour take?
Old Town Historical and Underground Tour lasts about 1h 30min. The itinerary has 1 stop.
How much does Old Town Historical and Underground Tour cost?
Prices start at $27 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 Old Town Historical and Underground Tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 11:00 AM and 2:15 PM.
How much does Old Town Historical and Underground Tour cost for children?
Children aged 5–17 pay from $17, adults from $27.
Can I cancel Old Town Historical and Underground Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
What languages is Old Town Historical and Underground 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 28 participants.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Old Town Historical and Underground Tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.8 out of 5 across 1,963 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by City of Edinburgh Tours.
Reviews(1,963)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
W
Lafayette was amazing
We had a fabulous evening with Lafayette, he was very amusing and informative, I would highly recommend this tour
V
Highly recommend this entertaining and informative tour
I was on the tour with my sisters who have brought me up to Edinburgh as a birthday treat. Lafayette our guide was perfect. He was entertaining and informative. I smiled and laughed throughout. Will be recommending to all
L
Great Job Lafayette 👍
Lafayette was a fabulous guide - informative and highly amusing - he gave us a real sense of olde Edinburgh - warts and all - great job. ‘The Sisterhood’ approves 👍👏🤗 “Torture Girl” 💪
Z
Great tour!
Lafayette was great! Very fun tour later in the evening that had lots of atmosphere.
M
Very Fun Historical Tour
I booked the tour the night before; very last minute. Morven was a great tour guide! She was very informed, gave such great insight into the history of the city. I would definitely recommend her as your tour guide! :)
E
Morven was amazing
Morven was amazing. Very knowledgable and friendly. Thank you for showing me hidden spots that I had previously walked past and not known the significance and history of. I would definitely book again. Thanks Morven 😃
S
Super informative!
Great tour! Morvan was very knowledgeable and welcoming
L
Great guide into Edinburgh’s underground!
James our guide was amazing. How did he keep churning out the facts and the dates with wit and enthusiasm for2.5hour??!! Even in the rain! He was very theatrical and certainly bought the history to life either way his storytelling. Obviously access to the ‘underground’ was fascinating, but he also gave us top tips of places to go both independently and as part of organised tours. So glad I booked it for us. Next time we come I will definitely do the ghost tour…and hope that it’s James recounting the facts and stories. ⭐️
S
Great tour with James!
Luckily for us the tour we had intended to book with another firm was sold out. This tour turned out to be far more comprehensive and far more entertaining because of our guide James. Apparently he normally does the ghost underground tours so we got a healthy dose of both the historical and the spooky. He was incredibly informative but also very irreverent and funny. Definitely our good fortune to have lucked onto his tour. Highly recommend!
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| Old Town Historical and Underground Tour | 1h 30min | 4.8 (1,963) | $27 | |
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from$27
4.8(1,963) Free cancellation