K
Great tour!
James made the underground vault tour very memorable and fun! He's a GREAT guide! Easy walk through the tunnels and a LOT of neat Edinburgh history!
Underground Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh Old Town
+3 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 1 hour
- Price from
- $32 / person
- Location
- Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Rating
- 4.7 / 5 · 9,503 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 36
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Auld Reekie Tours Ltd
- Meeting point
- The tour starts from the Red Telephone Box and Tourist Information Police Box, outside of 300 Lawnmarket. This is on the opposite side of the road from Deacon Brodie’s Tavern.Please be there at least 5-10 minutes early as the tour will always depart on time.
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?
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 13 times a day, 10:00 AM–4:30 PM
- Next available
- Wed, Oct 7
- Adult (ages 5+)
- $32
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 6.
Tour Options
What's included
Included
Professional guide
Haunted vault visit
Live English-speaking guide
Not included
Gratuities
Food and drinks
Transportation to/from meeting point
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.7
9,503 reviews
How it compares in Edinburgh
- No. 2 by number of reviews among 1,237 tours in Edinburgh
- Starting price $32 is 49% 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
- 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.
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 Underground Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh Old Town take?
Underground Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh Old Town lasts about 1 hour.
How much does Underground Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh Old Town cost?
Prices start at $32 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 Underground Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh Old Town run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, with 13 departures a day between 10:00 AM and 4:30 PM.
Can I cancel Underground Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh Old Town 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 The tour starts from the Red Telephone Box and Tourist Information Police Box, outside of 300 Lawnmarket. This is on the opposite side of the road from Deacon Brodie’s Tavern. Please be there at least 5-10 minutes early as the tour will always depart on time. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Underground Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh Old Town 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 36 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
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.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Underground Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh Old Town worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.7 out of 5 across 9,503 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Auld Reekie Tours Ltd.
Reviews(9,503)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
M
I was late getting in on...
I was late getting in on my train and they were fantastic about moving me to a later time slot so I could still go and not have to cancel. Can’t recommend you guys enough
J
Great, unusual experience!
Guide - Ally was friendly, enthusiastic, great knowledge well explained and good fun. Vaults are strange and atmospheric bought to life by Ally’s commentary. A very interesting experience! Thank you Ally!
T
exciting
Tom, the guide was informative and a good story teller. Exciting experience
H
Great Vault Tour with James!
We did the underground vault tour and it was fantastic. James, our guide, has been doing the tour for 5 years and you could tell he really does love his job - he was entertaining and enthusiastic! It was amazing to learn about the dwellings under the city and it's a must do if you're in Edinburgh!
C
Impressive
Charlie was the guide on our tour. His presentation was flawless and his theatrical show was not short of a grand stage anywhere. Well done, Charlie!
M
It is interesting to here...
It is interesting to here and see the history. Not sure how people could live it that space. Was worth a look.
D
Underground tour is wonderful.
Jordan did an outstanding job. The hour flew by with his knowledge and history of the underground vaults. Really, very interesting and I would highly recommend.
W
Worth the money especially if you like history
We had James as our guide. He was great, very entertaining and knowledgeable. My fiancée and I were the only ones on the tour, the other groups didn’t show up. We enjoyed ourselves and learned a lot. It was fun learning about the history of the vaults and would definitely recommend the tour. Hopefully you can get lucky enough to get James as your guide.
D
time travel
The experience was unique and creepy simultaneously. The tour guide was exceptional, adding to the mood of the whole experience.
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| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Underground Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh Old Town | 1 hour | 4.7 (9,503) | $32 | |
 Old Town Walking Tour History and Tales in Edinburgh | 2 hours | 4.9 (2,361) | $24 | View |
 Old Town Historical and Underground Tour | 1h 30min | 4.8 (1,963) | $27 | View |
 Edinburgh Old Town: Historical Guided Walking Tour | 2 hours | 5.0 (1,686) | $27 | View |
 Edinburgh Royal Mile and Old Town Small Group Walking Tour | 3 hours | 4.9 (1,654) | $47 | View |
 Haunted Vaults and Graveyard Walking Tour in Edinburgh | 1h 30min | 4.8 (2,123) | $35 | View |
 Multi-Sensory Haunted Underground Vaults Tour in Edinburgh | 1h 15min | 4.7 (1,862) | $36 | View |
from$32
4.7(9,503) Free cancellation