This tour will provide a memorable glimpse into the lives and deaths of Edinburgh’s 17th century ancestors, and the grisly entertainment forms they enjoyed. You will hear about the infamous Edinburgh mob, who liked nothing better than the entertainment of blood, guts and gore that was provided especially at the Mercat Cross, where numerous executions took place. Your tour guide will tell you all about the bloody punishments and the restless spirits that roam the city’s streets, while exploring the closes and wynds of Old Town. You will also visit the eerie, haunted Blair Street Underground Vaults.
After the walking tour you can relax with a complimentary drink and listen to further tales in an atmospheric candle-lit tavern.
Daily
2 hours
8:00pm
Tour starts at Mercat Cross. (An octagonal monument on the Royal Mile, opposite City Chambers.)
Please report at the meeting point 15 minutes before the start time. This is mandatory to allow time for pre-departure briefing.
Tour ends at Megget's Cellar, Blair Street
You will meet your guide at Mercat Cross, an octagonal monument on the Royal Mile, opposite City Chambers. Your tour of the Old Town and Underground Vaults will last approximately 1 h 15 minutes, following 45 minutes at Meggat’s Cellar for drinks and further stories. Blair Street Underground Vaults: For decades the vaults were used to house taverns, cobblers and other tradesmen but when the businesses abandoned the space, the poorest citizens of Edinburgh populated the dark, damp spaces of the vaults. Crimes including robbery and murder soon plagued the vaults. The infamous serial killer duo Burke and Hare, who sold corpses to medical schools, are rumoured to have hunted for victims in the vaults and even stored some of the bodies there. Written translations available on request (Fr, Ger, It, Sp, Rus). Your tour ends in Meggat’s Cellar after you have enjoyed refreshments including wine, beer, water and orange juice.
Please call the activity operator at least 24 hours prior to the start of the tour to reconfirm the departure details.
Sign up to our newsletter and get the best isango! has to offer
Sign up to create and view bookings Login to create and view bookings
Email sent successfully.
Login now