EDINBURGH CAVE TOURS
The South Bridge vaults were built as storage, filled with slum housing and then sealed. These 15 range from history walks to after-dark ghost tours, priced by length and by how much theatre you want with it.
Walk from Edinburgh’s Lawnmarket into the dim South Bridge vaults with an English-speaking guide such as James, Jordan, Dom, or Louisa. Expect stories of poverty, crime, disease, witches, and ghosts, plus a torture exhibition if you choose that option.
“Jordan was wonderful tour guide and natural story teller.”
Walk Edinburgh’s Old Town after dark with a costumed guide such as David, Maggie Dickinson, or Dr. Robert Knox. Hear grim tales in the closes, visit Greyfriars Kirkyard, then descend into the South Bridge vaults. The family-friendly 6:45pm departure keeps the scares theatrical rather than extreme.
“Our tour guide Maggie Dickinson was wonderful. She was very fun and had us interact in the group, highly recommend!”
Meet your English-speaking guide on Edinburgh’s Lawnmarket for a short walk through Old Town before entering the South Bridge vaults. Guides such as Josh, Louisa, James, and Kieran bring history, crime, hardship, and ghost stories to life in a chilly setting.
“Thoroughly enjoyable experience, touring part of the Royal Mile and understanding the history behind some of the landmarks that may otherwise go unnoticed. Fascinating step into history with the underground vaults as well.”
Walk from Edinburgh’s Lawnmarket to Greyfriars Kirkyard, hear about Greyfriars Bobby, Burke and Hare, witches, and notorious burials, then descend into the South Bridge Vaults. English-speaking guides such as Jordan, James, Darren, and Louisa mix dark history, humor, and carefully timed scares.
“Our guide, Aimee, was absolutely the best. She was from start to finish full of non-stop information. She made the whole tour fun with all the facts and history. Very well done , Aimee. I highly recommend this tour with her. You will find out and see things you’d easily miss without all the information she has. 100% get on this tour with her; you won’t regret it. Thank you for a fantastic experience.”
Follow an English-speaking guide beneath the Royal Mile for 75 minutes of dark Edinburgh history, ghost stories, torture exhibits, and the eerie stone circle vault. Guides such as Charlie, James, Darren, and Dom bring the tales to life, but expect tight spaces, stairs, and disturbing subjects.
“Very interesting tour about the history of the vaults and Edinburgh in the 1800s. We had Darren as our tour guide and he told us everything in a very entertaining way and that made the tour even more fun to do! Highly recommended if you’re interested in the history of Edinburgh and the haunted vaults and what they have in common with each other!👌🏼”
Follow an English-speaking guide through Royal Mile alleys, Greyfriars Kirkyard, and Edinburgh’s dark underground vaults. Expect true tales of murder, witchcraft, torture, Burke and Hare, plus theatrical guides such as David Rizzio, Maggie Dickson, and Dr Robert Knox.
“our guide, lafayette was an absolute legend! we had so much fun and would do ot again 100%”
Meet your cloaked Mercat Tours storyteller at Mercat Cross, walk through Edinburgh’s Old Town, then enter the Blair Street Underground Vaults. Expect 75 minutes of true tales about murder, torture, body snatchers, and restless spirits, told in English with audio devices for clear listening.
“We decided to take the ghost tour last minute before we left Edinburgh. Linda our tour guide was amazing! She was fun, informative and the right amount of spooky! Our 15 year old daughters actually listened and learnt some history in a fun way. Highly recommend. Thank you Linda”
Walk Edinburgh’s Old Town with a cloaked English-speaking storyteller, descend into the Blair Street Underground Vaults, and finish with whisky, beer, or Scottish soft drink in Megget’s Cellar. TourTalk devices help you follow every gruesome tale.
“A brilliant tour by the fantastic Kirsty! She knew so much about the local area and was a great ghost story teller. It was spooky, cooky and really informative with great expertise on the history of Edinburgh and what the vaults represented. I definitely felt someone stand on the back of my shoe (I was at the back of the group) whilst in the vaults, I'm assuming this was 'The Watcher'! When sat with our whiskeys, our whole bench slid forward as if being pushed but there was a wall behind us and it was only my partner and I sat there - it was a fantastic experience and we…”
Follow a local historian through Edinburgh’s Old Town, from the Royal Mile and hidden closes to the city’s 400-year-old underground vaults. Expect stories of Burke and Hare, Jekyll and Hyde, Scrooge, crime, poverty, and Edinburgh’s first skyscrapers. English tour, $27, 1.5 hours.
“I really enjoyed this tour. The stories are super interesting and amusing. It really gives you a good overview of the city history and mysteries. Our guide Maive (I unfortunately don’t know how to write her name, but she joked about being similar to Morgan) was super informative and knowledgeable about the city, the way she told the anecdotes about Edinburgh made it all super fun. Time went by so fast!”
Walk Edinburgh’s Old Town with a costumed guide such as James, Robbie Diggs, or Frederick Knox, then enter the cramped South Bridge vaults for grim tales, ghost stories, and dark local history. The tour costs $22, lasts one hour, and suits visitors who can manage stairs and tight spaces.
“We were two adults and two kids and we all had a great time. Jason was fantastically entertaining as were his stories and jolly xenophobia. Ages in our group were from 11 - 78 and all were catered for. Fabulous!”
Follow a cloaked Mercat Tours guide from Mercat Cross through Edinburgh’s Old Town, then descend into the Blair Street Underground Vaults. Expect about 75 minutes of murder tales, body-snatching stories, dramatic storytelling, and genuine atmosphere rather than staged scares. Groups are limited to 18 people.
“This was a unique tour that gave us some interesting history and brought us to parts of the city we would not have seen otherwise. We enjoyed the story telling and the bit of creepiness.”
Walk from the Royal Mile to Grassmarket in 75 minutes with a character guide such as Hazel, Juniper, or Angelica. Expect witch-trial history, haunted closes, Old Town views, and a respectful look at people wrongly accused of witchcraft.
“Fabulous walking tour hearing all about the history of witchcraft and the witch trials in Edinburgh. Our lovely guide Angelica was wonderful and very knowledgeable. Delightful way to learn a bit more about the city!”
Follow a period-costumed guide through Edinburgh’s old wynds, Greyfriars cemetery, and the Underground Vaults. Expect grim tales of murders, witches, torture, and cannibals, plus dark humor from guides such as Dr Knox, James Douglas, and Agnes. The tour is English-language, adults-only, and best for brave night owls.
“Our guide Agnes took us on the tour and crept us through cobbled streets, graveyards and finally underground into the dark. Agnes was deliciously dark and revelled in making us feel uncomfortable and unsettled throughout! I would heartily recommend the tour and Agnes as a guide (not least because she might curse me)!”
Meet your English-speaking guide outside John’s Coffee House & Tavern, behind St Giles Cathedral. Enter The Lost Close for four Scotch whiskies from Scotland’s major regions, whisky history, and a relaxed small-group tasting. Upgrade to rarer or top-shelf pours if you want more than an introduction.
“Very cool setting, extremely interesting, and fun. Would recommend!”
Spend 105 minutes with an English-speaking Storyteller in Edinburgh’s Old Town, Blair Street Underground Vaults, and Canongate Graveyard. Guides such as Marina, Shannon, and Mark use theatrical voices, humor, and unsettling tales. This adult-only walk suits visitors who enjoy genuine history with a spooky edge.
“the headsets were great, you can hear everything. unlike other groups, huddled round trying to listen.”
By boat, by ladder, by staircase or on a rope.
