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Guided tour

Edinburgh: Underground Vaults Tour

4.6 / 5

5931 reviews

Activity provider:Auld Reekie Tours
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Guided tour

Edinburgh: Underground Vaults Tour

Activity provider:Auld Reekie Tours

4.6

5931 reviews

Likely to sell out

From US$ 22.63 per person

Likely to sell out
Certified
Certified by GetYourGuide

Enjoy a guided walking tour of the vaults beneath Edinburgh's Old Town. Listen to tales from your guide about murders, witches, and the people who inhabited this supposedly haunted location.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later
Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Covid-19 precautions
Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details.
Duration 1 hour
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
English

Experience

Highlights
  • Take a guided tour of the dimly lit vaults beneath the streets of Edinburgh's Old Town
  • Explore the South Bridge vaults and learn about the history of what lies beneath the city’s streets
  • Hear about the squalid living conditions and diseases that ran rampant through the area
Full description

Experience a guided walking tour that takes you beneath the streets of Edinburgh's Old Town into a dimly lit space that many considered to be haunted. Your tour visits the vaults of the South Bridge that date back to the 1700s.

These are the same vaults mentioned on Most Haunted Live as one of the scariest places on Earth. Learn how the vaults have been used over the years, the living conditions endured by the poor and homeless residents, and the spirits that are supposed to haunt them.

The darker side of Edinburgh's history will unfold as you wander through the candle-lit underground area. From your guide, you'll hear about the Burke and Hare murders and the persecution of witches.

Discover the characters who stalked the streets of Edinburgh, and the paranormal stories associated with the vaults. The Haunted Vaults tour option will cover slightly more paranormal and ghost stories. Step into the torture exhibition and explore how and why these items were used.

Includes
  • Tour of the South Bridge underground vaults
  • Guide
  • Entry to the Torture Exhibition (If option selected)
Not suitable for
  • Children under 2 years
  • Children under 5 years
  • People with mobility impairments
  • Wheelchair users

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Meeting point

Meet your guide at the Tourist Information ticket booth, outside of the Bank of Scotland. This is located across the road from Deacon Brodie's Tavern.

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Important information

What to bring

  • Comfortable shoes
  • Weather-appropriate clothing

Not allowed

  • Pets (assistance dogs allowed)
  • Intoxication
  • Alcohol and drugs
  • Unaccompanied minors
  • Video recording

Know before you go

  • This tour is in English only. There are no audio guides or translations available.
  • The entrance of the vaults has a 2-foot tall step and may not be suitable for those with limited mobility
  • Single-floor spiral staircase at entrance/exit of vaults and further small sections of stairs inside
  • Filming or live streaming of the tour is strictly forbidden
  • Some historical content may be of a distressing nature and may include subjects like torture, hangings, death, and the like
  • Tour without Torture Exhibition suggested suitable for ages 5+
  • Tour with Torture Exhibition suggested suitable for ages 12+
  • Children under the age of 2 are not allowed on this tour
  • Anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be turned away
  • Alcohol and drugs are strictly forbidden on tour
Likely to sell out

From US$ 22.63 per person

Reserve now & pay later to book your spot and pay nothing today
Reserve now & pay later to book your spot and pay nothing today
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Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.6 /5

based on 5931 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.8/5
  • Value for money
    4.5/5
  • Service
    4.5/5
  • Organization
    4.4/5

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Star rating:

This tour was brilliant, our tour guide James was an absolute legend. He had great knowledge and immersed everyone in the stories of the vaults, he was engaging and entertaining. His high energy and enthusiasm was infectious. Would highly recommended this tour!!

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June 4, 2023

G
GetYourGuide traveler Verified booking

Helpful?

Our tour was great! Really friendly staff and lovely boat to have the trip on. Was a nice amount of time of the two first islands to have a wander round or a drink. Final island was beautiful and good amount of time to travel over to a stunning beach and spend some time swimming and sunbathing! Really recommend + lunch meal was really tasty.

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June 4, 2023

G
GetYourGuide traveler Verified booking

Helpful?

Jordan was a funny and knowledgeable guide. I appreciated the background he provided for the city of Edinburgh so that by the time we were in the vaults we could truly appreciate the history of the location and the ramifications of their use. Truly a unique experience and something I'd been unaware of during my previous visit to Edinburgh!

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May 31, 2023

G
GetYourGuide traveler Verified booking

Helpful?

Product ID: 47520

  • United Kingdom
  • Things to do in Edinburgh
  • Edinburgh Vaults

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