Underground Walking Tour in Edinburgh
4.5
BEST SELLER
Underground Walking Tour in Edinburgh
By Auld Reekie Tours
About
The Edinburgh Vaults, one of the city’s most fascinating sights, can only be accessed on a tour. This one focuses exclusively on the vaults, an underground warren below South Bridge in Edinburgh’s Old Town. Step inside with a local guide who’ll reveal tales of hardship and struggle in 18th-century Edinburgh, grisly stories from the city’s dark past, and lead you to a hidden witchcraft temple.
from per adult
HK$175.17
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 5-99, max of 36 per group
Duration: 1h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
English
Highlights
- Get access to the fascinating and rarely visited Edinburgh Vaults
- Enter a sinister underground world beneath Edinburgh’s Old Town
- Travel back to the 18th century, when crime and disease ruled the city
- Discover a side of the capital many visitors—and even locals—miss
- Professional guide
What's not included- Gratuities
- Greet your guide on the Royal Mile and escape the tourist trail to discover Edinburgh’s deepest secrets on this underground walking tour through the Edinburgh Vaults. These infamous vaults fill all 19 arches of South Bridge in Edinburgh’s historic Old Town. As you walk, you’ll learn the hideous conditions in which Edinburgh’s poorer citizens lived during the 18th century. Descend into the dark, dank vaults and learn what it was like to live in the darkness—and which criminals sought their prey there. You’ll explore candlelit Niddry’s Wynd, visit a witchcraft temple with a haunted stone circle, and brave the Haunted Vault, where a myriad mysterious events have occurred.
- Departure details
- 300 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2PH, UK The tour starts from the Tourist Information Police Box, outside of 300 Lawnmarket, EH1 2PH. This is on the opposite side of the road from Deacon Brodie’s Tavern. Please be there at least 5-10 minutes early as we depart promptly at the tour time and will not wait for latecomers.
Return details- 45 Niddry St, Edinburgh EH1 1LG, UK
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 8752P1- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- not suitable for children under 5 years of age
- Most travellers can participate
- 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
- • Children under 2 years of age not allowed on tour.
- The walking pace and terrain may not be suitable for those with any difficulty walking.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 36 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- Which attractions will I visit with Underground Walking Tour in Edinburgh?
- During this experience, places you will visit include:Discover and book Underground Walking Tour in Edinburgh on Tripadvisor
- How much is Underground Walking Tour in Edinburgh?
- Underground Walking Tour in Edinburgh price starts from HK$178.47. Discover and book Underground Walking Tour in Edinburgh on Tripadvisor
- What is the Underground Walking Tour in Edinburgh cancellation policy?
- Underground Walking Tour in Edinburgh cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Discover and book Underground Walking Tour in Edinburgh on Tripadvisor
- Which company provides Underground Walking Tour in Edinburgh?
- Underground Walking Tour in Edinburgh is hosted by Auld Reekie Tours. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Auld Reekie Tours on Tripadvisor. Discover and book Underground Walking Tour in Edinburgh on Tripadvisor
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 8752P1
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About the operator
- Laracrodrigues00Very goodGreat opportunity to learn about Edimburg history in a different way. Ally was a great guide. Loved learning more about the history and spooky facts! Would 100% recommend. I went in the evening that created a best experience. It's a funny way to learn and know mysterious places.
- aball9400Brilliant tourAlly was a great guide & we both really enjoyed the tour. Loved learning more about the history and spooky facts! Would 100% recommend. We went in the evening and felt it added to the experience whilst it was dark!
- livking0100An Awesome Spooky NightDarren was a fantastic tour guide, such an awesome storyteller and had us jump a couple of times! We thoroughly enjoyed the tour and would definitely recommend. Really interesting to learn more about the history as well.
- amybH2507KO00Terror Tour was fantastic!!!Darren was a great guide. He told the history well. Just enough spooky and just enough story telling. Fun evening!
- V8887LHveronicar00My boyfriend became a believerMy boyfriend was talking to me about ghost for the first time in four years. He talked about the temperature rising in the last vault when I was freezing
- Traveler50708100Great experience.Sid was both informative and entertaining. A great insight into the past and a good way to spend a rainy afternoon.
- mikegE4501XO00CanceledThis was a horrible experience. They cancelled the trip on the day of, and we were flying in from the states when we got the notification. WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT EVER BOOK WITH THIS COMPANY. Any company that waits till the day off to cancel someone’s experience obviously doesn’t care of the customers that pay their income.
- V8887LHveronicar00We had an amazing experience. Our tour guide Ally was very informative.The information provided by our tour guide ally was amazing and we would have never gotten to experience or learn about these vaults if not for her. She also was serious when she needed to be and funny when is was appropriate. 10/10
- 107kristis00James did great with what he had to work with.James did his very best to keep us entertained, but really, once you r seen one of the vaults, you’ve kinda seen them all. He did a good job of explaining stuff on the way to the vault e entrance & some good history inside. Just not much to look at once inside.
- Wisc_Travelrs00Short interesting tour of Edinburgh’s vaultsA short, informative tour of the Edinburgh vaults. We did not know about the history of this site. Our guide was Sid, and he did a great job.
- kristenmA3859AA00Excellent nighttime tour!Wonderful tour to do at night! We had Sophie as our guide, and she had so much knowledge of the history of Edinburgh and the vaults. She really did a fantastic job telling the spooky stories inside the vaults as well. If I’m ever back in Edinburgh (which I plan to be someday!), I will definitely do this tour again.
- Stay42269000Tour was cancelledYour company cancelled our tour due to staffing issues. We requested a refund which has been declined. Don’t book with them
- Curiosity4092062726600Fun and spooky walking tourAlly was a great tour guide. She gave lots of information with good storytelling and a spooky setting! The vaults were very interesting and a perfect spot for a ghost tour.
- draket1350010/10Ally did a great job and led a very engaging tour! I recommend wearing waterproof shoes. Good luck!!
- Kammy150500Haunted Vaults TourTour was great! Our tour guide James, was brilliant. He was very knowledgeable and animated, which added great affect to the tour. Would deffo recommend to others.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
3,358 reviews
Excellent
2,824
Very good
330
Average
104
Poor
48
Terrible
52
Gianni P
1 contribution
Nov 2022 • Couples
We booked this tour expecting a more historical approach to the Edinburgh vaults than some of the other tours which market themselves as ‘ghost’ tours. Unfortunately, this tour fell flat as both a historical and a ghost tour.
On the historical side, the facts given were entirely superficial. The tour guide spent most of the tour telling us that she’d later expand on the history without ever providing any meaningful insight into the goings on in the vault.
As far as it worked as a ghost tour, the guide never delved any deeper than telling us that there have been alleged paranormal occurrences. She explicitly said that the intention of the tour wasn’t to provide any jump scares but the lack of both horror and history left the tour without much content, particularly for its price.
Overall, we were left feeling that we could have had a better experience of the vaults by spending the hour at the underground pub next door.
On the historical side, the facts given were entirely superficial. The tour guide spent most of the tour telling us that she’d later expand on the history without ever providing any meaningful insight into the goings on in the vault.
As far as it worked as a ghost tour, the guide never delved any deeper than telling us that there have been alleged paranormal occurrences. She explicitly said that the intention of the tour wasn’t to provide any jump scares but the lack of both horror and history left the tour without much content, particularly for its price.
Overall, we were left feeling that we could have had a better experience of the vaults by spending the hour at the underground pub next door.
Written 19 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
psully136
Leeds, UK2 contributions
Aug 2021
This tour was brilliant. Our guide Aimee was excellent. She's a knowledgeable story teller with just the right amount of darkness and humour. With two kids age 9 and 12, the Vaults Tour seemed the most age appropriate from the info on the website. The kids (and the adults) were spooked but thoroughly enjoyed being scared by Aimee's stories of torture and the supernatural and the eerie atmosphere of the underground vaults. It really is somewhere you should see whilst you're in Edinburgh. Thanks for the experience.
Written 13 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AuldReekieTours
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We are so glad that you had a brilliant experience on your tour with Aimee and we will pass along your kind words.
Written 20 August 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lisa G
1 contribution
Nov 2022 • Couples
We booked onto the tour less than 24 hours in advance as we had enjoyed our experience at Mary Kings close the day before. This was definitely less touristy and more personal. We were a group of 6 in total making the experience even more enjoyable without the large groups usually gathered at tourist trails. Our guid was Markus ( I think I’ve spelt that right given he was Irish!) me and my partner could of listened to him talk all day! Brilliant knowledge of not just the vaults but areas around the royal mile as we made our way down!
Once inside there was a great eerie atmosphere which is great if that’s what you’re looking for. We were shown multiple vaults, each one with thier own stories and history. If you want to be scared then this one is for you. My partner opted to go inside a stone circle, he even laid down in it!! Let’s just hope nothing malevolent follows us back home.
Such an enjoyable and energetic hour, highly recommend you book this on your trip to the old town
Once inside there was a great eerie atmosphere which is great if that’s what you’re looking for. We were shown multiple vaults, each one with thier own stories and history. If you want to be scared then this one is for you. My partner opted to go inside a stone circle, he even laid down in it!! Let’s just hope nothing malevolent follows us back home.
Such an enjoyable and energetic hour, highly recommend you book this on your trip to the old town
Written 8 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KEELAN B
Belfast, UK1 contribution
Feb 2022 • Friends
I brought my American friends on this tour as I had heard great things about it and it did not disappoint or I should say Frazer did not disappoint. He kept everyone gripped on his storytelling and was also able to lighten the mood with his charm and humour. Edinburgh city is full of beauty breathtaking views but it was great to learn of her darker colourings. Would thoroughly recommend if not for the spooky side, Frazers cheekbones and accent are more than worth it 😅
Written 28 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephanie
3 contributions
Sep 2021 • Family
Our guide Stewart was superb and really knowledgeable, making the whole experience fun yet informative. Beforehand, we had people in our group who weren’t keen in taking part in the tour, yet their opinions were soon changed. The tour was great value for money and is a must to anyone visiting Edinburgh, as you learn much more than you would as opposed to walking around yourself!
Again, a massive thanks to our tour guide, Stewart for making it so enjoyable!
Again, a massive thanks to our tour guide, Stewart for making it so enjoyable!
Written 8 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wildheart
1 contribution
Sep 2021 • Family
Andrew was our tour guide and he was lovely. Knowledgeable and very good at telling the story of such a fascinating city, it's infamous villains and ghosts. A great balance of knowledge and humour, tour was conducted in a way that it could hold the attention of the two teenagers I had brought with me. The vaults were super interesting and I would highly recommend this for anyone with an interest in history or even the paranormal.
Written 4 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AuldReekieTours
Thank you so much for your nice review! It makes our day when we see customers enjoy their experience here :)
Written 5 September 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cat S
7 contributions
Nov 2021 • Couples
Tour guide Andrew was brilliant. He made the tour come to life with his excellent story telling. His knowledge was second to none and he was able to answer all our questions with confidence and throw the odd joke in there too. The tour itself felt quite short as part of it was above ground with a bit of history about the surrounding area. Id have liked to spend a bit more time actually in the vaults but thats just my personal preference. I would gladly recommend auld reekie tours and will be using them again the next time i explore more of the city.
Written 16 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tobias
2 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
1 hour was a perfect amount of time for this kinda thing and James was exceptionally good at storytelling and feeling the mood of the crowd. He made everything interesting and fun and I can only recommend this tour if you want to check out some of the city's vaults and history. Great fun!
Written 1 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachel
Milton Keynes, UK1 contribution
Perfectly pitched tour with many interesting stories from Darren our tour guide which he delivered brilliantly, along with a good dose of humour. Group was big but this didn’t matter as Darren was very conscientious in ensuring everyone was gathered around him before he started any talks which were always very clear and easy to hear. Highly recommend this tour for anyone looking for a little bit of scariness without too much horror.
Written 27 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gemma R
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Family
Ive done this tour before once and a night tour and loved it so I wanted to bring my kids who have never been. My daughter (10 yrs) loved it, my youngest (7) was a little bit scared he said but he was fine going round, he just held my hand. We met by a tourist info booth/ telephone box at Lawnmarket/the royal mile and took a little bit of different walk to the vaults due to the royal mile being so busy with the fringe, there was a steep road to walk down but it was fine for us. Paige our tour guide was great, came across as very friendly and was enjoyable to listen to. This one isn't a ghost tour but paranormal activities are mentioned and the setting just makes the tales more eerie compared to a walking tour outside. The underground streets and vaults are fairly spacious so you don't feel claustraphopic and are quite dark and damp in places, lit by emergency lights. I do wish the tour was a little cheaper at nearly £60 for the 3 of us for an hour but I do recommend it as a unique interesting addition to your visit to edinburgh.
Written 11 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are 16 and 17 years old to join?
sillysull
1,283 contributions
Yes, great for all ages.
Hello does this tour use people who jump out at you
WicklowTownTilly
Dublin, Ireland40 contributions
There isn’t actually anyone hiding who jumps out at you but the guide we had engages in a little fun where he turns out the light and then chooses someone to stand directly in front of when he turns the like back on - stuff like that !
Where do I come to to start the tour
You meet on the Royal Mile, directly opposite Deacon Brodie's pub. There is a tourist booth there.
Hola, la autoguia es en español? gracias
Julia C
Madrid, Spain15 contributions
Hola, no y no es el tour the mary king close
Emma W
1 contribution
What times are the tours please?
sandi s
Berwyn, IL133 contributions
When you go to purchase tickets and pick a date it will show you the times they have available. But I remember they basically had a tour about every hour starting around 10am and even haunted night tours after dark. However since it is underground it not one of the tours that you have to wait till dark to do!
Horshamdeano
Horsham, UK122 contributions
Can you book this tour last minute, say about an hour before it’s due to start, please?
Alan M
3 contributions
We booked well in advance and people trying to book on the day were turned down
ricard mila
1 contribution
la visita se puede realizar con autoguia
Julia C
Madrid, Spain15 contributions
No estamos hablando del mismo Tour, en Mary King’s Close por supuesto y además merece mucho la pena; pero el tour que yo he comentado es uno que intenta hacerse pasar por este y nada que ver, es bastante engañoso
aramis8
Gloucestershire6 contributions
A two foot step seems challenging to even the fittest, we are in out 70`s
Is this a sheer drop or is there a second smaller step ?
Is there a handrail
Regards
Roger
BogratNorthYorkshire
North Yorkshire232 contributions
The step is quite high, no handrail but the guides and fellow tourists are very helpfully provided you are not too precious about covid rules and accepting a helping hand.
