Edinburgh Tours
Edinburgh Darkside Walking Tour: Mysteries, Murder and Legends
5

Edinburgh Darkside Walking Tour: Mysteries, Murder and Legends

By SANDEMANs NEW Europe - Edinburgh
Recommended by 95% of travellers
95% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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The atmospheric city of Edinburgh is best explored by night, when tales of mystery and murder are at their most frightening. Discover the dark side of Scotland's capital on a historical walking tour that covers Edinburgh’s morbid past. Wind your way through the cobbled streets of Calton Hill, North Bridge, and Canongate cemetery, all of which are inaccessible by coach bus or car, and listen to stories that focus on torture, treason, and death.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-99, max of 20 per group
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: German, English, Spanish
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Highlights
  • Explore Edinburgh at its most atmospheric on a night tour 
  • Delve into the dark history of Scotland's capital 
  • See Edinburgh landmarks illuminated by night
  • Visit the Old Calton Burial Ground or Canongate Kirkyard cemetery

  • Professional guide
What's not included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Your evening tour begins at a designated meeting point in Edinburgh Old Town. Greet your guide and receive an introduction to the city’s dark history. Wind your way down the cobbled streets surrounding Calton Hill and North Bridge, beneath which lies the Blair Street Vaults. Discover tales of torture and treason interspersed with stories of pagan festivals and dramatic historical events. Get acquainted with the deceased residents of Canongate cemetery, and discover the truth behind the gruesome exploits of Burke and Hare, the notorious Edinburgh grave robbers. Your tour concludes on the Royal Mile.

Start:
  • 130 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1QS, UK
    The tours starts at 130 High Street (The Royal Mile), on the corner with Stevenlaw's Close. Look for the guide with the SANDEMANs red name badge.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • 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: 6785EDGHOST

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Most travellers can participate
    • The independent guides who employ us to market their tours have your best interests in mind; while the tour usually includes the sites & stories mentioned and lasts about 2 hours, your tour may vary depending on what your guide thinks is best for your group
    • We unfortunately do not advise guests in wheelchairs to join the Dark Side Tour, due to the narrow stairways and steep hills. We apologize for any inconvenience or disappointment caused.
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travellers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    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: 6785EDGHOST

    From
    £20.39
    per adult
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    Itinerary
    • 130 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1QS, UK
      The tours starts at 130 High Street (The Royal Mile), on the corner with Stevenlaw's Close. Look for the guide with the SANDEMANs red name badge.
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
      Pass by
      Edinburgh Old Town
    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • SANDEMANs NEW Europe - Edinburgh
      25,181
      Edinburgh, Scotland
    • tomasfX778RB
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great Tour
      The tour was excellent. Our guide, Sarah, was very friendly, approachable and very passionate about Harry Potter. She kept us entertained for the whole tour. She was an excellent tour guide. Would definitely recommend to family and friends.
      Written 8 February 2025
    • janewZ9568AT
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Highly recommended
      Informative history and very entertaining. Sarah was a very well informed guide who helped us fall in love with this beautiful city. Great singing voice too!!
      Written 31 January 2025
    • willpalex
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great Tour Highly Recommend
      Had a great time on the Old Town tour. There was a lot of history to learn. G was an awesome guide and I highly recommend this tour.
      Written 29 January 2025
    • Y5575WHannc
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A really interesting walking experience.
      Alisdair was a mine of really interesting information about Edinburgh and we learned so much more than if we'd walked around the town on our own. He made sure we were all kept safely together and answered all the questions the group had for him. This was a great way to spend a couple of hours and primed us well for the rest of our stay.
      Written 14 January 2025
    • fee0808
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great tour with G
      G's passion for Edinburgh and all things Scottish were infectious. He was extremely informative, animated and very interesting. We really enjoyed the tour and all he had to offer - it was freezing cold and the weather was atrocious but we enjoyed it enormously.
      Written 13 January 2025
    • mark M
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      The Magic of Harry Potter brought to life
      We had such fun on this Tour - David really brought the magic of the books to life and kept the tour interactive throughout - asking loads of questions and getting us involved. I would highly recommend this tour with David
      Written 12 January 2025
    • Happyhouse101
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Best curated walking tour yet
      Let me just start by saying it was incredibly cold! But that really just made the experience a bit more authentic. We were hosted by Alasdare (hope I spelt that correctly) who is an Edinburgh local was incredibly knowledgeable and engaging. We started on the Royal Mile and ended behind the castle with the best views. Highly recommended tour. It also allows you to pay your donation in advance so no embarrassing exchange of cash at the end - which is really smart I think.
      Written 7 January 2025
    • noname914827
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing, would definitely recommend
      Xander was amazing and very knowledgable. We had a great time on the tour and would highly recommend! He told us some fascinating facts about JK Rowling and where she got her inspiration for the books and some fun facts about the movies. We loved being sorted into houses and being quizzed as we walked around Edinburgh!
      Written 4 January 2025
    • rebekahbD3353OO
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Magical Tour! 🧙🏼‍♂️
      Monique was an amazing tour guide!!!! She was very knowledgeable, considerate of the entire group, and gave great suggestions on where to go and eat around Edinburgh. I gained a lot of Harry Potter knowledge and had so much fun. An amazing tour for every Harry Potter fan!! I loved it.
      Written 31 December 2024
    • karenaR2774CP
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A great way to get your bearings and tips on where to next- Tour guide G
      We had the most informative and fun tour with the wonderful tour guide ‘G’. This being our 6th tour having undertaken an “introductory walk “ at many of the big cities of the world, we expected and were granted the same level of organised, professional and knowledgeable experience. G posses a great knowledge and imparts it with a flair that kept up entertained and engaged for the full experience. His love for Edinburgh was contagious and he provided lots of local insight and recommendations.
      Written 28 December 2024
    • ewwwi
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing tour with Alasdair
      Was an amazing, great history and local info. Alasdair was amazing, best tour guide to date. He took us to see such beautiful scenes and made the whole tour very fun and interesting .
      Written 20 December 2024
    • tracylgall
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Excellent
      Thoroughly enjoyed this tour, our guide Joe was brilliant- humorous and entertaining. He gave lots of fun & interesting facts, told stories of what times were like in the old town and how the new town came about. Also gave recommendations of where to eat, drink & visit in Edinburgh. Highly recommend this tour & Joe!
      Written 9 December 2024
    • miacA8203PD
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Sarah is the best!
      Sarah was an amazing storyteller, we were so engaged by her enthusiasm. The tour was interesting and informative and despite the weather she made it a real pleasure. Her rendition of a Rabbie Burns song was a real highlight! We loved her!
      Written 7 December 2024
    • Departure67116
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Do not miss this
      Alasdair was a wonderful guide taking us along a magical 2 hour tour of the old town Edinburgh. Full of facts and very entertaining never stumped when questions were asked by members of the tour. Two hours flew by and we retraced the walk going into then museums and churches we encountered on our tour. Most of which we would never have visited and known about but for Alasdair. Throughly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a little bit from their visit to this wonderful city
      Written 5 December 2024
    • warners952
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Harry Potter Magic
      What a great tour! So much history and a lot of Harry Potter magic! Really interactive and the quiz was a lot of fun! Monique was an excellent guide and even gave us tips for places to visit and eat! We took one of her recommendations on board and Howies did not disappoint.
      Written 1 December 2024
    See all 25,181 reviews
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    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles2,501 reviews
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    177
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    Jon Datta
    National Capital Territory of Delhi, India7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2023 • Family
    I had a wonderful time in Puri with Mypuritour. They arranged everything for me, from the hotel to the cab. The hotel was sea-facing and very comfortable. The cab driver was friendly and punctual. He took me to all the places I wanted to see, such as the Jagannath Temple, the Konark Sun Temple, the Chilika Lake, and the Puri Beach.

    I enjoyed the Jagannath Darshan very much. It was a spiritual experience to see the Lord and His siblings. The temple was very crowded, but Mypuritour had arranged a VIP pass for me, so I could enter without any hassle.

    The Konark Sun Temple was also very impressive. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has amazing carvings and sculptures. The Chilika Lake was a refreshing change from the city. I saw many birds and dolphins there. The Puri Beach was also very relaxing. I enjoyed the sunset and the sand art there.

    Mypuritour is a great travel agency for anyone who wants to visit Puri. They are professional, reliable, and affordable. They have a variety of packages to suit different needs and budgets. They also have a 24/7 customer support service that is very helpful.

    I would highly recommend them to anyone who wants to plan a trip to Puri. They will make your trip memorable and enjoyable. Thank you, Mypuritour!
    Written 1 November 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.

    Setenay S
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2023 • Couples
    We didn't know what to expect or the level of detail with the tour as we showed up and there were several other people. They split us into 2 groups and we got paired with Alasdair who was genuinely excited to share with us the dark and scary tales of Edinburgh. He was very detailed and kept us engaged the entire time even though we were tired and feet hurting from walking all day. He was even kind enough to share some recommendations for local pubs & restaurants to visit before leaving. Would definitely recommend if you visit Edinburgh unless you're easily squeamish/ spooked or don't like a lot of walking (uphill as well).
    Written 1 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.

    Nadja M
    Friedrichshafen, Germany11 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sabi is such a great tour guide. Her tour was so entertaining and fun. She will literally answer you every question you have and you can really see that she loves to tell these stories. While all the stories were really amazing we slowly started wondering why Edinburgh is not haunted (or even more haunted) after all these horrible things happening here. There was one story I loved most. I knew fairies are vicious creatures. But thanks to Sabi I know how vicious 😆. I love the folklore that is part of the tour and the new things I could learn thanks to Sabi.

    In short I loved it, I would totally recommend everybody this tour and as a side note she has amazing treasure hunts that are also extremely fun!!! 💪🕵️‍♀️🕵️🐉

    Thanks Sabi for such an amazing experience ❤
    Written 6 September 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.

    Jean Paul van Vliet
    Rotterdam, The Netherlands47 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Alisdair, yes, this is the correct spelling of his name, often misspelled with a “t” in other countries than Scotland, is a superb guide with a good feeling for humor. He makes this trip very interesting with his stories about the darker sides of Edinburgh, but always with a smile. We would really recommend this trip, because it’s funny, informative and you do see some parts of Edinburgh you maybe will not discover yourselves.
    Written 21 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.

    Darcy P
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2023
    Our tour guide Ruaridh was brilliant - he struck the perfect balance between delivering interesting historical facts while also entertaining the crowd. I really felt that I learned so much about the history of Edinburgh, with a focus on the darker side of the city. It wasn't gimmicky or pantomimic, but rather educational, informative and fun! I had a really wonderful time and would absolutely recommend it to anyone interested in learning a little more about the beautiful city. Ruaridh was fantastic!
    Written 6 March 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.

    Leanne F
    Sheffield, UK83 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We have only been on one other night-time walk so far, in London, so I was looking forward to this one. And it didn’t disappoint! Our tour guide, Fiona, was very engaging and enthusiastic. You could tell how much she loved to talk about the city and she was welcoming to all visitors. She was very informative and drew people in with her enthusiasm. We took a couple of walks through spooky graveyards and heard stories of witches, hangings and body snatchers. It also offers some beautiful views of Edinburgh, particularly at night time. We finished early as everyone arrived on time but I was sad for it to end, it was so interesting. Would highly recommend to anyone who wants to know the dark history of Edinburgh. I would recommend taking an umbrella or waterproof coat and sensible walking shoes for the event as Edinburgh has many cobbles and unpredictable weather!
    Written 31 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.

    Rebecca B
    11 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2024 • Family
    Alisdair was an outstanding tour guide and gave us countless details to so many stories throughout Edinburgh. He did a fabulous job of managing our group and keeping us close so we could hear every word. I highly recommend this tour for anyone wanting to hear many dark and historic stories of Edinburgh.
    Written 4 July 2024
    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.

    David W
    Azle, TX6 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Apr 2024 • Couples
    Sabella was knowledgeable and very nice. Smiling often and very friendly however, the speed of her tour was diffucult at best and ignorant at worst. There were 5 out of 12 that could not keep up with her at any time. One lady kept yelling out just go ahead and tell your story and i will catch up. This happened after the first 3 stops she accepted that she was a hindrance to the group. She did not even try to slow the rest of group so those of us would not be embarrassed. Shame on her for not recognizing her audience of older people.
    Written 18 April 2024
    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.

    kat
    Spanish Fort, AL8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Alisdair took us on a wonderfully delicious and macabre tour of Edinburgh ...leaving us with haunting thoughts of Edinburgh's gory past. Alisdair was so friendly, accommodating and a great story teller...would highly recommend!!
    Written 3 October 2024
    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.
    Dear Guide3, Thank you so much for your fantastic review! 🌟 We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed Alasdair’s macabre yet deliciously intriguing tour of Edinburgh’s gory past. It’s wonderful to know his friendliness, accommodating nature, and storytelling skills made the experience so memorable for you. 😊 Your recommendation means the world to us, and we hope to see you on another tour soon! Best wishes, Margarita
    Written 12 December 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Lia G
    New Haven, CT59 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We booked this tour last-minute, and I’m so glad we did! Sabela was a great guide and storyteller. We learned so much about the city in a short period of time and saw a lot of sites as well. Would recommend wearing comfortable sneakers as you are going to be walking quite a bit up and down hills and some uneven surfaces. Would highly recommend this tour.
    Written 20 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.

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    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

    2025 Edinburgh Darkside Walking Tour: Mysteries, Murder and Legends provided by SANDEMANs NEW Europe - Edinburgh

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