Historical Tours
1–2 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 91% of travellers
91% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
£22
per adult
Mercat Tours
Mercat Tours
4.5
City ToursGhost & Vampire ToursWalking ToursSightseeing ToursPrivate Tours
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Full view
About
'History is a damn good story, what it needs is a damn good telling!' We're an independent family business and simply love sharing Edinburgh's stories. We're the original, largest, and first 5 star walking tour company in Scotland giving guaranteed quality. With guaranteed daily departures, year round we offer exclusive access to Blair Street Underground Vaults, Edinburgh Castle, Palace of Holyroodhouse & National Museum of Scotland. Our tours run 10am-10pm, daily so we're sure you'll find a match to suit your tastes!
Edinburgh, Scotland
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2023
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Historical Tours
1–2 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 95% of travellers
95% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
£27
per adult
Historical Tours
2–3 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 95% of travellers
95% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
£24
per adult
Historical Tours
1 hour
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 91% of travellers
91% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
£22
per adult
Historical Tours
1–2 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 95% of travellers
95% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
£22
per adult
Travellers talk about
(573 reviews)
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
9,314 reviews
Excellent
6,931
Very good
1,558
Average
417
Poor
216
Terrible
193
SimonY1969
Billericay, UK116 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
More shocked by the smell of wee in the bus, this performance was absolutely diabolical. 18 plus, really!
Do yourselves a favour and do something else with your hard earned money.
Do yourselves a favour and do something else with your hard earned money.
Written 30 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.
Abby G
1 contribution
Nov 2023 • Couples
My partner and I went on this tour recommended by a friend. Martin was our guide and he was the best! We learned so much from him and he made the tour so much fun! We had such a great time!! It was cool to see the south bridge vaults and learn about them. Also definitely was spooky with the different dark stories about Edinburghs past. We highly recommend to anyone to check it out! The whiskey at the end was definitely needed!
Written 30 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.
Daniel H
Bath, United Kingdom100 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
Interesting tour visiting the vaults under the streets of Edinburgh. Linda, our guide, was very good - friendly, passionate and knowledgeable. She took time to answer any questions we had at the end of the tour. Thank you Linda for a great experience!
Written 29 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.
Thank you for joining us on tour and for taking the time to leave us a review!
We love hearing from visitors who have enjoyed our storytelling, especially when we can share with the team directly—Linda will be thrilled and we'll be sure to pass on your kind words.
The Blair Street Underground Vaults are such an interesting part of the city and we're glad we could introduce you to Edinburgh's hidden side.
Hopefully we can welcome you back again soon, and be sure to stay in contact on our socials until then!
All the best,
Megan
Written 30 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kate
United Kingdom15 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
We went on the Dead and Buried tour with Mercat. It was really entertaining and great fun. Emily our guide clearly loves her job - she was fantastic. Highly recommended to anyone with an hour to spare.
Written 28 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.
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review, and we're so pleased to hear you enjoyed your tour with Emily. We'll be sure to pass on your kind words.
Edinburgh has so much to show, and we're glad we could reveal some of its interesting stories for you.
Hopefully we can welcome you back again soon, and be sure to stay in contact on our socials until then!
All the best,
Megan
Written 30 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
tina n
Ammanford, UK13 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
Excellent experience with a kniwlegeable guide who also had a good sense of fun. Will definitely be booking a different tour on our next visit..thank you Michael
Written 27 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.
Tina, thank you for taking the time to leave us a review, and we're so pleased to hear you enjoyed your tour with Michael. We'll be sure to pass on your kind words.
We're glad we could illuminate some of Edinburgh's most interesting stories and places for you.
Hopefully we can welcome you back again soon (and don't forget to redeem your returner's discount!). Be sure to stay in contact on our socials until then.
All the best,
Megan
Written 30 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jrdn0
Lincoln, UK1 contribution
Nov 2023 • Couples
A very fun and educational tour! Our guide Veni was friendly and knowledgable about the Edinburgh as a whole, and was an even better story teller. The whole tour was professional but relaxed (as relaxed as you can be in a spooky setting) and was smartly delivered by wireless headphones so we could hear everything being said.
Thoroughly enjoyed, the vaults themselves very well preserved and would love to come back for another of their tours.
Thoroughly enjoyed, the vaults themselves very well preserved and would love to come back for another of their tours.
Written 27 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.
Many thanks for taking the time to get in touch, we're so pleased you enjoyed your tour with Veni, and we'll be sure to pass on your kind words.
The TourTalk devices and headphones are certainly a lifesaver, especially during busy times on the Royal Mile.
Hopefully we can welcome you back again soon (and don't forget to redeem your returner's discount!). Be sure to stay in contact on our socials until then.
All the best,
Megan
Written 30 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Michelle B
Staffordshire, UK8 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
From start to finish with Emily our tour guide it was a fantastic 1 hour 15 mins spent discovering historic facts about Edinburgh, living conditions, rituals and ghots of time forgotten. Emily was knowledgeable, good humoured, and had the ability to add drama and suspense just in the right places.
5 stars to Mercat Tours for ease of booking, instructions for meeting points and equipment.
Definitely value for money, thank you.
5 stars to Mercat Tours for ease of booking, instructions for meeting points and equipment.
Definitely value for money, thank you.
Written 27 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.
Thank you for such a wonderful review!
We're so pleased you enjoyed your tour with Emily, and we'll be sure to pass on your kind words.
Our team love to share their passion for Edinburgh and help visitors connect with our remarkable past and people, and we're glad we could reveal some of the city's interesting stories for you.
Hopefully we can welcome you back again soon, and be sure to stay in contact on our socials until then!
All the best,
Megan
Written 30 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
M G
1 contribution
Nov 2023 • Couples
Fantastic tour led by Linda from the Mercat tour team. The audio headsets made the experience more immersive, taking you away from the noise of High street. Linda was very knowledgeable about the city and tailored the information to the countries of origin of the tour participants. Highly recommend ! 🏴🏰
Written 27 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.
Thank you for joining us on tour and for taking the time to leave us a review!
We love hearing from visitors who have enjoyed our storytelling, especially when we can share with the team directly—Linda will be thrilled and we'll be sure to pass on your kind words.
The TourTalk devices and headphones are certainly a lifesaver, especially during busy times on the Royal Mile.
Hopefully we can welcome you back again soon, and be sure to stay in contact on our socials until then!
All the best,
Megan
Written 30 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Abigail L
2 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
A great tour with Nicola! Informative about Edinburgh history. Also meeting up point was easy to find.
Written 27 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.
Many thanks for taking the time to get in touch, we're so pleased you enjoyed your tour with Nicola, and we'll be sure to pass on your kind words.
We're glad we could illuminate some of Edinburgh's most interesting stories and places for you.
Hopefully we can welcome you back again soon, and be sure to stay in contact on our socials until then!
All the best,
Megan
Written 30 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Angela Z
1 contribution
Nov 2023 • Family
Our guide Anastasia was fantastic and gave a wealth of information on the history of the vaults. Her enthusiasm and story telling was captivating as well.
Written 26 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.
Many thanks for taking the time to get in touch, we're so pleased you enjoyed your tour with Anastasia, and we'll be sure to pass on your kind words.
The Blair Street Underground Vaults are such an interesting part of the city and we're glad we could introduce you to Edinburgh's hidden side.
Hopefully we can welcome you back again soon, and be sure to stay in contact on our socials until then!
All the best,
Megan
Written 30 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
corrinaandrob
Padstow, UK31 contributions
Hi,
We are unsure which ghost tour to book we are wanting to do the vaults and the best tour we can please can anyone advise?
Also we need start and finish locations so can plan our activities around the tour
Thank you
MercatToursLtd
Edinburgh, UK2 contributions
Hi Corrinaandrob,
Hope you're well. We have four tours currently running that visit the vaults:
- Doomed, Dead & Buried a 16+ ghost tour which also visits the Canongate Graveyard.
- Hidden & Haunted: A 18+ tour of the vaults that gets a bit more into the gory details.
- Ghostly Underground: A tour of the vaults covering their dark history.
- Historic Underground: A history tour of the vaults.
Tom Riddle's grave is not located at the Canongate but Adam Smith's, Clarinda's (ex-lover of Robert Burns), and Robert Fergusson's are among others.
All tours start at the Mercat Cross and end at the Blair Street Vaults. Hope this helps and hope to see you soon!
All the best, Kim - Marketing Executive
Misshellcat
Fraserburgh, UK84 contributions
We are going next weekend (13th Sep) will the Vaults be open then?
James Shaw
Lincoln, UK2 contributions
Do any of the ghost tours have actors/people jumping out?
MercatToursLtd
Edinburgh, UK2 contributions
Hi James,
No, we do not have actors or people jumping out on our ghost tours. We keep our tours authentic so that people can get a true feel for the vaults and so that any encounters with spirits can be trusted to be genuine and not fabricated.
All the best. - Kim
James Shaw
Lincoln, UK2 contributions
Which ghost tour spends the most time in the vaults?
MercatToursLtd
Edinburgh, UK2 contributions
Hi James,
All of our ghost tours spend 30 minutes down in the vaults. If you're looking for a bit longer our Historic Underground spends the longest at 45 minutes!
Hope this helps. - Kim
Jeff C
Pompano Beach, FL97 contributions
I was just telling someone about this, it happened to us too!! My (ex)wife, myself and my son were standing in the middle of the room, listening to the ghost stories at the end of the tour and she felt a burning on her arm, we got outside and she had three scratches on her arm! I have a pic of it, we were blown away.
Theresa S
Belfast, UK45 contributions
I felt someone hit me and I turned to my friend and asked her why she hit me, it wasn't her?????
Ian Fischer
5 contributions
What time this Thursday do tours of the Edinburgh Catacombs commence thanks?
MercatToursLtd
Edinburgh, UK2 contributions
Hello there,
We provide several tours that will include a visit to the Blair Street Underground throughout the day and evening
The first tour of the day on Thursday 26th September is 12pm Historic Underground, this is also available at 2pm & 4pm. The tour will take 1.25hrs in duration.
We also have Ghostly Underground and this takes place at 1pm, 3pm & 5pm daily. This tour will also take 1.25hrs in duration, please visit Mercat Tours website for more information on tour content along with ticket prices
We look forward to welcoming you on a tour. The question is, will it be History of the underground or the Ghostly experience?
All the best
Shirley
Metaxenia P
6 contributions
I'm planning to book a ghost tour for my visit in Edinburgh. Which one of the tours would be the spookiest?? Thank you
AnkiGoldCoast
Gold Coast, Australia391 contributions
Mercat tours has one that includes the dungeons it was booked out when we were there I’d give that a go!
MermaidMaimy
Birmingham, UK62 contributions
Is the Hidden and Haunted tour more about ghosts or blood and guts?
MercatToursLtd
Edinburgh, UK2 contributions
Hi Maimykins, our Hidden & Haunted ghost tour of Edinburgh focuses more on the city's dark past. It is about ghosts. Hope that helps you :)
Madge C
Orange, Australia4 contributions
Can I please get a refund for the tour you cancelled yesterday (Saturday 8th Sept) without giving any notice?
MercatToursLtd
Edinburgh, UK2 contributions
Hi Madge,
We will need to talk to you offline to arrange a refund. You can contact us through the channels listed on our website (we can't paste contact details here as it's against TripAdvisor policies).
All the best, Jean
Hallo, wir wollen mit unserer 6-jährigen Tochter die Tour Dark Tales and Terror in Edinburgh buchen. Ist das für Kinder geeignet oder zu gruselig? Wie sind die Erfahrungen? Danke für die Rückmeldung.