Step beneath Edinburgh’s Old Town on a 75-minute guided night tour exploring haunted vaults and a chilling medieval torture exhibition.
Getting started
Meet your guide at 300 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh, EH1 2PH, on the Royal Mile. After a quick ticket check, your guide will introduce Edinburgh’s darker history before leading you down into the hidden vaults beneath the city.
What to expect
Edinburgh’s underground vaults
Edinburgh’s vaults, hidden beneath South Bridge in the Old Town, were originally built for storage and workshops before falling into ruin. Today, they are known as the setting for underground tours, famous for their eerie atmosphere.
Features
Medieval torture exhibition: Examine a collection of historic torture devices, including instruments from the Nuremberg and Bamberg Castles in Germany, dating back to the 16th and early 17th centuries.
Niddry Street vaults: Walk through one of the largest underground vaults in Edinburgh’s Old Town, where dark chambers reveal a hidden side of the city.
Grim historical stories: Hear accounts of crime, punishment, and harsh living conditions that once shaped life in Edinburgh’s underground spaces.
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Alcohol and drugs are strictly prohibited on the tour. Guests who appear under the influence may be denied entry or asked to leave.
Filming or live streaming during the tour is not allowed.
This tour is not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.
The walking pace and route may be challenging for guests with limited mobility.
Assistance animals are permitted on the tour.
Please arrive 5 - 10 minutes before departure to allow the tour to start on time.
Late arrivals cannot be accommodated once the tour has started.
The experience lasts approximately 75 minutes.
This tour is restricted to guests aged 18 and above.
The meeting point is 300 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh, EH1 2PH.
The tour finishes at 45 Niddry Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1LG.
Each tour group is limited to a maximum of 36 participants.
Available departure times are 9pm, 10pm, 11pm, and 12am, with additional late-night tours around Halloween (late October).
The vaults are dimly illuminated by emergency lighting, candles, and the guide’s torch.
A 2-foot step is located at the vault entrance and exit, with additional standard and mezzanine stairs inside.
Outdoor parts of the route include uneven paving, cobblestones, and sloped streets.
Tours operate in all weather conditions, so dress appropriately.
Restroom facilities are not available at the meeting point or during the tour.
Some parts of the experience may be disturbing or unsettling for certain visitors.
All tours are conducted in English, and the narration may go beyond basic conversational English.
Cancellation is allowed up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time. Variant-specific cancellation policies may apply.
