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Cloaked guide holding a candle tells a story to visitors in a stone vault
Edinburgh

Haunted Underground

A tour of an hour and a quarter from the Mercat Cross down into the Blair Street vaults under South Bridge, with a storyteller.

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Welcome

When South Bridge was built in the 1780s to carry the city south over the Cowgate, the arches beneath it were closed in to make rooms.

In time they were sealed with rubble and forgotten, and they were not opened again until the 1980s.

Mercat Tours' Haunted Underground takes small groups down into the Blair Street vaults. It starts above ground at the Mercat Cross on the High Street, beside St Giles', and walks down to the bridge, then goes underground, where a storyteller leads the way through the stone chambers by candlelight, telling the stories of the vaults and of the people who knew them.

The tour runs every day in the afternoon and evening, lasts an hour and a quarter, and is suitable for children of five and over.

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Before you go

Tours leave from the Mercat Cross on the High Street every day, in the afternoon and evening.

It suits families with children of five and over. Carers go free; call to arrange it.

Meet
The Mercat Cross, High Street, beside St Giles'.
Length
An hour and a quarter.
Ages
Five and over.
Telephone
0131 225 5445.

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Where it is

From the Mercat Cross on the Royal Mile to the vaults under South Bridge.

Close byThe heart of the Royal Mile.
  1. St Giles’ CathedralSt Giles’ CathedralThe High Kirk of Edinburgh on the Royal Mile, under its crown spire.Under a mile 1 min by road
  2. The Real Mary King's CloseThe Real Mary King's CloseA warren of 17th-century streets sealed beneath the City Chambers.Under a mile 1 min by road
  3. Tiered galleries and glass roof inside the National Museum of ScotlandMile to the Museum & National Museum of Scotland TourUnder a mile 1 min by road
  4. Pedestrians walk along the Grassmarket, with Biddy's pub sign visible on the rightMercat CrossThe Mercat Cross in Parliament Square, beside St Giles'.Under a mile 3 min by road
  5. The Blair Street VaultsThe Blair Street VaultsThe vaults built into the arches of South Bridge in the 1780s.Under a mile 2 min by road
  6. The Banshee LabyrinthThe Banshee LabyrinthA rock bar in the vaults under South Bridge, over three floors.Under a mile 4 min by road
Directions
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The dining room at Luckenbooths, leather banquettes and framed pictures under warm light.AttractionsLuckenboothsA step away
A plate of crispbreads and pâté at Angels with Bagpipes.RestaurantsAngels with BagpipesA step away
A flight of whiskies and their bottles on a table in a stone vault at the Lost Close, a chandelier behind.AttractionsThe Lost CloseA step away
Gold handprints set in pavement, engraved "J K Rowling 2008AttractionsJ. K. Rowling’s HandprintsA step away
Stone colonnade with arched ceiling and windows along a covered walkwayRestaurantsSignet LibraryA step away
Heart of Midlothian mosaic set into cobblestones, with pedestrian shadows falling across itAttractionsThe Heart of MidlothianA step away
Stone steps through a narrow close frame the Scott Monument, EdinburghAttractionsAdvocate's CloseA step away
Cobbled Edinburgh street lined with sandstone tenements and a turreted corner towerAttractionsCockburn StreetA step away

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Stay nearby

Places to stay near the tour, and when each is next free.

A hotel studio room with a beige fitted kitchen unit and stainless sink beside a bed dressed in white and teal cushions, a wall of black-framed pictures above a patterned headboard.Old Town Chambers
  • To stay
  • In Edinburgh
  • Under a mile from the Mercat Cross
Check datesA round table and chairs stand before tall curtained windows looking onto stone buildings, a sofa and mounted television to the right.Moment George IV Bridge
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Edinburgh
  • Under a mile from the Mercat Cross
Check datesWest End Muse
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Edinburgh
  • Under a mile from the Mercat Cross
Check datesA turreted sandstone building with conical spires catches the evening light above rooftops, a large pine tree standing beside it.The Scott Hotel
  • A hotel
  • In Edinburgh
  • A mile from the Mercat Cross
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in EdinburghAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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