Description

Step into the world of stinking streets, terrible tortures and ghostly goings-on with a tour designed especially for children and families. This adventure takes you to some of Edinburgh’s most notorious haunts, including a visit to the famous Blair Street Underground Vaults. Be immersed in the sounds, smells and stories of the past as you explore the city’s darker side.

Hear all about the creepy characters lurking in history and the grim realities of life in nineteenth-century Edinburgh. Listen to the distant clatter of a horse-drawn carriage as you wander through a city shaped by witch trials, body snatching and gruesome tales of torture. The storyteller will guide you to the places where history truly lives.

Begin by visiting the winding closes of the Old Town, learning the meaning of “gardyloo” and hoping you never hear it shouted. Grimace at tales of Scottish witches and discover what treasure could be found buried in a nineteenth-century graveyard (hint: it is not gold). Find out what schoolchildren once packed in their bags on an eventful day.

Experience a time when living in overcrowded closes was as frightening as any ghost story. Discover what jobs were available for younger members of society and get a glimpse of what a family home might have looked like. The tour finishes beneath the streets in the exclusive Blair Street Underground Vaults, once frequented by some of Edinburgh’s less appealing characters. Perhaps you will even catch their whispers as you explore. If you are aged five and over, this is the tour for you.