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Guided tour

Edinburgh: Old Town and Underground Historical Tour

4.4  / 5
732 reviews
Activity provider:City of Edinburgh Tours
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Guided tour

Edinburgh: Old Town and Underground Historical Tour

Activity provider:City of Edinburgh Tours
4.4  / 5
732 reviews
Likely to sell out

From US$ 18.32 per person

Likely to sell out

Join a local published historian around Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile and visit its underground vaults. Learn about some of Edinburgh’s fascinating history, literary heroes, infamous criminals and the battles that shaped the city into what is today.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later
Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Covid-19 precautions
Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details.
Duration 1.5 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
English

Experience

Highlights
  • Be led around Edinburgh's Old Town by a local published historian
  • Gain exclusive access into Edinburgh's Underground Vaults
  • Explore Edinburgh's long and fascinating past
  • Visit some of the Old Town's hidden closes and historical sites
  • Enjoy our professional, informative and engaging tour
Full description

Immerse yourself in the history of Edinburgh on a guided city walking tour. Trace the origins of the city as you explore the Royal Mile, the underground vaults, and Old Town, with stories hidden behind every turn.

The historical tour begins at the Old Police Box on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, where you will be met by a local historian and proceed straight into the Underground Vaults. Edinburgh's Underground is over 400 years old and is full of fascinating history, all of which the guide will share with you. After visiting the Underground Vaults, your guide will take you all around Edinburgh's Royal Mile and Old Town, visiting some hidden closes and other spots of historical significance. Delve into parts of Edinburgh that you did not know existed, mostly off the tourist trail.  Hear that the first skyscrapers in the world were built in Edinburgh, discover the identity of the local criminal who became the inspiration for Jekyll and Hyde, and learn where the phrase "Black Market" came from.

Find out where Ebeneezer Scrooge is buried – yes, really – and how Edinburgh University worked closely with the serial killers, Burke and Hare. Edinburgh’s history is long and fascinating, made even more special when told by your enthusiastic, passionate, and local guide. 

Includes
  • Expert guide
  • Entry into Edinburgh's Underground Vaults
  • Food
  • Tips
Not suitable for
  • Children under 5 years
  • People with mobility impairments
  • Wheelchair users

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Meeting point

• Meet opposite Starbucks at 124a High Street

Open in Google Maps ⟶
Important information

What to bring

  • Comfortable shoes
  • Weather-appropriate clothing

Know before you go

  • Entry into the Underground involves walking down eight steps.
  • Please note that the minimum age for this tour is 5 years old.
Likely to sell out

From US$ 18.32 per person

Reserve now & pay later to book your spot and pay nothing today
Reserve now & pay later to book your spot and pay nothing today
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Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.4 /5

based on 732 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.7/5
  • Value for money
    4.4/5
  • Service
    4.4/5
  • Organization
    4.3/5

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Our tour leader Faye was outstanding. She was very knowledgeable, interesting and engaging. ( I had a tour with a blue badge guide the next day and she was definitely as good as her and sometimes provided more information) She was happy to answer any questions and extend the answers. I live in Australia and hadn't realised that I wasn't going to be seeing the whole extent of the underground tunnels, streets and vaults. I would pay a premium if all of you could join together sometimes and offer the extended experience (perhaps splitting the money between you or even joining together for a particular charity.) It would be very much more satisfying! And Faye would be an excellent tour leader for such an occasion

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September 5, 2023

S
Susan – AustraliaVerified booking

Helpful?

Louise was an excellent guide. She knew a lot of history and told it in an interesting way. She was all the time making sure everybody was okay. I askes a lot of questions and with a lot of pacience she answered them all. We wished we would have done this tour on the first day of our visit, as it gave us a good backstory to understand the entire town better. Thank you!

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August 2, 2023

E
Eva – NetherlandsVerified booking

Helpful?

One of the best guides we had in Edinburgh! Faye was super engaging and very knowledgeable on all things Edinburgh. The content was really interesting and factual and we really felt we learned a lot about the city and its history that we had not heard in the days previous. Most of the tours we looked into were ghost tours but we chose the daytime historical one and got the best of both worlds as it also includes a visit to the vaults. A special shout out to the lovely man in the ticket booth who chatted to us while we waited for our tour to start - we hope you get to visit Ireland as planned! We really enjoyed the tour and felt it was time and money well spent even on a short stay in the city - absolutely would recommend!

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February 19, 2023

J
Judy – IrelandVerified booking

Helpful?

Product ID: 73775

  • United Kingdom
  • Things to do in Edinburgh
  • Edinburgh Vaults

Top Attractions in Edinburgh

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  • 7St. Giles' Cathedral
  • 8Linlithgow Palace
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  • 11Scott Monument
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