Guided Tours

Edinburgh: Historic Underground Vaults Walking Tour

Follow an expert English-speaking guide to the Blair Street Underground Vaults, and uncover its mysterious history, including its destitute inhabitants.

Get exclusive access to Edinburgh’s Blair Street Vaults, the city’s oldest and deepest vaults, on a 75-min guided walking tour.

Follow your expert English-speaking guide through the vaults, hear about its history as taverns and storage spaces, and learn about their poor residents.

Hear about the poor living conditions faced by those living in the damp, dark vaults as you walk through the wynds, closes, and the Blair Street Vaults.

Visit the Discovery Room, where interactive 3D models and 19th-century artifacts provide insight into the vaults' construction and past inhabitants.

75-min guided walking tour of Blair Street Underground Vaults

Entry to the Blair Street Underground Vaults and the Discovery Room

Visit Vaults Museum, featuring interactive 3D models & Vaults Revealed audio-visual display

Interact with authentic artifacts from the vault

Expert English-speaking guide

Small group of max 18 people

Audio devices

Hotel transfers

Food and drinks

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Meet your guide near the Royal Mile, where your ticket will be checked and audio devices provided before heading beneath the streets of Edinburgh to the Blair Street Underground Vaults.

Getting started

Begin your tour near the Royal Mile, where your Mercat Tours guide will greet you, check your ticket, and provide audio devices before leading you to the South Bridge vaults.

What to expect

Venture below Edinburgh’s Old Town into the Blair Street Underground Vaults, the city's oldest and deepest network of underground chambers. Hidden beneath South Bridge since the 18th century, these remarkably preserved vaults reveal a darker side of Edinburgh’s Georgian past. Through immersive storytelling, atmospheric surroundings, and authentic historical details, you'll uncover how these spaces were built, who used them, and why they became home to some of the city's most vulnerable residents.

Features

Exclusive access to the vaults: Enter the Blair Street Underground Vaults, a hidden network of 18th-century chambers accessible only on this guided tour.

Immersive multi-sensory journey: Take in the scent of leather and smoke, feel the cool stone surroundings, and connect with Edinburgh’s past through all your senses.

Stories of Georgian Edinburgh: Learn about the engineering ambitions behind South Bridge, the city’s expansion, and the lives of those who lived in its shadows.

Award-winning guided storytelling: Hear vivid accounts of life beneath the city as expert guides bring centuries-old history to life through compelling narratives.

Vaults Museum experience: Continue into the Vaults Museum, where original artifacts and interactive displays offer a deeper understanding of the vaults and their former inhabitants.

Before leaving, revisit the story through original artifacts, atmospheric sounds, and a curated tour playlist that helps keep the memories of Edinburgh’s underground world alive long after your visit.

Additional information

Children between the ages of 5 and 15 years and seniors above the age of 65 enjoy reduced pricing upon presentation of a valid ID.

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the starting point.

Please check your final voucher for the starting point details & specific instructions.