Edinburgh Ghost Tours
If you’re looking for an exciting Edinburgh experience that explores the dark and ghastly side of Edinburgh, ghost tours are a must during your visit to Edinburgh.
Learn of Edinburgh’s grim past and its long history of murderers, tortures, ghosts and haunted locations. Experience one of the many nightly ghost tours in Edinburgh’s historic Old Town where you’ll explore the dark streets and alleyways and learn about the tales of the city’s ghostly past and present, the inspiration for the stories of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
The most famous of Edinburgh’s murderers were the infamous body snatchers Burke and Hare. Follow in their footsteps where they could be found lurking after dark and learn about the grisly, evil goings on! Do their victims still haunt the alleyways? Some believe they do!
Edinburgh Ghost Tours are not for everyone but if you like to be afraid and be very afraid (you have been warned) here is a list of the best of spooky Edinburgh ghost tours – Join one if you dare!
City of Edinburgh Tours
City of Edinburgh Tours was launched back in 2012 after the purchase of the Old Police Box on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile [the box is now regarded as the most expensive piece of real estate per square foot in Britain]. It was launched by David Nish, a local published historian who actually started the first underground tours back in 1995. Since converting the police box into a ticket booth City of Edinburgh Tours have taken hundreds of thousands of visitors around Edinburgh and into their underground vaults.
City of Edinburgh tours are fortunate to have exclusive access to one of the most interesting pieces of underground in Scotland. The underground includes an old street and two small vaults, which are estimated to be over 300 years old and are not without an ugly history, from torturing witches to hosting illegal gambling dens. It is also the only piece of underground in Edinburgh which features a built-in street window on the roof, which allows visitors to watch people walk over them completely oblivious to their existence below.
Ghost Tours are all led by enthusiastic & knowledgeable guides, dressed in a full period costume. They also include a walk around Edinburgh’s old town and a visit to Greyfriars Cemetery, before descending into the underground. The tour includes stories and secrets from the cities dark past, all told in an engaging and fun manner.
Tours are available every day of the week at the following times: 1:15pm, 3:15pm, 5:15pm, 6:45pm, 7:45pm, 8pm, 8:45pm & 10:15pm
Edinburgh Dungeon
At the Edinburgh Dungeon you’ll experience a very scary journey through 1000 years of Scotland ‘s horrible history. Guided by a cast of actors who bring this scary experience to life, you’ll be laughing and screaming!. The storytelling, exciting rides and thrilling special effects are based on gruesome history and legend with characters from Scotland’s past, including Burke and Hare and Sawney Bean. A new show at the Dungeon includes the fearsome torture chamber and the ghostly presence of the Green Lady in 1715 Old Craig House.
If this doesn’t sound scary enough… what about:
Auld Reekie Tours
They offer a variety of tours from the scary Graveyard & Vaults Tour to the absolutely terrifying Terror Tour – how brave are you?
Your guide will take you to Greyfriars Graveyard, home of the famous Greyfriars Bobby. A nice story but beneath the surface rotting corpses lie, whose names were made famous in many novels and history books, and sent chills down many a reader. Then on to the infamous and haunted underground vaults, the home of the destitute, prostitutes, criminals, witches and a hellfire club, that is possessed by something evil that awaits you.
Real Mary King’s Close
You’ll see a historically accurate interpretation of life in Edinburgh from the 16th to the 19th centuries, focusing on the underground beneath the Royal Mile where people lived in misery. You’ll be guided by one of the ‘characters’ who lived in these underground streets during this time in history. You’ll hear hair-raising ghost stories of dramatic episodes and extraordinary apparitions from the past.
Black Hart Entertainment
Definitely not for those with a nervous disposition! You’ll visit the haunted graveyard and underground City of the Dead walks. These give a taste of the history and legends of the capital and lead you into the Covenanters’ Prison and the Black Mausoleum in Greyfriars Cemetery, with a possible encounter with a Poltergeist. Hundreds claim to have been attacked by the poltergeist – will you!
Mercat Tours
Mercat Tours, a five star tourist award, offer a huge variety of spooky ghost tours in the New Town and the Old Town, too many to mention in this blog – to suit all dispositions!
The Ben Doran Guest House is just a 15 minute walk to Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, the start of many a spooky adventure. Book your stay with us and enjoy a peaceful (spook free) nights sleep!