A Mercat Tours Storyteller and tour group gathered in a courtyard in Edinburgh.
Riddle's Court, Lawnmarket, Edinburgh.
Ghostly Tales of Edinburgh's Royal Mile
Hear spirits echo through old city streets. Horror and entertainment in equal measure, as you explore Edinburgh's dark past of crime and punishment. Entirely above ground, accessible to all.
Imagine the spot where the gallows once stood, a stage in the midst of a baying crowd. A rope slipped over a bagged head, cinched tight. The air falls quiet. Listen as the lever creaks, the trapdoor clatters, the rope snaps taut…
On this daytime ghost tour, you’ll hear of villains and victims from the city's dark past. There will be stories of those who haunt our shadowed streets — criminals, murderers and unsuspecting innocents — all whilst travelling to the very places they lived… and for some, met their untimely end.
Starting at the Mercat Cross, a place with mixed history of horror and entertainment, you’ll hear tales of the restless souls set loose in the city, all whilst remaining above ground in Edinburgh’s Old Town. If you listen closely, you might even hear footsteps creeping up behind you or echoes of a horse-drawn carriage fleeing the winding streets.
The Royal Mile may be picturesque, but there is more to its streets than meets the eye. Led by a master, cloaked Storyteller you’ll explore the difficult and grim lives of those living amongst the cobbled closes.
Be immersed in this dark history as we reveal the sounds and stories of Edinburgh’s past.
This tour transports you to 1800s Edinburgh: clues hidden in stonework, gruesome spectacles of punishments and deadly consequences and stories of those whose torment continued into the grave.
From £25 per adult
Departure days
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
January — December
Contact details
28 Blair Street
Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Scotland
EH1 1QR
Key facilities
- Level Access
Tour information
Tour Stops
Tour gallery
Tour company information
Mercat Tours
'History is a damn good story, what it needs is a damn good telling' Join In! Enjoy immersive storytelling experiences as you explore Edinburgh's Old Town. Stories Connect You'll have a deep connection with the people & places of the past and build remarkable memories of Scotland's ancient & beautiful capital. Good for You, Good for Everyone Choosing us, a local, independent family business and Living Wage employer, means you support an ethical team rooted in our local community since 1985
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