Edinburgh: Old Town & Underground Vaults Tour with Expert Guide

Summary

Edinburgh’s secrets unfold in closes vaults kirkyard stories

You’ll wander Edinburgh’s Old Town with an expert guide who brings hidden corners to life, step into the shadowy South Bridge vaults with exclusive access, and pause among gravestones in Canongate Kirkyard while hearing stories you won’t find in any textbook. Expect laughter, odd facts, and a few goosebumps along the way.

What’s the experience like?

We’d barely taken three steps down the Royal Mile when our guide, Anna, stopped to point out a weathered stone above a doorway. She said something about “the devil’s advocate” and winked — I honestly thought she was joking until she explained how lawyers here once got that nickname. There was this faint smell of rain on old stone, and people ducking into narrow closes I’d never have noticed if Anna hadn’t waved us over. One guy in a tweed cap nodded as we squeezed past; he muttered something about the football scores, which made Anna laugh. It felt like we were slipping sideways through time for a second.

The main keyword — Old Town historical and underground tour — didn’t really hit me until we reached Canongate Kirkyard. The light there was soft, kind of blueish, and Anna told us about poets buried under our feet (she recited a line or two; I tried to remember them but failed). At one point, someone asked about bodysnatchers and Anna just grinned: “You’ll see.” She had this way of making history sound like gossip you weren’t supposed to overhear. My shoes squelched on the grass. I’m not sure why that sticks with me.

Going down into the South Bridge vaults was… well, colder than I expected. The walls sweated a bit; you could smell damp earth and something metallic. Anna handed us little torches — not flashlights, torches — which made it feel half silly, half spooky. She talked about who lived down here (not always by choice) and how these spaces got sealed up for decades. Someone asked if it was haunted; Anna just shrugged and said she’d heard stranger things above ground anyway. I still think about that echo when everyone went quiet at once.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Edinburgh Old Town and Vaults

• Visit Tron Kirk
• Explore Niddry Wynd Vaults
• Walk through Canongate Kirkyard

Top questions

How long does the Old Town historical and underground tour last?

The tour lasts 90 minutes from start to finish.

Is access to the South Bridge vaults included?

Yes, you get exclusive access to a section of the underground vaults below South Bridge during the tour.

Are guides knowledgeable about Edinburgh history?

Your guide will be either a PhD holder in Scottish history or someone with decades of experience giving historic tours in Edinburgh.

Does the tour include Canongate Kirkyard?

Yes, visiting Canongate Kirkyard is part of the itinerary.

Is this tour suitable for all fitness levels?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

Are service animals allowed on this tour?

Service animals are allowed on this tour.

Is public transportation nearby?

There are public transportation options available close to the meeting point.

What’s included

Your 90-minute day includes walking Edinburgh’s Old Town with stops at Tron Kirk and Canongate Kirkyard, exclusive entry into our private section of South Bridge’s underground vaults, plus plenty of time for questions or random tangents with your expert local guide before heading back above ground again.