Edinburgh pub tour: Grassmarket's haunted taverns and histories
Drink where Edinburgh's darkest stories unfolded
A 3-hour guided pub tour through Edinburgh's Grassmarket and Royal Mile, stopping at four historic taverns tied to executions, hauntings and body-snatching. You begin with a themed cocktail crafted by the tour operator's mixologists, then walk to pubs built into the old city's tunnels, including the last stop for those facing the hangman's rope and the tavern where Burke and Hare chose their victims. A live English-speaking guide leads the route.
Step-by-step itinerary
Historic Edinburgh pub walking tour
- Enjoy introductory themed cocktail
- Visit pub with resident banshee
- Stop at haunted hangman's pub
- Hear story of escaped executions
- Explore oldest tavern with bodysnatchers
- Old Town 20m
- Edinburgh Castle 20m
- Royal Mile 20m
- Greyfriars Kirk 20m
- Grassmarket 20m
What’s included
- A themed welcome cocktail made by the tour operator's in-house mixologists.
- a live English-speaking guide leading the full 3-hour route through the four historic pubs.
- Monday and Wednesday 18:00
- Saturday 15:00
Information
Walk through Edinburgh's oldest pubs on the Royal Mile and Grassmarket with a guide who knows the grisly histories: start with a cocktail, end at the body-snatchers' haunt.
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The experience
The tour opens with a welcome cocktail made in-house, then moves into the labyrinthine tunnels beneath Edinburgh's old town to a pub with a resident banshee. From there you walk to the Royal Mile's most haunted pub (the last stop for condemned prisoners on their way to execution), and on to a tavern near Greyfriars Kirk with a story of escaped executions. The final stop is the oldest tavern in Grassmarket, where the body-snatchers Burke and Hare would scout for victims in the early 1800s. Each pub carries a specific piece of Edinburgh's violent past, and the guide connects them as you move through the streets.
The route stays on foot through the historic center, so you're moving at a walking pace through narrow closes and open squares. The 3-hour span gives you time to settle into each pub and hear the full story before moving on. All fitness levels are welcome, and public transport stops are nearby if you need to reach the starting point.
Top questions
What's the story behind the oldest tavern in Grassmarket?
Burke and Hare, the infamous body-snatchers of 1820s Edinburgh, used the Grassmarket's oldest tavern as a hunting ground for victims. They would identify people there and later rob graves or worse to supply cadavers to medical schools. The pub still stands as a dark landmark of that era.
Do I have to drink alcohol at every stop on this tour?
No. You receive a welcome cocktail at the start, but you're welcome to purchase your own beverages, or skip them, at each of the four pubs along the route. The guide's stories are the main event. The drinks are optional.
What is Greyfriars Kirk and why does it appear on this tour?
Greyfriars Kirk is a historic church in Edinburgh's old town, and one of the pubs on the route sits near it. The pub associated with this stop has a story of escaped executions tied to the area's grim judicial history.
How much walking is involved in this tour?
The tour is a walking route through the Grassmarket, Royal Mile and surrounding closes of Edinburgh's old town, covering the ground between four pubs over 3 hours. It's suitable for all fitness levels, though the terrain is uneven in places and includes some narrow historic streets.
Operated by Hungry For Tours. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 3 days ago
Edinburgh pub tour: Grassmarket's haunted taverns and histories
3h · EN
from £ 29 per person
≈ US$ 39 in your currency
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