LandmarksFree cancel
30 minutes
1 / 6
- Short term availability
- Excellent Quality
- Ghost Tours
- Walking Tours
Edinburgh - Dark History
- Duration2 hours
- GroupShared · max 30
- TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
- LanguagesEnglish
- BookingInstant confirmation
About this activity
Ah, Edinburgh! They don't call it "The Jekyll & Hyde City" for nothing. During the day, a respectable figure, with its astonishing architecture and wondrous history. But when the sun sets, it tells an entirely different story...
Hear all about the darker history of Edinburgh: murderers, thieves, cannibals, hangings and decapitations, witches, the Plague and streams of human waste. Learn about the most notorious citizens of Edinburgh and how ghost stories are born.
This is not a ghost tour: we don't need costumes or people jumping from behind the corners, Edinburgh's Dark History itself is enough to make your skin crawl. And oh, how we love to share it with our visitors...
What to expect
Old Town
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
A walking tour down the Royal Mile of Edinburgh, where your guide will share with you the darker history of Edinburgh.
Heart of Midlothian
197 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1PW, United Kingdom
Former site of the Old Tollbooth, one of Edinburgh's most notorious buildings. Hear about some of the characters once imprisoned and/or executed here, and why it ultimately became recognised by Sir Walter Scott as the Hard of the Midlothian.
St Giles' Cathedral
High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1RE, United Kingdom
What seems like the car park hides a secret, as well as the burial place of one of the most controversial figures in Scottish history.
Mercat Cross
Mercat Cross, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Another infamous execution site. Hear about the importance of the building in the life of the city, and about a literal killing machine which was once kept inside St. Giles Cathedral.
Royal Mile
High St., Edinburgh, EH1 2PB, United Kingdom
Walk down the Royal Mile, where you'll hear about some of Edinburgh's notorious citizens, the Black Plague, and how the city's poor sanitary conditions eventually led to a most peculiar tradition.
John Knox House Museum
43-45 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR, United Kingdom
Learn about the architecture of 16th century Edinburgh, and witness one of the most "authentic" corners in the city centre.
Canongate Kirk
153 Canongate, Edinburgh, EH8 8BN, United Kingdom
Wander among graves of old, hearing about body snatchers, cannibals, and learn how ghost stories are born.
Pickup & meeting point
There is no pickup — all travellers meet at the start point.
Start
Our meeting point is in WEST Parliament Square, across the square in Front of St. Giles Cathedral. Search for the white umbrella with the logo of All-Star Guides.
End
What's included
Included
- In-Person guide
Good to know
Accessibility & suitability
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Traveller requirements
- Minimum 1 traveller per booking
- Maximum 30 travellers per booking
- At least one adult must be included in the booking
- Age bands: Infant (0–5), Child (6–15), Adult (16–60), Senior (61–120)
Languages
- Guide
- English
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- 1+ days before100% refund
- 0–1 days before0% refund
Important booking information
- Confirmation
- Confirmed immediately after booking.
- Tickets
- One per booking
- Local time zone
- Europe/London
- Product code
- 246096P2
What you'll be asked when booking
- Any special requirements
Traveller reviews
5.0/ 5922 reviews
Ratings aggregated from Viator (361) and Tripadvisor (561).
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Ready to book Edinburgh - Dark History?
From GBP 18 per person · Free cancellation available
Activity information provided by Viator, an authorized travel partner. Gateera does not operate this activity.