Underground City of the Dead Tour
4.5
Underground City of the Dead Tour
By City of the Dead Tours
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About
from per adult
$25.38
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 12-59, max of 5 per group
Duration: 1h 20m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
- Local, expert guide
- Entry/Admission - City of the Dead Tours
What's not included- Transportation to/from attractions
- Start:
- St Giles' Cathedral, High St, Edinburgh EH1 1RE, UKAll tours leave from the "Tree of the Dead" outside St Giles Cathedral on the pavement facing the Royal Mile. Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes prior to departure.
End:- Niddry Street South, Niddry St S, Edinburgh EH1, UK
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 89100P2- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Language: English only
- Age: Minimum 12
- Most travelers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 5 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 89100P2
Reserve your spot
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- High St, Edinburgh EH1 1RE, UKAll tours leave from the "Tree of the Dead" outside St Giles Cathedral on the pavement facing the Royal Mile. Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes prior to departure.
- 1This tour ventures into the most haunted section of Edinburgh’s legendary Underground City, where a population once lived in utter misery. Black as Satan’s jammies, with a fascinating history to match, these vaults were forgotten for centuries and only recently unsealed. This part of the South Bridge Vaults is known as Damnation Alley. With good reason. These dark tunnels and are stalked by a malevolent presence known as the South Bridge Entity.
- Niddry St S, Edinburgh EH1, UK
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- tracywQ6256EY0 contributionsExcellent spooky time with history explainedWriting to break the curse, Ryan was absolutely fantastic, vast knowledge and storytelling abilities. I did catch two pictures of other worldly phenomenon so when you go, be sure to take photos.Written September 5, 2024
- Getaway426570682760 contributionsEntertaining, fun, informative and interestingJust here to life the curse... There are no supernatural entities in this picture (I think) just proof that our guide Ryan was lively and entertaining. My night camera needed no movements to capture a good picture but I don't think I managed to get a good one of Ryan cause he was moving so much. But to me that's a good thing! It means he really embodied his role as the storyteller. He was funny, engaging, informative and knowledgeable. I've been on a City of the Dead tour before and besides the interesting facts and history what keeps me coming back are the guides. They're really good at what they do and you can see and feel that they love their job! 10/10 would highly recommend 👌🏽Written September 3, 2024
- mirandadF8422OM0 contributionsBeth is a great guide!Truly spooky - genuine scares! Definitely worth the money and lives up to the hype!! Beth is so knowledgeable and witty and ensured a safe adventure for everyone.Written August 30, 2024
- teresaannea0 contributionsAsk for James and be prepared for an amazing nightWe had an incredible experience on our spooky late-night walk through the old town of Edinburgh, all thanks to our amazing guide, James! He was not only incredibly knowledgeable about the city's haunted history but also brought the stories to life with his humor and well-timed jump scares. James kept us on the edge of our seats while also making us laugh, creating the perfect blend of spooky and fun. If you're staying in Edinburgh, this tour is an absolute must. And trust me, you'll want to ask for James as your guide! Highly recommended!Written August 29, 2024
- arizonab8240 contributionsLearn some history, be a bit freaked out, and entertained all at once!Fantastic experience with Allister as our guide! He was highly enthusiastic and spun the stories very well. He was able to perfectly walk that very fine line of both being serious as well as entertaining while detailing some horrific human events in Edinburgh. Walking through the actual places where these events took place was truly incredible! I highly recommend doing both the vaults and the graveyard tour together - and at night!Written August 28, 2024
- 786steveg0 contributionsDo something differentThe Underground Vaults tour is something different to do in Edinburgh. There isnt too much to see in the Vaults but the stories of the Vaults are interesting if a little sad too. Also some fun created by our guide Darren who was excellent. The walking isnt too difficult but is uneven in places some high steps and narrow stairs to negotiate so wear some sturdy shoes with good tread.Written August 26, 2024
- X3712NZdanielb0 contributionsSuperb tour!Absolutely brilliant, our guide Gerry was engaging and entertaining throughout the tour. We will definitely book on to a City of the Dead tour when we return to Edinburgh! This is a must for anyone visiting the city!Written August 24, 2024
- lisabL2229UV0 contributionsGreat evening tourRyan was an entertaining guide and we really enjoyed his storytelling. Almost 40 people on the tour felt just a few too manyWritten August 22, 2024
- DavidH158140 contributionsAn Entertaining Graveyard Scare!It was a cold, drizzly night in Edinburgh where we, as huddled souls stood in rapt attention and amazement as tour guide Ross (The Boss)) regaled us with tales of the weird and the macabre. From the bloody executions at St. Giles to the imprisonment of innocents at Greyfriar's, we lived the experience of the past through stories, history and anecdotes told with charismatic verve by our creative and enthusiastic guide. Appreciated the added flavoring of modern pop references as well. Thanks, Ross - who let the dogs out...Written August 21, 2024
- Wanderer229645196770 contributionsBest tour everWhat a great experience ! Ross was the most fabulous storyteller and created the perfect ambiance to discover the city by night. Between laughs and thrills, time flew fast. We only wished we could discover more of the city history. Do not hesitate and book a tour (or two) specifically with Ross. A french delighted coupleWritten August 20, 2024
- kavyax0 contributionsSO SO SO nice! loved it!We did this on our first day in Edinburgh and what a fun introduction to the city! Our guide, Ross, was soooo good at his job. I've done a lot of walking tours but have never come across a more extroverted guide (in a good way). We had an absolute blast! Would 100% recommend, even if just to experience the magic of the guide. & I do think we met the Mckenzie poltergeist cuz I did end up with an unexplained cut on my hand :0Written August 17, 2024
- Z6243ZHchriss0 contributionsGreat tour!Ross was great host for the tour, kept things interesting and interacting with the group. Good mix of horror and gruesome, with some humour too!Written August 16, 2024
- 976georgier0 contributionsSPOOKtacular! 10/10 MUST DO on your Edinburgh TripThis was absolutely fantastic! Our guide, Ross, was the most entertaining and knowledgeable, passionate and funny host. He made the tour come alive. Was suitable for all my 17 year olds, and 15 year old. Younger though, may be a bit gruesome! Certainly spine chilling. Definitely a highlight of our brief 48 hours in Edinburgh. Go Book Now!Written August 16, 2024
- Dream588186803050 contributionsExcellent tour!Ross was absolutely fantastic from start to finish. He had a wealth of knowledge and his stories were entertaining, scary, informative and funny in equal measure. The tour was almost two hours long but never boring and excellent value for money. Highly recommended!Written August 10, 2024
- O3122EOmelissag0 contributionsExcellent Guide and Interesting HistoryThis was a great tour. The history and facts were all very interesting. Our guide Ross was absolutely fantastic and a character. He was a true performer and who really made the tour worth every penny.Written August 6, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
199 reviews
Excellent
153
Very good
22
Average
7
Poor
5
Terrible
12
Kane
21 contributions
Not an underground tour for starters.. you visit three vaults that are cold dark storage rooms, that apparently housed the poor back in the day (like a lot of buildings would have done, giving them no character and not setting them out of any old cliche vault
The guide tells you about how people used to throw human waste out of their windows (nothing to do with edinburgh inclusively, or the three rooms)
Once you reach the not underground 3 rooms, again more stories are told of the old unsanitary days, then in the last room he talks about a supposed poltergeist. The end!
Expected an underground ghost tour, got to stand outside in the pouring rain for over an hour and get told about things you already know about past eras, go through some old bloody wine cellars then thats your tour of the “city of the dead underground vaults tour” over :).
No beef with the guide, did his best with the trash material and route he was employed to do...unfortunately would have rather had a bucket of poop poured on me.
The guide tells you about how people used to throw human waste out of their windows (nothing to do with edinburgh inclusively, or the three rooms)
Once you reach the not underground 3 rooms, again more stories are told of the old unsanitary days, then in the last room he talks about a supposed poltergeist. The end!
Expected an underground ghost tour, got to stand outside in the pouring rain for over an hour and get told about things you already know about past eras, go through some old bloody wine cellars then thats your tour of the “city of the dead underground vaults tour” over :).
No beef with the guide, did his best with the trash material and route he was employed to do...unfortunately would have rather had a bucket of poop poured on me.
Written March 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kennedy
3 contributions
May 2021
The tour started with a long winded talk about a boring statue, while standing in the cold, and had no relation to the underground tour. The guide, Josh, was just unfunny and tried to pick on individuals in the group. We proceeded to stand on a steep hill for a further 15 minutes where he talked about throwing poo out windows and felt like he was blabbering to take up time. After 45 minutes, we finally got to the underground vaults and continued to stand in a circle and hear boring stories and history about people who used to live in the vaults. We were thrown off when we first entered, as it did not live up to the images online. In fact, it was just dark, damp, and cold where we were cramped into a small standing area. When the group tried to spread out, the guide complained that his boss would go mad because we weren't standing on the flat surface. Continuing through three vaults, which looked pretty much identical, we were told barely scary stories and got to the point where a lot of the group was yawning. At the end of the tour Joshua said we could ask questions but was in a rush to catch his bus and starting right away, leaving us to chase after him, and we were left very unsatisfied. No hate, but this tour is not worth your money.
Written May 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Soraya
Belfast, UK1 contribution
Jan 2022 • Couples
I don’t understand all the positive reviews! The biggest waste of time and money ever. I was expecting a decent historical tour with a hint of scary, but this was not the case. When we first got there, we were told to ignore the length of the tour listed on the website as it would go on for much longer… it felt like we were there for years. Firstly, the tour is not underground. We started out in the street and then proceeded through 3 or 4 cold rooms with our guide relying on cheesy gimmicks and weird anecdotes to try and scare us, but it’s safe to say that no one was scared. He did the occasional evil laugh that was more annoying than scary, and kept telling us about his ‘room mates’ who lived down there called Ratty & Spidey. He kept telling us long-winded stories about how all these scary things had happened on previous tours that he had done, while we all stood shivering in a cold, damp room, being bored to death. Other stories included how people had seen loads of ghosts on his tours that looked just like him, while we all exchanged awkward looks. There were plastic candles everywhere that didn’t work and a fake skeleton under some stairs that he said was called Alfred. Our guide told us that people on his previous tours had had to leave because they were so terrified… the only terrifying thing was how awful the whole thing was. Thankfully the tour did eventually end and we couldn’t get away quickly enough. Please don’t waste your money!
Written April 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rob H
Edinburgh, UK1 contribution
Excellent with this tour being the primary reason for visiting Edinburgh travelling from Liverpool we were not let down. The tour guide Joshua was informative and quirky. However humour is not his strong point (apologies Josh). Looking forward to returning soon for the Graveyard tour
Written February 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David B
1 contribution
Nov 2023 • Family
Arrived 15 mins early on Saturday afternoon as requested along with around 20 others but tour guide did not turn up. Rang the help line and was told the tour was cancelled and we would be offered a full refund. Person on the other end of the line (Jamie?) was very blasé, basically saying he did not know what had happened and there was nothing he could do. He also offered a free follow-up tour if I e mailed in, which I did. His reply, and I quote.....
"While I can understand your frustration I am unsure what you expect me to do? I issued the refunds straight away and I apologised to you multiple times on the phone when I spoke to you.
As it turns out the guide ended up in hospital after taking seriously ill on Friday night, none of her family knew she was supposed to be working and she was in no fit state to contact us. This really was outwith anyone's control. While I would love to click my fingers and have a guide there in a second, in the real world this is not possible as I don't have guides waiting on standby that can do a tour at the drop of a hat"
Not saying I don't recommend, but my experience was a negative one
"While I can understand your frustration I am unsure what you expect me to do? I issued the refunds straight away and I apologised to you multiple times on the phone when I spoke to you.
As it turns out the guide ended up in hospital after taking seriously ill on Friday night, none of her family knew she was supposed to be working and she was in no fit state to contact us. This really was outwith anyone's control. While I would love to click my fingers and have a guide there in a second, in the real world this is not possible as I don't have guides waiting on standby that can do a tour at the drop of a hat"
Not saying I don't recommend, but my experience was a negative one
Written November 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheWonkyone
Swansea, UK57 contributions
Oct 2021
Very Knowledegable guide with loads of information. He was very enthusiastic, funny and serious at the same time.
The tour lasted about 1.30 mins and was well worth it. One thing I would say if you cannot stand for a long length of time then this is not for you, or you could sit with a coffee before meeting .
The tour lasted about 1.30 mins and was well worth it. One thing I would say if you cannot stand for a long length of time then this is not for you, or you could sit with a coffee before meeting .
Written October 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Zoë C
1 contribution
Feb 2024 • Couples
Loyd was our amazing tour guide!!! He gave a very knowledgeable and engaging tour around the secret tunnels of Edinburgh. Normally the person I went with couldn’t be more bored but loud was so funny and engaging that even he said that he had the time of his life and would recommend it to his pals.
Written February 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Horsemom67
Prescott Valley, AZ43 contributions
Our guide, Ryan, was EXCELLENT! He has a remarkable gift for storytelling and engaging his audience! We spent time in both the Underground Vaults and the Graveyard. Although we didn’t have any poltergeist or spirit encounters, the trip was well worth both our time and money.
Written May 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Adam N
2 contributions
Aug 2022 • Friends
We had Charlie as our tour guide and I cannot sing her praises enough! She knew so much history and presented it in such an entertaining and spooky way. She was so good with her humour and wit and was able to answer any questions the tour group had. I was so impressed with her.
The tour itself is phenomenal - whether you believe in ghosts or not go to this tour. The vaults are amazing and to be able to experience the black mausoleum was an indescribable opportunity.
Thank you so much!!
The tour itself is phenomenal - whether you believe in ghosts or not go to this tour. The vaults are amazing and to be able to experience the black mausoleum was an indescribable opportunity.
Thank you so much!!
Written August 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daniela P
1 contribution
Feb 2020
Me and my partner enjoyed this tour, I wasn't sure what to expect when I booked this but we are glad we did it! Amelia was a great guide, funny and great at telling stories! I'm quite sceptical when it comes to the paranormal, but Amelia was fab at setting the scene and the tour being mostly in the dark really made me feel creeped out and had an eerie vibe the entire time which made it memorable. I do wish we got to see more of the vaults though, but this is more of a ghost tour with the added bonus of learning about the history. Fascinating to hear about how life was down there all them years ago, highly recommend.
Written February 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Seaside05427886200
Middletown, Connecticut
You don't have any dates for a month of August I plan on coming over and augs and I would like to do the city of the dead we could get back to me my email is
Written February 5, 2020
Hi. My wife and I would like to bring a blind friend on the tour, if it is operated this coming weekend. Will it be suitable?
Written October 7, 2019
Hi!
It just so happens that a blind man came to the tour I was on (along with his wife who guided and supported him). He definitely had a lot of fun although I imagine it must be tiring. Our tour guide also did a great job at making sure he was ok. So I think that as long as you stay by his/her side and it shouldn't be a problem!
Written October 8, 2019
Does this tour talk about real murders and dark history of Edinburgh or is it more theatrical ghost stories?
Written August 7, 2019
Hi there, All of our guides are different and not "scripted" so every guide is different. The guides all research their own stories and basically take you to the locations and talk to you. We adapt to the group so we may start of more historical then change to more ghostly or vice versa, no two guides are the same. :)
Written August 13, 2019
We went on the evening tour which began at 8.15pm. I think the day tour began at 3.30pm. It’s worth checking the website, as I think it’s different depending on the time of year.
Written March 22, 2019
Marjo B
Elsloo, The Netherlands
Welk ticket moet ik kopen voor een 17-jarige? Een kinderticket (12-16 jaar) of een volwassen ticket (18-59 jaar)?
Written March 9, 2019
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