Discover the dark underbelly of Edinburgh's haunting past on a captivating 2-hour walking tour. Uncover the city's grim secrets as you delve into tales of grave robbing, body snatching, serial killers, and witch burnings. Your journey into Edinburgh's chilling history will lead you to the shadowy corners where legends of murder, monsters, and mayhem were born. Step foot in the eerie Old Calton Burial Ground or the spine-chilling Canongate Kirkyard, two of the city's most notorious cemeteries. We never cancel; tours run rain, hail or shine.
Commence your Edinburgh Dark History Tour at 130 High Street, where the darkness awaits, and conclude your spine-tingling adventure on the Royal Mile, near the starting point or at the hauntingly beautiful Canongate Kirkyard.
Shrouded in darkness, the streets of Edinburgh held the constant threat of death throughout the centuries. Accusations of witchcraft could result in a horrifying death by burning at the stake, while others schemed to profit by selling your body to medical schools. Beware the lurking dangers of cannibals and vampires that plagued the city. From the infamous Burke and Hare, the notorious serial killers, to the eerie Calton Hill, where the witch trials unfolded (now offering breathtaking views of Edinburgh), your knowledgeable local guide will reveal the chilling and authentic tales of Edinburgh's nocturnal existence.
Yet, even in death, your safety was not guaranteed. Edinburgh residents resorted to extraordinary measures to protect their final resting places, employing cages to ward off grave robbers and body snatchers. Those who could not afford such precautions relied on the love of family members who stood guard over their graves until their bodies were of no use to science. As you embark on this walking tour, you will witness the haunting beauty of Calton Cemetery and Canongate Kirkyard, where mausoleums and caged graves still stand as a testament to the city's troubled past.
The Edinburgh's dark history tour starts on 130 High Street (The Royal Mile), on the corner with Stevenlaw's Close
Hear about Burke and Hare – the infamous West Port murderers
Visit the site of the witch burnings, today offering great views over Edinburgh
Learn about Edinburgh’s real-life cannibals and vampires
Hear about the murder of Mary Queen of Scot’s husband
See the efforts to stave off bodysnatchers at Canongate Kirkyard and Calton Cemetery
Discover the mystery of the 17 doll coffins at Arthur’s Seat
TOUR SCHEDULES
Today
6:30 PM
PHOTOS
Inclusions & exclusions
What’s included
Local English-speaking guide
What’s not included
Gratuities for the guide (optional)
Additional Information
Unfortunately, we do not advise guests in wheelchairs to join this tour due to the narrow stairways and steep hills. We apologise for any inconvenience caused
All minors must be accompanied by an adult in order to join the tour
Our business is connecting great guides and smart travelers, and we're proud that so many local guides employ us to welcome travelers like you on their journey through some of the world's best cities. No two tours are alike, and the sites, stories, and length of the tour will vary depending on what your freelance guide decides is best. That's why the tours we promote never get stale or feel scripted, and why both independent guides and savvy travelers prefer SANDEMANs
MAP
The Edinburgh Dark Side Tour starts on 130 High Street (The Royal Mile), on the corner with Stevenlaw's CloseOpen in Google Maps
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Customer reviews
Dark Side Tour
The dark side your was a fun way to learn some pretty interesting facts about Edinburgh. Australian David was an awesome guide. He told the stories in funny and engaging ways. You can tell he is very knowledgeable about the area because when someone would ask a question he would answer it and have another fun story to go along with it. We went on three tours through this company on this trip and Australian Dave was our favorite guide by far. His email with recommendations for other things to do on the trip was also incredibly useful. We went to a restaurant he suggested for dinner after the tour and it was the best meal we ate the whole time we were in Scotland.
I did the Dark Side tour with Sarah as my tour guide and she was absolutely wonderful! She got so into the stories using different voices for characters and acting them out with her hands. She made an attempt to get to know everyone she was with and gave me some great suggestions of where to go next. She was so enthusiastic and fun!
The Dark Side tour was well worth the money, and we were able to cover a large area in a short amount of time. Adam was our tour guide, and he was without a doubt, the best tour guide I’ve ever had. He’s amazing at engaging the group with captivating storytelling, and was very animated throughout the tour.
This walking tour was really great and made even better by our guide, Greg! He was the most entertaining guide I've even had, and I've done my share of walking and bike tour in several cities. My friend and I only had one day in Edinburgh and decided to do pretty much all of Sandemans walking tour, the Dark Side one being the last of the day. Needless to say we were exhausted by the time it started. And yet, we had the best time thanks to Greg! Highly recommend!
We booked our tickets for the Dark Side tour in advance and didn't realize how windy and rainy it would be that evening. Our tour guide, Australian David, did a fantastic job leading us through Edinburgh's spooky history. He was a great storyteller and was very engaging. I know that I personally ended up forgetting about the unfortunate weather conditions because the tour was so entertaining. This was a great experience to kick off my first few months in Edinburgh as an exchange student.
Select Tours focus on a particular area or district of a city, a certain aspect of its history or culture, or take you outside the city on a day trip. Select Tours are perfect for those who have enjoyed an introduction to the city and wish to delve deeper into the stories the city has to offer. These tours often venture further afield and make use of local public transport.
Enjoy a comprehensive overview of Edinburgh's fascinating history and must-see sites with your priva ...
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Customise Your Private Tour!
Tell us the landmarks, stories or parts of the city you want to see, how long you have to see them and when you want to go, and we’ll build an itinerary that suits you.
Enjoy a comprehensive overview of Edinburgh's fascinating history and must-see sites with your priva ...
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Participation in tours promoted by SANDEMANs NEW Europe is strictly on a voluntary basis. Neither SANDEMANs NEW Europe, nor the self-employed freelance guides who are the providers of the tours promoted by SANDEMANs NEW Europe, will be held responsible in any way for injuries to body or property incurred during tours. The tour guides reserve the right to deny participation in any tour, to any person, for any reason. Thank you for your understanding.
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