Edinburgh vaults tour visitors explore one of the most extraordinary sealed-urban-history sites in Britain — the Blair Street Underground Vaults, a series of 18th-century stone chambers built beneath South Bridge in 1788 and effectively forgotten for over a century. The vaults housed cobblers and smelters, then brothels and illicit distilleries, then Edinburgh’s poorest residents before being sealed and abandoned in the early 19th century. Today, Mercat Tours holds exclusive access to lead visitors through these damp, vaulted chambers — combining historical narrative with the city’s most-documented paranormal claims.
This guide covers the Edinburgh vaults tour comprehensively: history of South Bridge and the vaults, the modern tour experience, what to expect, accessibility, and how the Blair Street Vaults differ from Real Mary King’s Close and other Edinburgh underground attractions.
What Are the Edinburgh Underground Vaults?
The Blair Street Underground Vaults are a series of stone-arched chambers built beneath South Bridge in 1788. South Bridge spans the deep Cowgate valley with 19 arches; as buildings were erected on either side of the bridge in the 1780s, floors and ceilings were added beneath the arches, creating a series of vaulted chambers two, three, and four storeys deep.
The vaults’ original purpose was commercial — workshops for cobblers, leather-workers, smelters, and merchants storing excess goods. Several lower-level pubs and taverns operated within the chambers. However, the bridge had not been properly sealed, and the vaults flooded repeatedly. By 1795, just seven years after completion, businesses were abandoning the chambers.
What followed was a darker phase: brothels, illegal distilleries, and gambling dens established themselves in the abandoned vaults. The chambers became housing for Edinburgh’s poorest residents — windowless, with no running water or sanitation. Disease spread freely. By the mid-19th century, the vaults were sealed and largely forgotten.
The vaults were rediscovered in the 1980s. Mercat Tours has held exclusive licensed access since the 1990s.
For broader Edinburgh after-dark context see our things to do in Edinburgh at night guide; for a comparison with other Edinburgh underground sites see our Real Mary King’s Close guide.
The Edinburgh Vaults Tour Experience
Mercat Tours runs several different vault tours throughout the day and evening:
1. Historic Vaults Tour (Daytime)
The educational tour — focused on historical narrative rather than ghost stories. 90 minutes. Begins with storytelling on the Royal Mile, then descends into the Blair Street Vaults to explore the chambers’ commercial, social, and architectural history. Includes a vault museum with authentic 18th and 19th-century artefacts.
Price: Approximately £18-£22 adult.
Style: Historical, accessible to children 8+.
2. Ghosts and Ghouls Tour (Evening)
The famous Edinburgh ghost-tour-meets-vault experience. 90 minutes. Begins on the Royal Mile with stories of body-snatching, witchcraft, and Edinburgh’s dark history; descends into the Blair Street Vaults; finishes with a complimentary whisky at Megget’s Cellar.
Price: Approximately £20-£28 adult.
Style: Atmospheric, theatrical, suitable for older children.
3. Hidden and Haunted Tour
The most intense Mercat tour. 90 minutes plus. Focuses specifically on the paranormal history of the vaults — documented incidents, eye-witness reports, and the most “active” chambers. Smaller groups.
Price: Approximately £22-£30 adult.
Style: Genuinely atmospheric paranormal interest.
4. Doomed, Dead and Buried Tour
A focus on Edinburgh’s death-related history including Burke and Hare, public executions, and burial customs. Combines vault visits with Old Town graveyard walks.
What to Expect on the Vaults Tour
The vault entrance is on Blair Street, just off the Royal Mile near Cockburn Street. Groups gather at the entrance for an initial briefing.
The descent is via a wooden staircase down through the original 18th-century stonework. The temperature drops noticeably as you descend — the vaults are cool year-round (10-12°C).
Inside the vaults, lighting is dim and atmospheric — typically electric lanterns supplemented by candle-effect bulbs. The chambers vary significantly in size, from small storage rooms to larger meeting halls.
Each chamber is presented with a specific historical theme — one might focus on the commercial origins, another on the brothel phase, another on the impoverished residents. Guides combine genuine documentary research with the paranormal claims that have built up around specific spaces.
The complimentary whisky at the end of the Ghosts and Ghouls tour is served in Megget’s Cellar — a recreated 19th-century cellar room used as the tour’s exit point. The whisky is genuine Scotch (a Glenkinchie or similar Lowland malt typically).
The History of South Bridge and the Vaults
1785-1788: South Bridge Construction
South Bridge was built between 1785 and 1788 to connect the Old Town with the developing southern suburbs (the modern South Side). The bridge has 19 arches spanning the steep Cowgate valley. As buildings were erected alongside the bridge on Niddry Street and Blair Street, the spaces beneath the arches were sealed in to create the vaulted chambers.
1788-1795: Commercial Use
Initial uses were commercial — workshops for cobblers, smelters, leather-workers, with merchants storing excess goods. Several pubs operated in lower-level chambers. The intent was for the vaults to be a productive commercial space.
1795-1830s: Decline
Flooding from the inadequately-sealed bridge made the vaults damp and unusable for storing valuable goods. Commercial businesses moved out by 1795. The vaults attracted lower-end establishments — brothels, illegal whisky distilleries, gambling dens. The chambers also began housing Edinburgh’s poorest residents.
1830s-1860s: Slum Housing
The vaults reached their lowest point as slum housing for the city’s destitute. Entire families crowded into single windowless chambers. Disease was rampant. The Edinburgh authorities periodically attempted to clear the chambers but the residents had nowhere else to go.
1860s-1980s: Sealed and Forgotten
By the 1860s the chambers had been largely sealed off. Access was lost for over a century. Stories of the vaults’ existence persisted in Edinburgh folklore but the chambers themselves were forgotten.
1980s-present: Rediscovery
Rediscovered in the 1980s. Mercat Tours acquired exclusive access in the 1990s and began conducting public tours. The vaults have since become one of Edinburgh’s most-visited paid attractions.
Paranormal Claims at the Vaults
The vaults have a strong paranormal reputation. Specific claims include:
The Cobbler: A spirit identified by some psychic visitors as a former cobbler who worked in the vaults in the 1790s. Multiple visitor reports of cold spots, leather-craft smells, and tactile sensations in his alleged chamber.
Mr Boots: A more aggressive presence supposedly territorial about a specific chamber. Visitors report being pushed back or feeling unwelcome.
The Watcher: Reports of being watched while in seemingly empty chambers.
The Stone-Thrower: Visitors and staff have reported small stones being thrown in specific chambers when no one else is present.
Multiple paranormal-research groups have investigated the vaults. The vaults consistently feature on “most haunted UK locations” lists.
Edinburgh’s Underground Compared
The Blair Street Vaults are not Edinburgh’s only underground attraction. Comparison with the alternatives:
Real Mary King’s Close (Beneath the Royal Exchange)
A different kind of underground site. Mary King’s Close was a complete 17th-century Royal Mile street, sealed in 1753 when the Royal Exchange was built on top. Preserves cobbled street, house frontages, and interior rooms. More architectural; less commercial. Operated as a separate paid attraction. For full details see our Real Mary King’s Close guide.
Edinburgh Castle Prisons of War
The vaults beneath the Queen Anne Building inside Edinburgh Castle held prisoners of war during the 18th and early 19th centuries. Different historical period and purpose. Included with Edinburgh Castle admission.
Greyfriars Kirkyard Covenanters’ Prison
An outdoor walled section of Greyfriars Kirkyard where 1,200 Covenanter prisoners were held in 1679. Accessible after dark only via the City of the Dead Tour. Not strictly an underground site but follows similar paranormal-claim patterns.
Tips for the Edinburgh Vaults Tour
Wear warm layers. The vaults are cool year-round (10-12°C). Bring a jumper even in summer.
Sensible footwear. The stone floors are uneven; some chambers have low ceilings (you’ll be ducking in places).
Book ahead. Mercat Tours’ Ghosts and Ghouls tour books 1-2 weeks in advance; Festival period requires 4-6 weeks lead time.
Choose your tour time. Daytime Historic Vaults tour is more historical/educational. Evening Ghosts and Ghouls is more atmospheric. The 7-8pm slots are typically the most-atmospheric.
Photography permitted. Mercat allows personal photography. Lighting is dim — phone cameras struggle but specialised camera equipment captures the atmosphere well.
Children allowed 8+. Mercat tours allow accompanied children from age 8. The atmospheric content is intense for younger children.
Bring a torch for safety. While the tours are guided, having a small torch (phone flashlight) is occasionally useful.
Toilets before, not during. No toilets inside the vault system. Use facilities before the tour starts.
Booking and Practical Information
Provider: Mercat Tours (exclusive vaults access). Book direct at mercattours.com or through Tiqets/Viator.
Meeting Point: Mercat Cross on the Royal Mile.
Tour Duration: 90 minutes typically.
Pricing: £18-£28 adult depending on tour type.
Vault Entrance: Blair Street, just off the Royal Mile.
Age restrictions: Children 8+ allowed accompanied. Some intense content; under-8s not permitted.
Accessibility: The vaults are accessed via wooden stairs. Not wheelchair accessible. Contact Mercat for current accessibility options.
Sample Edinburgh Vaults Evening
6pm: Dinner at the Devil’s Advocate on Cockburn Street (5 minutes’ walk from the vault entrance).
7:30pm: Begin Mercat Tours Ghosts and Ghouls — Royal Mile storytelling, descent into Blair Street Vaults, complimentary whisky at Megget’s Cellar. Tour finishes around 9pm.
9pm: Late drinks at the Bow Bar or Whiski Bar.
10pm: Optional second underground experience — the City of the Dead Tour through Greyfriars Kirkyard Covenanters’ Prison for the truly committed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Edinburgh underground vaults?
The Blair Street Underground Vaults — a series of 18th-century stone-arched chambers built beneath South Bridge in 1788, originally for commercial use, then occupied by brothels, illegal distilleries, and Edinburgh’s poorest residents, before being sealed and forgotten in the mid-19th century. Rediscovered in the 1980s; accessible via Mercat Tours.
Are the Edinburgh vaults safe?
Yes. The tours are conducted by licensed Mercat Tours guides with full safety protocols. The chambers have been structurally surveyed; lighting is adequate; ventilation is monitored. Around 200,000+ visitors take the tours annually without incident.
How much does the Edinburgh vaults tour cost?
Approximately £18-£28 adult depending on tour type. Children’s tickets typically £10-£18. The Ghosts and Ghouls tour at the higher end includes the complimentary whisky at Megget’s Cellar.
How long is the Edinburgh vaults tour?
Approximately 90 minutes from meeting point to finish. The actual time inside the vaults is around 45-60 minutes; the rest is Royal Mile storytelling before descent.
Are the Edinburgh vaults haunted?
The vaults have a strong paranormal reputation with multiple documented incidents and named alleged entities (the Cobbler, Mr Boots, the Watcher, the Stone-Thrower). Multiple paranormal-research groups have investigated. Believer/skeptic positions vary; Mercat Tours presents both perspectives.
What’s the difference between the Edinburgh vaults and Mary King’s Close?
The Blair Street Vaults (Mercat Tours) are 1788 stone chambers beneath South Bridge — commercial then residential then sealed. Mary King’s Close is a sealed 17th-century Royal Mile street beneath the Royal Exchange. Different periods, different purposes, different operators. Both are underground but architecturally and historically distinct.
Can children go on the Edinburgh vaults tour?
Yes, accompanied children aged 8+. The atmospheric content is intense; some children find it frightening. Confirm with Mercat at booking.
Should I book the Edinburgh vaults tour in advance?
Yes. The Ghosts and Ghouls tour books 1-2 weeks ahead in summer; Festival period requires 4-6 weeks lead time. Off-season walk-ins are sometimes possible.
What should I wear for the Edinburgh vaults tour?
Warm layers (the vaults are 10-12°C year-round). Sensible flat shoes (uneven stone floors). Waterproof for the Royal Mile portion of the tour. Bring a small torch if you have one.
Is the Edinburgh vaults tour scary?
Atmospheric rather than gratuitously frightening. The Historic Vaults tour is primarily historical with minimal scares. The Ghosts and Ghouls and Hidden and Haunted tours lean more atmospheric. Not jump-scare based; suitable for adults and accompanied children 8+.
Final Thoughts
The Edinburgh vaults tour is one of the city’s most distinctive paid attractions — a genuine 18th-century underground architectural relic that you cannot experience anywhere else. The Blair Street Underground Vaults reward a serious 90-minute tour, particularly the Ghosts and Ghouls evening version with its complimentary whisky finish. Combine with Real Mary King’s Close on a different day for the complete “underground Edinburgh” experience.
For more, see our pillar on things to do in Edinburgh at night, our ghost tours Edinburgh comparison, our Real Mary King’s Close piece, and our Edinburgh closes and wynds guide.
