Top Edinburgh activities
Top Edinburgh landmarks
Beyond Edinburgh
Edinburgh trip ideas

Exclusive Underground Vaults Multi-Sensory History Tour

1,384 Reviews 4.75 out of 5 stars Based on 1,384 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 95% of reviewers |
Badge of Excellence |Badge of Excellence This experience is highly rated by travelers and has met our top quality standards.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Loading Options
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 25 (0) days in advance.

1 hour 15 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Instant confirmation
Offered in: English

Overview

Edinburgh’s Master Storytellers, Mercat Tours, are redefining the walking tour, promising to enrich and deepen your connection with Edinburgh’s people and its past far beyond your visit.

Take the Story Home: evoke the memories:
- Smell the leather and smoke
- Touch original artefacts
- Listen to the tour playlist

Get exclusive access to the Blair Street Underground Vaults. Built in the 18th Century beneath South Bridge, we’re the only walking tour company with access.

Beneath the hustle and bustle of Edinburgh’s Old Town, you’ll discover a dark, damp world that has remained unchanged since the 18th Century.
Step into the depths of the Blair Street Underground Vaults on a multi-sensory journey of perfectly preserved history and learn how these vaulted chambers became home to the city’s most destitute inhabitants.

This is more than a walking tour, it’s an unmissable immersive experience.

What's Included

  • Visit to our Vaults Museum, with interactive 3D models and the Vaults Revealed audio-visual display
  • Evoke the memories - Take home an exclusive Scent Card
  • Exclusive access to Blair Street Underground Vaults

    Meeting Location

    Meeting point

    High Street
    Edinburgh EH1 1RF, UK

    Show on Google Maps

    Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

    End point

    28 Blair Street
    Edinburgh EH1 1QR, UK

    Mercat Tours, 28 Blair Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1QR. This tour ends after a visit to our Blair Street Underground Vaults.

    What To Expect

    Book Online

    Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
    Read more

    Safe & secure • Easy breezy • Hassle-free

    Mercat Cross

    Meet your master storyteller at the Mercat Cross, where they will lead you down the closes and wynds while you breathe in the scent of Edinburgh's past.
    Read more

    15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

    Edinburgh Vaults

    Beneath the hustle and bustle of Edinburgh’s Old Town, you’ll discover a dark, damp world that has remained unchanged since the 18th Century. Step into the depths of the Blair Street Underground Vaults on a multi-sensory journey of perfectly preserved history and learn how these vaulted chambers became home to the city’s most destitute inhabitants.
    Read more

    45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

    Mercat Tours

    Continue your journey in our Vaults Museum, where authentic historic artifacts and informative interactive displays provide further insight into the vaults' past.
    Read more

    15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

    Show 2 more stops

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Children over 5yrs only
    • Tours are guaranteed all year round, so please dress for the weather, with comfortable shoes.
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 18 travelers

    Frequently Asked Questions

    (7)

    Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Exclusive Underground Vaults Multi-Sensory History Tour?

    A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (BST). Read more Apr 2025

    Cancellation Policy

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

    Still have questions?

    We're here to help.
    Activity code: C-293404VAULTS

    Traveler Photos

    Reviews

    4.75
    1,384 reviews

    Average 4.75 out of 5 stars based on 1,382 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and partner sites such as Trustpilot, Viator, and TripAdvisor

    5 stars
    1,149
    4 stars
    159
    3 stars
    43
    2 stars
    20
    1 star
    11

    Loading Options
    Don't miss out!
    On average, this is booked 25 (0) days in advance.

    Similar Tours & Activities

    On the Trail of Mary Queen of Scots Private Tour in a Minivan from Edinburgh

    Our fantastic private guided Mary Queen of Scots tour is a fantastic way to explore many of the locations that were connected to Mary, including her birth, departure...

    8 hoursHotel pickup offered
    8 hoursHotel pickup offered
    8 hours • Hotel pickup offered
    5.0 (13)
    from
    $484.65

    Stirling Castle and Whisky Very Small Group Tour from Edinburgh

    Join this very small group tour (average group size of around 12 passengers) and follow in the footsteps of great Scottish heroes on this historic...

    10 hoursFree Cancellation
    10 hoursFree Cancellation
    10 hours • Free Cancellation
    4.9 (367)
    from
    $98.78

    Private Tour of the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh
    Likely to Sell Out
    Likely to Sell Out

    This is an exclusive private tour departing from a pick-up point of your choice in and around Edinburgh City Centre, exploring some of Scotland's greatest...

    9 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
    9 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
    9 hours • Hotel pickup offered • Free Cancellation
    5.0 (373)
    from
    $1,015.77

    5 Day Isle of Skye, Glencoe and Loch Ness Tour from Edinburgh

    We offer extra small group tours for up to only 16 clients. Explore some of the most gorgeous locations in the Highlands of Scotland and...

    5 days
    5 days
    5 days
    5.0 (4)
    from
    $974.01

    Travelers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought

    Port of Leith Distillery Tour and Tasting
    Likely to Sell Out
    Likely to Sell Out

    The Port of Leith Distillery is a remarkable new landmark in Edinburgh’s historic whisky district of Leith. This is the UK’s first vertical whisky distillery...

    1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation
    1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation
    1 hour 30 minutes • Free Cancellation
    4.9 (799)
    from
    $42.77

    Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket
    Likely to Sell Out
    Likely to Sell Out

    Scotland’s second-most-popular tourist attraction as you learn about the bloody history including stories of the kings and queens who lived in this castle. There is...

    1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation
    1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation
    1 hour 30 minutes • Free Cancellation
    4.9 (5,672)
    from
    $58.01

    Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands, Glencoe and Pitlochry Tour
    Likely to Sell Out
    Likely to Sell Out

    Embark on an unforgettable 1-day adventure through Loch Ness, Glencoe, and the Scottish Highlands. This jam-packed tour offers stunning scenery, unspoiled landscapes, and a chance...

    12 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation
    12 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation
    12 hours 30 minutes • Free Cancellation
    4.8 (6,687)
    from
    $66.16

    The Edinburgh Dungeon Entrance Ticket
    Special Offer
    Special Offer

    Make your way to the Edinburgh Dungeon and allow yourself to feel immersed in Edinburgh’s narrow cobbled closes and wynds (small side streets). You are...

    1 to 120 minutesFree Cancellation
    1 to 120 minutesFree Cancellation
    1 to 120 minutes • Free Cancellation
    4.7 (707)
    $22.39
    $21.39

    What's Included

    Activity name

    • Visit to our Vaults Museum, with interactive 3D models and the Vaults Revealed audio-visual display
    • Evoke the memories - Take home an exclusive Scent Card
    • Exclusive access to Blair Street Underground Vaults
    • Touch original artefacts
    • Enhanced with hand-picked sounds of Edinburgh and delivered through TourTalk audio devices
    • Exclusive Sounds of Edinburgh Tour Playlist
    • Exclusive multi-sensory tours; with master Storyteller guides

    Additional Info

    Activity name

    • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • Children over 5yrs only
    • Tours are guaranteed all year round, so please dress for the weather, with comfortable shoes.
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 18 travelers
    • Operated by a business

    Protecting you

    Activity name

    For your protection and stress-free bookings, use our secure platform to pay for bookings. Mercat Tours

    Report Product Issue

    Activity name

    Language
    Currency

    Site Settings

    Activity name

    Currency

    Activity name

    Activity name

    Free Cancellation

    100% refund
    No refund

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

    • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
    • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
    • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
    • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (BST).
    • This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

    Sorting, ranking, and search results

    Activity name

    Cool Destinations wants to make your searches as relevant as possible. That's why we offer many ways to help you find the right experiences for you.

    On some pages, you can select how to sort the results we display and also use filter options to see only those search results that meet your chosen preferences. You'll see explanations of what those sort options mean when you select them.

    If you see a Badge of Excellence label, the award is based on average review ratings, share of bookings with a review, and number of bookings through Cool Destinations over a 12-month period.

    The importance of any one factor over any other in a sort order varies, and the balance is constantly being reviewed and adjusted. We're always updating our systems and testing new ways to refine and improve your results to make them as relevant as possible to meet your needs.

    Choose an option

    Activity name

    or

    Cool Rewards Terms & Conditions

    Activity name

    Cool Rewards

    • Cool Rewards is a loyalty program operated by Cool Destinations. Rewards may be earned by any eligible person holding a Cool Destinations account, subject to the Cool Destinations customer Terms of Use.

    Earning rewards

    • Rewards can be earned by making bookings on the Cool Destinations website. You will be able to see the value of the rewards you can earn during the booking process.
    • Earned rewards will be issued in a pending state and will move to a confirmed state 24 hours after the start time of the experience.
    • Earned rewards will be available to redeem once they are no longer in a pending state.
    • For bookings that are moved to a different travel date, the rewards will be redeemable after the amended travel date.
    • If a booking where rewards were issued is canceled, the earned rewards will not be redeemable and will be moved to a canceled state.

    Redeeming rewards

    • To redeem rewards, you must be logged into your Cool Destinations account.
    • Any available rewards will be automatically applied the next time you make a booking, and their value will be deducted from your order at checkout, unless you choose not to apply them, which requires you to indicate this via the toggle switch. Bookings made using rewards are subject to the standard Cool Destinations Customer Terms of Use.
    • You will not be able to redeem only a portion of your available rewards at checkout. It is only possible to redeem all or none of your available rewards.
    • There is no minimum order value required to redeem your rewards. This means that you can pay for 100% of your order with rewards.
    • Rewards are non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash.
    • If rewards are redeemed against a booking that is canceled or refunded, the rewards will be reissued to your account.

    Miscellaneous

    • You can check your Cool Destinations account to see the rewards you have collected at any time. You are responsible for ensuring that your rewards balance is correct.
    • We reserve the right to modify these Cool Rewards Terms and Conditions at any time, with or without notice, including the rules for earning and redeeming rewards. Any changes will be reflected in the updated Terms and Conditions.
    • We reserve the right to terminate the Cool Rewards program and cease issuing any further rewards on future bookings. All pending and available rewards balances will be honored.
    • By earning and redeeming rewards, you agree to these Terms and Conditions, as well as any subsequent changes made to them.