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Ponder the Paranormal at the Edinburgh Vaults
Published by Erin Pienaar, Writer
Country: United Kingdom 
The Experience
Edinburgh has been called one of the most haunted cities in Europe, and there are several companies ready to prove its reputation. Mercat tours, Auld Reekie tours, and Black Hart Entertainment are some of the most popular Edinburgh ghost tour companies; and each of these companies offer a variety of tours to suit your individual ghost-hunting needs. Some Edinburgh ghost tours take place during the day and are aimed at younger children. Other ghost tours take place late at night in order to make use of city's chilling vibe.
It’s easy to be skeptical about an Edinburgh ghost tour; I myself was anticipating cheap thrills similar to a haunted house. Instead of corny and clichéd, it was simple and effective. A single cloaked guide met us at the Mercat Cross and led us through Old Town Edinburgh. The atmosphere of the ghost tour was entirely dependant on our excellent guide, who stopped at various points during the tour to tell us ghost stories. If this doesn’t sound creepy, imagine being underground in the dark Edinburgh Vaults, lit only by flickering candles, listening to an intensely-quiet voice, narrating tales of murder.
Most of the ghost tours include a trip to the Edinburgh Vaults, which are undoubtedly creepy, as well as historically interesting. The Edinburgh Vaults are series of small chambers and tunnels that were built beneath one of the arches of the South Bridge in the 18th century. The Edinburgh Vaults were originally intended to be used as storage facilities for the merchants who worked on the South Bridge, but following flooding, they were abandoned and eventually inhabited by Edinburgh’s poor. The conditions in the Edinburgh Vaults were dismal—no light or ventilation and poor sanitation—leading to a breeding ground for illicit activity and criminals. The infamous serial killers Burke and Hare supposedly brought their victims underground before selling them to an anatomy professor. The Edinburgh Vaults have even been featured on Most Haunted, a UK paranormal investigation program.
The highlight of the Edinburgh ghost tour came at the end when our guide brought us to a small old mausoleum in Greyfriar's Cemetery. While we huddled together in the darkness, she told us the tale of the famous cannibal James Douglas, Earl of Drumlanrig. One night in 1707, the mentally disturbed Duke escaped his room in his Edinburgh home while the other inhabitants were out. Finding no food in the kitchen, he roasted a kitchen boy on the spit and proceeded to eat him. The story was unsettling, creepy and completely true. With such a scary legacy, it is no wonder Edinburgh is considered one of Europe’s most haunted cities.
When to Go to Edinburgh Vaults
Odds n' Ends
Mercat: £8.50 adults, £5.00 child
Auld Reekie: Between £7.00–£10.00 depending on the tour
Black Hart Entertainment: £8.50
Places to Stay Nearby
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More Experiences Nearby
- Visit Edinburgh in August for the Edinburgh Festival
- Edinburgh Festival refers back to the original festival that began in 1947 with the goal of providing "a platform for the flowering of the human spirit," after the Second World War. Native and international artists as well as companies in the field of opera, music, dance, theatre and visual arts are invited to play in some of the largest and most prominent places in Edinburgh. These include the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh Playhouse, and Usher Hall. The international high standard of the Edinburgh Festival performances is certainly of utmost importance, and consequently, every act is chosen by the Festival organizers. As ...1 miles away.
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