Edinburgh: Witches Old Town Walking Tour & Underground Vault
4.9
297 Ratings
Edinburgh
Uncover the stories of Scotland’s real-life witches on this captivating walking tour through Edinburgh's Old Town. Explore underground vaults and learn about the injustices suffered by those accused of witchcraft.
Duration:
1 hour, 15 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- St Giles’ Cathedral - Who was St. Giles… find out and more as you learn a bit of Scot’s history including Mary Queen of Scots, John Knox… and discover why it’s perfectly acceptable to spit on the floor in Parliament Sq.
- Royal Mile - Look down the Royal Mile towards East Lothian and hear a tale of the North Berwick Witches.
- Lady Stairs House - In this hidden courtyard learn of some gruesome history and be inspired by Scotland’s National Poet.
- Edinburgh Castle Esplanade - Discover how Edinburgh came to be and hear some more fascinating tales related to Witches
- Witches well - Discover this often missed gem and learn of another unfortunate Witch.
- Upper Bow - Get a birds eye view an iconic street and hear a shocking tale of a Warlock.
- Victoria street - Hear the tale of one of Edinburgh’s most infamous characters and her remarkable life on these very cobbles.
- The Lost Close - Events & Experiences - The tour will include an exclusive visit to the venue \
What's Included
- Access to the mysterious Vaults at The Lost Close
- Engaging character guide for an immersive experience
- Guided walking tour of hidden historical sites
Additional Information
Immerse yourself in the enchanting history of Scotland with an interactive walking tour around the old town of Edinburgh. Your tour guide, a captivating storyteller, will lead you on a journey into the country’s intriguing past.
Experience the gripping tales of real witches from Scotland, delving into their history and the public allegations they encountered. This tour sensitively celebrates the memory of those who were innocently accused of witchcraft, bringing attention to the grave wrongs they bore. Additional trivia about popular figures from Outlander and Harry Potter stories may also be uncovered along the way!
The tour will conclude with a thrilling 15-minute finale at ‘The Lost Close’. Unearthed only recently, this subterranean location has remained an enigma since the Great Fire of 1824. Within this archaic vault originating from 1742, the remaining narratives of the journey will be narrated - offering a glimpse into earlier times and appropriately concluding an intimate experience of mystery and historical revelations.
- Not recommended for travellers who cannot navigate the cobbles, steep streets and steps of Edinburgh’s old town
- Not recommended for travellers with push-chairs or infants prams
Location
Caffè Nero
Meet outside Caffé Nero, 1 Parliament Square.
Arrive 5-10 minutes early to check in for your tour. We are unable to provide refunds for no-shows. The start of the tour cannot be delayed due to operational reasons. If you anticipate running late, please contact us as soon as possible.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(297 Ratings)
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Rattypaws
May 26, 2024
Witches walking tour this afternoon - What a wonderful tour. Juniper was so knowledgeable and passionate about her subject. The rain did not spoil it one bit and even my 14 year old Playstation addict son thought it was great. We would certainly recommend it. And the scent of lavender was also very welcome X
Review provided by Tripadvisor
R3290lhlouisep
May 25, 2024
Family friendly experience - Great tour. Amy was brilliant with my two kids and answered their many questions. They learned a lot and really enjoyed it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
784mariskan
May 24, 2024
Humor, good balance between stories and history - Very nice tour with a nicely scary witch with a lot of humor. The weather was not that nice however the witch assured us that this was better to believe the horror stories she would tell. Every time we were curious to the next history/stories to come. Very good storyteller.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
192juliettep
May 23, 2024
One of the best tour I've followed! - Great visit to Edinburgh's Old Town! The visit provides a good understanding of the witch hunt that took place in Scotland, while providing information on the city and its architecture. I highly recommend. Many thanks to our guide Juniper, who was not only fascinating but also very funny! I had a great time ! (French speakers, be careful: the visit is in English only.)
Great tour in Edinburgh's Old Town!
This tour gives you a good understanding of the witch hunts and trials in Scotland as well as interesting facts about the city and its architecture. I would absolutely recommend it. Special thanks to our tour guide Juniper for being not only fascinating but also really funny! Had a great time!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maria_t
May 21, 2024
Fabulous - Juniper was fab! I loved how we learned about the history of witch trials in Edinburgh whilst getting to see some of the most iconic spots in the city. I particularly enjoyed the message behind Juniper’s storytelling: find your inner ‘witch’ power and use it to help others and fight for justice.
Review provided by Viator
Ashleigh_a
May 18, 2024
Excellent tour! - Such a great tour! I had a lot of fun and the tour had just the right amount of information about the Witches of Edinburgh.
Review provided by Viator
Sophiav755
May 17, 2024
Wow! - I absolutely loved learning about the history of witches in Scotland and thought this tour was lead by an incredibly funny and passionate tour guide! Loved! Would definitely recommend
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vickynhuskyhouse
May 17, 2024
Wonderful Witchy Walk - A fun and informative tour with an engaging and knowledgeable guide! I highly recommend this for anyone interested in examining history from other angles.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
305sarithac
May 10, 2024
Loved this - We absolutely loved the tour and our guid/witch. We laughed a lot and learned a lot.
We had two children with us 11 and 5 and they loved it as well!
Dont miss this if you visit edinburgh
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Frecklesbeanie
May 22, 2024
Just passable - This tour didn’t excite me, it was pouring with rain and mostly outside. Our witch was lovely though with a good sense of humour. I thought it was going to be more underground which was a shame
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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