Overview
Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
Ah, Edinburgh! They don't call it "The Jekyll & Hyde City" for nothing. During the day, a respectable figure, with its astonishing architecture and wondrous history. But when the sun sets, it tells an entirely different story...
Hear all about the darker history of Edinburgh: murderers, thieves, cannibals, hangings and decapitations, witches, the Plague and streams of human waste. Learn about the most notorious citizens of Edinburgh and how ghost stories are born.
This is not a ghost tour: we don't need costumes or people jumping from behind the corners, Edinburgh's Dark History itself is enough to make your skin crawl. And oh, how we love to share it with our visitors...
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
Old Town
A walking tour down the Royal Mile of Edinburgh, where your guide will share with you the darker history of Edinburgh.
Heart of Midlothian
Former site of the Old Tollbooth, one of Edinburgh's most notorious buildings. Hear about some of the characters once imprisoned and/or executed here, and why it ultimately became recognised by Sir Walter Scott as the Hard of the Midlothian.
Options
Edinburgh - Dark History
What‘s Included
In-Person guide
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
864 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
This was a very enjoyable...
Mervyn H,Jun 1, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was a very enjoyable two hours with Jack which my partner thoroughly enjoyed as she is retired medical professional! The seamier side of Edinburgh's history was very well presented, including what happens with those, 'nasty' inconveniences of existence in a city, as well as the fateful occurrences that befell some prominent citizens and some less prominent as well. Great fun!
Lovably unsettling tour
G5146ODdirks,May 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Laura was lovely and totally right- you don't need ghost stories to get spooked because telling about humans is unsettling enough as is:) glad we have a bit more laws than we used to. She told about torture, disease, fixes for the disease, gravedigging, punishments and witch hunting. The way she talked gave me the impression she totally read her sources.
Fantastic tour of the Old...
Stuart F,May 27, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Fantastic tour of the Old Town led by a very knowledgeable and talented guide, Lydia. She kept the tour interesting throughout its duration and tailored it to our interests.
Great expo
ioneleeb,May 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Robert was a fantastic guide to the dark history of Edinburgh. He encouraged questions and really made the tour feel customized to our group’s interests.
Worth the money
927dena,May 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Robert was amazing. A lot of history you cannot get anywhere else.
Brilliant tour
K9858DKmw,May 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an amazing time learning about the dark history of Edinburgh. There are so many windows into Edinburgh’s history hidden in plain sight that you just walk over or walk past none the wiser. This tour explained so much more than a guidebook and shone a light into Edinburgh’s gruesome past. The tour is accessible to people of all abilities. Our local tour guide Robert (Fergusson - not his surname but he’ll get the joke if he reads this) was very knowledgable and funny and kept everyone interested and captivated throughout the tour, and his harmonica playing is pretty good too. The tour was so good and we were so busy listening that we forgot to take photos! Highly recommended.
Ugly history
Kimberly R,May 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a really interesting history tour. No gimmicks as stated but if you find the darker side of history fascinating, you'll like this tour. Our guide, James, was great at creating a mental image of the times. Quite entertaining.
Awesome tour!
Chelsea H,May 17, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was a great walking tour of Edinburgh in the Royal Mile area, and i would strongly recommend it to anyone interested in the “dark history” of the city. It is not a ghost tour, or not like other tours where they dress up in costumes - it’s enlightening, informing and the guides are great story tellers. From hearing about the witch trials to the history of the closes and more, as a travel agent, i strongly suggest this tour! It is also historian led company and is a local small company, a great way to support smaller businesses in comparison to some of the bigger touring companies found in the same area.
Jack was very...
Rebecca M,May 16, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Jack was very knowledgeable and provided an interesting and well curated overview of some key locations of historical significance around the core of Edinburgh. It was a fairly reasonable (edging or short) walk, which was appreciated as tourist who have done a lot of walking over the course of the day. Our group would highly recommend this tour, and Jack as a thoughtful and effective guide!
N/a
alex6789,May 11, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great tour. Our guide Lidia was very knowledgable and meant for story telling. She loves the city and knew the right spots to take us.
Related Experiences
Operated by All-Star Guides