Mercat Tours - Historic Vaults

Enrich your connections to Edinburgh, its people and its past by engaging the senses as you unearth the city’s forgotten stories.

Get exclusive access to the Blair Street Underground Vaults – the oldest and deepest system of underground caverns in Edinburgh. 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.  

Breathe in the scent of Edinburgh’s past as our award-winning Storytellers share vivid accounts of life within the vaults, revealing Edinburgh’s history in a way you’ll never forget.

Hold original artefacts in the rooms they were discovered and experience the scents that once filled these rooms with a specially designed souvenir card. 

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

Want to see Edinburgh’s darkest secret? Descend into the vaults, exclusive to Mercat Tours.

It’s a story rooted in Edinburgh’s Georgian past – grand feats of engineering, the expansion of the city, and those who were left behind in its darker corners. But why were the vaults built? And who used them? 

All your questions will be answered throughout the duration of our Historic Vaults tour, where our Master Storytellers bring the history of the underground vaults to life. 

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

Take the story home with a specially designed, complimentary gift that will bring the underground world to life long after you leave.