You can’t visit Edinburgh without hearing about the myths and legends surrounding the haunted ‘Underground City’.

No, there isn’t actually a “city” under the ground. The myth comes from various elements of Edinburgh’s strange geographical past.  One of these very real elements is the life and history of the desperate people who once lived inside the Blair Street Vaults, inside the haunted South Bridge.

Access to this historic site is granted with a tour from Mercat Tours, which is now officially opening its tour specifically for children.

This weekend they will host their first ever child friendly tours: but don’t worry – they haven’t toned down on the horror stories. Tales of witchcraft, smelly streets, terrible torture and spooky shenanigans, this tour will highlight Edinburgh’s murky past in all of it’s glory – leaving in all the stories that children love to hear about.

“We’ve collected all the horrible stories we know kids love to hear in our latest tour! Ghosts, gore and grime brings the grisly history of Edinburgh to the younger visitors, with children aged 5 and up all welcome. It brings the sights and smells of our city to life and gives them the chance to interact by handling real, historic objects and belongings, allowing them to experience what family life would have been like in the Blair Street Underground Vaults.”

The new tour will start on 1 April 2017 and run every Saturday and Sunday from 10-11.15am, and weekdays during school holiday periods.

Prices are: Adult £13, Student & Seniors £11, Child £8 and Family ticket £34

Want to explore more of the ‘Edinburgh Underground’? There are several attractions across the city including Gilmerton Cove,  The Real Mary King’s Close, City of the Dead Tours;  Auld Reekie Tours or volunteer at a nuclear bunker!

 

 

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Local Journalist and Writer based in Edinburgh @ryan_latto