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    Mercat Tours

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    About

    Mercat Tours offers multi-sensory history and ghost tours through Edinburgh's Old Town, with exclusive access to the Blair Street Underground Vaults, the deepest and most extensive set of vaults in the city. Our main goal is to give history 'a damn good telling'. Our small-group tours are led by award-winning Master Storytellers and are rooted in the tradition of oral storytelling. The vaults are preserved just as they were when they were abandoned in the mid-19th century, with no set dressings or jump scares in sight. We let the real stories of Edinburgh's past speak for themselves. Whether choosing a history or ghost tour, you will see a side to Scotland's capital that many might miss. As a company, we live by what we call The Mercat Deal: vowing to be Good for You, Good for Edinburgh. Storytelling is good for your wellbeing, walking is good for you and the environment, and our ethical, Living Wage family business is good for our team and community. We strive to be as sustainable, accessible, and inclusive as we can be—and we have the awards to back it up. Mercat Tours believes in making meaningful connections by exploring history through the stories that connect people, places, and the past in a very human way.

    Reviews

    Overall rating

    5

    (5 reviews)

    Overall rating breakdown

    5

    5

    4

    0

    3

    0

    2

    0

    1

    0

    Access (avg.)

    4

    Parking (avg.)

    3.5

    Toilets (avg.)

    -

    Staff (avg.)

    5

    User profile picture

    kms8404

    Mar 2025

    star

    5

    SPECTACULAR Secrets of the Royal Mile

    I cannot express how incredible the tour and our group’s guide for the day, Linda, were. Her knowledge of the depth and diversity of the city’s history and important figures, as well as her engagement with the group and presentation was phenomenal and one of the best tours I’ve ever been on. Getting to learn, hands on, about all of the fun and complex histories of the Royal Mile and Edinburgh will be something I will cherish and remember forever. There wasn’t a single moment that wasn’t intriguing or inspiring of curiosity. This was my first ever visit to the city and I cannot wait to come back to experience and explore more. 10/10 tour and guide.
    User profile picture

    cjwerth10

    Jul 2023

    star

    5

    Secrets of the Royal Mile Tour

    Thank you to Stefanie for a wonderful tour and making sure it was accessible for my wheelchair. We had a great time and learned a lot! Highly recommend to anyone visiting Edinburgh.
    User profile picture

    sarahmariemather

    Mar 2018

    star

    5

    History and Legacy with a side of laughter

    Our tour guide Laura was lovely, she had been out the night before scouting the location and making sure that all the places she wanted to show us were accessible. She was friendly, funny and easy to chat to. She made sure that everyone in the group was comfortable with the pace and volume of the tour and ensured that we were all enjoying ourselves. I would recommend this tour wholeheartedly.

    Disabled Access Information Provided by Mercat Tours

    Disabled Access at Mercat Tours

    We love welcoming visitors to Edinburgh and want to help with exploring and enjoying the city. We also understand that everyone has different needs and expectations - that’s why we have so many tours to choose from. There is something for everyone! All of our Master Storytellers are trained to adapt tours for visitors where needed. Our most readily accessible public tours are Secrets of Edinburgh's Royal Mile, Witches: Trial & Truth, and Ghostly Tales of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile; fully accessible, overground history and ghost tours. All our walking tours start at the Mercat Cross on the Royal Mile. Tours that visit the Blair Street Underground Vaults are situated down three flights of stairs. The vaults are on one level but the ground is uneven in parts, as the original flooring is still in use. There is no lift due to the historic nature of the site. Tours which visit the Underground Vaults also visit our Vaults Museum. The Vaults Museum contains interactive displays and further information boards. Through the Vaults Revealed, a seated, sensory experience also located in our accessible Vaults Museum, we are able to open up one of Edinburgh’s most extraordinary hidden sites to all. The Vaults Revealed is an interactive, audio-visual film — guided by Mercat’s Master Storytellers — and enjoyed from the comfort of a seat, with no stairs required. We can provide transportable stools for those who may wish to sit between stories. Sensory bag options for adults and children are available upon request. Assistance dogs are welcome on tours. We can provide complimentary tickets for carers. Private tours can be arranged with content, route and delivery tailored to your needs. To make it as easy as possible to see what our tours involve, we’ve developed our Mercat Tours Inclusivity Statement, available on our website. You’ll find lots of detailed information about tour routes, buildings visited and facilities available with clear dimensions and pictures to help you decide which is best for you.
    Disabled access

    Accessible formats at Mercat Tours

    Large print

    Information is available in large print format.

    Audio Formats

    Accessible services at Mercat Tours

    Assistive listening system - Hearing Loop

    There is an assistive listening system available e.g. a hearing loop.

    Other features at Mercat Tours

    Wi-Fi

    Wi-Fi is available for customers.

    Carers Discount
    Online Booking

    More Information

    For additional detailed accessibility information, please contact: info@mercattours.com

    Contact

    Opens in a new windowhttps://www.facebook.com/MercatTours
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    Location

    28 Blair Street, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom, EH1 1QR

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