Can You Visit Edinburgh Vaults Without A Tour?

You can’t explore the Edinburgh vaults without a tour guide. I also fully suggest you take a guided tour to have the full experience and knowledge of the vaults. The best underground vault tour companies are Mercat Tours, City of Edinburgh Tours, and Auld Reekie Tours.

Can you go into Edinburgh vaults?

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.

Is Mary Kings Close the same as the vaults?

Mary Kings close is mainly a tour around some vaults below ground with some storytelling, then it finishes up in a street (or close) that latterly had buildings constructed over the top.

How many Edinburgh vaults are there?

In total there are approximately 120 rooms or ‘vaults’ beneath the surface of the South Bridge, ranging in size from two metres squared to forty metres squared.

Is there a hidden city under Edinburgh?

Descend into a section of Edinburgh’s legendary Underground City, where a population once lived in utter misery. Forgotten for centuries and only recently unsealed, this part of the vaults is known as Damnation Alley.

How much does it cost to go to Edinburgh Vaults?

The cheapest (and the most popular) Edinburgh Vaults experience costs 14 Pounds for all adults aged 16 to 59 years. Seniors aged 60+ years and students with valid ID cards pay the entrance fee of 12 Pounds. Kids five to 15 years old only pay 9 Pounds for their Edinburgh South Bridge Vaults experience.

Can you walk around Edinburgh Castle grounds for free?

Entry to the castle is not free, but you can walk up to it and take in the fantastic views. Edinburgh Castle tickets are cheaper if you buy online (£18 per adult) but paying at the gate will cost £21.

Is The Real Mary Kings Close worth it?

Top ways to experience The Real Mary King’s Close and nearby attractions. 93% of travelers recommend this experience. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. 92% of travelers recommend this experience.

Is Mary King’s Close worth it?

I highly recommend taking a Mary King’s Close tour during your holiday in Edinburgh. It’s an experience brimming with true history. You step into a genuine Edinburgh alleyway and see where people lived in the city’s past, led by an authentic character guide plucked straight out of history!

Is Mary Kings Close worth?

If there’s one tour in Edinburgh I’d recommend above all others, it would be the Real Mary King’s Close Tour. This tour has a little of everything – history, architecture, culture, and even a ghost story.

Are crown jewels kept in Edinburgh?

The Honours of Scotland, informally known as the Scottish Crown Jewels, are regalia that were worn by Scottish kings and queens at their coronations. Kept in Edinburgh Castle, they date from the 15th and 16th centuries, and are the oldest surviving set of crown jewels in the British Isles.

Where in Edinburgh are the Scottish Crown Jewels kept?

the Crown Room
Since 1819, the Honours have been on public display in the Crown Room at Edinburgh Castle, together with the Stewart and the Lorne Jewels. The Stone of Scone was added in 1996, after 700 years in Westminster Abbey.

Why are there vaults under Edinburgh?

The History Of Edinburgh’s Underground Vaults:
Overpopulation was a major problem, and vaults were seen as a solution to put the poor underground so the city could use more space. The subterranean caverns became like a second underground city — sometimes three- and four-storeys deep.

Where is the pubic triangle in Edinburgh?

Taking its name from Edinburgh’s notorious 19th century serial killers, the former of whom was hung just along the road in the Lawnmarket, the Burke and Hare is Edinburgh’s best known, pole-dancing and strip bar, located at the top of what is fondly referred to as the “pubic triangle.”

Where do locals go in Edinburgh?

Best attractions in Edinburgh

  • Edinburgh Castle. Attractions.
  • Edinburgh Zoo. Attractions.
  • National Museum of Scotland. Museums.
  • Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Attractions.
  • Royal Yacht Britannia. Attractions.
  • Arthur’s Seat. Things to do.
  • The Scottish Parliament. Attractions.
  • National Gallery Of Scotland. Art.

Was any of Outlander filmed in Edinburgh?

There she meets handsome Highland warrior Jamie Fraser, and finds herself torn between her old life in the present – and her new life in the past. Many iconic scenes from this cult TV series were filmed in the Edinburgh area, so why not take a day trip and follow in the footsteps of our time travelling heroes?

Can I visit Edinburgh Castle without ticket?

You will still need to purchase a ticket to enter the castle. From experience, unless you have an interest in Scottish military history, the only thing of interest, apart from the stunning views, is the little bit of Scottish royal history and the exhibit of the Scottish Crown jewels.

Is it worth paying to go inside Edinburgh Castle?

Edinburgh Castle is a world famous icon of Scotland and part of the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site. It was recently voted top UK Heritage Attraction in the British Travel Awards and is Scotland’s number one paid-for tourist attraction.

Can you walk around Edinburgh Castle grounds?

You can walk in front of the castle, but there is not much to see.

Is it a difficult walk up to Edinburgh Castle?

As a historical site, the castle complex can be difficult to access and navigate, especially for those with mobility difficulties – the whole site is on a steep hill, rising to a summit, and there are staircases around both the interior and exterior spaces, with uneven surfaces throughout.

How hard is it to walk up Arthur’s Seat?

The ascent of Arthur’s Seat is very steep and rocky. Alternatively, there’s also a lazy man’s route is up from Queen’s Drive to Dunaspie Loch and then straight up. Heading up to the summit from Dunaspie Loch you’ll find the paths cross ancient agricultural terraces carved out by early farmers.