Photos: Saffron Blaze, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 marsupium photography, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo credits
Photos: Saffron Blaze, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 marsupium photography, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
The Old Town's underground legends, a call before you go
Your local guide
Jamie Forsyth
View profile
Highlights
- What the vaults were really for
- Sorting fact from later invention
- Recommended operators, no obligation
- A history lesson before you pay
- Planning done properly, not rushed
About this tour
This call goes through the real history behind the Old Town's underground vaults before you book a ticketed tour of them yourself. Jamie separates what the buildings were actually used for from the stories that grew up around them much later. He also explains why a live video call can't follow you underground, and what that means for how you should plan a visit.
The call opens with a quick chat about what you already know, then moves through the history and the practical planning in turn, with plenty of room for your own questions. Jamie sends a short list of recommended operators afterwards based on what you're after.
It suits anyone who wants the real story before paying for an underground tour, and works well for those who want to avoid an overly theatrical version of the history. It also appeals to sceptics.
Included
- A 45-minute call with a local guide
- Honest tips on where to eat, stay and what to skip
- A short follow-up note with every place mentioned
Not included
- Bookings made on your behalf
- Phone or data charges from your provider
Itinerary
-
Hello, and what you want to know 5 min
The guide calls you and asks what you are after: planning Edinburgh, recommendations, or just questions.
-
What the vaults actually are 15 min
Jamie explains what the South Bridge vaults were originally built for and why most of the well-known stories about them come from much later than the vaults themselves.
-
Planning your own visit 15 min
Jamie goes through what a ticketed underground tour actually covers, what to expect, and which operators he'd recommend based on what you want to see.
-
Your questions 7 min
Ask anything that is still on your mind, there is no fixed script.
-
A written note after the call 3 min
You get a short follow-up message with everything mentioned, so you do not have to remember it all.
Good to know
- A stable phone or internet connection, whichever the guide uses to reach you.
- No app to install. You answer when the guide calls, or join a video call if you would rather.
- Times are shown in London time, so check the time where you are before you book.
- The call is not recorded. Keep your own note of anything you want to remember, or wait for the follow-up message.
- Have your questions ready, though there is time to think of more as you go.
Questions about this tour
What will the call cover?
The guide talks you through Edinburgh: where to go, what to eat, and answers to whatever you ask.
What happens if the call drops?
The guide will try you again straight away.
Can I ask the guide questions during the session, or is it a fixed script?
Anything, any time. Sessions leave room for your own questions throughout, not just at the end.
Do I need to know the history already?
No background needed. The guide explains everything as it comes up.
How it works
- Your guide calls the number you give at booking.
- We connect by video call from home. I don't walk anywhere for this one, we plan everything together on screen. We go through the real history with a map open.
Times shown in London time (GMT)
Cancellation
Flexible
- Cancel up to 24 hours before the start: full refund.
- Cancel less than 24 hours before the start, or no-show: no refund.
- If the guide cancels or the date does not reach its minimum group: full refund.
- Cancel in My Account → Bookings; the refund is calculated from the start time in the tour's local time.
Reviews
No reviews yet. Reviews appear here after travellers have completed this tour.
How reviews work
Only travellers who booked and paid through Locals Guide and whose tour took place can leave a review, within 60 days of the tour. Every review is marked "Verified booking". We check reviews before they appear and publish positive and negative ones alike; we remove only reviews that break our rules (insults, personal data, unrelated content). Guides cannot pay for, edit or hide reviews, and ratings are the plain average of all published reviews.
Next: Tue 27 Oct · 4 seats left From 25,00 €
Book