This is not for the faint-hearted – or those afraid of ghosts… like me! We are met by our guide, who leads us into the underground vaults beneath Southbridge. It’s pitch black, but for our guide’s torch; the air is damp and cold. We learn about the various uses of the vaults: storage for traders, shelter for the homeless, an underworld playground for criminals, and a tool for notorious murderers Burke and Hare: these cold-blooded criminals would lure the poor with promises of a warm bed, then kill them and sell their bodies to Edinburgh University for medical experiments. Today, white witches use the vaults as a coven in an attempt to clear them of evil spirits. Altogether an informative tour, delivered well by a knowledgeable guide.

Auld Reekie Tours, 3 Aug-1 Sep, times vary
tw rating 3/5 | [Ella Fryer-Smith]