A dark, dank and creepy subterranean world

Word to the wise: If you’re of a nervous disposition you should avoid the ghost tours, as guides like nothing more than to jump out and terrify their customers.

The Edinburgh Vaults are where real history and the paranormal collide. Built in the late 18th century underneath the South Bridge, these vaults quickly became home to the homeless, as well as the city’s criminal underclass. However, widespread robberies and murders here led to the Vaults being closed down in the mid-1800s – and forgotten about for over 150 years.

Since excavations in the 1990s, the Vaults have been open to the public via historical tours, which detail the lives of those who lived underground. But the site has also gained a persistent reputation for something else altogether; ghosts. There have been a number of ‘sightings’ and paranormal activities recorded here, and many tour companies now offer theatrical underground ghost tours.