Do you have to book to go on the tour?

No: but we most strongly recommend it as the tours can fill up very quickly, especially at weekends, in high summer, and at New Year. Hallowe'en is so busy you are unlikely to find a place on a tour unless you have booked in advance.

You can book online, by telephone, in person from our representative at the Mercat Cross, an eight sided monument just downhill from St Giles Cathedral, or from the Mercat office, or buy advance tickets from Tourist Information Centre on Princes Street.

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Do you have to do a lot of walking on the tours?

No: the distances are not great. However we would recommend you wear sensible shoes because the ground underfoot can be uneven and occasionally steep.

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Will the tour run even if it is wet?

Hail, rain, wind or snow: your guide will always be there, at the Mercat Cross, to greet you. We are very skilled at finding shelter from the elements, but do dress for the cold (hat/gloves) especially in the evenings and in the winter months.

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Will the guide be dressed up for the tour?

We have a strict dress code for all our staff. Our daytime guides wear smart, dark clothing: our evening guides wear distinctive cloaks. All guides wear their Mercat Tours badge.

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How many will there be on the tour?

It depends on the tour! With The Paranormal Underground we have a maximum of 25 places per tour because the capacity of some rooms in the Vaults cannot take more than that. On the other hand, on our ghost tours, numbers tend to be larger: we encourage the group to become the baying Edinburgh mob of old which relished gruesome and gory goings-on! However, we cap numbers to ensure that all customers can see, hear and enjoy a quality experience. The maximum number of places on most tours is 40 per guide.

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Will I be scared on the Ghost Tour (or any tour in the Vaults?)

Sorry: no guarantees! - what some people find terrifying doesn't scare others at all.

What we do guarantee is that we choose our tales, craft them into engaging and enthralling stories and use all our skills as storytellers to bring a tingle to your neck.

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Are the tours suitable for people with disabilities?

Guides have successfully led wheelchair users on the Secrets of the Royal Mile tour. Our other public tours are not suitable for people with perambulatory difficulties as they include the Vaults which are accessed down a winding staircase and whose flooring is the original, uneven earth and rock.

We provide short synopses of our tours for those with hearing difficulties (please alert us beforehand that you are coming) and guides have worked well alongside someone who signs for deaf customers.

The poorly sighted or blind would need to be accompanied during the tour. We believe the skill of our guides as storytellers and the craft with which they use their voices to create atmosphere make for an enjoyable experience for those totally dependent on listening.

Essential carers go free.

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What do you mean by 'family' ticket?

A family ticket allows two adults with two children to go on a tour at a discount for one child. Adults and children do not have to be relatives.

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Can children under 5 years come on a tour?

For health and safety reasons we are unable to allow children under 5 years of age on any tour.

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Can children 5 - 15 years be booked onto a tour without an adult?

No: All children on tours must be accompanied by an adult.

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How long do you spend underground in the Vaults?

With the exception of the ten minutes it takes to reach them the entire duration of both The Historic Vaults and the Paranormal Underground is spent in the Vaults. On the ghost tours up to 30 minutes is spent in the Vaults.

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How dark and how narrow are the Vaults?

There is sufficient candlelight and electric light for the vaults to be safe but remain atmospheric. The narrowest corridor is still 1.5 metres wide. The vaults themselves vary from the size of a small boxroom to a large, high-ceilinged chamber.

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If I feel uncomfortable in the Vaults can I leave?

Absolutely - and people do feel uncomfortable, and people do leave. Simply alert the guide that you are uneasy and s/he will immediately lead you back to ground level.

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Will people jump out on me during the tour?

Not in our planning! 'Jumper-ooters' are not a feature of our scheduled tours. We are confident enough in the content of our ghost tours and the skills of our guides not to require such extras to provide the chill factor. We are great believers in the power of the imagination.

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Can I film in the vaults?

Sorry: no. We do allow visitors to take occasional pictures during the tour, but we find filming is much more disruptive and therefore disallow it for the sake of the larger group.

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Can I bring my dog on a tour to the vaults?

Sorry: no. The level of paranormal activity there is not suitable for dogs. We do permit guide dogs into the vaults due to their special training.

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We've been on tours where some customers have spoiled it for us with loud, disruptive and sometimes drunken behaviour. What do you do about this?

We reserve the right to refuse entry on any tour to disruptive customers. Even if the disruptive behaviour only emerges once the tour has begun our guides are instructed to invite the person(s) to leave. Our priority is to ensure a quality, enjoyable experience for all.

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