Evening of Archives and Artefacts

Underground tour

Want to see Edinburgh’s darkest secret?  With your small group, descend into the Blair Street Underground 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. But why were the vaults built? And who used them?

All your questions will be answered as our award-winning Storyteller brings the history of the vaults to life.

Expert-Led Workshop

Hold history in your hands. After your tour you will head to Megget's Cellar - our underground suite.  Here you’ll have a unique opportunity to get hands-on with the history of the Blair Street Underground Vaults in an interactive workshop.

Our in-house archaeologist has selected items from our collections that illustrate life in the vaults throughout their history. You’ll handle these objects and piece together their part in the story under the guidance of our expert.

Then, examine archival documents – maps, plans, street directories and newspaper articles, that record the planning and building of the bridge, as well as public attitudes towards it.

Join us to discover the true stories held within the vaults.