Haunted Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a spine-tinglingly spooky and architecturally beautiful city. Like Prague, its cobbled wynds and once lamp-lit alleyways run in a riddle over several miles of subterranean streets, narrow walkways and intact houses lost to history until they were rediscovered in the 1980’s. Active witch covens still practice in these gloomy vaults, accessible through the famous Mary King’s Close, taunting the spirits with their brazen incantations.

With a history appropriated by nefarious characters such as the body-snatchers Burke and Hare, strange scientific experiments conducted at the still extant Surgeon’s Hall, and a beautiful, well-tended garden running the length of the high street that used to be a mote littered with bodies and plague victims, Edinburgh is said to be one of the most haunted cities on earth.

Haunted Edinburgh Gothic spires loom above the cobbled alleys, the hodgepodge streets of the Old Town are populated by ghosts still visible in the turrets and steeples of old churches-cum bars, like the world famous Frankenstein’s, and the majesty that is Edinburgh’s finest restaurant, The Witchery. Wait for night to fall and treat yourself to a guided tour around Greyfriars Churchyard, reputedly the most haunted in Europe, and which has a special attraction for Britain’s only Parapsychology Department, itself nestled away beneath the arches of Edinburgh University.

Roaming around “Haunted Edinburgh” is an absolute must when visiting. To fully experience its vibrant haunted feel book a spooky ghost walk. You’ll be spoiled for choice, as Edinburgh has a miniature industry founded on ghost walks alone. The oldest street, the Royal Mile, boasts tour companies catering to every taste – whether that be a mildly scary walk for all the family, or a deeply disturbing visit to the underground city itself. The City of the Dead Awaits the brazen, while Mercat Tours offers something for even the faint of heart.

Haunted EdinburghEdinburgh’s architecture is unmistakably gothic, with churches, banks, hotels and even restaurants looking like they came straight out of a Harry Potter movie. Many have been restored or well maintained for hundreds of years, and you’ll find that even some of the hotels are haunted. If you want to visit a historic hotel in Edinburgh, consider somewhere like The Scotsman. Formerly the site of Scotland’s primary broadsheet, this old, five star building is now a hotel, complete with its own haunted (and usually locked) cinema.

While a five star hotel may not be within your budget, given the array of haunting attractions on offer, some hotels offer late room deals. The Carlton is another fine choice, and there are several hotels and hostels lurking in Edinburgh’s historic Grassmarket.

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Don’t forget to check out the Edinburgh Dungeon for a more commercial experience, and try some of Scotland’s finest single malts in a number of genuinely haunted pubs – like the Banshee Labyrinth. When the fear gets to you, there are many lighter, more amusing attractions, including the exceptional Camera Obscura and Dynamic Earth.

Whether you’re looking for some fun frights or wish to delve deep into the underground city where plague victims were left to perish, visit Edinburgh this Halloween for a spooky experience.