Mercat Tours

Mercat Tours 'History is a damn good story, what it needs is a damn good telling' - and Mercat does! Local, indep
(1471)

'𝙃𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙣 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮, 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙣 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 '

𝙅𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙞𝙣! �
Enjoy immersive storytelling experiences as you explore Edinburgh's Old Town.

𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩 �
You'll have a deep connection with the people and places of the past and build remarkable memories of Scotland's ancient and beautiful capital.

𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙔𝙤𝙪, 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 �
Choosing us, a local, independent family

business and Living Wage employer, means you support an ethical 'Good to Go' team rooted in our local community since 1985. We respect and support like-minded people to ensure everyone's experience of Edinburgh is the very best it can be.

💀 Did you know? Edinburgh’s Old Town once had so many body snatchers (or ‘Resurrection Men’) that cemeteries had watch...
30/05/2026

💀 Did you know?

Edinburgh’s Old Town once had so many body snatchers (or ‘Resurrection Men’) that cemeteries had watch towers, mortsafes and sometimes even families guarding graves.

Grave danger, indeed...

[ID: A photo of Canongate Kirkyard split between two slides, showing old gravestones, tall tenement buildings and a dilapidated iron fence partially obscured by fog. End ID]

Uncover the history you won't find on a plaque 🏺Follow a Master Storyteller to the National Museums Scotland, where our ...
29/05/2026

Uncover the history you won't find on a plaque 🏺

Follow a Master Storyteller to the National Museums Scotland, where our nation’s treasures are stored.

From the world-famous to the curious, explore the objects that helped shape Scotland and the world. This is the perfect introduction to our country’s past.
🗓️ Fridays, April–June: https://bit.ly/4dB5DAS

Do you have a favourite whisky? If you don’t (or if you want to expand your tastes), join us for a Whisky Tour & Tasting...
27/05/2026

Do you have a favourite whisky?

If you don’t (or if you want to expand your tastes), join us for a Whisky Tour & Tasting. It's the perfect Father's Day treat!

Hear captivating tales, breathe in the rich aromas and savour a single malt tasting in our exclusive underground vaults.

Learn more here. ✨ https://ow.ly/JMJY50YWykG

We’re proud to share that we are now a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2)! While we’ve long focused on making our t...
25/05/2026

We’re proud to share that we are now a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2)!

While we’ve long focused on making our tours accessible to all, this accreditation recognises the work we’re doing behind the scenes: building an inclusive workplace where disabled people have the opportunity to thrive, grow and succeed.

For us, accessibility isn’t just about the visitor experience. It’s about our team, our culture and how we create a sense of belonging across every part of the business.

To mark the achievement, we’re celebrating our incredible team and recognising this as a collective success.

As a Certified B Corp, this is part of our ongoing commitment to responsible business — and an important step in our journey to keep learning, improving and raising standards across our sector.

Read the full blog post here: https://ow.ly/iAGe50Z2KwF

22/05/2026

Why are there oyster shells in the Edinburgh vaults?!

There are a few answers:
🙍‍♂️ They’re used as building materials
The use of oyster shells in building was an early form of recycling.

🍻 The vaults used to house underground pubs
The Tavern Room in the Blair Street Underground Vaults was full of not only claret bottles when it was discovered, but also piles and piles of oyster shells, which was a popular and cheap food item in day.

🧙‍♀️ They kept witches away
It was believed that witches couldn’t cross running water. The oyster shells, taken from moving water, were like talismans to keep them away.

Escape the crowds and the weather. Join us in Edinburgh's underground vaults where history, archaeology and ghost stories collide.
Learn more through our bio.

[Video description: a 100-second video explaining why there are oyster shells in, and the history of, Edinburgh’s underground vaults, using video footage from the Blair Street Underground Vaults and animated illustrations. End description]

Have you been to the Edinburgh vaults before? Escape the poor weather this bank holiday weekend and join us in Edinburgh...
21/05/2026

Have you been to the Edinburgh vaults before?

Escape the poor weather this bank holiday weekend and join us in Edinburgh's underground. 🕯️ Whether you’re visiting for the first time or the fourth, there’s always something new to discover.

Join us here. https://ow.ly/8uMj50YWyou

We’re really enjoying the warmer weather and looking ahead to brighter summer days. Sunshine brings a welcome boost of v...
19/05/2026

We’re really enjoying the warmer weather and looking ahead to brighter summer days. Sunshine brings a welcome boost of vitamin D, and Edinburgh Castle is a great spot to enjoy it. 🌞

Set above the city and surrounded by green spaces, this historic icon has stood up to the elements for centuries. Whether viewed from the West Gardens or from Princes Street, it’s certainly impressive to admire. The views FROM the castle are equally grand. The Edinburgh skyline never ceases to inspire.

We love connecting with Edinburgh’s natural landscape in a simple, sustainable way.

[ID: 1: View from Edinburgh Castle overlooking the city skyline, historic buildings, and green spaces stretching towards the sea under a blue sky; 2: Ross Fountain in Princes Street Gardens with Edinburgh Castle rising above the rocky cliff, surrounded by lush green trees; 3:Edinburgh Castle perched on Castle Rock, framed by pink spring blossom and greenery below on a bright day; End ID]

Happy Museum Day! ⚱️ What better way to celebrate than with our beloved National Museum of Scotland?Did you know tartan ...
18/05/2026

Happy Museum Day! ⚱️ What better way to celebrate than with our beloved National Museum of Scotland?

Did you know tartan was once banned in Scotland?

From 1746 to 1782, it was illegal for Highland men to wear tartan unless they were serving in the King’s military.

You might not consider tartan to be a niche display at the National Museum of Scotland—the plaid fabric is a national symbol of the country, after all. But the fabric’s history is a long and complicated one. Also, as today is Victoria Day, it's worth remembering that even Queen Victoria promoted the idea of ‘tartantry’ helping give this fabric a long-lasting legacy.

👉 Want to learn more about extraordinary objects like this one? Join us for our National Museum of Scotland Tour on Fridays from April through June. https://ow.ly/XPCJ50YTaF6

[ID: 1: A section of blue and green tartan fabric rolled onto a wooden loom, on display at a museum; 2: An old book on display, open to a spread titled ‘The Clan Stuart’ on the left page with a colour illustration of the red and green Stuart tartan on the right. End ID]

Did you know in the late 1700s, Edinburgh was surrounded by hundreds of illegal whisky stills? These far outnumbered the...
16/05/2026

Did you know in the late 1700s, Edinburgh was surrounded by hundreds of illegal whisky stills?

These far outnumbered the licensed ones. Smuggling, moonshine and “free trading” weren’t just common… they were how whisky survived.

Discover this rebellious side of Scotland’s national drink on our Whisky Tour & Tasting, where our Master Storyteller will reveal how smugglers, bootleggers and bold pioneers shaped the whisky we love today.

Then step into our candlelit Megget’s Cellar to warm the spirits with a guided tasting of four Scotch whiskies from across Scotland: Speyside, Highland, Islay and Lowlands. Discover how water, barley, peat and cask shape every dram.

Book your place on our Whisky Tour & Tasting https://ow.ly/Wwgz50YTeZG

[ID: 1: Four people in the candlelit Megget’s Cellar, being led through a whisky tasting by a Mercat Storyteller; 2: Close-up of golden whisky being poured from a bottle into a tasting glass on a wooden table, with the Mercat Tours logo visible. 3: Candlelit cellar setting where a costumed storyteller holds a lit candle while speaking to a seated guest at a wooden table, surrounded by stone walls and historic furnishings; End ID]

15/05/2026

There are some incredible objects from past.

Found in the Blair Street Underground Vaults in Edinburgh, this little glass artefact was probably a children’s toy once filled with sweets.

If you want to learn more about the history, archaeology and artefacts of Scotland, why not join us for a tour of the National Museum of Scotland?
👉Fridays, April through June

[ID: a 50-second video discussing the details of a small glass artefact found in the Edinburgh vaults. It is made of blue moulded glass. End ID]

Address

28 Blair Street
Edinburgh
EH11QR

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 10pm
Tuesday 9am - 10pm
Wednesday 9am - 10pm
Thursday 9am - 10pm
Friday 9am - 10pm
Saturday 9am - 10pm
Sunday 9am - 10pm

Telephone

+441312255445

Website

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