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

Mercat Tours

'History is a damn good story, what it needs is a damn good telling' - and Mercat does! Local, indep
(1465)

'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.

04/09/2026

Queen vs Preacher 👑 ✝️

On 4 September 1561, 18-year-old Mary, Queen of Scots summoned Protestant reformer John Knox to Holyrood Palace.

She accused him of stirring rebellion, attacking female rulers, and causing trouble through his religious writings.

Their confrontation became one of the most famous clashes of the Scottish Reformation.

Queen versus preacher, Catholicism versus Protestantism. ⚔️👑

[ID. A 1-minute historical video about the first confrontation between Protestant preacher John Knox and the young Mary, Queen of Scots. The video explores their clash over religion and royal authority with animations illustrating the points. End ID]

Queen vs Preacher 👑 ✝️

On 4 September 1561, 18-year-old Mary, Queen of Scots summoned Protestant reformer John Knox to Holyrood Palace.

She accused him of stirring rebellion, attacking female rulers, and causing trouble through his religious writings.

Their confrontation became one of the most famous clashes of the Scottish Reformation.

Queen versus preacher, Catholicism versus Protestantism. ⚔️👑

[ID. A 1-minute historical video about the first confrontation between Protestant preacher John Knox and the young Mary, Queen of Scots. The video explores their clash over religion and royal authority with animations illustrating the points. End ID]

31/08/2026

Want to see Edinburgh’s darkest secret?

Descend beneath the city’s streets and step into the historic Blair Street Underground Vaults.

Discover the people, places and stories that shaped the city, and uncover a fascinating chapter of its history, hidden beneath the Old Town.

Our Vaults Museum features authentic artefacts and interactive displays, offering further insight into the vaults’ past.

27/08/2026

Deacon Brodie

The real-life criminal who may have inspired Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Deacon William Brodie was a respected Edinburgh tradesman by day and a thief by night. Behind his respectable public image, he secretly robbed the very homes he helped secure.

His shocking double life was eventually exposed, leading to his arrest, trial and ex*****on at the gallows in 1788. His story would later become linked to the inspiration behind Stevenson’s Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

[ID. A 1-minute video exploring the story of Jekyll & Hyde and the real-life inspiration behind the tale, Deacon Brodie. End ID]

26/08/2026

As the Fringe draws to a close, take a moment to unwind and step away from the bustle of the city.

The historic streets of the Canongate offer the perfect chance to slow down, explore and uncover the stories that have shaped Edinburgh.

Join one of our Master Storytellers and walk in the footsteps of Jamie and Claire as you discover hidden closes, peaceful gardens and the real Jacobite history that helped inspire Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander.

📅2pm, September
Dates: 2, 13, 16, 27

24/08/2026

Step Into Outlander This Fringe 🗡️

Step away from the crowds and discover a quieter, more mysterious side of the city with Mercat Tours.

Explore the historic Canongate and walk in the footsteps of Jamie and Claire as you uncover the real stories and tales that inspired Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander books and the hit TV series.

Learn more about our Edinburgh Outlander Experience through the link in our bio.

[ID: 20 second video showing the contrast between the lively Edinburgh Fringe and the historic, quieter streets of the Canongate. End ID]

23/08/2026

On 23 August 1305, Sir William Wallace was executed in London after being captured and brought before King Edward I’s court. His death marked the end of the life of one of Scotland’s most famous leaders during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

Wallace rose to prominence after resisting Edward I’s invasion of Scotland, most famously defeating the English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297, where Scottish forces secured a remarkable victory against a much larger opponent. Wallace became a Guardian of Scotland and continued the fight for Scottish independence.

Captured in 1305, Wallace was taken to London and tried at Westminster Hall in a trial designed more as a public display of power than a fair hearing. He was condemned as a traitor to Edward I and sentenced to ex*****on by hanging, drawing and quartering, a brutal punishment intended to intimidate those who opposed English rule.

His remains were displayed in different parts of Britain as a warning to others, but instead of ending the resistance, Wallace’s story lived on as a symbol of courage, defiance and the struggle for Scotland’s freedom.

22/08/2026

󠁳󠁣󠁿Tartan, titles, and some very questionable kilt choices…

In 1822, King George IV arrived in Edinburgh for a visit that would forever change how Scotland was seen and how it saw itself.

Tartan wasn’t always the national symbol we know today. Thanks to Sir Walter Scott, royal pageantry, and George IV’s famously theatrical visit, Highland dress became deeply tied to Scottish identity.

But behind the ceremony, there’s a fascinating story of reinvention, image-making, and a little bit of royal drama.

[ID: 1 minute video exploring how King George IV's 1822 visit to Edinburgh helped transform tartan into a symbol of Scottish identity. End ID]

19/08/2026

The Fringe is in full swing in Edinburgh 🎭

Escape the crowds this summer with Mercat Tours.

Discover another side of Edinburgh. Explore the historic Canongate, uncover centuries of stories, and venture beneath the city streets into our atmospheric underground vaults.

From Outlander tales to Edinburgh’s darker history, there’s plenty to discover beyond the Fringe. Learn more about our Edinburgh Outlander Experience through the link in our bio.

[ID: 20 second video showing the contrast between the busy Fringe and the quiet side of the Canongate and Blair Street Underground Vaults. End ID]

17/08/2026

Escape the Fringe crowds and experience a quieter side of Edinburgh beneath the Old Town.

Our Historic Vaults Tours take you underground, where the stillness and atmosphere of these historic spaces offer a welcome break from the busy streets above.

15/08/2026

Today marks the birthday of Sir Walter Scott, one of Scotland’s greatest storytellers, a man whose words brought the nation’s history, legends, and landscapes to life.

From the winding closes of Edinburgh’s Old Town to tales of kings, battles, and intrigue, Sir Walter Scott helped shape how the world sees Scotland. His legacy can still be felt around every corner of the city he loved.

Join Mercat Tours and step into the stories behind the stones, uncover the people, secrets, and moments that made Edinburgh the legendary city it is today.

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

http://www.mercattours.com/

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