OUR EXPERIENCES
Mercat Tours runs both history and ghost walking tours through Edinburgh's Old Town, with exclusive access to the Blair Street Underground Vaults, the deepest and most extensive in the city. Our tours are rooted in the tradition of oral storytelling, led by award-winning Storytellers. We let the real stories of Edinburgh's past speak for themselves. Whether choosing a history or ghost tour, visitors will see a side to Scotland’s capital that many might miss.

ABOUT US
Mercat Tours believes in making meaningful connections by exploring history through the stories that connect people, places, and the past in a very human way. As a company, we live by what we call The Mercat Deal: vowing to be ‘Good for You, Good for Edinburgh’. Storytelling is good for your wellbeing, walking is good for you and the environment, and our ethical, Living Wage family business is good for our team and community. We strive to be as sustainable, accessible, and inclusive as we can be. Our team, visitors and locals of Edinburgh's Old Town are the Mercat community we’ve nurtured since 1985. Family values are at the core of what the Mercat Deal stands for, so you can trust what we say and do. Choosing Mercat Tours for your tour means supporting a responsible employer rooted in our local community. We’re proud to have achieved certified BCorp status in August 2024, demonstrating our commitment to positive impact.

OUR IMPACT
Mercat Tours promises to make diversity, equity, and inclusion part of everything we do - from the team we nurture, the visitors we welcome and history we share. Our commitment to People, Places and Planet is a priority; we’re a Fair Work and Living Wage Employer, we provide Skilled Worker Visa Sponsorship, and we’ve been awarded the Green Tourism ‘Gold’ Award since 2012, for our commitment to environmental and economic sustainability. Stories are powerful. They make connections between people, places and the past. Sadly, some people have lost that connection. Those in vulnerable communities can feel cut off from their city and their stories. The ‘Our Stories, Your City’ project created by Mercat Tours, in partnership with some of the most outstanding visitor attractions in Edinburgh, is a simple way for visitors to enjoy their own tour and donate the same to others who need it most. Through donations, award-winning Mercat Storytellers lead Grassmarket Community Project members and local school children from the most isolated communities in Edinburgh, on walking tours into premium heritage attractions. We believe that - through our work and with our visitors’ support - we can break down barriers, reduce harm, and improve social wellbeing. Tourism can be responsible, ethical and inclusive, and access to culture should not be limited to certain sections of society.

DETAILS
To learn more, contact: info@mercattours.com

What are your minimum and maximum group sizes?
1-18

Do you require visitors to pre-book?
No

Do you have group rates?
Yes

Do you pay commissions to travel advisors?
Yes

What languages do you offer your services in?
All of our regularly timetabled tours are in English. However, it may be possible for us to offer private French and German tours if the request is made at least 14 days in advance.

When are you open?
November – March: Daily, 12-10pm April – October: Daily, 9am-10pm Closed on 25th December.

What accommodations do you make for people living with disabilities?
We love welcoming visitors to Edinburgh and want to help with exploring and enjoying the city. We also understand that everyone has different needs and expectations - that’s why we have so many tours to choose from. There is something for everyone! All of our Storytellers are trained to adapt tours for visitors where needed. Our most readily accessible public tours are 'Secrets of Edinburgh's Royal Mile' and 'Ghostly Tales of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile'; fully accessible, overground history and ghost tours. Both of these tours are predominantly outdoors, and accessible for wheelchair users. We can provide transportable stools for those who may wish to sit between stories. Assistance dogs are welcome on all of our tours. We can also provide complimentary tickets for carers. To make it as easy as possible to see what our tours involve, we’ve developed our Mercat Tours Inclusivity Statement, available on our website. You’ll find lots of detailed information about tour routes, buildings visited and facilities available with clear dimensions and pictures to help you decide which is best for you.