Haunted Edinburgh: Discover the City’s Spookiest Secrets

Last Updated on 7th October 2025 by Charlotte Nadeau

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There’s no question that Scotland’s capital city is one of the most beautiful in the world. Edinburgh is famed for its Gothic architecture, cobblestone streets, and iconic landmarks, and is steeped in rich history. But, beyond its scenery and heritage, Edinburgh is widely regarded as one of Europe’s most haunted cities…

Its dark past is filled with witchcraft, public executions, and the grim reality of hundreds of people crammed into underground closes, it’s no wonder ghost tours and haunted experiences in Edinburgh are some of the most popular attractions for visitors seeking spooky adventures. So, without further ado, here’s your ultimate guide to the spookiest spots and secrets of Edinburgh!

Why is Edinburgh so haunted?

Despite its beauty, it’s impossible to ignore that Edinburgh has a grim history. Plagued by literal plagues, poverty, and centuries of violence, it’s no secret that the city’s past is as dark and eerie as the narrow closes that run off from the Royal Mile.

Indeed, countless ghost stories, paranormal sightings, and haunted tales have been passed down through generations. On a cold day, you can almost feel the whispers and shivers of the past as you wander the Gothic cobblestone streets that snake their way through the Old Town.

Top Haunted Sites to Visit in Edinburgh

Edinburgh Castle

Perched atop a volcanic plug, Edinburgh Castle is one of the most iconic sights and the most visited attraction of the city. And, like many medieval fortresses,` the castle boasts a wider array of restless spirits that could make an appearance should you choose to visit.

The Lost Piper Boy

Back in the 17th century, a network of tunnels was found below Edinburgh’s famed Royal Mile, believed to be some kind of escape route in the case of a siege. But no one quite knew how far the tunnels led. Curious to explore, the city’s leaders decided to send someone small enough to go down and investigate, hence, the young piper boy.

The idea was that the young boy would play a tune on his bagpipes as he wandered down the tunnel, so that those above could follow his progress. However, at the Tron Kirk (halfway down the Royal Mile), his tune suddenly stopped, and he was never seen again. The tunnel was then sealed… but it’s said that faint echoes of the piper’s tune can still be heard along the Royal Mile to this very day.

The Grey Lady

Arguably one of the most tragic spirits said to haunt Edinburgh Castle is that of a mysterious 16th-century noblewoman. Witnesses claim she’s been seen drifting through the castle’s oldest halls, sometimes wandering aimlessly, sometimes quietly weeping, alone. And, it’s no wonder her ghost is filled with sorrow, given the grim fates of the women she’s speculated to be.

Some believe she could be Janet Douglas, Lady Glamis, a noblewoman who was cruelly accused of treason by King James V. Even at the time, people whispered that the charges were false and baseless. Yet, on the 17th July 1537, Janet was burned at the stake, while her young son was forced to watch. So as you can probably imagine, this would be due cause for her soul to linger.

However, others have insisted that ‘The Grey Lady’ is instead the spirit of Marie de Guise, mother of Mary Queen of Scots and one of the last defenders of Catholic Scotland. When Marie died in June 1560, her body was kept in Edinburgh Castle for months, sealed in a lead coffin to contain the smell. All the while, Protestant nobles argued over her fate. Eventually, her remains were allowed to return to France, but perhaps her spirit never left…

An unlucky prisoner

Other ghostly reports have told of a man with a distinct smell of manure who haunts the castle grounds and tries to push visitors over the castle’s battlements… so hopefully, you can smell him before he gets to you!

This is the story of an unlucky prisoner who hid in a wheelbarrow of manure, with hopes of making his lucky escape. However, what he didn’t know was that the wheelbarrow would be tipped over the battlements onto the jagged edges of Castle Rock… so you can likely imagine how that turned out.

Mary King’s Close

Mary King’s Close is named after a 17th-century merchant who resided there. It refers to a labyrinth of underground streets and alleyways in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, which was once a bustling neighbourhood of traders and everyday life. In the 18th century, the close was partially buried to make way for the now City Chambers, which was built above it.

Over time, the close gained a dark reputation, as during a devastating plague outbreak, it’s said that some residents were sealed inside to stop the disease from spreading. Visiting the narrow close today, you can only imagine how grisly it must have been to be trapped down there.

Today, The Real Mary King’s Close is one of Edinburgh’s most popular underground attractions, offering guided tours that uncover the stories, struggles, and secrets of the people who once lived there. (See more about booking a tour below!)

Greyfriars Kirkyard

Believed to be one of the most haunted cemeteries in the world, Greyfriars Kirkyard first opened in 1562 to make space for more bodies when the old cemetery of St. Giles became overcrowded. So, following the Scottish Reformation, Greyfriars Kirkyard became the city’s main burial ground. Greyfriars takes its name from the Franciscian friary “Grey Friars” that once stood on the site.

This cemetery is famed for many reasons, perhaps most notably for the little dog known as Greyfriars Bobby. The loyal Skye terrier kept vigil by his master’s grave for 14 years until his own death in 1872. Today, you can see a small statue dedicated to Bobby at the graveyard’s main entrance.

Another notable reason Greyfriars Kirkyard attracts so many visitors is for its fascinating connection to popular culture. Wandering among the weathered headstones, you’ll spot several names that might seem oddly familiar, most famously, Thomas Riddell, whose grave many believe inspired the name of “Tom Riddle,” the birth name of Lord Voldemort in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series.

But let’s get back to the point. There are remains of a locked section found in the graveyard today, and this points to the former Covenanters’ Prison, which held hundreds of Presbyterian rebels captured after the Battle of Bothwell Bridge in 1679. As you can probably guess, the conditions were awful, the prisoners were exposed to the harsh Scottish elements, starved, and many died where they were chained. It’s no surprise that this part of the kirkyard is now considered one of the most haunted spots in Edinburgh.

Another infamous spirit said to roam Greyfriars Kirkyard is that of Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh, a 17th-century lawyer notoriously nicknamed “Bluidy Mackenzie.” He earned this fearsome reputation for his ruthless role in the persecution of the Covenanters, overseeing the torture and execution of hundreds of men and women for their religious beliefs. Today, visitors claim the Mackenzie Poltergeist still lingers around his mausoleum, attacking various visitors of the site…

Edinburgh Vaults

Beneath Edinburgh’s Old Town lie a series of chambers built into nineteen archways. It was once home to the city’s forgotten souls and its darkest crimes… The Edinburgh Vaults or South Bridge Vaults were completed in 1788, their original purpose was to make space for taverns and tradesmen, and storage space for the merchants down there.

However, construction for the vaults was rushed, and so they were never sealed properly, meaning that every time it rained, they would inevitably flood. Therefore, the vaults were almost completely abandoned as early as 1795. In the years that followed, the damp, cramped and pitch black rooms were adopted and adapted by new users, serving as additional slum housing for the city’s poor.

With no sunlight, poorly circulated air, no running water, and of course, no sanitation whatsoever, you can probably guess that times down here were pretty grim to say the least. Many of the cramped spaces would house up to thirty people (and yes, they wouldn’t have been able to see each other in the space). Indeed, candles were for the wealthy, so the little light supplied by fish oil lamps, only further fuelled the stench.

And, if that wasn’t bad enough, the vaults became hotspots for crimes, including robbery, murder, and plenty of body snatching. The vaults were so notorious that even the city’s police refused to enter, leaving the underground maze to deteriorate and fester, a shadowy underworld hidden beneath Edinburgh’s bustling streets.

Eventually, the majority of the vaults were sealed for good and happily forgotten about for over a century. It wasn’t until the 1980s that they were accidentally rediscovered, reportedly by some drunk students, that Edinburgh’s long-forgotten dark past would be brought back to light.

Oyster shells to ward off witches

If you look very closely at the stonework in parts of Edinburgh’s Old Town, you may notice a shell or two embedded into the walls. Back in the day, there was a strong belief that these talismans were, in fact, protectors from witchcraft. It was strongly believed that witches were unable to cross water. Thus, oyster shells, taken from moving water, acted the same way and kept the witches at bay, protecting those who resided in the building.

On more practical terms, stonemasons would often use shells as a filler for gaps in walls, providing structural support. That, and oysters were used to create lime and concrete materials… so, it depends on what you wish to believe in!

The Witchery

Nestled at the top of the Royal Mile, just steps away from Edinburgh Castle you can find The Witchery by the Castle, a luxury hotel restaurant. Housed in a series of historic buildings that date back to the 16th century, the space is steeped in Gothic charm, with its dark wood paneling, candlelit halls, rooms and opulent décor. However, there is of course a spooky backstory to be told.

The Witchery is set within buildings that were once linked to alleged witches, clandestine societies, and even the city’s underground networks. Some claim that spirits of the former residents still linger in the halls, giving the restaurant a famously eerie atmosphere. But, it has to be noted, it’s one of the most famous and beautiful restaurants of the city to dine in, if you don’t mind a haunting…or two!

Half-Hangit Maggie

Maggie Dickson, though dark, is a true historical event wherein a young woman managed to survive her own public hanging! In the 18th century, the young fishwife from Musselburgh, decided to move away after her husband left the scene. She went to find work at an inn in Kelso. It was here that she would fall pregnant after a relationship with the innkeeper’s son.

Maggie concealed her pregnancy, and, sadly, when the baby came prematurely, she had no idea what to do, so she abandoned the body on the banks of the River Tweed. When it all came out, Maggie was tried in Edinburgh for infanticide and was duly hanged at a public execution in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket on the 2nd of September 1724.

After the hanging, chaos ensued, as friends and family clashed with medical students in desperate claims to her body for dissection. However, Maggie’s loved ones prevailed, placing her in a coffin and setting off toward Musselburgh for burial. During a stop at a roadside inn, the coffin lid began to stir. Much to their astonishment, Maggie was still alive. So alive in fact that the following day, she had recovered enough to walk the rest of the way herself!

As the sentence of the court was carried out, Maggie was free to go. After, she went on to live a long and happy further 40 years, and was known as ‘Half-Hangit Maggie’ for the rest of her days. Today, you can visit a pub on the renowned Grassmarket which is named after her.

Haunted Edinburgh Ghost Tours

One of the best things to do in Edinburgh in October, or generally speaking, the “spooky season”, is to embark on one of the many tours on offer. Listed below are some of the best tours to take and direct booking links:

Auld Reekie – The Vaults Tour: This tour is quite pricey for the amount of time it takes, which is just under one hour. However, Auld Reekie bought ownership of the vaults so it’s one of the only ways to visit them. That being said, the tour guide we had was exceptionally knowledgable, fun, and told lots of spooky and interesting tales.

The Ghost Bus Tour: The best way to see as many spooky sights in Edinburgh is by taking the ghost bus tour. Reviews have noted that the tour is very fun, informative, and the inside of the bus offers “an experience unmatched.”

Mercat Tours: This company offer a wide variety of tours, from history walking tours to spooky specials, including ghost tours, Halloween options and access to the Blair Street Underground Vaults. If you are looking for more fun and themed tours, I would opt to pick this company (lots of the tour guides dress up which can be fun too!).

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