Full description
A theatrical night-time sightseeing tour through Edinburgh's dark side aboard a classic Routemaster bus, with live guides and actors revealing the city's most gruesome history
The Edinburgh Ghost Bus Tour is a theatrical sightseeing tour that takes passengers through the darker side of Edinburgh. Aboard a classic 1960s Routemaster bus, an eccentric conductor guides the ride while live actors bring the city's gruesome history to life: witches, grave robbers, the plague and, of course, the ghosts said to haunt one of the most haunted cities in Europe. A mix of comedy and horror designed to uncover Edinburgh's darker and more unusual secrets.
The route passes some of the city's most iconic sites, including Edinburgh Castle, the New Town, Grassmarket, Greyfriars Kirk, the Old Town, Holyrood Palace and the Royal Mile. Along the way, the conductor points out where murders, torture and executions took place, and where restless spirits are said to still linger. Guests hear about Edinburgh's grisly past, from Burke and Hare to the hundreds of women drowned or burned as witches.
The bus itself is part of the experience: it's the sole survivor of the original Necropolis Bus Company fleet, a private funeral bus service that operated from the 19th century carrying the deceased, pallbearers and mourners to their final resting place. Painted in the traditional midnight black of all Necropolis Routemaster buses, it still carries decorative features such as lamps and window curtains. In 1967 the entire fleet was destroyed in a mysterious fire — only this bus survived.
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Additional information
● Arrive 20 minutes early to ensure a prompt departure
● Children aged 16 and under must be accompanied by a paying adult
● Children under 5 travel free, at parents' risk, with only one child under 5 allowed per paying adult
● The provider takes no responsibility for items left on board or for personal belongings damaged or lost during the tour
● Smoking, eating and drinking (other than bottled water) are not permitted on the bus
● The buses are classic 1960s Routemasters and are not wheelchair accessible
● There is no toilet on board
● Some tours include an optional 15-20 minute stop near a graveyard, where guests may disembark at their own discretion and risk; the provider takes no responsibility for incidents occurring outside the vehicle
● Due to traffic and possible road closures, it may not always be possible to see every landmark advertised on the route
● The provider reserves the right to refuse admission to intoxicated persons or those behaving abusively or threateningly towards staff; in such cases no refund applies
● As these are historic vehicles, mechanical issues can occur; in the event of a breakdown the provider will attempt a fix or deploy a replacement vehicle within 90 minutes, and refunds are only guaranteed after that period
● A family ticket is available, including 2 adult tickets + 2 child tickets
● The activity may be affected by external causes beyond the provider's control
● The provider is not responsible for any physical injury or loss or damage of personal belongings during the experience
Inclusions
✔ Themed bus tour with guide/conductor
✔ Professional actors on board
Exclusions
✖ Hotel pickup or drop-off
✖ Transport to the meeting point
✖ Gratuities (optional)
✖ Admission tickets, meals and drinks unless expressly stated in the tour inclusions
✖ Other services not specified
Cancellation Policy
Once booked, the purchase is non-refundable.
Meeting point
7-9 George IV Bridge, EH1 1EG, just outside Edinburgh Central Library. Passengers should arrive at this point 20 minutes before departure time