★★★★★
"This was a truly immersive tour, I felt as though I was living within old Scotland at various points of the tour. A very unique and welcomed experience. Would definitely recommend to tourists and locals alike!"
About the Tour
Edinburgh's Criminal History
This self-guided audio tour takes you through the closes, courtyards, and cobbled streets where murderers operated, prisoners were hanged, and detectives finally caught their man — sometimes decades later. From the body-snatching trade that supplied Edinburgh's anatomy schools, to a 1977 double murder solved by DNA evidence 37 years on.
About the tour →
5 km
Distance
2.5 hrs
Duration
£11.49
Per Person
Your Guide
David Cunningham
27 years with Lothian & Borders Police and Police Scotland, retiring as a Detective Sergeant. Now a police advisor — most recently for Netflix's Department Q.
David in 1996 at the Scottish Police College
★★★★★
"Amazing tour! As a visitor to Edinburgh, I loved exploring parts of the city I would never have found myself. The retired detective narrator was excellent. His personal stories made everything feel real and kept me hooked. The memory and observation challenges were a fun touch, and the mix of old and modern crime stories was fascinating. Highly recommend if you enjoy true crime and want to see a different side of Edinburgh."
★★★★★
"The tour was amazing! Really informative and interesting, with plenty of stops at beautiful spots in Edinburgh. The crimes David talks about are fascinating to hear about, and it's so cool to hear it all coming from someone who has dealt with some of it as a Detective! I'd recommend this tour to anyone who's in Edinburgh and is interested in the crime and criminal history of the city."
★★★★☆
"Great insight into not only historic crimes, but more recent events too in which the narrator was directly involved within his role as a police detective in Edinburgh. Highly recommend."
★★★★★
"Very interesting and insightful to see a different perspective of Edinburgh and part of its history."
★★★★★
"The tour was really good! I got a better sense of Edinburgh, while learning all these interesting facts!"
The Route
Key Locations Through the Dark Heart of the Old Town
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Over 300 people were burned as witches on the Castle Esplanade — more than anywhere else in Scotland.
Ready to explore Edinburgh?
Download VoiceMap, buy the tour once, and walk the Old Town at your own pace — narrated by a retired Detective Sergeant who worked these streets.
Start Listening — £11.49- ✓ Works offline
- ✓ GPS-guided
- ✓ No booking required
- ✓ Go at your own pace
Available on
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
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The tour runs on the free VoiceMap app. Here's how to get it:
- Download the VoiceMap app from the App Store or Google Play — it's free.
- Search for "Edinburgh Crime Walking Tour" inside the app, or follow the link on this page.
- Purchase the tour for £11.49. It's a one-off payment — no subscription.
- Head to the start point and press Play. GPS guides you automatically between stops.
The tour downloads to your phone so it works offline — no signal needed on the day.
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At each stop, the VoiceMap app plays audio narration automatically when you arrive — you don't need to press anything. GPS tracks your location and cues the next stop when you're ready to move. You can pause, rewind, or skip ahead at any point. There's no fixed start time and no guide to keep up with.
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The tour costs £11.49 per person — a one-off purchase through the VoiceMap app. You can also access it via the Edinburgh Pass (3 tours for £18.99) or a UK Pass (5 tours for £29.99, or 20 tours for £74.49).
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The tour starts outside the Edinburgh Woollen Mill at the top of Cockburn Street, where it meets the Royal Mile. It ends at Castlehill at the top of the Royal Mile — an easy walk back down to Waverley Station. The full route covers approximately 5 km and takes around 2.5 hours at a relaxed pace.
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The tour is recommended for ages 16 and over. It contains detailed accounts of real historical crimes including murder, body-snatching, and references to violent assault. Under-16s are welcome to join at a parent or guardian's discretion, with the understanding that some content is graphic.
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Wear sturdy, comfortable shoes — the route includes cobblestones, steep inclines, and steps. A waterproof layer is always recommended in Edinburgh. Daylight hours are best; note that in winter it can be dark by 3:30pm. Summer evenings offer extended daylight and a different atmosphere entirely.