About the Tour

• Discover the site of the infamous Calton Jail and the Canongate Tolbooth, where prisoners awaited trial and execution.
• Stand on the Heart of Midlothian mosaic, marking the entrance to Edinburgh's most notorious prison.
• Explore the haunting paths of Greyfriars Kirkyard, once targeted by body snatchers supplying cadavers to anatomy schools.
• Walk through the Grassmarket, where thousands gathered to witness public executions.
• Hear the remarkable story of William "Deacon" Brodie—the respected craftsman whose secret life as a burglar inspired Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
• Finish on the Castle Esplanade, a site linked to military executions, witch burnings, and some of the city's most dramatic moments.

On this 150-minute tour, you'll:

• Discover how the notorious World's End Murders were finally solved 37 years later through groundbreaking DNA evidence.
• Learn how Burke and Hare murdered 16 victims and sold their bodies to Edinburgh's anatomy schools.
• Visit Bakehouse Close, featured in Outlander, and hear how nearby Arthur's Seat became linked to a modern murder investigation.
• Stand where Queen Elizabeth II's coffin rested following her death and uncover the extraordinary policing operation behind the historic event.
• Hear the incredible tale of "Half-Hangit Maggie," who survived her own execution in 1724.
• Find out how a crucial piece of CCTV footage—minutes from being lost forever—helped solve a murder.
• Explore Greyfriars Kirkyard, including the resting places of Greyfriars Bobby and John Gray.
• Test your observation and memory skills with interactive challenges throughout the route.

This is more than a walking tour—it's a journey through Edinburgh's criminal underworld, told by someone who spent nearly three decades investigating it. Put on your headphones, follow the evidence, and uncover the stories that most visitors never hear.