7 Great Places to Stay in Edinburgh While You’re Hunting Ghosts
Welcome, fellow history hunters and mystery lovers, to Edinburgh. Here you will find 7 great places to stay in Edinburgh that will deeply satisfy your curiosity and tempt you to visit, spend the night, and raise a necessary dram if not a cocktail with the city’s spectral residents.
Step off the bustling Royal Mile and listen. Do you hear the faint whispers echoing up from the damp, ancient closes? Can you feel the weight of centuries settling around you like a heavy shroud?
Edinburgh, Scotland’s proud capital, is a city of stunning beauty and fierce historical pride. But beneath the towering spires and the majestic castle walls lies a chilling, darker narrative. This is a city that never fully buries its dead.
If you want to truly connect with the blood, bodies, and poltergeists of the past, you need to go beyond the gift shops. This is your essential guide to where Edinburgh’s darkest history is not just displayed, but actively haunts.
Sleep If You Dare – Haunted Hotels
Want to take the experience home with you? These unique stays offer history and a touch of the ethereal:
- The Witchery by the Castle – Located near Castlehill—a former site of witch burnings and public executions—this incredibly atmospheric, Gothic hotel is the epitome of luxurious darkness. Its dramatic, candlelit ambiance is designed to give you shivers before the ghosts even arrive.
- The Scotsman Hotel – This grand building, once the offices of The Scotsman newspaper, is said to be haunted by a former printing press worker who roams the halls, reluctant to give up his old beat.
- The Alchemist – Fancy a cocktail with a twist? Visit the Alchemist in St James quarter Edinburgh HERE where the dark world of theatre is served.
7 Great Places to Stay in Edinburgh
The Double Tree by Hilton is where I stayed last(2025) and really couldn’t fault it. Rooms are comfy, clean and bright. HERE
The Kick Ass Hotel and Bar – Hostel type accommodation, young vibe, fun. HERE
Hotel Du Vin – Looking for something a bit up-market? Modern, classic, bistro dining. HERE
Apex Grassmarket Hotel – Want great views of the cathedral? Something with a gym, pool, and sauna?And family friendly HERE
Virgin Hotels – Contemporary design in a 19th century building! HERE
The Radisson Collection – With traditional Scottish flair, they say a warm welcome awaits you! HERE
Stay Central Hotel – Boutique style, this little place offers a free bottle of proseco and best rates when booking. HERE
Learn about the sad story of Margaret Dixon – The Hanged Woman of the Pub!
Surgeons’ Hall Museums: Anatomy and the Unquiet Dead
Edinburgh was a city of enlightenment, a hub of medical advancement—but this progress often came at a terrifying cost. The following museums preserve relics of genuine historical horror. And there is plenty to see – you might find a night or two not enough time to see everything, being organised and planning your stay is a must, as there is lots of walking but you won’t believe how many steps you’ve managed to clock up as there is so much to engage your curiosity around every corner.
If you want to understand the grim reality of 19th-century Edinburgh, start here. The Surgeons’ Hall Museums, located in the city’s historic surgical centre, are not for the faint of heart.
The Story: In the 1820’s, the demand for cadavers to supply Edinburgh’s burgeoning anatomy schools far outstripped the legal supply. This crisis birthed the most notorious crime duo in Scottish history: William Burke and William Hare. They didn’t just rob graves; they murdered at least 16 victims, often poor and vulnerable people, specifically to sell their bodies to Dr. Robert Knox’s anatomy lectures. This practice, known as “Burking,” left an indelible stain on the city.
What You’ll See – The museums today display incredible medical artifacts and specimens. However, the most chilling objects are those directly related to the infamous murderers:
- The Death Mask of William Burke, taken after his public execution in 1829.
- Disturbing items, including a pocketbook, rumoured to be bound in leather made from Burke’s own skin!
To walk these halls is to feel the phantom chill of desperation and scientific ambition gone terribly wrong.
To truly immerse yourself in the city’s ghostly reputation, you must walk the ancient paths and, perhaps, even spend a night with the residents who refuse to leave.
In the shadow of the castle, this ancient graveyard is beautiful—and profoundly unsettling. While tourists flock to see the statue of Greyfriars Bobby, we are heading for the dark heart of the cemetery – The Covenanters’ Prison.
Truly Haunting – The Mackenzie Poltergeist Here lies Sir George Mackenzie (nicknamed “Bluidy Mackenzie”), a ruthless 17th-century persecutor of the Covenanters (members of a 17th century Scottish religion). His elaborate Black Mausoleum sits adjacent to the prison enclosure where he once imprisoned over a thousand Covenanters, leaving them in horrific conditions.
Since the tomb was disturbed in the late 1990’s, the surrounding area has become internationally famous for alleged aggressive poltergeist activity. Documented reports include:
- Unexplained cuts, scratches, and burn marks appearing on visitors.
- Sudden dizzy spells and fainting.
- The sensation of being hit or pushed by an unseen force.
If you seek genuine, palpable spiritual energy, the section of Greyfriars surrounding the Black Mausoleum is where history’s cruelty still resonates.
Carry the Torch of History
Edinburgh does not treat its history like a dusty relic; it wears it on its sleeve, literally building its modern life on top of the old. By visiting these museums and haunted sites, staying a night or two, you aren’t just taking a ghost tour—you are connecting directly with the harsh, authentic reality of the people who walked these cobbled streets centuries ago.
They are waiting for you. Until next time dear friend x
Which of Edinburgh’s dark secrets will you seek out first? Have you ever had a chilling encounter in the Old Town? Let us know!
