Edinburgh History

For 400 years the Old Tolbooth stood on the Royal Mile as a seat of power, a prison and a place of execution. Discover the Heart of Midlothian.

In September 1736 an Edinburgh mob stormed the Tolbooth and hanged its most hated man in the Grassmarket. This is the story of the Porteous Riot.

From the Grassmarket gallows to the Maiden guillotine, discover the hidden history of public executions in Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital.

Meet the anatomist at the dark heart of Burke & Hare’s Edinburgh. Was Knox a scheming villain, an unwitting accomplice, or simply a man shaped by the brutal realities of 19th-century medical science?

Edinburgh’s most infamous duo, Burke & Hare live large in the popular imagination, here's everything you need to know about their fascinating story.

Introducing Edinburgh’s Real-life Jekyll & Hyde. By day, a respected city councillor, by night, an audacious thief.

Everything you need to know about one of Edinburgh’s most macabre chapters - the murky and gruesome history of grave robbery!

We’ve put together a list of our favourite atmospheric spots with ties to the city’s history of grave robbing that you can visit right now. Find out more here.