📌 Underground chambers in Gilmerton, City of Edinburgh
★★★
🛠️ Site appears to have been closed since the Covid-19 pandemic – reports welcome (checked May 2025)
Underneath what looks like an unremarkable betting chain shop on the main road through a southeastern suburb of Edinburgh there’s a big surprise. A network of hand-carved tunnels and chambers extend into the bedrock. Perhaps it was a smugglers lair. Or a drinking den. Or, ironically given the shop above it, a gambling parlour. The best part? All these theories abound as to their purpose, but no-one truly knows what they were used for. Tours are a little pricey considering the small dimensions of the underground space.
🌍 Location
📌 16 Drum Street, Gilmerton
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 293686
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.905626,-3.133125
🚌 Bus to Gilmerton
🚗 Street parking
📝 Key info
⌚ Weekends & some weekdays (see official website) by pre-booked guided tour only
🎫 £10 adult / £5 child
🔗 gilmertoncove.co.uk (website down at time of update)
