Outdoor ActivitiesFree
(Six feet) under the surface: the secrets of Greyfriars Kirkyard
September 9, 2023 5:00pm Greyfriars Kirkyard, 26A Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH1 2QQ
September 10, 2023 5:00pm Greyfriars Kirkyard, 26A Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH1 2QQ
September 16, 2023 5:00pm Greyfriars Kirkyard, 26A Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH1 2QQ
September 17, 2023 5:00pm Greyfriars Kirkyard, 26A Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH1 2QQ
A guided tour around the iconic Greyfriars Kirkyard to learn the stories of those that lie under the surface.
Commemorating the dead was once an artform, and nowhere is this more apparent than in Edinburgh’s famous Greyfriars Kirkyard. Despite being the final resting place for over 200,000 people, fewer than 750 monuments have stood the test of time. The headstones that endure look enigmatic at first glance, adorned with cryptic symbols that hint at hope, human mortality, and the uncertainty of what awaits us on the other side.
Join us on this walking tour as we unpack imagery, historical icons including past fellows of the RSE and the inevitability of death – memento mori – and discover why graveyards are (ironically) among the most life-affirming places you could visit.
Join Waiting ListAdditional Info
- The event will be presenter-led and the meeting place is by the Greyfriars Kirkyard sign to the inner left of the main gates on Candlemaker Row.
- The tours are suitable for anyone 12+. Younger children are welcome to join by parental discretion. ALL UNDER 16s MUST be accompanied and supervised by an adult.
- The tour will include references to death/dying and will take place in a graveyard. The tours will be conducted with the utmost respect for those interred in the Kirkyard and are intended for educational purposes.
- Attendees should note that tours will be conducted outdoors, on occasionally uneven (though paved) terrain. As a result, this tour may be less suitable for those with mobility issues.
- Appropriate footwear and outerwear are recommended.
- The tours will go ahead rain or shine, though we will cancel in the case of particularly poor weather and inform attendees the morning of the tour via email.
- Attendees will also be asked to abide by the designated pathways in Greyfriars Kirkyard to minimise damage to grass and other sensitive surfaces and to be mindful of other tours and graveyard visitors.
- If the weather is likely to be very hot, a hat and some water are advisable.
- The tour will accept well-behaved dogs on a lead.
- The event will be presenter-led and the meeting place is by the Greyfriars Kirkyard sign to the inner left of the main gates on Candlemaker Row.
- Please consider making a donation to one of the donation boxes on site – all proceeds go towards protecting Edinburgh’s public cemeteries and graveyards.