Even our resident spirits were a little starstruck last week when the cast of the West End smash-hit Fawlty Towers descended into our underground vaults for a late-night Edinburgh Terror Tour.

Fresh from a sell-out run and a schedule packed with laughter, the cast swapped the spotlight for shadows, stepping into the darker side of Edinburgh’s history for a private tour that was equal parts hilarious and hair-raising.

From the West End to South Bridge

Nearly fifty years after the sitcom first aired in September 1975, Fawlty Towers is back at it, delighting audiences this time on stage. The production has enjoyed a successful West End run and is now taking its chaos on the road.

Adapted by the show’s original writer and star, John Cleese, and directed by Caroline Jay Ranger (also known for Only Fools and Horses: The Musical), the stage version captures the quick-fire misunderstandings, physical comedy, and escalating disaster that made the original a national treasure.

The West End cast includes Danny Bayne as Basil Fawlty, Hemi Yeroham as Manuel and Joanne Clifton as Polly. 

While performing in Edinburgh, Joanne reached out to arrange a Terror Tour, looking for something memorable to do with fellow cast members after the curtain call. We were delighted to welcome the group last Thursday, shortly after wrapping up the night’s show.

Joanne later took to social media to share the experience with her 120K followers:

“(We) had an absolutely amazing time… We learnt history, saw all the torture instruments and then down in the vaults with all the ghost stories and witchery!”

“So funny yet so spooky!”

The group were led by one of our top-rated guides, Diva, who took them down into the underground vaults, often described as one of the UK’s most unsettling subterranean spaces.

Joanne praised Diva’s skilful storytelling, adding:

“Our tour guide DIVA was incredible! We loved her so much. So funny yet so spooky!”

For a cast who know how to work a room, it takes something special to flip the energy from laughter to nerves.

Diva told us afterwards:

“It was just a wonderful experience. They were the best group you could wish for as a tour guide; funny, engaging, great energy. Very animated. They laughed at every joke. They were easily scared. The tour was effortless. Absolutely loved it.”

What happens on our Edinburgh Terror Tour

If you’ve never experienced our Terror Tour, here’s what you can expect:

You’ll begin with a walk down the Royal Mile into Edinburgh’s darker justice system and learn why the vaults were created.

Next, you will enter the Torture Exhibition to hear about our collection of grim devices dating back to the late 1500s and early 1600s.

Finally, you will descend into the vaults, known to be one of the most haunted sites in the UK. Discover the Witches Temple and the cursed stone circle…

If you’re after an Edinburgh ghost tour that blends history with theatrical scares, this is exactly it.

Want to experience your own night of terror?

Our Edinburgh Terror Tour runs every night at 9 pm and 10 pm, taking you beneath the city into the dark history hidden underground.

Whether you’re visiting Edinburgh for the first time, looking for a genuinely memorable night, or you want a spooky story that’ll follow you back to your hotel, this is one of the city’s most atmospheric ways to spend an evening.

Book your night of terror now.

Please note – these late-night tours are popular, especially on weekends and during festival periods, so booking ahead is recommended.

It was wonderful hosting the cast of the West End’s Fawlty Towers. You are welcome back anytime for more horror and hilarity. We wish you all the best in your future shows!