Edinburgh is famous for its many haunted locations and ghost walks that guide tourists through spooky backdrops as they listen to scary stories. The unsettling atmosphere of the underground streets at Mary Kings Close, for example, sees visitors walk through the Blair Street Vaults in the eerie quiet which can leave anyone feeling jumpy.
While it's fun to tease and mock these tours and their tales, many have been passed down through generations and their unsolved mysteries reflect a much more sinister, bloodier Edinburgh. Indeed, past the Instagram-worthy cobbled streets and Georgian architecture we see today lie dark secrets that reflect Edinburgh’s grisly past.
Here are 13 creepy facts about Edinburgh that you (probably) didn’t know.
13. An event at Edinburgh Castle inspired the 'red wedding' from Game of Thrones
In 1440, the Earl of Douglas and his younger brother David were invited to dine at Edinburgh Castle. Their host was James II but the event was put together by the Chancellor of Scotland who didn't want to see the Douglas clan become too powerful. In the middle of the dinner party, the head of a black bull was dropped in the middle of the table and this was the signal for the slaughter to commence. The two young Douglas men were taken away for a mock trial before being beheaded. This was George R.R. Martin's inspiration for the notorious 'Red Wedding' in Game of Thrones. Photo: Michael D Beckwith via Wikimedia Commons