Re-Defining the Walking Tour: Launching a Multi-Sensory Experience

Mercat Tours launches the UK's first fully immersive multi-sensory walking tours, combining traditional storytelling with authentic sounds and scents from Edinburgh’s rich history.

01 April 2025, Edinburgh, UK:  Mercat Tours, Edinburgh’s premier storytelling experience provider, has unveiled a groundbreaking innovation to mark its 40th anniversary. The new spring and summer programme, launching from 1 April, introduces the UK's first-ever multi-sensory walking tours, creating an unparalleled immersive experience of Edinburgh’s remarkable history.

In a first-of-its-kind approach, guests will be transported back in time through sight, sound, and scent with the local, independent family business. Their award-winning master storytellers will live-curate authentic soundscapes via state-of-the-art TourTalk headsets, featured across both the historic Old Town walks and darker-themed underground Vaults tours. From the distant echoes of bustling markets to the eerie scurrying of unseen creatures, the master storytellers intuitively select sounds to enhance their live narration. No two tours will be alike, offering a tailored journey every time as technology blends seamlessly with tradition.

For those guests who choose to descend into the depths of Edinburgh’s Blair Street Underground Vaults, exclusive to Mercat Tours, a further immersive layer awaits. Here, a bespoke scent, custom crafted by sensory specialist Ecoscent, will evoke the past of Edinburgh’ Old Town. This distinctive fragrance creates a mingle of scents such as candlewax, leather, and woodsmoke with the natural aromas of the city’s forgotten underground streets and workshops, enhancing the atmospheric experience.

Kat Brogan, Managing Director of Mercat Tours, said:

"Mercat Tours was founded 40 years ago on the belief that ‘history is a damn good story, what it needs is a damn good telling’, and these new, truly immersive tours take that ambition to the next level. By crafting the experience live, our expert storytellers now have even greater power to stimulate the senses creating a deep, emotional connection to the city’s history.  The result is a more real, personal and enduring memory formed than ever before.

“Our new storytelling experiences are an exciting UK-first for walking tours and is the latest example of how high and far we reach to guarantee a premium experience. Fundamentally Mercat Tours is and always will be about making connections between people and the past through the ancient human craft of storytelling.  Here technology acts in the service of tradition for an entirely unique experience where stories, sounds and scents will conjure memories forever.  From becoming the UK's first visitor attraction to achieve B Corp status last year to now pioneering this new multi-sensory storytelling approach, at Mercat Tours, we never stand still."

Storyteller Tania Dron, co-creator on the new immersion project, said: 

“I've loved researching and creating sounds and music to weave through our tours.  I can't wait for our visitors to experience the heartbeat of our city as we flow from stories to sounds through the sites.  As the master of the experience, we Storytellers will now be conductor and artist too which is a real privilege. This isn't just storytelling, this is time travel for the imagination!”

Independent and family-run Mercat Tours offer a wide range of small group tours, lasting from approximately one to just over two hours, catering to diverse visitor itineraries, interests, and accessibility requirements. With multiple daily departures, Mercat is committed to accessibility and inclusivity, with tours featuring tailored experiences, including tactile elements and enhanced audio descriptions to accommodate neurodivergent visitors and those with visual impairments, ensuring everyone can enjoy the magic of Edinburgh’s fascinating history, their way.

Mercat Tours' dedication to excellence was recognised just days ago at the prestigious Scottish Excellence Awards. Celebrating their ongoing commitment to their team, Mercat Tours proudly received both the Employee Engagement Award and the Employee Wellbeing Award, highlighting the company's exceptional workplace culture and continued investment in team wellbeing.

The new immersive tours will feature on Mercat's History Walks and Ghost Tours from 1 April. Adult ticket prices starting from £25, with child and concession rates available. As a special memento, visitors will receive a curated playlist featuring the authentic sounds from their tour, allowing them to relive the memories long after their visit. Book a tour today and delve into Edinburgh's history.