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The Real Mary King's Close

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The Real Mary King's Close

High Street (Royal Mile), Edinburgh (EH1 1RW) • Lothian

star4.7(28,400)
Lothian
🕳️ Hidden Subterranean Medieval Street 🗣️ Brilliant Costumed Character Guides 🏚️ Perfectly Preserved 17th-Century Homes 👻 Haunting Myths and Legends
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scheduleDaily: 09:30 – 19:00 (Tours depart every 15 minutes. Open later during August/Fringe season)

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Secure Your Advance Time Slot

Because tours are strictly limited to 20 people due to the cramped underground spaces, this attraction sells out almost every day. Secure your exact time slot in advance here.

Standard £25.00
£25.00/ person
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Getting Here

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Location Address

High Street (Royal Mile), Edinburgh (EH1 1RW)

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Public Bus Services

Local bus lines operate frequent daily services directly to stops adjacent to the attraction entrance.

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Regional Transit Links

Connections
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Edinburgh Waverley Station

Walking

5 min walk
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Edinburgh City Centre

Lothian Buses (To North Bridge or George IV Bridge)

10 min

About The Real Mary King's Close

One of the most unique historic attractions in the world. When the City Chambers were built in the 18th century, they simply lopped the top off several medieval streets (closes) and built on top of them. The result is a subterranean, perfectly preserved 17th-century neighborhood. Led by brilliant costumed character guides, visitors descend beneath the Royal Mile to explore dark, cramped, myth-filled underground alleyways, plague-stricken homes, and the devastating realities of life in 1600s Edinburgh.

Quick Facts

  • 🕳️Hidden Subterranean Medieval Street
  • 🗣️Brilliant Costumed Character Guides
  • 🏚️Perfectly Preserved 17th-Century Homes
  • 👻Haunting Myths and Legends
  • scheduleDaily: 09:30 – 19:00 (Tours depart every 15 minutes. Open later during August/Fringe season)
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Insider Tips

  • check_circleNo photos allowed: Put your phone away. Due to the dark, cramped conditions and the flash blinding the guides, photography is strictly banned on the tour.
  • check_circleWear flat shoes: You will be walking on 400-year-old uneven cobblestones and navigating steep, historic stone staircases. High heels are a serious safety hazard here.
  • check_circleNot suitable for buggies: Because of the 58 steps down and 38 steps up, there is absolutely no wheelchair or buggy access. Furthermore, children under the age of 5 are not permitted on the tour.
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What to Expect

1. The Descent

After a brief introduction, you will walk down a modern staircase (58 steps) into the 17th century, immediately feeling the temperature drop and the light fade.

2. The Plague Doctor

Learn the grim reality of the 1645 plague outbreak. Your costumed guide will explain how victims were treated, quarantined, and often left to die in these exact rooms.

3. Annie's Room

Enter the most famously 'haunted' room on the tour. In the 1990s, a psychic claimed to speak to the ghost of a little girl named Annie here. Visitors now leave thousands of dolls and toys in the room for her.

4. The Underground Street

Walk out of the claustrophobic houses and onto the actual cobblestone street of Mary King's Close, looking up to see where the 18th-century ceiling cut the street off from the sky.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Real Mary King's Close scary? expand_more

It is atmospheric and slightly spooky, but it is NOT a scare attraction. Unlike the Edinburgh Dungeon, there are no actors jumping out at you. It is a historically accurate storytelling tour.

Is Mary King's Close claustrophobic? expand_more

Yes, it can be. You are underground in 17th-century rooms with low ceilings, narrow doorways, and no natural light. If you suffer from severe claustrophobia, you may find it uncomfortable.

Can I take a baby or toddler to Mary King's Close? expand_more

No. For health and safety reasons regarding the dark, uneven stairs, children under the age of 5 are strictly not permitted on the tour.

Explore the Area

The Edinburgh Dungeon

The Edinburgh Dungeon

Located directly next to Waverley Station, the Edinburgh Dungeon is a high-energy, 80-minute walkthrough experience. It uses brilliant live theatrical actors, highly detailed sets, special effects, and two thrilling underground rides (a boat ride and a sudden drop ride) to tell the gruesome stories of Edinburgh's past. Visitors are plunged into total darkness and will encounter legendary characters like the cannibal Sawney Bean, the body snatchers Burke and Hare, and the local witches.

Camera Obscura & World of Illusions

Camera Obscura & World of Illusions

Situated directly next to Edinburgh Castle, Camera Obscura has been entertaining visitors since 1853. The experience starts on the roof inside the Victorian 'Camera Obscura' itself—a fascinating optical periscope projecting a live, moving image of the city onto a viewing table. Below this, there are five incredibly chaotic floors packed with over 100 hands-on optical illusions, light tricks, a mirror maze, and a dizzying vortex tunnel.

The Scotch Whisky Experience

The Scotch Whisky Experience

Situated right at the top of the Royal Mile just steps from Edinburgh Castle, The Scotch Whisky Experience is an interactive exhibition and tasting venue dedicated to Scotland's most famous export. Rather than focusing on a single brand, the experience educates visitors on all five whisky-producing regions of Scotland. The tour features a newly updated, high-tech immersive storytelling journey, an expert-led tasting, and culminates inside a breathtaking glass-and-marble vault housing one of the world's largest collections of Scotch whisky.

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Local Car Rentals

Explore the beauty of Lothian at your own pace. Hire a car from trusted agencies nearby.

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VW Polo or similar (Economy)

Manual • 5 seats • Hertz

£35/day
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Nissan Qashqai or similar (SUV)

Automatic • 5 seats • Enterprise

£68/day
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