Real Mary King’s Close in Edinburgh

The Real Mary King’s Close is an old residential street that housed Edinburgh’s underclass in the 17^th century. In an interesting juxtaposition, the historic attraction lies underneath the magnificent Royal Mile, a luxurious part of the capital and home to the most important monuments of the Scottish ruling class. Although the ‘close’ (a street without through access) isn’t especially spectacular, its gruesome history makes the site entirely worth visiting.

You embark on an hour-long tour of the site, in which a role-playing guide conveys the grim details of 17^th-century life in old Edinburgh’s most undesirable residence. From grizzly ghost tales to the carnage brought about by the bubonic plague, Mary King’s Close will give you a new appreciation for the luxuries of the modern world.

Real Mary King’s Close in Edinburgh - one of the highlights of 11 Best Family Things to Do in Edinburgh and 12 Best Museums in Edinburgh (Read all about Edinburgh here)

What are the highlights and features of the Real Mary King’s Close?

The highlight of any trip to Mary King’s Close is the stories told by your enthusiastic guide. Each historical reenactor does an outstanding job of retelling the tales of the close while dressed in traditional garb from the era – rest assured, they won’t break character for a minute.

One of 4 characters – a foul clenger (someone who’s tasked with cleaning a plague victim’s home after an outbreak), a poet, a maid, or a doctor – will lead you through the dank, underground complex. Each is based on a real resident of the close in the 1600s. Every character brings a unique perspective to the tour, with tales of murder, pestilence, and misery among the most common themes.

The story that makes the most hairs stand on end is that of Annie; a young girl believed to have died of the plague. When Aiko Gibo, a renowned Japanese psychic, visited the close back in the '90s, she refused to enter one of its non-descript rooms due to ghostly forces residing inside. As Gibo finally plucked up the courage to venture in, she discovered the spirit of a young girl called Annie, who was longing to be reunited with her favourite doll. Visitors from around the world have since left dolls and other mementoes as gifts for the ghost of the little girl.

History of Real Mary King’s Close

Regardless of whether you believe the macabre stories of spirits and ghosts, Mary King’s Close is a legitimate historic site with a sordid past. The down-trodden district housed up to 600 residents in squalid conditions and was hit particularly hard by the bubonic plague. In an attempt to minimise its impact, a local plague doctor would saw off the site of a potentially infected wound and cauterise it with a red hot iron – a painful but effective technique to slow the spread of the disease.

In the early 20^th century, the last remaining inhabitants of the close moved out and government officials sealed up the area. The Royal Exchange – which you can still visit today – was constructed on top, and the close was all but forgotten until a team of excavators accidentally dug it up decades later. During World War II, Edinburgh residents huddled together in the underground chamber, using it as a bomb shelter while sirens blared over the city.

What’s good to know about Real Mary King’s Close?

Real Mary King’s Close can only be explored on a guided tour. But that doesn’t mean the budget traveller should give it a miss because tickets are reasonably priced. There are generous discounts for children, as well.

Be aware that the site certainly isn’t suitable for anyone with mobility issues as low ceilings and rough cobblestones make the tour tough going at times. The organisers don’t accept children below 5 years of age, so you’ll have to leave your toddlers at home.

The 1-hour tour runs several times a day, 7 days a week throughout the year, except on Christmas Day. Online bookings are highly recommended, especially during the busier summer months.

You can find the close just a block south of Edinburgh Waverley Station, making it easily accessible from virtually anywhere in the city. If you’ve got the time and inclination to indulge in more spooky thrills, the fabulous Edinburgh Dungeon is just a short walk away.