The Real Mary King's Close

A guided underground tour of a preserved 17th-century street beneath the Old Town of Edinburgh, where a character guide recounts the lives of past residents. The visit is presented as a permanent display at The Real Mary King's Close.

The Real Mary King's Close presents the preserved remains of a 17th-century street that was built over when the city's Old Town was extended. Visitors walk through a labyrinth of underground alleyways, where the stories of people who lived, worked and died there are told in the course of a guided tour lasting around an hour.

The subjects covered include local myths and legends, the plague epidemic that struck the city, and a well-known royal visitor to the area. A character guide leads the group and shares accounts of the people who once lived beneath the streets, with an emphasis on what daily life was really like in the period.

The display suits visitors interested in social history and the everyday lives of earlier generations, and families who enjoy storytelling in an unusual setting. As the offer is a permanent display, people can come during the opening hours of the venue at any point the site allows, and the tour is run in a set format from start to finish.