Journey Back In Time
Imagine a warren of streets frozen in time, where centuries of stories are just waiting to be told. Discover authentic truths about Edinburgh's dark past, and find out what it was really like for the people who lived, worked, and died on the Close.
Experience The Close
Take a journey back in time and experience history through the eyes of the people who lived it.
Discover authentic truths about Edinburgh's dark past and find out what it was really like for the people who lived, worked and died on the Close
Explore The Close
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Guided Tours
Join our immersive guided tour and uncover the real stories of Edinburgh’s past beneath the Royal Mile.
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Dr. Arnott's Sampling Sensation
Become Dr. Arnott's students and uncover fascinating secrets of 17th century medicine.
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Contagion & Carnage: The Plague Tour
Step beneath the Royal Mile and uncover the terrifying reality of Edinburgh’s 1645 plague outbreak. Meet the plague doctor and explore the dark history of Mary King’s Close.
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Win a night at The Real Mary Kings Close
Enter the draw to win a once-in-a-lifetime overnight stay at The Real Mary King’s Close, with special access to tours in 2026.
Upcoming Events
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Guided Tours
- 1st Jan - 31st Dec 2026
- Monday - Sunday
Our award-winning guided tours offer a rare chance to explore the original 17th-century closes and rooms hidden beneath the Royal Mile, where untold secrets come to life.
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Closes & Coffee
- 1st Jan - 31st Dec 2026
- Saturday - Sunday
Step into an exclusive immersive experience from The Real Mary King’s Close and The Lost Close - sealed for nearly 200 years.
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Dr Arnott's Sampling Sensation
- 1st Jan - 31st Dec 2026
- Saturday - Sunday
Uncover the secrets of 17th-century medicine with Dr Arnott’s Sampling Sensation, as you become one of his students and concoct your own herbal remedy.
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Win a night at The Real Mary Kings Close
- 12th - 30th Mar 2026
- 12:00am - 9:00pm
Enter to win an overnight stay with special access to tours at The Real Mary King’s Close in Edinburgh. -
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Contagion & Carnage: The Plague Tour
- 1st - 28th Apr 2026
- Friday - Saturday
Step into the shadows and explore the grim reality of Edinburgh’s plague years in a spine-chilling, immersive experience.
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A Dram of History
- 1st - 31st May 2026
- Friday - Saturday
Descend beneath Edinburgh’s Royal Mile for an exclusive blend of hidden history and Scotland’s finest whisky
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Pride History Tours
- 1st - 30th Jun 2026
- Only on June 20th & 27th - 16.00 | 17.30
To celebrate Pride Month this June, The Real Mary King’s Close has re-launched its Pride History Tours.
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True Crime Tours
- 1st - 27th Jun 2026
- Friday & Saturday
Investigate real offences committed on Mary King’s Close…
Join our True Crime Tours to discover the darkest side of Edinburgh’s history.
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Myths and Legends Tour
- 1st - 30th Sept 2026
- Friday & Saturday
Step beneath the Royal Mile and enter a world where history and folklore intertwine. We will guide you through the Close, sharing tales that have shaped Scotland for centuries.
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Lantern Led Tours
- 2nd - 31st Oct 2026
- Every day, from 18.00
Descend beneath the Royal Mile this October on a lantern-led tour of The Real Mary King’s Close. Explore Edinburgh’s underground streets by candlelight, uncover chilling stories of past residents, and encounter mysterious characters who bring the city’s darker history to life.
Register for updates
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