Above & Below Edinburgh

From the hidden closes below to the stories above ground

Two perspectives. Two expert teams. One journey through Edinburgh’s layered past.

Above & Below Edinburgh is a unique two-part experience created in partnership by The Real Mary King’s Close and The Lost Close, combining an immersive underground tour with a guided walk through the historic streets of Edinburgh’s Old Town.

Your journey begins beneath the Royal Mile at 11.10, stepping down into the preserved streets of The Real Mary King’s Close. Led by a storyteller guide in period dress, you will explore original 17th-century spaces and hear the real stories of the people who lived, worked and survived here. Social history unfolds where it happened, rich with detail, atmosphere and human voices from the past.

The underground tour finishes at 12.10, bringing you back to street level. You will then have time to pause, explore, grab a bite or browse the shop before continuing your adventure above ground.

At 12.30, the second part of the experience begins. From the James Braidwood Statue, behind the Mercat Cross, you will join a tour guide from The Lost Close team for a guided walking tour through Edinburgh’s Old Town. This section includes approximately 40 minutes of guided walking, followed by around 20 minutes exploring The Lost Close itself, a series of underground vaults rediscovered in 2019 located directly opposite The Real Mary King’s Close.

Together, these two experiences offer a fuller picture of the city. What lies beneath, and what still lingers above.

Your experience includes

• A 1-hour guided tour at The Real Mary King’s Close (11.10–12.10)
• A guided Old Town walking tour led by The Lost Close’s expert guides (from 12.30)
• Time to explore The Lost Close, an underground hidden venue across from The Royal Mile
• Two distinct storytelling styles, two expert teams, one shared passion for Edinburgh’s history