A hands-on encounter with 17th-century medicine.

Join Dr Arnott, one of the Close’s most prosperous residents, and uncover the curious methods behind his success. Through a guided tour and interactive workshop, put your senses to the test as you examine “samples” and create your own herbal remedy, just as his students once did.

Two hidden closes. One unforgettable morning.

Step beneath Edinburgh’s streets for a journey steeped in history. Explore The Lost Close, hidden for nearly two centuries, with a freshly brewed coffee in hand, before continuing to The Real Mary King’s Close to uncover the real stories of the city’s past residents.

Edinburgh, 1645. A city in crisis.

Join us at The Real Mary King’s Close to uncover the reality of life during the plague years. Led by a costumed guide, explore how residents endured disease, discover the role of plague doctors and foul clengers, and hear the true stories of survival beneath the city streets.

Raise a glass to Edinburgh’s hidden past.

Step beneath the Royal Mile for a guided journey through The Real Mary King’s Close, where stories of trade, community and whisky come to life. Then settle into one of our vaulted rooms to sample three distinctive drams, each paired with tales that bring Scotland’s national drink to the fore.

Hidden histories. Real stories.

Learn more about the lives and experiences of Edinburgh’s LGBTQIA+ community across the centuries. Through thoughtful storytelling, explore the preserved streets of The Real Mary King’s Close and discover the people who shaped the city’s past and present.

Real cases. Real consequences.

Step into The Real Mary King’s Close to explore the realities of crime and punishment in Edinburgh’s Old Town. Led by a specialist guide, uncover how offences, hardship and shifting laws shaped life on the closes, revealing stories rooted firmly in fact.

Where folklore meets the streets beneath your feet.

Enter a world shaped by belief, where tales of witches, spirits and superstition were woven into everyday life. Journey through the closes and discover how folklore and tradition left their mark on Edinburgh and those who called it home.

Step through Edinburgh’s past by lantern light.

Step beneath the Royal Mile and explore The Real Mary King’s Close guided only by lantern glow. As the light dims, uncover the real stories of those who lived and worked here, and experience the Close as it once was, where light was scarce, and history runs deep.

Step into a festive past beneath the Royal Mile.

Begin with a guided tour of The Real Mary King’s Close, then gather in a vaulted room to discover Victorian Christmas traditions with a member of the Chesney family. Enjoy tea, a traditional scone, and a hands-on craft as the stories of the season come to life.