The Real Mary King’s Close launches digital ticket kiosks

In a city known for its ancient stories, The Real Mary King’s Close is making a little modern history of its own.

We’ve just become the first attraction in Edinburgh to install self-service kiosks, making your journey into our hidden world smoother, speedier, and even more immersive.

Innovation beneath the cobbles

Tucked beneath the historic Royal Mile, we’ve always been experts at blending past and present. Our new digital tills, now in place in our admissions area, let guests book tickets on the spot. Whether you’re picking a regular visit, a flexi ticket, or one of our special tours, you can now do it with a tap, a swipe, and barely a queue in sight.

Even better? The kiosks are designed with the future in mind. Soon, you’ll be able to use them in multiple languages, making the Close even more accessible to our international visitors.

Paul Nixon, our General Manager, sums it up perfectly:

“It’s all about blending innovation with tradition, just as you’d expect from our pioneering team.”

A touch of tech, a twist of tradition

This isn’t just any kiosk setup. We’ve gone the extra mile (or should we say, the extra cobblestone) to ensure these additions feel right at home in our centuries-old surroundings.

Each kiosk has been beautifully mounted onto a custom whisky barrel, crafted by a local Edinburgh artisan. It’s our nod to Scottish heritage, making sure the past and present meet in perfect harmony.

And don’t worry. Our legendary five-star welcome isn’t going anywhere. These kiosks are here to support our team, not replace them. By handling the admin, they free up our crew to spend more time doing what they do best: storytelling, guiding, and bringing the secrets of Edinburgh’s underworld to life.

Raising the bar in more ways than one

The new self-service tills are part of an exciting collaboration with FuseMetrix, our long-standing business systems partner. They’re helping us sharpen the guest experience while capturing better data behind the scenes to personalise each visit.

Darren Darkins, CEO of FuseMetrix, is just as proud:

“The whisky barrels look fantastic, and the kiosks help reduce queues, give guests more control, and make the overall experience even better.”

This upgrade follows a record-breaking year for The Real Mary King’s Close. We welcomed over 282,000 visitors from 159 countries, setting a new high in our 20-year history.

Come see for yourself

So, next time you step down into Edinburgh’s hidden history, don’t be surprised to see a digital twist waiting for you. With local craftsmanship, a warm smile, and the same thrilling tales from centuries past, your journey just got a modern upgrade.

Ready to explore the Close your way?

Book your tickets now