Tag: Edinburgh History

Did you know that many of the guides who lead The Real Mary King’s Close tour are also working actors? Safe to say, this is a particularly exciting day for them… because it’s OFFICIALLY THE START of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe! Look anywhere around Edinburgh, and you’ll see flyers galore advertising theatre, comedy, magic, circus …

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Is Mary King’s Close the same as the vaults? It’s a question that Edinburgh’s Tour Guides are more than familiar with. Mary King’s Close and the vaults certainly share a reputation for existing as part of Edinburgh’s hidden “Underground City”. But they are not one and the same. Header image © Gabby Secomb Flegg In …

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In Partnership with Kinloch Anderson. 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of The Real Mary King’s Close. To commemorate two decades of running tours, we’ve been looking back at our more recent past to celebrate the people who have helped to make our attraction the 5-star visitor experience that it is today. A large part of …

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We’re halfway through Whisky Month! And there’s still time to catch our A Dram of History tour. The experience is one of our most popular events at The Real Mary King’s Close. Not only does it include our Standard 1-Hour Tour experience, but also a 30-minute whisky tasting led by local whisky ambassador, Kenneth (‘Ken’) …

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Did you know that Edinburgh’s ale brewing history dates back to the 12th century? Or that it was historically women who practised the trade? Read on to find out why brewing ale was essential to life in Edinburgh, and what happened for the industry to change hands from female entrepreneurs to men… To celebrate the …

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To celebrate Women’s History Month this March, we are re-launching Herstory Tours at The Real Mary King’s Close! Join us as we celebrate the inspiring women who once lived, worked and shared ideas on the streets now hidden beneath the Royal Mile. All women in Early Modern Scotland were bound by strict legal restrictions over …

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Edinburgh is making sure that January starts the year off with a bang! Undeniably, there are plenty of events and occasions to start the year right. Make sure to check out these amazing “Things to do” this month. Burns & Beyond Burns & Beyond is a celebration of the great Poet Robert Burns through traditional …

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Gin is an incredibly popular drink now, but the craze began in the 1700s. Delve into the fascinating history of gin in Edinburgh. The Arrival of Gin in Edinburgh Gin was imported through the docks of Leith. It was the closeness to the docks that helped the gin trade flourish because distilleries were usually close …

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This June we are celebrating Pride Month. You can hear the real stories of Edinburgh’s former residents, in partnership with LGBT Youth Scotland. Here is an introduction to Robert Fergusson and Sophia Jex-Blake, who you will meet on our Pride History tours. Robert Fergusson Born in Edinburgh in 1750, the poet inspired the work of …

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