The Real Mary King’s Close wins Attraction of the Year and Team Member of the Year at Continuum Awards 2026

Last week, members of The Real Mary King’s Close team travelled to Manchester for the annual Continuum Attraction of the Year Awards, an evening dedicated to celebrating the achievements of Continuum's attractions and the people who bring them to life.

We are delighted to share that we returned to Edinburgh with not one, but two awards.

Attraction of the Year 2026

The Real Mary King’s Close was named Attraction of the Year, recognising an exceptional year for the attraction across a range of key measures.

The award celebrates strong performance throughout the past year, including a 7% increase in visitor numbers, growth in turnover, a significant year-on-year increase in EBITDA, consistently excellent visitor reviews, high guest satisfaction scores, and outstanding operational performance.

Presented by Continuum CEO Andrew Pawson, the award is a testament to the dedication, passion and hard work of every member of our team, from our storytellers and guest services team to our operations, retail, marketing and support colleagues.

As one of Edinburgh's leading five-star visitor attractions, we are incredibly proud to receive this recognition from across the Continuum family.

Team Member of the Year 2026

The celebrations continued when our very own Mehdi Bel Abbes was named Team Member of the Year.

Mehdi's journey at The Real Mary King's Close is a wonderful example of resilience, personal growth and kindness. Over the past year, he has consistently delivered outstanding tours and memorable guest experiences, earning praise from both visitors and colleagues alike.

What particularly impressed the judges was Mehdi's team-first attitude. When awarded a staff recognition voucher, he chose to spend it on improvements to the staff room so that his colleagues could benefit too.

That simple act perfectly captures the spirit he brings to work every day.

The award was presented by Emma Searle, and we couldn't be prouder to see Mehdi recognised for the positive impact he makes across the business.

A reflection of the whole team

The award comes during what has already been a landmark year for The Real Mary King's Close. Earlier this year, we were named the 6th Best Tourist Attraction in the World in Tripadvisor's Travellers' Choice Best of the Best Awards, placing us alongside some of the world's most celebrated visitor experiences. Combined with these latest Continuum Awards, the recognition reflects the passion, expertise and commitment of our team, who work every day to bring Edinburgh's hidden history to life for visitors from around the globe.

Congratulations once again to Mehdi, and thank you to every member of The Real Mary King's Close team for helping make this achievement possible.

Here's to another exciting year ahead beneath Edinburgh's hidden history.