Contagion & Carnage: The Plague Tour

  • 1st - 28th Apr 2026
  • Friday - Saturday
  • 1 hour
  • £30 per adult & £24 per child
  • No under 5 year olds
  • Audio guides are available for our tour in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin, Dutch, Portuguese, Polish and Hungarian.

A Journey into Edinburgh’s Darkest Days

Beneath the cobbled streets of the Royal Mile lies a world trapped in time. Step into the shadows and explore the grim reality of Edinburgh’s plague years in a spine-chilling, immersive experience.

The year is 1645. The bubonic plague has gripped the city. Families are staying inside their homes. Plague doctors are treating the sick. Desperate souls, meanwhile, turn to remedies more terrifying than the disease itself. So how did the people of Mary King’s Close survive? What methods did they rely on? And is there any truth to the legend of the plague doctor with the beaked mask?

On Contagion & Carnage: The Plague Tour

One of our costumed character guides will lead you through Edinburgh’s hidden underground. Along the way, you’ll meet the city’s infamous plague doctor. Moreover, you’ll uncover the true story of the ‘foul clengers’ who risked their lives to clean infected homes. You’ll also hear shocking details of 17th-century treatments—some of which are best left in the past.

Thanks to the eerie setting, captivating storytelling, and fascinating historical insight, this unforgettable tour plunges you into a world shaped by disease, superstition, and survival. As a result, you’ll leave with a deeper understanding of Edinburgh’s darkest days.

What’s Included?

  • A one-hour guided tour through the eerie, underground streets of The Real Mary King’s Close
  • Immersive storytelling from costumed guides who bring the past vividly to life
  • A chance to meet Edinburgh’s plague doctor and discover the strange medical theories of the era
  • A walk through history in an authentic, atmospheric setting that makes you feel part of the story

Do you dare face the plague-ridden shadows of The Close? Book now and uncover the haunting history of Edinburgh’s most infamous hidden streets.

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