The Real Mary King's Close in Edinburgh: photos, reviews

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Top Choice Award

2025 Historical Buildings

Step back in time at The Real Mary King's Close in Edinburgh, where history comes alive beneath the city's bustling streets. Situated off The Royal Mile, this captivating attraction offers an informative and entertaining glimpse into Edinburgh's storied past. The guided tours, conducted by a team of witty and knowledgeable guides such as Ryan, Rachel, and Daisy, weave fascinating tales of the close's former residents, as well as legends and lore that have survived the centuries. Perfect for families, the 1-2 hour experience is designed to engage visitors of all ages, making history accessible and fun. With its impressive 4.5-star rating, it's an experience that promises to be both enlightening and memorable.

Recommended visit time

1-2 hours

Features

Suitable for children

How to get here?

The nearest public transport options for your convenience.

Museum of Childhood

Bus stop 296 m walk

Royal Mile Cashmere

Bus stop 163 m walk

North Bridge (Stop NC)

Bus stop 314 m walk

Chambers Street

Bus stop 301 m walk

South Bridge

Bus stop 243 m walk

Victoria Street

Bus stop 165 m walk

4.5

based on 18,196 reviews

Google

4.5/5 15,212 reviews

Facebook

4.6/5 2,984 reviews

steve5221

Our tour guide was captain Josh sparrow. The captain was very funny, bubbly and very informative. To discover how people lived in Edinburgh was very interesting. The poverty and squalor they endured and the horrible smells they lived amongst was astonishing. We even got to take a photo down the famous Mary kings close. Defo would recommend to anyone and well worth the money. The shop had some very interesting items to buy l, which we did.

andrew park

An excellent tour by Erin, our 400 year old guide.

Ksya Chanchikova

Unforgettable experience! We came with three kids (9, 13, 14) and they loved every moment. Our guide, Captain Josh Sparrow, was simply amazing – funny, super engaging, and full of energy, he kept everyone hooked and answered all questions. You can’t take photos inside, but honestly you don’t need to – the stories and atmosphere stay with you. 100% recommend!

The Real Mary King's Close in Edinburgh

About

Recommended visit time

Features

How to get here?

Reviews and Ratings