More Than Meets the Eye to our Tour Guides

Our tour guides quite rightly receive fantastic praise from our visitors, with 89% of our visitors in June 2012 rating them as 'very good' in our visitor research, but there's more than meets the eye to a lot of our brilliant team.

They come from all walks of life with some guides being students working with us on a part-time basis, a few are Mums returning to work after their little ones have started full-time education, quite a few are training to be actors and some have a background in history and archeology.  What they all have in common however is a passion for our unique attraction and a passion to tell the fascinating truth of Mary King's Close.

Don't be fooled into thinking they just follow a script.  Yes, they all start out with the same script of facts and stories but our guides put their own spin on the part of a full researched one-time resident of Mary King's Close.  

Agnes Chambers The Maid

Each tour guide character has its own distinct theme: Walter King is a Plague Cleaner, or Foul Clenger - a gritty soul who has one of the toughest jobs in Edinburgh's history.  Jonet Nimmo is the youngest daughter of Mary King and has had a comparatively easy upbringing on the Close (as easy as life could be in the 17th Century!).  Jonet is joined by Agnes Chambers, a maid in the Cant family home and witness to all the inside information on one of Edinburgh's most prestigious of families. Stephen Boyd is a wine merchant - who dresses in the finest cloth and will probably sell you some of his finest claret - and Robert Fergusson the Poet will give you the inside scoop on his greatest admirer, Rabbie Burns.

Research is always ongoing - if you have a question about the Close or 17th century Edinburgh you can just ask.  If we can't answer your question straight away, we'll find out the answer and let you know.

Jonet Nimmo, Mary King's Daughter

Anyway back to our tour guiding team, with August and the Festival Fringe in the offing, our team are heading into our busiest time of year (pre-booking strongly recommended at this time of year!).  But if that wasn't enough, some of them are starring in productions as part of the worlds biggest arts festival.  These productions are in no way connected to The Real Mary King's Close but if you're in town in August and looking for something a little bit different why not give these productions a try - 

Marc McKinnon (a Foul Clenger) in Smile-In Production's 'I Got It - An Actors Tale' at Stockbridge Parish Church from August 9th to August 11th 2012 at 7.30pm

Paul Vickers (another Foul Clenger!) in his own absurdist comedy show 'Twonkey's Kingdom' at the Alternative Fringe at the Hive from August 2nd to August 26th 2012 at 3pm (disclaimer: not for the easily offended!)

Connor Jones (Stephen Boyd) stars in Two Squared Production's  'Wind in the Willows' at Paradise in Augustines on George IV Bridge from August 14th to 19th 2012 at 18.50

For more information on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe click here (other productions are available!)
 

Only Street in Edinburgh Where It Never Rains....

Our first blog post comes on the same day that our brand new 'street promotion team' hit the Royal Mile and the streets of Edinburgh.  It also comes on one of the wettest days of the month so far...and that's really saying something given the dreadful weather July has given our fair city! The new team truly have their work cut out today!

The Real Mary King's Close - dry and rain-free!

Although we may moan and groan about the wet and wild weather that has been battering the city in recent weeks, the residents of Mary King's Close back in the days when it was open to the skies may have been grateful for the extra water in order to flush the 'nastiness' from the twice daily 'gardez-l'eau' sessions on the Close into the dank and reeking Nor' Loch in what is now Princes Street Gardens. 

However, for our visitors today, keeping dry is a real challenge!  A visit to the Close is providing an entertaining one hour respite from the elements and our doors remain open until 9pm this evening!

Walter King models the RMKC Poncho outside St Giles Cathedral

You can even sport one of our attractive ponchos to keep dry, adorned with the Plague Doctor (as modelled here by Walter King, one of our resident Foul Clengers! 

If you are passing by the attraction today, keep an eye out for Roberta, Mass and Douglas who will be out on the streets every day ready to welcome visitors to the city! Flash them your best smile as they work out in the challenging conditions on the Royal Mile!

Today the Real Mary King's Close is very much the only street in Edinburgh where it never rains!  

(If you're planning on sheltering from the rain in the next few days with us, you're best to prebook to avoid disappointment)