Looking Forward to a Family Friendly February

February half-term can be a bit of an anti-climax. There is none of the glamour and excitement of Christmas and none of the spring charms of the Easter holiday. Instead, money is still often tight after Christmas, and the country is still in the grey grip of winter. This might leave you wondering what to do with the kids to keep them entertained!

In February 2015, The Real Mary King’s Close ever popular family ticket will be available for the whole month. This offer includes two adults and two children up to age fifteen (although children under five years old are not permitted). We listened to what our visitors were asking and we have noticed a distinct increase in family groups over the last couple of years. We thought this was a great time to save you some money and bundle your tickets together, saving a family of four a nifty seven
pounds.

Real life stories

As a light-hearted, spooky and entertaining day out, Real Mary King’s Close has great reputation among tourists. However, despite all the myths surrounding the close, we try our best to bring you a historically accurate experience of life in old Edinburgh. We bring a modern audience the stories of real people who genuinely existed during the darkest history of Edinburgh and we will regale you with tales, stories and truths about this period of Scottish history.

Our stories take place largely between the 16th and 18th centuries when people lived, worked and died in the underworld of Edinburgh Old Town. The experience will give you a realistic feel of what it was like to live and suffer the fates of those poor enough to be stuck in dark, narrow and cramped streets.

Booking your visit

Every day in February you can get your family ticket between the hours of 10am and 5pm at a cost of £35.70. Click here to book your ticket in advance. We aim to give families both far and near the chance to spend time with us during the half term holidays. So come and join us for some spooky family fun this coming February.

Welcome to Edinburgh and University Life

January isn’t just a month for finding a bargain in the January sales; it is also the start of the academic year for many students. Some cities don’t notice the sudden influx of new students roaming around taking in the city sights, but Edinburgh does. Edinburgh pays close attention to all the newbies looking to find their way around and navigate their new home. In fact, as a city, Edinburgh welcomes some six or so thousand students each year, all of which come flocking to Edinburgh looking to soak up the culture on those off-days when studying is the farthest thing from their minds.

Things to do

Navigating your new hometown can be extremely confusing, especially when you don’t always know where to go and what to do. Gathering your new friends together and hitting the streets can be the best way to find your way around your new home town.

If you are looking to learn about the rich history of Edinburgh then you’ll love a day trip to The Real Mary King’s Close. We will guide you through the fearful and disease-ridden historical underground streets of Old Edinburgh. We will transport you back to the 1600’s when crime and mayhem were the order of the day. In those dark days, Edinburgh was an every man for himself kind of city, and these cramped houses were dark places to be. Thankfully nowadays Edinburgh is an extremely friendly city and you will find plenty of people willing to share their local knowledge.

Don’t worry if English isn’t your first language, we also do a Spanish tour allowing you to join in on the experience. Students can also enjoy discounted entry with a valid student ID, leaving some extra cash for a lunch stop at one of the many delicious cafes nearby.

As Real Mary King’s Close is at the top of the Royal Mile, we are in the ideal position to help you enjoy many other tourist attractions. Edinburgh Castle is only a 10 minutes away and we are only a short walk away from the intriguing Camera Obscura. Check out our Visiting Edinburgh pages for more ideas to help you plan a day in the city.

Great Days Out in Edinburgh: Bring the Family to Meet Mary

When visitors come to The Real Mary King’s Close, they find a hidden warren of the ancient streets of Old Edinburgh. As an attraction, The Real Mary King’s Close has welcomed thousands of intrigued locals and tourists that are looking to learn more about the history of our picturesque city.

Special Family Ticket Deals

During December 2014 and January 2015, we are offering a special deal for family days out. Every Sunday, you can purchase a family ticket at a purse friendly price of £35.70 for a family of four. This is a splendid time to bring the kids as the whole family can enjoy time off together. Younger kids might want to skip this attraction however as it can often be a bit a spooky for them.

Looking for something to do inbetween Christmas and New Year can often be difficult as there is a lull after the excitement of Christmas. However, we don’t just provide some good old fashioned fun, the kids can also learn a thing or two about history as real life characters bring your tour to life. They won’t even realise how much they are learning as they hear the stories of families that lived on these streets. You can even entice your hard-to-scare teenagers as you enter a room filled with teddy bears, dedicated to a ghost child nicknamed ‘Annie’. This spooky area was ‘discovered’ by Aiko Gibo, a Japanese psychic, who visited the spot in 1992 and spoke to Annie who told her she had lost her doll. This prompted a trend of visitors leaving a toy for Annie whilst others make a donation to the Sick Kids Friends Foundation in her honour.

Other Edinburgh fun

There are so many things to see and do in Edinburgh that a day is never enough. Our website is full of helpful guides for planning your visit. We are only a stone’s throw away from Edinburgh Castle and the intriguing Camera Obscura and World of Illusions which can help complete a fun day of learning in Scotland’s capital city. We’ll see you soon!

Christmas at The Real Mary King’s Close

As the nights start drawing in towards the darkest days of the year, we have set up a special Christmas tour to get you in the festive spirit.

An Appointment with the Saw Doctor

Your guide for the tour will be Mr Chesney, the latest character to be brought back from the dust of Mary King’s Close. The colourful Mr Chesney was the close’s resident ‘saw doctor’ but today he brings his history to life in order to shock, amaze and entertain our guests. Step back in time to discover how Christmas came to be the celebration we so dearly love today.

Christmas, but not as we know it

Christmas in the back streets of Edinburgh was not the light-hearted festival we know today. Our tour tells the story of Christmas as Mr Chesney himself would have experienced it. Most working people could not afford to take a leisurely Christmas break. For them, Christmas Day was just like any other working day, with Hogmanay being the day they would allow themselves to put their feet up. In fact, the celebration of Christmas was officially banned in Scotland between 1575 and 1958. So much for the season of good will!

The Daft Days

This doesn’t mean that Christmas in Mary King’s Close was all work and no play – quite the contrary. The Victorian era saw the birth of many of the traditions we think of as quintessentially ‘Christmas’. Enter the Christmas tree, popular Christmas carols, Santa Claus and the Christmas pudding. Let Mr Chesney talk about Christmas through his eyes, at a time when the feast day was undergoing some drastic changes.

Step into the ‘daft days’ of Christmas, a twelve-day period when the usual rules of society were turned upside down and mischief and merriment ruled the day. Discover the roots of playground games such as ‘blind man’s buff’ and the humble working-class origins of the sumptuous Christmas meals we enjoy today.

Get into the spirit of Christmas on one of our special historical tours between 19th and 23rd December. Book your tickets online today or pop by the ticket office to book in person.

Christmas Gifts at The Real Mary King’s Close

With the festive season rapidly approaching, we invite you to join us for some Christmas cheer at The Real Mary King’s Close. However, Christmas wasn’t always as cheery for the residents of Mary King’s Close as Christmas was an ordinary working day, with the celebrations happening in the New Year instead.

These days, visitors to Mary King’s Close can expect a glittering welcome to the old streets of Edinburgh. Our gift shop is a great place for getting unique Christmas gifts, vouchers and mementos for anyone interested in Edinburgh’s history. The old days are (thankfully) long since passed, but we carefully stock our gift shop to hopefully capture some of the spirit of the remarkable men and women whose stories illuminate the Real Mary King’s Close.

Traditional and quirky Christmas gifts

Step into the Old Borough Courtroom to browse our extensive selection of historically inspired gifts. We stock a wide range of specialist books dealing with Scottish history, architecture, folklore, ghost-stories and much more. You will also find clothing, home-ware and jewellery from quality household names such as Celtic Spirit, St Justin and Harris Tweed. We carefully handpick all our products to give you a slice of true Scottish culture.

Gift Vouchers

Give someone special the gift of history this Christmas! We offer £5 or £10 gift vouchers that can be used for admission to The Real Mary King’s Close, as well as for purchases in our Gift Shop. Stop by our attraction or give us a call on 0845 070 6244 to order your vouchers.

Edinburgh’s Christmas

If you are looking to add some sparkle to your Christmas shopping, come have a look at our unique Christmas tree which incorporates features of Edinburgh’s dark history. Look closely and you will see decorations including rats and body bags. Part of the Christmas Tree Trail, you can then move on to discover what hidden surprises other participating attractions have. There’s lots of fun to be had in Edinburgh this Christmas – just check here for more details.

We look forward to seeing you soon at The Real Mary King’s Close.

Festive Experience at The Real Mary King’s Close

Christmas is around the corner, and what better way to kick-start your Christmas celebration than on an unforgettable tour of The Real Mary King’s Close. Make this Christmas memorable in the best way possible by taking part in one of our Christmas tours and learning what life used to be like. Christmas in the forgotten underworld of Old Edinburgh was a world away from the celebrations familiar to most of us today as it was in fact a normal working day! Book your bespoke festive tour with us and step back into an alternative Christmas with the denizens of the Real Mary King’s Close.

Types of Tours

We have a range of bespoke tours to choose from to guarantee you and your group have a wonderful time. As well as our Christmas tour, you can enjoy a murder mystery evening, discover the dark truth on a late night tour or even book out the close for your own private party. We have so many options, so browse the types of tours on our website to learn more about them.

Have a Drink With Us

To make the tour of The Real Mary King’s Close even more exciting and eventful, you can choose to pre-order a delicious festive drinks reception with pastries and drinks of your choice. You and your tour party can take part in this offer before the tour and even after if you wish. This reception will add a little something extra to your overall Christmas tour experience.

Character Tour Guide

Need a tour guide with a difference? You are in luck! You don’t have to wait until you arrive to start your foray into Edinburgh’s murky past. You and your party can pick your own historical character tour guide to meet you at your chosen location. We can collect you at your hotel, a restaurant, workplace or elsewhere, and walk with you to Real Mary King’s Close.

More Information

The Christmas tours at Real Mary King’s Close are a popular winter attraction as we aren't ever affected by weather conditions. Each tour can accept a maximum of 20 people or 12 people for drinks and canapés. Give us a call on 0845 070 6244 for more details and to find out about group bookings.

Celebrating the Darker Side of Scottish History

Those interested in history should head to Edinburgh this November to experience a programme of thoroughly fascinating events with Scotland’s History Festival. Running between 13th and 30th November, the festival brings new ways of appreciating and understanding history to people of all ages. The underpinning ethos of the festival is that ‘every table should have a spare seat devoted to history’. Join us as we celebrate and relive the darker side of Scotland’s history at The Real Mary King’s Close.

The Dark Truth

We are honoured to be included in the festival, as we aim to give our guests only the facts during their historical tour of our underground warren. Due to roaring success at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, we have chosen to put on some special performances of our Dark Truth Tour on Monday’s, Tuesday’s and Sunday’s during the November’s festival. The first show kicks off at 6.30pm on Sunday 16th November and you can pre-order your tickets from our website for only £14 per person.

Our Dark Truth Tour is full of dark and deathly deeds, as your tour guide recalls just how cruel the Old Town could be. You will meet various characters, such as the Witch Pricker and the Craig Family. Be careful though, as they are infected with the plague! However, you should feel safe in the hands of the good Doctor George Rae and his assistant Foul Clenger, who fully intend to protect you from the vile disease. Oh, and they are also on hand to make sure you don’t run into Burke and Hare, the notorious grave robbers and murderers who sell their cadavers to the hospitals.

Gather your friends

Each tour has a limited amount of space, with a maximum of 20 people allowed on each tour. Your unique experience begins around 6.30pm, when you are transported back to the 16th century to journey through the stories and histories of Edinburgh’s dirty and dangerous past. Come and join us for a spooky trip down memory lane.

A Chillingly Good Time This Christmas

While the rest of the city is singing ‘Deck the Halls’ and looking out for flying reindeer, we invite you to delve deep underground this festive season at The Real Mary King’s Close. We are one of the only attractions open throughout the winter season, allowing your family to enjoy the perfect day out whatever the weather. We even stay open until 9pm on Friday and Saturday nights.

Scary Solstice 

Many people head to The Real Mary King’s Close to enjoy all the fun of our unique Halloween events, but we also put on a chillingly good do at Christmas. Forget the turkey and paper hats, we can help you organise a Christmas party experience with a difference. Whether you want a private tour or a chance to chat with other high spirited groups, we can ensure your festive party plans run smoothly. To book your private tour, get in touch with our Sales Executive Lucy on 0131 225 0675 or by email.

Underground Party

If you choose to book a private tour , your party will be treated to some tasty festive delicacies before we guide you on a historic trip through time to Christmas past. The party food is available on request and can include festive treats such as mince pies, canapes, and some liquid courage, to ease you into your pending adventure. You will find out how the residents of the Real Mary King’s Close lived and died in extreme poverty, as your very own costumed character guides you through your journey.

The tour takes in some of the darker sides of the history of Edinburgh’s old town, as seen through the eyes of some of its strange and colourful past inhabitants. Feel history come alive with the sights, smells and sounds of a bygone era, as you hear stories of Edinburgh's past residents.

Festive tours always fill up fast, so do book soon and join us to celebrate Christmas on the Close.

Murder Mystery Office Parties

Entertaining business guests can sometimes leave you flummoxed, especially if they are not strangers to your offices or your city. It is possible that you may have already taken them to most or all of the main local attractions, and it can leave you wondering how you can continue to impress them. Well, look no further. Our team have been busy planning ways to help local businesses impress their clients and we think we’ve come up with a unique way to put a smile on their faces.

Murder Mysteries a la Agatha Christie

We don’t actually bring Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot to solve a murder, but that is where your guests come in. We can offer you a private evening of murder mystery that transports you back to 1943.  You and your guests will experience the previously unexplored era of The Real Mary King’s Close, when the underground streets of Edinburgh were used as air raid shelters during World War II.

The scene is set when guests are invited to a party held by the Lord Provost to honour the war heroes. As the air raid siren sounds, sharply and abruptly, you find yourself ushered into the shelter along with the rest of the party, where it is soon discovered that most heinous crime of murder has been committed.

You and your guests are then split into four groups to search for clues, answer questions and piece together exactly what happened. You will hear character testimonies and accounts of their whereabouts while you work together to solve the mystery.

Team Building and Exploration

Thanks to the perfect mix of exploration and theatre, you will find that this is a great exercise in team building and a whole lot of fun too. Corporate guests can benefit from getting to know each other better as you work together to solve the murder case. It is also great for teaching people a little about how everybody works at the same time as having lots of fun.  Booking is simple and we can accommodate various size groups, so just get in touch for further details!

Welcome to the 2014 Close Fest

Here at The Real Mary King’s Close, we like to give our visitors a genuinely fun and interesting experience. We constantly try to think of ways to enhance your experience and this year’s Close Fest should keep your whole group happy.  Last year was our first ever Close Fest and it was such a massive hit that we have decided to do it again this year!

The 2014 Programme

Our 2014 programme of events launches on the most appropriate day of the year, Halloween. This marks a week long spectacular filled with entertainment, history and spooky fun for most of the family. Children under five probably shouldn’t come with you because of the nature of our attraction, but those over 5 are more than welcome.

So, if you think you know exactly what is hidden underneath the streets of Edinburgh, think again. You aren’t likely to experience anything as close to the immersive experience you will have at one of our Close Fest events. No venue comes close to offering this level of unique fun!

Oct 31st The Dark Truth Tour - prepare to be terrified on a journey into the underground history of the most ancient city in Scotland.

Nov 2nd Hamish James Hawk and Special Guests - Hamish is a singer who blends many contemporary Scottish themes in his repertoire of songs. He’s definitely one to watch for the future!

Nov 3rd Everyman - this one-man play is a must see and charts the achievements of the main character’s life.

Nov 4th The Essence of Flamenco - the flamenco takes on a new twist, so join us and learn this passionate dance.

Nov 6th Charles Edward Stuart - a Close Encounter - Arran Johnston brings to life the man behind the ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’ myth. Come and meet the man who would be king.

Nov 7th Beneath the Surface - Think you know about Scottish history? Think again. This late night tour takes you beyond the normal tourist stories to discover a darker past.

Nov 8th Murder Mystery Evening - the Lord Provost has invited you back to 1943 to help solve the mystery of who committed this hideous crime.

Come for some Spooky Fun

Close fest certainly puts an interesting twist on a night out! Why not round up some friends and join us for this week long series of events? Tickets are now available to purchase online or at our box office, so book yours not to avoid disappointment!

The Spookiest Places to Visit in Edinburgh in the Fall

The Fall is a magical time to pay a trip to Edinburgh. The tree-lined hills surrounding the city are russet red, warm pubs with inviting fireplaces beckon from the old streets and there are atmospheric adventures and activities for the whole family to enjoy.

 “Grassmarket by night” by Geograph, licenced under CC BY-SA 2.0

The haunted city

Ghosties, ghoulies and things that go bump in the night are always a strong attraction for those visiting Edinburgh at this time of year.  The dark and mysterious history of the city reaches from deep below its underbelly to the high streets of the aristocracy. Edinburgh is and always will be a city of historical mystery, where grave robbers, ghosts and spirits roamed in the night.

Edinburgh Castle

When you visit Edinburgh during the day, the Castle will tell you many historical tales. The history of the castle alone is fascinating, but the stories of its residents are much more interesting.  The building itself is a marvel, with trails, dungeons and cold stone towers to keep you wandering for hours.  The beautiful castle is well worth seeing during your day visit.

Edinburgh by Night

Well, Edinburgh in the evening truly is a spectacle that will create a trip to remember. If you visit our great city during the autumn or winter months, nights will begin to draw in around 4pm and the city will become the perfect setting for a night out with a difference.

Real Mary King’s Close

You can start your night with a visit to The Real Mary King’s Close where you can learn the truth about how people really lived in Edinburgh’s underground streets. We are one of the only attractions that stay open during the winter season and our last tour starts at 5pm meaning it’s a great way to start a night of exploring the darker side of Edinburgh’s past.

Ghostly tours

If exploring our underground streets gives you a taste of the weird and wonderful, then why not book onto the ‘City of the Dead’ tour. This explores the legendary ‘Underground City’ where entire communities lived in squalor. It was dirty and grimy and reported to be ‘as black as Satan’s jammies’.

If being spooked by that isn’t enough, head off on the ‘Auld Reekie’ tour where you can see the vaults and graveyards, including the South Bridge Vaults to experience a bone chilling trip through the murkiest part of Edinburgh.

Check out our guides for visiting Edinburgh for more help with planning your trip.

Enjoy a Family Day Out in the Edinburgh Underworld

The October holidays can be tricky for parents across the country. The weather is normally beginning to turn wintery so outdoors activities are often ruled out. The kids however are still full of energy and will be looking for ways to stay entertained! Why not give them something different with a trip deep underground in Edinburgh.

This October, we have a fantastic deal to share. It’s a limited offer, so get in quickly to ensure you don’t miss out. For the October half term break only, we are offering 15% off the price of a family ticket. 

More details

So, you are probably wondering just how this all works. Well, it’s simple; from 1st October until 2nd November, you just bring the whole family along, with two adults and two children aged from 5 to 15 and the four of you can get a discount.  The kids must be older than five because of the nature of the Mary King’s Close attraction can be unsettling for younger children. Family tickets cost just £35.70 helping you save money.

Is it really spooky?

You will find plenty of real-life tales of spooky goings-on and dastardly misdeeds beneath the sleepy streets of Old Edinburgh. You can learn the stories of how people used to live in these narrow streets, how the plague attacked the community and how people learned to survive from day to day in the slums.  We like to make sure that kids can learn a little about Scottish history while they enjoy themselves. It is much easier to teach a child history when that information is disguised in something much more interesting than a lecture. We aim to bring fun to the historic stories and tell them with gusto and personality.

So, come and join us during half term and give your kids the ultimate family day out in Edinburgh at the Real Mary King’s Close. Tickets can be purchased in advance here or on the door on the day.

Continuum Charity Support

At The Real Mary King’s Close, we welcome people from all walks to life to help them learn the truth about Edinburgh’s history. We even help others get a head start with a career in hospitality through our modern apprenticeship programme so we were thrilled when we heard our parent company Continuum have developed a brand new partnership with The Dame Kelly Holmes Trust. Because Continuum are one of the United Kingdom’s most-prevalent attraction hosts, with more than thirty years' experience in creating memorable moments, it seemed only fitting that they should team up with such a great trust.

Image courtesy of Dame Kelly Holmes Trust

Loads to See and Loads of Reasons to Help

Because The Real Mary King's Close is under the Continuum umbrella, we are greatly involved with everything that the charity will be doing. And, because they own a series of countrywide attractions, you are never far from an attraction that can help support our charity partner.

The Dame Kelly Holmes Trust works with people between the ages of 16 and 25 and gives them opportunities for personal development. This is achieved through the Olympics, Paralympics and other great athletes who club together to help out when needed. They offer mentorship, support, training and other efforts to help people overcome their diversities.

Making your Own Memories

It’s great to have somewhere you can go for a fond memory and we at The Real Mary King’s Close can offer you tours, private parties and some fun and frightening experiences. Our tour can also be excellent for supporting your own youth group so why not bring them along? We take great pride in maintaining our exceptionally high standards and will ensure everyone has a fantastic break away.

Experience Old Edinburgh

Whilst, sadly the 2014 Commonwealth Games are over, Scotland showed once again that we can keep up with the best of them by taking 19 gold, 15 silver and 19 bronze medals, landing in fourth place overall.

We at The Real Mary King’s Close had some fantastic visitors this year, who came along to share The Real Mary King’s Close experience in-between watching their chosen events during the Games. We had visitors from many of the Commonwealth countries, and they had a great time as we took them on a historical and spooky trip through the underbelly of Edinburgh life in 1600's.

All about the Dark Truth

We offer a number of bespoke tours that takes guests on an one-hour experience with an interesting spin on all the ‘true' stories of the history of darkest deepest Edinburgh. Normal groups are about twenty in size, but we do also offer private tours for those wishing to experience the close alone. The ‘Dark Truth' tour ran as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe  throughout August, therefore those who stayed after the Commonwealth Games could spend time learning about the darker Edinburgh history. However, despite the gruesomeness of some stories, we’ve been told that many of our foreign visitors went away extremely happy and satisfied with their experience!

Meet Dr. George

You will hear stories about a number of different residents of the close including Dr. George Rae who kept people safe from the plague. You will also meet the Craig family, who were not so lucky, but hey, what are a few sores and warts among family, eh?  Dr. George and his faithful assistant the Foul Clenger will protect our guests from the Black Death that awaited the people of 1600 Edinburgh and see them out safely in the end. Check out our Trip Advisor reviews to see what our summer guests thought and then come along and enjoy the fun for yourself – we’re open all year round!

Fear with a Twist of Murder

The picturesque skyline of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh does plenty to hide the gruesome underbelly of what goes on beneath the dark streets of the historic city. Watch your step when you stroll along the ancient walkway because you could easily take a slip and fall into Mary King's Close where you will find the—not so secret—underground city waiting for you. The Real Mary King's Close has been welcoming tourists from many a different country for some time now, and the purpose is to show people how life was around the 1600's.

Take the Tour

Many a dark story and tale has been uncovered—albeit by accident—by researchers looking to learn about the history of the city. The murky past of Edinburgh kind of leaves you reeling in shock. You might not expect such gruesome and grotesque stories of murder and plague to come out of a city like Edinburgh, but come they do, and you can see them for real.

For the 2014 Festival Fringe, The Real Mary King's Close opened up to festival fans with The Dark Truth Tour. How about seeing some of the dirty deeds that happened during the 1600's and right up to the early 1900's? Then you have until Sunday 24th August to experience our special performance! The Dark Truth Tour has a special twist this year and, of course; we can't reveal it. However, we can tell you that it is grittier and scarier than ever, and all based in truth, the dark truth.  We have the ‘witch pricker’ and the ‘pillywinks’ test during our show and you will see some gruesome contraptions used as torture devices.

Spooky and Eerie Backdrops

The spooky backdrop of this unearthly story revolve around—among other things—Maggie Dickson, known as Half hang-it Maggie, of whose story you may have heard, but wait….you get the whole story on our tour. Join us for spooky stories and bitter twists to finish your festival experience.  Tickets can be purchased here for just £17.50.

Coronation Street and the Real Mary King’s Close

If you are one of our many readers that are familiar with Coronation Street, one of the UK’s longest running and best loved soap operas, then you might not immediately spot the connection with the Real Mary King’s Close.

In fact, the differences between the two locations are glaringly obvious. Coronation Street is set in Manchester while Mary King's Close is in Edinburgh, a distance in space of approximately 200 miles.

Furthermore, The Real Mary King’s Close depicts the life of men and women who lived, loved and died in the 16th Century Edinburgh slums, while Corrie tells stories about Manchester’s working class in the 20th and 21st Centuries. This gap equates to 400 years between the two streets.

If the residents had met, would they have shared much in common? What would the residents of 16th Century Edinburgh have made of industrialisation, television and One Direction?  Would the drinkers at Coronation Street’s ‘Rover’s Return’ be able to empathise with outbreaks of plague and the problem of keeping your household pig warm over the winter months? Maybe they would, maybe they wouldn’t.

A real life soap opera


This being said; the two streets do share something in common. The residents of Corrie and the Real Mary King's Close are gritty, larger than life characters, never short of a personal drama or three, and both streets have born witness to some of the biggest historical events of their age.

It doesn't stop there. Our parent company, Continuum Leading Attractions, has recently been licensed to run the official tours of the ‘real' Coronation St, on Quay St in Manchester. Now, visitors to the Corrie set will be able to see the residents of the Real Mary King's Close peering back through history in a poster on Coronation Street's iconic bus stop.

So if you find yourself south of the border come along and join one of the Coronation Street tours. In the meantime, come and visit us at the Real Mary King's Close, and discover a real historical soap opera lurking beneath the cobbled streets of old Edinburgh.

Fringe Food and More at the Real Mary King’s Close

We simply cannot wait for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to begin. From the 1st August, Edinburgh plays host to the world's largest and most vibrant arts festival. For three weeks, the city comes alive with theatre, comedy, music and performing arts. We hope you will be able to join us.

Of course, all this artistic cavorting makes you hungry, which is why we are rising to the occasion with our very own Fringe Food.

BBQ at the Courtyard Café

Our Courtyard Café is an idyllic retreat just off the Royal Mile. It is an oasis of calm in the midst of the hectic city centre. It is the perfect place to meet family and friends, to come in for a bite to eat, or just to order a coffee and read a book while enjoying the continental atmosphere.

Between 28th July and 24th August we will be putting on a delicious Fringe Food BBQ every day to keep you going through the balmy Festival days. If you love barbeque food (and who doesn't) you should drop in and see us. You will be able to enjoy a delicious range of freshly barbecued beef burgers, jumbo sausages and veggie burgers, all supplied by our friends at Braveheart Catering.


Don’t forget, our entire normal menu will also still be available. Come and browse through our wide selection of teas, coffees, hot chocolate and soft drinks. A selection of snacks are available to complement your drink, from cookies and shortbread to crisps and porridge. Get yourself an ice cream or cool yourself on a hot day with one of our new iced coffee range. Yum!

The Real Mary King’s Close will be open throughout the festival month and is a great place to go for a family day out, so come along and experience four centuries of Edinburgh’s history with us.

Celebrating Excellence – Real Mary King’s Close Wins Prestigious TripAdvisor Award

At the Real Mary King's Close, we have always thought our visitor attraction was something a bit special. We strive to create a portal into a darker corner of Edinburgh's history, where visitors can lose themselves in an alternative world of poverty and in cases, crime. We enjoy portraying the characters and experiences of historic Edinburgh for our thousands of visitors each year. That is why we are so proud to have received a Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor®, the world’s largest travel advice website.

Certificate of Excellence

The Certificate of Excellence is awarded to visitor attractions all over the world that meet a series of strict criteria regarding user experience, authenticity, value for money and accessibility. Winners represent the top ten percent of TripAdvisor listings. We accept this award as an endorsement of the hard work our team have put into the Real Mary King’s Close since we opened in 2003, as well as of the tireless support given to us by the Visit Scotland and the countless guests who have visited us over the years. So, to everyone who has visited us and thus made this award possible, we extend a big thank you. For those of you who haven’t visited us yet, we invite you to come along and see what the fuss is all about. With four hundred years of Scottish history at your fingertips, you are certain to be not disappointed.

Part of the Continuum

The Real Mary King's Close is part of Continuum Leading Attractions, a great company that runs other historic visitor attractions throughout the UK. These include the York Chocolate Story, Oxford Castle Unlocked, Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth and Kent Life Heritage Farm in Maidstone, Kent. If you are on your travels and happen to be near one of our sister attractions, then take it from us – they are well worth a visit.

Of course, a Certificate of Excellence does not mean that we are now going to rest on our laurels; far from it. There are always new events, displays and features in the pipeline to develop and grow our visitor experience.  Our overriding priority has always been to create an immersive, exciting and historically accurate experience for all our visitors that does justice to the men and women that made Edinburgh what it is today. Come and visit us soon. We look forward to welcoming you to the Real Mary King’s Close.

Things to do with Teenagers in Edinburgh this Summer

The Summer holidays have arrived and the kids will be asking what is planned for their time off. Well, that’s probably not an easy question to answer, especially if you have children of differing ages or teenagers. Teenagers are probably the more discerning of audiences and they would much rather be doing something ‘cool’ with their friends rather than hanging out with their parents. That is not to say that all teenagers are like this, but it is safe to say that a large amount of them feel they are too cool to hang out with the ‘oldies’!

So, where shall we go, then?

Well we have some ideas that might inspire and help you choose some of the more interesting and teenager-friendly places. There are of course options for places like fun fairs and amusement parks, but what if there are none in Edinburgh at the time? Why not visit us at The Real Mary King’s Close? As a series of hidden underground streets that lurk below the bowels of Edinburgh, we have something a bit different to offer. The streets used to be open to sunshine until the city modernised and development required the old closes to used as foundations for new buildings. There are many myths surrounding why Mary King's Close was closed so why not bring your teenager along to discover the truth behind the legend on our tour.

And Mary King was whom, exactly?

Well, she was a very well-respected business woman and in those days—we are talking the 1600’s here—women were regarded with very little respect. Mary King was different. She was a widowed mother who supported four children by herself. She did this with what would today be called entrepreneurial skills working with fabrics.

If you are joining us with kids over 16 then why not take in the famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival as well? From 1- 24 August we will be hosting our own production called the Dark Truth Tour that will put a chill in their spine!

Come and see us and learn more about Mary King and yes….bring the teenagers…

Edinburgh Winter Festival – Fun for All

Edinburgh is always a great city, but it comes to life more so during certain times of the year. For instance, during the Military Tattoo week the city is buzzing with tourists and fun things to do. During the winter the city comes alive for the festivities of Christmas and Hogmanay. Scotland does New Year like no other country in the world and people come from all over to actually experience our parties.

                                                                                 Amid the winter gloom…

Come winter, when the weather is colder and damper than usual there are very few attractions that stay open to the public. This ‘off season’ time is usually when most attractions and public shows close until late spring. However, at The Real Mary King’s Close, we are one of the few attractions that stays open all year round. Open 7 days a week and until 9pm on weekends, we can offer a great escape from the winter weather. Our shop is stocked with authentic seasonal Scottish items and we have a whole host of unique products that would make the perfect Christmas gift.

               What do you mean underground?

Today's Edinburgh is actually built on a warren of old streets that back in the 1600’s were occupied by people. The Old Town experience will see you being led through the old streets, deeply rooted underground to discover a major part of the history of the city. The gruesome stories will regale you with tales of plagues, executions, murders and murky behaviour as you start to get a feel for this historic past.

You will ‘meet’ Mary King and learn about her life. She was a renowned entrepreneur and in those days, for a woman to be regaled in such a way was more or less unheard of. Mary was a widowed mother of 4 that made a name for herself and her family.

If you are looking for some fun days out in Edinburgh this winter you could do a lot worse than visit the murky underworld of the city’s Old Town. With tours every 15 minutes, there is plenty of opportunity to join the fun. 

Fun Team Building Days in Edinburgh

At The Real Mary King’s Close we like to do things a bit differently and can offer fun days out that your whole team will enjoy. We believe that a good team building day should have a social atmosphere, where everyone is given tasks to achieve together. It should also be designed to promote a closer working relationship so that those team players are working on the same page. Above all, the experience should be relevant and fun – it should convey a serious message without taking itself too seriously. After all, you want your team to remember the day for all the right reasons.

What is Team Building?

There are certain aspects of team building that illustrate early dynamics between each member. There can be a whole list of different scenarios that bring a team together; for instance a new company taking on new employees who have never met. Other scenarios include the company changing direction and needing to pull people together of the need to build leadership and improve organisational skills.

Make it a Party

So, one of the main things about team building is to create an environment that is fun but challenging. At The Real Mary King’s Close, we like to give you a few things to think about and we can offer a team building experience like no other that gets your team working in harmony. We have a range of different packages to suit all group sizes so get in touch for help planning your day.

Goals of a Team Building Exercise

Generally, the idea behind a team building exercise is to help each member find their niche within the team, but also to alter their own individual dynamics, adding to their confidence. Team building also allows people to learn flexibility and problem solving skills. When organisations change their inner dynamics some members of a team can feel threatened or nervous. Team building gives them that little extra confidence to cope with changes and still thrive in the working environment. It also tends to bring out the leaders and the followers, which can give managers a good insight into how to improve the team or switch it up to get the best from the group.

Our murder mystery evening is perfect for seeing how your team works together. Join us on Saturday 9th November to be transported back to the 1940's when the underground streets were used as an air raid shelter. Guests will play detective to uncover who committed the murder at a time when everyone was very vulnerable. For a real authentic experience, we suggest you come dressed in 1940's costume!               

Close Fest - Experience The Close As Never Before

If you are looking for something a bit different as the night's get longer in historic Edinburgh, then join us for this year's Close Fest. With a full week of special events planned, we will be showcasing everything from musicians to comedians and giving our underground closes a whole new purpose. Despite kicking off on Halloween with our Dark Truth Tour, these are not scary events and aim to inject some fun into the dark nights.

Where Does this Happen?

Most events take place underground in Mary King’s Close. Our closes are technically a live museum as we highlight historical facts, showing you preserved buildings and telling stories of the streets residents. You may be wondering who Mary King was? Mary King moved to the close with her 4 children after being widowed and made a name for herself thanks to her exceptional entrepreneurial skills. This made her a local figure who was renowned in the area - something highly unusual for women in those days - and led to the gradual change of the street's name to honour Mary.

The filthy streets of the city were like most other cities in those days, with terrible sewage, rife disease and waste products just thrown into the streets. There was no hygiene, no discipline and no respect for the environment. Don't worry though, it's much cleaner now!

And this Year?

This year will be bigger and better than ever, giving you a week to remember. Expect music, drama and murder mystery in our unique backdrop. Keep checking our website for the most up to date information but see below for a taster of what's in store:

 Friday 31 October – The Dark Truth Tour 10pm

Sunday 2 November – Everyman 7.30pm

Tuesday 4 November – Alba Flamenca 7.30pm

Thursday 6 November – An Evening with Charles Edward Stuart 7.30pm

Saturday 8 November – The Real Mary King’s Close Murder Mystery 10.30pm

Things to Do in Scotland during the October School Holiday

If you have children over the age of six you will no doubt be familiar with ‘can we go here, can I have, will you buy me, can we get…’ and all the other interesting and lovely questions that young children start asking. When it comes to the school holidays, kids need entertaining and a bit of advance planning can make everything easier. 

Can we please…?

If you are old enough to remember the ‘away-day’ train tickets in the 1980’s then you will appreciate just how easy it was back then to go on a day trip. It was cheap, convenient and always led to a fun day. After all the fun it was easy to get home and everyone slept like a baby. 

Things aren't so different nowadays and a day trip to Edinburgh is something that will grip their imaginations and give them plenty of things to do. If you have ever sat on the memorial bench at Edinburgh Castle at around 1pm then you will be know all too well that ear muffs are an excellent idea as the cannons are fired! The bench is a tribute to Tam the Gun to thank him for the 27 years he fired the cannon. Taking the kids around the castle is not only highly entertaining but loaded with information and fun facts that teach them as you go. 

The Real Mary King’s Close Experience

Once you have finished at the castle, there are plenty of places to take them for a nice tasty dinner. Here at The Real Mary King’s Close, we stay open until 9pm during the October school holidays making it the perfect attraction to visit once the others have closed. Older kids will love this alternative tour so much they won't even realise how much history they are learning! You can experience the murky underbelly of Old Edinburgh, dating back to the 1600’s, with intriguing tales that will leave them talking about the tour long after they have returned to school.

Have a Super Scottish Summer 2014

Scotland has so much more to offer than many people think. When we consider where we will go for a summer break or an annual holiday we tend to focus more on what the weather is going to do, which is why so many people head away from the British Isles. However, if you are not as concerned about the weather and you would actually like to explore the beautiful United Kingdom then why not head to Edinburgh? Even if live in the great city, there's probably plenty you haven’t seen yet.

Edinburgh with a Fringe on Top

For instance, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival  is one of the most interesting parts of the arts festival and people come from miles over and from many different countries just to experience it. The fringe takes place for three weeks every August you will find over 250 different venues that participate in the festival and whether you have been before or are new to it you will find something you will enjoy. All of the venues are around the city so they are all within a rough walking distance from one another. There are also plenty of places to shop and eat along the way, with many venues offering food and drink to customers.

The Real Mary King’s Close

Murder, suspense and sinister behaviour are closer than you think in Edinburgh. Take the wild ride and head down to The Real Mary King’s Close, lurking beneath the Royal Mile and go on a journey through the gruesome history of the City. Our Gold Experience centres on the deep and intriguing underbelly of the historical city and you will hear tales of execution, murder and plagues. You will be treated to a tour of our underground streets as well as a look at the ‘above ground’ city too. Your costumed characters will walk and talk you through the entire intriguing experience and regale you with stories and facts about the darkest part of Edinburgh’s history.

                                                                        

The Dark Truth, Can You Handle It?

Death and decay is coming to Edinburgh and you better be ready for it. After some amazing reviews last year, The Dark Truth Tour is returning to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with a nice little twist for 2014. It looks into some of the darker tales but using a wicked comedic tone. 

When does it happen?

The Dark Truth Tour starts on the 1^st of August 2014 and will continue Thursday through Sunday until the 24^th August 2014. The Dark Truth Tour lasts for 1 hour and starts at 10.30pm each night. The Dark Truth Tour uses a mixture of frivolity and terror to interact with the audience and entertain them in such a sinister fashion as to enthrall them.  It tells tales of murder, witch trials, unexplained deaths and follows the lives of those who lived on the Mary King’s Close and other closes.

What’s it like?

You should certainly be expecting the unexpected and be prepared to be caught off guard as the Dark Truth Tour delves very deeply and murkily into Edinburgh’s gross past. You will experience the lights down low and cast wide to create the most unnerving of shadows while you learn about the darkest of truths and the deathly tales that haunt the city of Edinburgh. Will you be the brave one and see the whole thing through?

You may find that the stories are more unsettling than you thought so we recommend this tour for those 16 and over. Do you have the stomach for it? The weird and wonderful tales are linked closely to the disturbing facts about the city and its gruesome underbelly.

You could have been living in bliss to think that Edinburgh was a city with no murky past, but how wrong you were and how gruesome a way to find out. Join us for The Dark Truth Tour and find out for yourself just how dark the true story is.