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.