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.