The Real Robbie Burns’ Night

Robert Burns’  is one of Scotland’s most celebrated poets. He penned a number of classics such as the world famous ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and the narrative poem ‘Tam O’Shanter’. At The Real Mary King’s Close, we like to think of Burns as an old friend, considering he stayed on the Close on 28th November, 1786. It was Baxter’s Close, to be precise—which is where Deacon Brodie’s Tavern now lies.

Our Tribute to Burns

We would like to invite you to join our own birthday celebrations for Robert Burns and his works.  For a mere £25, your ticket will get you an exclusive evening of Scottish food and drink, poetry and a fully guided tour around the Close. You will hear from characters that lived during these days and experienced life in the Close and the surrounding Old Town of Edinburgh. Your evening will begin at 6.15pm with an hour-long historical tour. You will also enjoy a glass of Prosecco or whisky and a hot mug of hearty Scotch broth to warm those cockles. We will have a delicious spread of canapés—Scottish inspired, of course—alongside live readings of some of the most important and famous Burns’ poems. What better way to spend a Sunday night than enjoying some of our national treasures with this fully immersive experience?

More on the Close

As you wander around the Close you will learn exactly what life was like in Edinburgh old town. This side of life was only seen by the poor and the destitute as they made their homes around the Close. However, Mary King broke the mould as she made her living as a fabric trader and sewing expert to support her children after being widowed. It was extremely rare for women to be afforded any respect in those days, but Mary earned it and consequently the close was named after her. We now enjoy her legacy, so come and join us for a night of celebration of Robert Burns on 25th January, 2015. Click here to book your tickets.

Half Term Family Road Trip

Our parent company, Continuum Attractions, operates a number of other attractions in different cities across the UK. In each of the attractions, we strive to offer an engaging, fun and educational experience that brings British culture and history to life. Our own Edinburgh attraction takes you on a tour of the old town’s underbelly of crime and poverty, whilst showing you how people lived during the seventeenth century. The Real Mary King’s Close is a must for history buffs of all ages, but Edinburgh isn’t the only place where you can delve into the past. This February half term, why not enjoy a tour of some of Britain’s favourite cities for a staycation the whole family will love. Whether you start or finish in Edinburgh, we’re sure you will have a fun road trip!

What else will you see around Britain?

For a limited time only, you can step onto the cobbles of one of Britain’s best loved streets for a behind the scenes tour filled with intriguing stories. ‘Coronation Street’ has been on air for over 50 years making it the longest running soap opera in the history of TV, featuring many different families over the years. The likes of Ena Sharples and Annie Walker are unlikely to ever be seen again, but now is the last chance to follow in their footsteps as the Coronation Street set has relocated to Salford.  Take a mosey around the set and see where Ken and Deirdre lived, visit the Rovers for a pint and check out the railway bridge—scene of the great train crash when the series was still in black and white.

Planning a Tour

Just two hours from Manchester and the Coronation Street tour you will find the beautiful town of York. If your family have a sweet tooth then step into the indulgent world of York’s Chocolate Story. If you plan on heading further south, you can easily take in three attractions in a few days with our historic Canterbury Tales and Kent Life attractions, before heading on to explore Oxford Castle.

With so much choice, it can be difficult to decide what to do! However, don’t forget that at The Real Mary King’s Close, we are offering a fantastic family deal for just £37.50 (2 adults and 2 children)  – just click here to book in advance. Our attraction isn’t suitable for under 5’s but we’re sure even your grumpy teenagers will be intrigued by life in Edinburgh’s hidden streets!

A History of Mary King’s Close

Edinburgh has a long history, much of which has become entrenched in the history books as not so pleasant. Like London, it was highly populated and therefore very susceptible to many of the same conditions and situations, such as poverty, disease, poor hygiene, and many notably bad occupations. These urban issues were exacerbated by the exodus to the cities prompted by the industrial revolution in the 18th Century, and remained a very real factor in people’s lives until after the Second World War. Edinburgh handled this slightly better than other British cities as the population was only about 20,000 after the last plague hit the city between 1644 and 1645.  Despite being the worst record, mercifully it was also the last.

The 1600s

During the 1600s, living conditions were rough. Law and justice were rare but harsh, and the poor were largely resigned to poverty and neglect by the establishment. These were the days before street lighting and an organised police force – so robberies, burglary and violent crime were rife. Taxes were crippling, and people who could not make ends meet often ended up in slums in the city, which bred crime and disease. Among the more affluent families in Edinburgh was the King family, namely one Alexander King—a lawyer whom the close was previously named after.

When he died in 1619, the close was renamed to honour Mary King (no relation) who was a professional clothes maker and fabric trader, as well as a noted philanthropist. When she was widowed with four children in 1629, she maintained her stature in the community, rather than letting the grief consume her. Mary died in 1644, but it is unclear from what, especially as it was during the early days of the last plague outbreak. Mary was fondly remembered by Edinburgh’s poorer citizens for the work she hid in helping to improve working conditions, and we are proud to honour her memory to this day.

Mary’s Memory Lives On

In 1694, the Edinburgh Town Council recorded in its minutes the existence of Mary King’s Close. Sadly, during the construction of the Royal Exchange in 1753, other closes along with Mary King’s suffered some loss when half were covered over. Exactly one hundred years later, in 1853, much the same thing happened during construction of Cockburn Street and more destruction was brought upon Mary King’s Close. Still, the residents remained, and it was not until 1902 that the last resident left by order of compulsory purchase. In January 1904, a new council chamber opened, right above the close.

The Close Today

In 2003, The Real Mary King’s Close opened as a public attraction, entertaining and regaling visitors with stories of crime, plague, debauchery and murder around the Close. We have become a much loved attraction of tourists around the world. Come along and enjoy the sights and smells of old Edinburgh, and the real historical characters that lived, loved and worked in our city.