Murder Mystery in Edinburgh

From great fires ravaging the streets of Edinburgh to the horrific and often fatal plague that struck its people down, Scotland’s capital city isn’t short of a gruesome story or two. In fact, one of its most famous tales is the story of a murder mystery in Edinburgh, or several murders as you’ll eventually find out. 

The story of the world’s most famous body snatchers, Burke and Hare, has achieved cult status – and has since been portrayed in several films – including a Hollywood blockbuster and other modern media. The story is documented to have begun 1827, after the pair had originally met and began to lodge together, along with Burke’s wife, Helen McDougal.

As was typical in those times, money was in short supply and poverty was high. In 1827, a lodger at their accommodation passed away while owing an outstanding balance of £4 to Hare. Seeking an opportunity to recoup his money, Hare tapped into his “entrepreneurial spirit” and turned to the demand of fresh bodies for anatomical studies. Justifying his plans as payment in return for the outstanding debt, Hare enlisted the help of Burke to swap the deceased lodger’s body out of his coffin, and placed heavy, cheap tanning bark in place for the funeral. The duo then delivered the lodger’s body to a professor called Knox at Surgeon Square. Accepting the body on a “no questions asked” basis, the professor paid the pair seven pounds and ten shillings for their efforts.

It was an easy opportunity to make money, but when they ran out of bodies from naturally occurring deaths, it didn’t take long for Burke and Hare to resort to murder. Their first victim was a fellow lodger, already in a poor and sickly way. Suffocating their victims in the hope they would appear dead from natural causes, the pair had quickly racked up a total of up to thirty bodies delivered to the attentive surgical students, but their downfall came when they targeted victims well-known to the public, including two prostitutes and a children’s entertainer.

Suspicious fellow lodgers, James and Ann Gray, eventually confirmed the pair were up to no good and alerted the authorities. Burke and Hare were arrested and questioned, and in order to secure a conviction, the Lord Advocate offered Hare the opportunity to testify against his partner and his wife, and save his own skin. Hare jumped at the chance and took to the stand, convincing the jury to reach a guilty verdict. Burke was hung for his crimes and, in a fitting nod to his life of crime; his body was donated to medical practices and anatomical study.

Looking For a Modern Murder Mystery in Edinburgh?

Burke and Hare might have been responsible for the most famous murder mystery in Edinburgh, but there are plenty more tales to be told. Why not try one for yourself by booking a unique murder mystery event with Real Mary King’s Close and unveil your own mystery beneath the cobbled streets of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.  

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.

                                                                        

Modern Apprenticeship News

Back in the day, an apprenticeship was the key to gaining a rewarding career, as well as a skilled trade. Early apprenticeships included roof thatching, carpentry, farming and land skills. These developed into apprenticeships focusing on plumbing, electrics and other more modern career skills. However, in recent years there has been a scarcity of quality apprenticeships and the upcoming generation of workers are not having the same level of teaching that apprentices used to be given. Therefore there is a gap in the market for skilled work.

What We Do

At The Real Mary King’s Close we are very proud of our apprenticeship programme.  Our apprentices are given the chance to enter the ‘earn as you learn’ programme and actually acquire the right skills to do the job. We understand that whilst college and university is a great step towards the background of a job, in reality it doesn't always offer the practical information and knowledge needed on so many jobs.

Apprenticeship Success and Follow Through

We have had such success with the previous intake that we are actually investing money into another programme to give the new recruits insight how businesses are run, how the tourist industry works and give them the qualifications while they are on the job. The recruits are lucky enough to receive invaluable information and skills that you just can’t get in a classroom. Scotland’s Modern Apprenticeship programme sees some 25,000 new employees get access to such jobs each year and we hope that we continue to be a shining example of the benefits to the Scottish economy, while bringing new jobs to young people.

The Modern Apprenticeship programme covers more than 80 business sectors and this encompasses nursing, ICT, engineering, the food & drink industry and so many more. We value what it brings to the people who are recruited and we appreciate the practical skills that people glean from it.