The Real Mary King's Close

What the tour involves

The Signature Guided Tour is led by a guide in character, who walks you through the hidden streets and houses beneath the city and fills them with tales of everyday life, disease and hardship in the 1600s. It is storytelling as much as history, and the enclosed spaces add to the sense of stepping back in time.

Special tours and evenings

Beyond the main tour there are themed options. Lantern-led tours run in the evenings in autumn, a 17th Century Medicine Experience runs at weekends, and combined tours add The Lost Close, a section hidden for nearly two centuries. Seasonal events such as a Victorian Christmas experience appear later in the year, so check what is on before you go.

Planning your visit

The entrance is on Warriston's Close, directly off the Royal Mile and opposite St Giles' Cathedral, so it pairs naturally with a walk along the Mile. Booking online is the safest bet, especially in summer and during the Festival; walk-up tickets are sold on the day at the online price when space allows. The Edinburgh's Underground City tours start just a few steps away if you want a contrasting take on the Old Town's hidden spaces.

Highlights

• Edinburgh's only preserved 17th-century street
• Guided by a costumed character
• Lantern-led evening tours in autumn
• Combined tours including The Lost Close
• Entrance directly off the Royal Mile

Good to know

• Book online in advance; walk-up tickets are sold at the online price when available.
• The entrance is at 2 Warriston's Close on the Royal Mile.
• Check the website's accessibility page before visiting, as the route is underground.

Frequently asked questions