What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 9pm Tuesday 9am - 9pm Wednesday 9am - 9pm Friday 12:15pm - 9pm Saturday 9am - 9pm Sunday 9am - 7:30pm

The Real Mary King's Close

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The Real Mary King's Close

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Making Edinburgh's hidden history unmissable. BOOK ONLINE FOR YOUR TOUR!
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Imagine a warren of streets frozen in time beneath Edinburgh’s Royal Mile where behind every twist and turn secrets lie waiting to be told...

The Real Mary King’s Close is a five star visitor attraction located in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town.

30/10/2026

As Halloween approaches, Edinburgh was made for nights like these.

Narrow closes disappearing into darkness. Centuries of history beneath your feet. And the flicker of a lantern illuminating the way ahead.

There are just **3 days left** to experience our Lantern Led Tours at The Real Mary King’s Close.

Follow your storyteller beneath the Royal Mile and discover darker tales from Edinburgh’s past, including stories of witchcraft, superstition and those who lived through some of the city’s most turbulent times.

🏮 Tours from 18.00
🎃 Final 3 days

The lantern is waiting. All you have to do is follow.

Book it here https://www.realmarykingsclose.com/whats-on/lantern-led-tour/

29/10/2026

Have you seen this extraordinary vision of Edinburgh yet?

Artist Ophelia Ray Lester spent more than 3,500 hours creating her huge 6ft by 3ft illustration of the city, weaving together Edinburgh’s history, folklore and mythology in astonishing detail.

Look closely and you’ll find Mary King’s Close hidden within it, alongside the Mercat Cross, Edinburgh’s witch trials, Scottish folklore and a rather familiar plague doctor.

The original artwork is currently on display at Edinburgh Central Library, but if you’d like to take a closer look at all those tiny details at home, there’s only one place to find a print of the complete piece.

The Real Mary King’s Close is the exclusive stockist of the full artwork print.

Pop into our Burgh Courtroom gift shop on the Royal Mile to discover it for yourself. 🔎

28/10/2026

What does The Cape Controversy taste like?

For an evening inspired by Edinburgh’s history, an ordinary dinner simply wouldn’t do.

We’re working with the team at Culinarians to create an extraordinary dining experience where the food becomes part of the storytelling.

Using seasonal ingredients, some of Scotland’s best produce and traditional Scottish cooking techniques, they’re developing a menu that brings together history, place and flavour.

Restaurant-quality food. Scottish produce. A menu created especially for the occasion.

And, just like the rest of The Cape Controversy, there may be a few surprises along the way…

The table is being set. Will you be joining us? Book it here https://www.realmarykingsclose.com/whats-on/the-cape-controversy/

27/10/2026

Our little plague doctor is back with another Question Time! 🩺

During outbreaks of plague in Edinburgh, what were the people tasked with helping to clean the city called?

A. Foul Clengers
B. Pest Exterminators
C. Grave Diggers

What’s your answer? A, B or C?

Make your guess in the comments below 👇 We’ll reveal the answer soon!

25/10/2026

A piece of Mary King’s Close history has found its way back to us.

You might remember that a few weeks ago we asked for your help in tracking down a saw made by Andrew Chesney, whose family once lived and worked on Mary King’s Close.

While the search for one of his saws continues, we’re thrilled to now have the next best thing: a hand plane once owned and used by Andrew Chesney himself.

Manufactured by D. Malloch & Sons of Perth, the plane still bears Chesney’s name stamped into the wood. Another name, A Grey, appears no fewer than 5 times, giving us a tantalising glimpse into the tool’s life after it left Chesney’s hands.

Tools like this were made to be used, passed on and used again. Now, after its own journey through history, this one has returned to the place where its former owner once lived and worked.

We’re over the moon to have such a tangible connection to Andrew Chesney here at The Real Mary King’s Close.

But there is still one piece of the puzzle we’d love to find. The plane belonged to Chesney, but it wasn’t made by him. Our search for an Andrew Chesney-made saw continues.

Could there be one sitting forgotten in a workshop, collection or attic somewhere? If you know of one, please get in touch.

24/10/2026

When you thought 6 weeks in quarantine sounded suspiciously like an all-inclusive holiday…

Accommodation? ✔️
Time away from work? ✔️
A chance to escape everyday life? ✔️
Actually catching the plague? Ah.

Perhaps not the relaxing getaway you had in mind. 😅

Discover the real stories behind plague and quarantine in Edinburgh as you explore the preserved streets and spaces of The Real Mary King’s Close.

Turns out there were easier ways to get some time off work.

22/10/2026

What does it take to bring a secret society back to life?

We went behind the scenes of The Cape Controversy to meet the directors bringing this extraordinary night to life beneath Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.

Food and storytelling intertwine. Secrets pass between guests. Historical figures draw you deeper into their world. And you won’t simply be watching from the sidelines.

Who you meet, what you discover and the choices you make will shape your night.

The Cape Controversy
📅 Saturday 28 November
🍽️ A 4-hour immersive theatrical dining experience

The question is no longer what will happen.

It’s what will you do when you’re part of it?

Book now https://www.realmarykingsclose.com/whats-on/the-cape-controversy/

21/10/2026

A little piece of Mary King’s Close history has come home.

A few weeks ago, we put out a call to help us find a saw made by Andrew Chesney, whose family lived and worked on Mary King’s Close.

We haven’t found the saw… yet. But we have found the next best thing!

We’re over the moon to now have a hand plane that belonged to Andrew Chesney himself, complete with his name stamped into the tool.

Manufactured by D. Malloch & Sons of Perth, the plane would once have been used by Chesney in his work. Now, after all these years, it has returned to the Close where his story began.

There’s something rather special about welcoming an object like this back into the spaces connected to the person who once used it.

And the hunt continues! If you have an Andrew Chesney tool, particularly one of his saws, we’d love to hear from you.

19/10/2026

There’s nothing we love more than sharing Edinburgh’s hidden history with you... although Halloween treats from Mimi’s Bakehouse come dangerously close. 🎃🧁

So, in the spirit of spooky season, we’ve teamed up with our friends at Mimi’s Bakehouse for a giveaway bringing together two Edinburgh favourites.

One lucky winner will receive:

🎟️ 2 tickets to The Real Mary King’s Close
🧁 1 Halloween Cupcake Box
🍬 1 Trick or Treat Mini Sharing Box

The perfect combination of hidden history and Halloween treats.

To enter:
👀 Follow The Real Mary King’s Close and Mimi’s Bakehouse
💬 Leave a comment telling us who you’d bring along for a tour

📍 Please note: The winner must be able to collect their Mimi’s Bakehouse prize from one of their Edinburgh locations, or live within EH1–EH24, EH28–EH33 or EH52 for delivery.

Entries close 26 October. The winner’s tickets to The Real Mary King’s Close will be valid for 1 full year to redeem.

Good luck!

17/10/2026

You: “I’m fine.”

The plague doctor: “Are you sure?”

You: “I’M FINE.”

When you’re desperately trying to convince the plague doctor you don’t need to spend the next 6 weeks in quarantine… 😅

Meet Edinburgh’s former residents and discover the realities of life, illness and medicine in the city’s past at The Real Mary King’s Close.

And remember: act natural. Definitely don’t cough.

Address

2 Warriston's Close, High Street
Edinburgh
EH11PG

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 9pm
Tuesday	9am - 9pm
Wednesday	9am - 9pm
Friday	12:15pm - 9pm
Saturday	9am - 9pm
Sunday	9am - 7:30pm

Website

https://www.realmarykingsclose.com/

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