Scotland

Now a VisitScotland accredited five-star attraction, The Real Mary King’s Close allows visitors to step back in time and be guided through these famous underground closes to witness some of the most dramatic episodes from Edinburgh’s incredible past.

The unique and historic site consists of a network of four streets below the Royal Mile, containing the remains of original town houses and rooms, spanning four centuries of history dating back to the 1500s. These narrow streets, with houses originally built up to eight storeys high, were used as the foundations for the Royal Exchange, (now the City Chambers), which was built directly over the top of the streets in 1753, burying them for over two centuries.

Today visitors navigate the fascinating twists and turns of this underground city. Guided by a character tour guide who plays a former resident, visitors learn of the real stories from the real people of the closes as Edinburgh life between the 16th – 20th centuries is revealed .

This underground time capsule is surrounded by myths and legends and is thought by many visitors to be haunted by its former inhabitants. In spite of this, the attraction’s aim is to reveal the very real history and facts connected to the site’s amazing past, many of which are more fascinating than any amount of fiction.

2015 Events at The Real Mary King’s Close

As one of Edinburgh’s top visitor attractions, The Real Mary King’s Close is a great way to explore how this vibrant city would once have looked. Over and above the attraction’s hugely popular guided tours, 2015 promises to be an exciting one at The Real Mary King’s Close with Edinburgh’s best loved attraction planning substantial site developments due to be launched in June 2015.

Underground with Over-ground Walking Tour- launches 1st February
Now there are even more opportunities to experience Edinburgh’s rich history with an underground tour of The Real Mary King’s Close followed by an over-ground walking tour of the surrounding Old Town, putting this unique site and the city’s heritage into context. The over-ground tour which lasts one hour is only available for those booking a standard underground tour and allows visitors the flexibility to go and away and come back between tours.
Prices: An additional £5 on top of a standard tour ticket
Times: Over-ground tours will run four times daily at 13:15, 14:15, 15:15 and 16:15hrs.

1st July - 31st August - The Dark Truth Tour
The popular Dark Truth Tour returns for 2015 with a new spin looking into the dark tales with a wicked comedy edge. This interactive event will incorporate a unique mix of fear and frivolity as you are entertained with sinister tales of plague and pestilence and murder most horrid. Expect the unexpected as our underground site is steeped in darkness during this late night special tour which delves deeper than ever before into Edinburgh’s murky past.
Price: £14.95 per ticket
Times: 3 tours every evening at 21:00, 21:20, 21:40 and 22:00hrs 1st July until 31st August 2015

Halloween - The Darker Truth – experience the Close in a whole new dark!
In the run up to and including Halloween, visitors are invited to experience The Real Mary King’s Close on what is considered to be the most haunting time of year. The question is, are you brave enough?
Price: £14.95 per ticket
Times: 28th – 31st October 21:00, 21:20, 21:40, 22:00hrs

December – The Close of Christmas Past Christmas Tour and Christmas Tree
Visitors will learn about why Christmas was like any other working day for Edinburgh’s residents with most saving the celebrations and revelry for Hogmanay instead. Added to that, guests will catch a glimpse of the attraction’s bespoke Christmas tree that incorporates the darker aspects of Edinburgh’s hidden history into its design.
Price: £13.95 Times: 19th – 23rd December 17:00hrs

For more information on any of the above, please visit:
www.realmarykingsclose.com / T: 0845 070 6244
or contact: Jessica Rideout, PR Executive E: jrideout@realmarykingsclose.com / T: 0131 225 0673