Edinburgh · Old Town
The Real Mary King's Close
A guided tour through a set of preserved streets and rooms under the Royal Mile, with costumed guides telling the stories of past residents. The tour lasts about an hour and goes down stairs in low light.
- 1 h 30
- £28.50
- Booking advised
- Old Town
Data checked on October 5, 2026
The close lies beneath the City Chambers, and its upper floors were built over in the eighteenth century. The tour takes you down into the old streets and rooms, with guides in period costume. You pass houses and rooms staged with objects from the time. It is a theatrical tour, so it suits readers who like stories more than quiet looking.
What to look for
- The preserved lanes below the street
- The costumed guides
- The staged rooms
- The story of Annie's doll
Opening hours
| Monday | 9:30 am–10:30 pm | last entry 9:00 pm |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 9:30 am–10:30 pm | last entry 9:00 pm |
| Wednesday | 9:30 am–10:30 pm | last entry 9:00 pm |
| Thursday | 9:30 am–10:30 pm | last entry 9:00 pm |
| Friday | 9:30 am–10:30 pm | last entry 9:00 pm |
| Saturday | 9:00 am–10:30 pm | last entry 9:00 pm |
| Sunday | 9:00 am–10:30 pm | last entry 9:00 pm |
Opening hours change through the year. In the week of 5 October the site opens at 09:30 on weekdays and 09:00 at weekends, and from 12 October it opens at 09:00 every day. Last entry is at 21:00. The calendar shows the attraction closed on 1 November 2026.
Source: The Real Mary King's Close, checked October 5, 2026
Tickets and booking
Adult ticket £28.50. The price shown is the adult ticket for the standard guided tour of about an hour. Other experiences, such as a medicine workshop, cost more.
Tours sell out, so book a time slot on the official page a few days or weeks ahead. The standard ticket allows changes up to four hours before the tour.
Getting there
Waverley station is about 10 minutes on foot, and the entrance is on the Royal Mile opposite St Giles' Cathedral.
Tip
Book an early or late slot in the day, when the groups are smaller and the tour feels less crowded.