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Visitors keen to delve into Edinburgh’s Mary King’s Close should reserve a spot on the tour sufficiently in advance. Limited space is available for tours of the city’s labyrinthine subterranean city, steeped in legend and lore, directly beneath the glamorous Royal Mile.
Curious Relic
Although it is sometimes referred to in promotional literature as an underground city beneath Edinburgh’s City Chambers, the Real St. Mary’s Close is more a network of dark, narrow passageways that was partly covered over when the Royal Exchange was built at street level in 1753. The labyrinth does, however, incorporate several underground vaults. Former tenement buildings rise eight stories high from tight, damp alleyways called "wynds" which could be sealed off by gates at either end, thus the term "close." Once a densely populated urban community, Mary King’s Close was ultimately evacuated due to numerous outbreaks of plague and lay derelict before opening as a visitor attraction in 2003. The close takes its name from one of the district’s most prominent businesswomen, a seamstress and fabric dealer who died in the 17th century.
Tour Basics
Visitors can take a journey into 17th century Edinburgh, complete with subdued lighting and an audio track of atmospheric sound effects, as part of a guided tour of the close. Guides are dressed as characters from the era, ranging from a maid to a plague cleaner. Tours, which last an hour, run every 15 minutes and should be booked online in advance, as space is at a premium, particularly during peak summer tourist season. Group numbers are limited to 20 guests; children under 5 are not admitted. Given the need to cover several flights of steep steps, there is also no wheelchair access to the tour. All tours are in English, but audio guides in several European languages are available.
When and Where
Tours run daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. from April to July and September to October, and from 9 a.m. in August. During the winter months, November to March, the attraction closes at 5 p.m. Finding Mary King’s Close is a challenge since signage is tightly controlled along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Visitors should head to Warriston Close, just off the High Street, and look for a metal grille and sign at the top of a flight of stone stairs. The entrance is opposite St. Giles' Cathedral on the High Street. Traffic down the Royal Mile is limited, but tourists can easily reach Warriston Close by public transport, with buses 23, 27, 28, 35, 41 and 42 all stopping at Warriston Close.
Enhanced Experience
Architecturally, Mary King’s Close is quirky but not overly remarkable. The main attraction is the slew of legends surrounding the area. Scottish poets, for example, stayed at Baxter’s Close, near Deacon Brodie’s Tavern, and the area is famous for its alleged hauntings, with reports of strange noises and unidentified sounds of revelry. One room is said to be haunted by a girl called Annie and has become a shrine where visitors leave toys. Visitors can also enjoy private rentals for groups, drinks and canapes included, or murder mystery evenings for up to 40 guests, based around a 1940s wartime-themed experience. A late-night, one-hour tour focuses on the more sinister aspects of the close, exploring a world of witch pickers and plague victims.
Curious Relic
Although it is sometimes referred to in promotional literature as an underground city beneath Edinburgh’s City Chambers, the Real St. Mary’s Close is more a network of dark, narrow passageways that was partly covered over when the Royal Exchange was built at street level in 1753. The labyrinth does, however, incorporate several underground vaults. Former tenement buildings rise eight stories high from tight, damp alleyways called "wynds" which could be sealed off by gates at either end, thus the term "close." Once a densely populated urban community, Mary King’s Close was ultimately evacuated due to numerous outbreaks of plague and lay derelict before opening as a visitor attraction in 2003. The close takes its name from one of the district’s most prominent businesswomen, a seamstress and fabric dealer who died in the 17th century.
Tour Basics
Visitors can take a journey into 17th century Edinburgh, complete with subdued lighting and an audio track of atmospheric sound effects, as part of a guided tour of the close. Guides are dressed as characters from the era, ranging from a maid to a plague cleaner. Tours, which last an hour, run every 15 minutes and should be booked online in advance, as space is at a premium, particularly during peak summer tourist season. Group numbers are limited to 20 guests; children under 5 are not admitted. Given the need to cover several flights of steep steps, there is also no wheelchair access to the tour. All tours are in English, but audio guides in several European languages are available.
When and Where
Tours run daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. from April to July and September to October, and from 9 a.m. in August. During the winter months, November to March, the attraction closes at 5 p.m. Finding Mary King’s Close is a challenge since signage is tightly controlled along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Visitors should head to Warriston Close, just off the High Street, and look for a metal grille and sign at the top of a flight of stone stairs. The entrance is opposite St. Giles' Cathedral on the High Street. Traffic down the Royal Mile is limited, but tourists can easily reach Warriston Close by public transport, with buses 23, 27, 28, 35, 41 and 42 all stopping at Warriston Close.
Enhanced Experience
Architecturally, Mary King’s Close is quirky but not overly remarkable. The main attraction is the slew of legends surrounding the area. Scottish poets, for example, stayed at Baxter’s Close, near Deacon Brodie’s Tavern, and the area is famous for its alleged hauntings, with reports of strange noises and unidentified sounds of revelry. One room is said to be haunted by a girl called Annie and has become a shrine where visitors leave toys. Visitors can also enjoy private rentals for groups, drinks and canapes included, or murder mystery evenings for up to 40 guests, based around a 1940s wartime-themed experience. A late-night, one-hour tour focuses on the more sinister aspects of the close, exploring a world of witch pickers and plague victims.
Posted in: Travel UK
