For years, the hidden Closes of Old Town Edinburgh have been shrouded in myths and mysteries now research and archaeological evidence have revealed a truer story, rooted in fact and – as is so often the case – more fascinating than any amount of fiction.

In the company of an expert guide, your group can explore this unique site and experience what it was really like for the people who lived, worked and died here.

The Real Mary King’s Close is a warren of underground streets and spaces. It can be a strange concept to understand – back in the 1600’s, Mary King’s Close and neighbouring Closes were at the heart of Edinburgh’s busiest and most vibrant streets, open to the skies and bustling with traders selling their wares to the Old Town’s residents.

Our 1 hour guided tours allow groups to gain a unique first hand insight into Edinburgh’s history and uncover the diverse social and environmental conditions of those living in the tenements that stood on this site between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries.