If asked to recommend a must-see in Edinburgh for a historical experience, I recommend booking The Real Mary King's Close tour without hesitation.

This tour is a gateway to a unique historical experience. It is the only way to access these underground streets and living quarters, which were once bustling with life but were later closed and forgotten. Thanks to this, they have been preserved authentically, offering an unparalleled time-travel experience.

Having personally experienced this tour, I'm sharing my insights and tips here to ensure you're well-prepared to make the most of your visit.

Why Mary King’s Close is a Must-Visit

✅ There is no better place to understand the life of ordinary people in medieval Edinburgh, the chaos that accompanied the plague epidemic, and the fascinating stories of the souls who once lived within these walls—some of whom are said to still haunt them.

✅ Here, you can walk through authentic 17th-century streets and enter people's living quarters, offering a rare and visceral sense of life 500 years ago. There's a bit of everything here—history, architecture, culture, eerie encounters, and chilling ghost stories.

👉 And be doubly careful if you hear the cry "Gardy loo!"
This was a warning cry used in medieval Edinburgh to alert people below that waste was about to be thrown out of a window. It's just one of the many fascinating historical details you'll learn on the tour.

I enjoyed this tour more than I thought I would. In addition to the uniqueness of the place, the guides are either costumed actors or simply very talented storytellers who play different roles, as well as people who lived here at the time. Our group was guided by the amazing Amber, who not only conveyed the story so captivatingly that we all felt like we had gone back 500 years but also answered all our questions with depth and enthusiasm.

🔎 Plan Ahead: Check the latest opening hours and ticket prices before your visit.

🔑🏰 Unlocking the Secret of Mary King’s Close

Beneath the bustling streets of Edinburgh's Royal Mile lies a hidden world: a warren of narrow alleys and abandoned homes frozen in time.

Mary King's Close was one of many medieval streets in crowded Edinburgh. It is estimated that around 600 people lived here in the 17th century. Named after Mary King, a merchant who lived here in the 17th century, this once thriving street was eventually buried under new buildings, preserving the history of the city we see today.

I'll open up a bit of the world of Mary King's Close to you so that you can better tune in as a tour guide and better understand what's happening on the spot. But the best bits and moments are still there to discover on the spot.

Yes, you got it right. It is about life and death, the lives of merchants, doctors and ordinary working-class people in the Middle Ages, and their joys and sorrows.

🧵👩‍💼 Who Was Mary King? The Woman Behind Edinburgh’s Famous Close

As customary at the time, the Closes were named after the wealthy and respected citizens who lived there.

Mary King was a successful businesswoman at a time when very few women were in business. By 1630, she owned property and traded in textiles, which was remarkable for a woman of that era. The Close that bears his name was a bustling place where merchants went about their business, and people lived their simple lives - until history took a darker turn.

🏡⏳ Life in Mary King’s Close: A Glimpse into Edinburgh’s Past

Mary King's Close was one of many medieval streets in crowded Edinburgh. Around 600 people lived here in the 17th century. The Closes were typically named after wealthy or respected citizens, and Mary King was one such figure—a successful businesswoman at a time when very few women owned property or engaged in trade.

Life in these Closes was far from easy. Families of ten to fifteen people often lived in a single room, sometimes shared between three families. Imagine how this crowd lived daily in this small room: children, adults, old people.

In addition, there was no plumbing in the houses at that time. Water was carried in large containers, often to the fifth, sixth, and seventh floors. Natural needs were relieved in a chamber pot. Waste was thrown into the streets with a warning cry of "Gardy loo!"

🦠 Mary King’s Close and the Plague: A Grim Chapter in Edinburgh’s History

Overcrowding and poor hygiene made it a perfect place for the plague to spread (1644-1645), and it became the epicentre of the Edinburgh plague epidemic, during which 300-600 people fell ill.

There is also a theory that Mary King's Close was closed during the plague, but other accounts claim this was not done, as food and medicine were still being brought there.

The rich who were sick were moved to another area, while the poor remained there and signalled that they needed help by hanging a white handkerchief out of the window or door.

Although the plague ended in 1647, people felt unsafe returning to Mary King's Close. However, in the following years, the housing crisis in Edinburgh worsened, so people began to move back to Mary King Close because there were no other places to live.

In the intervening years, this Close was closed to the public. However, in 1982, a team of historians, archaeologists, and preservationists worked tirelessly to restore and reopen Mary King's Close, allowing people to travel back in time and understand life in a crowded city in the Middle Ages.

👻🏚️The Haunting of Mary King's Close

One of the most famous stories from Mary King's Close is that of Annie, an 8-year-old girl abandoned by her parents at Christmas 1644 and left to die when they realized that their daughter had the disease.

Her spirit was reportedly encountered in 1992 by Japanese psychic Aiko Gibo, who sensed a child's presence in one of the rooms. She had experienced many paranormal phenomena in her life and was not particularly surprised when she came to a room where she felt suffering, sadness and pain. She said she could not go into the room because the pain was too much, and she could feel a child desperately holding on to her leg. This little girl wanted to go home to her family. Her name was Annie, and she had lost her last connection to her home - her doll. The little girl was very, very unhappy. Aiko Gebo felt this energy of sadness and despair so strongly that she could not rest until she went to a toy shop on the Royal Mile and brought Annie a doll. Since then, visitors have continued leaving dolls and toys in her memory.

Sensitive visitors have also reported hearing cries, whispers, and even glimpses of ghostly figures wandering the Close.

A Tour Unlike Any Other

I enjoyed this tour more than I thought I would. The guides, who are costumed actors or incredibly talented storytellers who play roles of people who lived here, enhanced the uniqueness of the place.

This tour is much more thorough if I don't tell you more details. Go there yourself, free your senses, and be prepared to feel and hear what the guide doesn't tell you but what still lives in these medieval passages.

🚩Book your tour to The Real Mery King's Close here>>

🌟Tips and Recommendations for Your Visit

📖Read more>> I bought the book "The Real Mary King'd Close" after the tour, and I recommend it to you as well. The informative tour covers many topics, making the book worth reading later.

🎟️Book in Advance>> The Real Mary King's Close is a very popular attraction, and tickets can sell out quickly, especially during peak tourist seasons. Booking online in advance is highly recommended.

👟Dress Comfortably>> The underground passageways can be cool and damp, even on warm days. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a light jacket.

⏳Arrive Early>> Arriving a little before your scheduled tour lets you soak in the atmosphere and explore nearby attractions along the Royal Mile.

🎭Listen to the Guides>> The knowledgeable guides bring history to life with engaging storytelling, so pay close attention to fascinating details and spooky legends.

🏛️Pair It with Other Attractions>> After your visit, explore St Giles' Cathedral and the Museum of Edinburgh, or grab a bite at one of the historic pubs nearby.

⚠️Not Recommended for Claustrophobic Visitors>> Some areas are narrow and enclosed, so if you have claustrophobia, consider this before booking.

If you find yourself in Edinburgh, don't just admire the city's beauty from above—take a step below and discover the stories hidden beneath your feet.

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Step Into the Past: Is Mary King's Close worth visiting?