Discover Mary King’s Close: A Complete Guide to One of the Top Things to Do in Edinburgh, Scotland
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 underground experience is also considered one of the top things to do in Edinburgh, Scotland, especially for visitors seeking unique tourist attractions beyond the famous Edinburgh Castle.
This tour is a gateway to a unique historical experience. It is the only way to access these underground streets and living quarters, once bustling with life but 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.
Whether you’re interested in history, hidden places, or unusual things to explore, this site stands out as a truly remarkable tourist attraction.
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.
This hidden gem stands out as one of the top things to see for visitors looking for darker, lesser-known tourist attractions in Edinburgh, Scotland.
✅ Here, you can walk through authentic 17th-century streets and enter people’s living quarters, offering a rare andvisceral sense of life 500 years ago. There’s a bit of everything here—history, architecture, culture, eerie encounters, and chilling ghost stories.
If you’ve already visited Edinburgh Castle or other major tourist attractions, this stop adds an entirely different layer to understanding the city’s past.
👉 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. This intriguing detail is just one of the many captivating tales you’ll discover on your journey.
I enjoyed this tour more than I thought I would. In addition to the place’s uniqueness, 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.
Their storytelling rivals that of many other tourist attractions in Edinburgh, Scotland, making the experience immersive and memorable.
Our group was guided by the amazing Amber, who not only conveyed the story so captivatingly that we all felt as if we had gone back 500 years, but also answered all our questions with depth and enthusiasm.
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.
Today, this exciting spot serves as a wonderful tourist attraction, showcasing a side of the city often overlooked.
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.
Mary King’s Close is one of many medieval streets in bustling Edinburgh, and believe it or not, it used to be a lot busier than you might think!
It’s a place that’s quite different from the iconic landmarks like Edinburgh Castle and other popular attractions above ground.
Back in the 17th century, around 600 people lived in this area!
Who Was Mary King? The Woman Behind Edinburgh’s Famous Close
Closes, which are charming, narrow alleys in Edinburgh, were often named after the wealthy and respected citizens who lived there.
One of these remarkable figures was Mary King, a successful businesswoman at a time when very few women were involved in business.
By 1630, she owned her own property and traded in textiles—an awe-inspiring achievement for a woman at the time!
The Close that bears her name was a bustling place where merchants went about their business, and people lived their simple lives – until history took a darker turn.
Her story makes the close even more fascinating than many other tourist attractions or historical things to explore in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Life in Mary King’s Close: A Glimpse into Edinburgh’s Past
Mary King’s Close is one of the many charming medieval streets in bustling Edinburgh, once home to around 600 people in the 17th century.
These Closes often took their names from respected citizens, and Mary King was a notable figure — she was a successful businesswoman at a time when very few women could own property or run a 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 day to day in this small room: children, adults, and old people.
This harsh lifestyle stands in strong contrast with the elegance of Edinburgh Castle or other polished tourist attractions.
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.
And for bathroom needs, chamber pots were used, with waste tossed into the streets along with a friendly shout of “Gardy loo!” to warn passersby.
It really gives you a sense of how different life was back then!
Mary King’s Close and the Plague: A Grim Chapter in Edinburgh’s History
Mary King’s Close has a fascinating and somewhat eerie history!
In 1644 and 1645, it became a hotspot for the plague, with overcrowding and poor hygiene helping the disease spread rapidly.
It was the epicentre of the Edinburgh plague epidemic, with around 300 to 600 people falling 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 by hanging a white handkerchief from a window or door.
Even after the plague ended in 1647, many people felt uneasy about returning to Mary King’s Close.
However, as the housing situation in Edinburgh became more challenging over the years, folks started moving back in because there were few other options.
This rich history gives the site a depth and emotion that many modern tourist attractions simply don’t have.
This chapter of history makes the site more emotionally powerful than many modern tourist attractions you might visit today.
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 experience life in a crowded medieval city.
Since reopening, Mary King’s Close has become one of the most fascinating tourist spots in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Be sure to check it out when you’re in the area!
The Haunting of Mary King's Close
One of the most captivating stories from Mary King’s Close is about a little girl named Annie. At just 8 years old, she was sadly abandoned by her parents during Christmas in 1644 when they realised she had fallen ill.
Fast forward to 1992, when a Japanese psychic named Aiko Gibo visited the Close and felt a child’s spirit around her. Aiko, who had encountered various paranormal experiences in her life, sensed a strong presence in one of the rooms. As she approached, she could feel waves of sadness and pain wash over her. It was as if a child was clinging to her leg, longing to go back home. That little girl was Annie, who was very upset because she had lost her cherished doll — the last connection to her family.
Aiko Gibo felt this sadness and despair so strongly that she could not rest until she went to a toy shop on the Royal Mile and bought Annie a doll. Since then, visitors have continued leaving dolls and toys in her memory.
Many guests have shared their own experiences, reporting whispers, cries, and even glimpses of ghostly figures as they explore the Close. For those looking for a bit of mystery and a touch of the supernatural, this enchanting story truly makes the site a standout attraction in Edinburgh!
A Tour Unlike Any Other
I had a fantastic time on this tour – much more than I anticipated! The guides are amazing; they dress up as characters from history and tell stories that really bring the place to life. Their storytelling is as captivating as some of the city’s top attractions, making this experience truly memorable.
I won’t give away too many details because I want you to enjoy the surprises for yourself.
Trust me, when you visit, you’ll really want to open your senses and soak up the atmosphere. There’s so much to feel and hear in those medieval passages that the guide might not mention, but it’s all part of the experience!
Tips and Recommendations for Your Visit
📖 Check It Out: I recently picked up the book “The Real Mary King’s Close” after my tour, and I absolutely recommend it! The tour covers so many interesting topics that the book is a perfect way to delve deeper later.
🎟️Book in Advance: The Real Mary King’s Close is super popular, and tickets can disappear fast, especially during the busy tourist seasons. Think of it as being just as sought-after as iconic spots like Edinburgh Castle!
⚠️ A Note for Claustrophobic Visitors: Just a heads-up – some areas of the tour can feel narrow and enclosed. If you’re claustrophobic, you might want to think about this before you book.
Enjoy your visit!
If you’re visiting Edinburgh, don’t just enjoy the stunning views from above – why not explore the fascinating stories waiting for you beneath your feet?
For anyone searching for top things to do or a meaningful tourist attraction beyond the usual highlights of Edinburgh, Scotland, this underground world is truly unforgettable.
