The Real Mary King's Close

Discover the city beneath the city
Word to the wise: Book in advance if you want to visit at weekends or peaks times, as this is an ever popular attraction.

Talk of the town: Many have reported hearing the ghost of little Annie, who is thought to have been left to die here by her family after contracting the plague.
Deep below the Royal Mile lies a hidden warren of narrow 16th century streets where people once lived, worked and died; the town that time forgot. Mary King's Close was covered by the City Chambers on the Royal Mile for centuries, until 2003 when it was reopened as a fascinating, and award-winning, sight.

Step back in time into these famous underground closes to witness some of the most dramatic episodes in Edinburgh's past with theatrical tour guides and immersive performances. As some of the worst-affected plague areas in the city, much of Mary King's Close was under quarantine, and the bizarre medical treatments feature in the tours. Indeed, many visitors still believe it to be haunted by its former inhabitants. Yes it is a little camp, but also quite creepy and utterly beguiling.

Age limit: 5