Edinburgh tourist attraction voted 6th best in the world – walk in the footsteps of Scotland’s past

Since first opening in 2003 the attraction has welcomed millions of guests from home and abroad – and it’s their rave reviews which have helped rank it number six in the world.

So, what is it about the Real Mary King’s Close that makes it so special? We take a deep dive under the bustling surface of the Royal Mile to take a look.

What lies beneath?

The Real Mary King’s Close isn’t just a regular history tour it’s an immersive experience where visitors literally walk in the footsteps of the past, amongst a warren of perfectly preserved 17th century streets.

Buried beneath the Royal Mile and the Edinburgh City Chambers, you’ll find real stories of residents of the past. Learn about merchants and burgesses, the plague doctors, of maidservants and poets, all vividly brought to life through storytelling.

As you wander through the dimly lit rooms and underground closes a team of expert costumed guides will bring the meticulously researched stories of past lives back to life.

These are not myths or legends, but the genuine histories of real people who lived out their lives in the Close – merchants and business people plying their wares on luckenbooths on the Close and families who lived crammed together in dark tenements.

You will even learn the truth about the fascinating woman whose name the Close still bears.

Lifting the lid on a lost world

Mary King’s Close was a street which housed over 600 people back in the 17th century.

You’ll be taken into a world where people of all social classes lived cheek by jowl. The poorest were on the ground floor and top levels of the buildings whilst the middle classes, such as Dr Arnott, and even the rich and well-connected, lived in the middle – high enough to avoid the dirt of the streets, but low enough to be safe from the unstable wooden-built top levels.

Learn what happened to the streets following the construction of the Royal Exchange – built as an indoor market in the mid 18th century.

And it is these rooms and alleyways that are now this celebrated heritage attraction – which was named the UK’s number one by Tripadvisor back in 2024, before its global ranking as sixth in the world.

Visitors praise the immersive atmosphere to the unforgettable costumed guides, who lead them on this hour-long journey of discovery.

Funny, entertaining, moving and sometimes gruesome, the stories leave nothing to the imagination!

Paul Nixon, General Manager of The Real Mary King’s Close, said: “Our attraction is truly unique.

Highlight his quote

“To be continuously recognised as one of the top attractions in the world is a huge achievement. But the most important thing is knowing that our guests genuinely enjoy their time with us and will want to return.”

Open all year round

The attraction is open all year, and even if you’ve been before you’ll find something new in the special tours arranged throughout the year.

These include a delve into the medicines of the day – and learn of some of the more unusual cures during a Dr Arnott’s Sampling Sensation Experience. Try a True Crime Tour, and early morning coffee and tour combo or a spooky lantern-lit tour – perfect for Hallowe’en. There are also Victorian Christmas events to bring some festive cheer to December.

For further information about regular tours, tickets, prices and seasonal specials visit the website here.

Booking for this hugely popular experience is essential. You’ll find the Real Mary King’s Close at High Street, 2, Warriston’s Close, Edinburgh, EH1 1PG.