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Edinburgh City Chambers on the Royal Mile, built over the buried closes that the tour visits

No. 6 Top Landmarks & Attractions 2026

The Real Mary King's Close

Edinburgh, United Kingdom · City guide: Edinburgh

A guided walk through the buried 17th-century streets beneath Edinburgh's Royal Mile.

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Photo: Stephencdickson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

The Real Mary King's Close is No. 6 in Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice Best of the Best 2026 ranking of the top attractions in the world. Beneath the Royal Mile lies a warren of narrow closes (alleys) and houses where people lived and worked for centuries. When the Royal Exchange, now the City Chambers, was built from 1753, the upper floors of the buildings were taken down and the lower levels were used as foundations, sealing the streets below.

The close is named after Mary King, a merchant and widow who lived there in the 17th century. Guided tours, led by costumed guides playing former residents, explore the rooms and streets and tell stories of daily life, the plague outbreak of 1645 and the legends that grew up around the closes.

Best time to visit

The attraction is open all year. Book ahead in summer and during the Edinburgh festivals in August, when tours sell out. Early and late tours tend to be quieter.

Highlights

  • 1

    The buried streets

    Walk down steep, narrow Mary King's Close and into rooms that have survived largely unchanged since the 17th and 18th centuries.

  • 2

    Life in the Old Town

    Guides explain how thousands of people lived in crowded tenements on the ridge of the Royal Mile, with little light, no running water and waste thrown into the street.

  • 3

    The plague of 1645

    The tour describes how the city responded when plague struck, including the role of the plague doctor.

  • 4

    Annie's Room

    Part of the tour's ghost lore. Visitors have left dolls and toys in this small room for decades after stories of a young girl's ghost.

Getting there

The entrance is on Warriston's Close, off the High Street (Royal Mile), opposite St Giles' Cathedral. Edinburgh Waverley station is a short but uphill walk away. Edinburgh Airport is linked to the city centre by tram and the Airlink bus.

Practical tips

Tours & tickets
Visits are by guided tour only, and group sizes are limited, so book online in advance. Check the official website for tour times, age limits and prices.
Accessibility
The tour involves steep stairs and uneven floors, and it can be cool and dim underground. Check the access information on the official website before booking.
Time needed
Tours last about an hour.
Currency
Pound sterling (GBP). Cards are accepted almost everywhere.
Visa & entry
Many visitors, including citizens of the US, Canada, Australia and EU countries, now need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling. Check gov.uk for the current rules.

Official information: The Real Mary King's Close (official website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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