The Real Mary King's Close

The Real Mary King's Close Making Edinburgh's hidden history unmissable. BOOK ONLINE FOR YOUR TOUR!
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Imagine a warren of streets frozen in time beneath Edinburgh’s Royal Mile where behind every twist and turn secrets lie waiting to be told...

The Real Mary King’s Close is a five star visitor attraction located in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town.

06/09/2026

Have you heard the legend of Edinburgh’s lost piper boy?

The tale of a young piper disappearing beneath the city is one of the many stories that have become woven into Edinburgh’s folklore over the centuries.

This September, we’re exploring the stories behind Scotland’s myths, legends and strange traditions with our special **Myths & Legends Tour** at The Real Mary King’s Close.

Journey into a world of witches, mysterious discoveries, legendary creatures and tales passed down through generations, while discovering what these stories can tell us about the people who once believed in them.

📅 Selected dates throughout September
🎟️ Book your Myths & Legends Tour and discover a different side of Edinburgh’s history.

On this day in 1750, one of Edinburgh’s great literary voices was born.Robert Fergusson was born in Edinburgh on 5 Septe...
05/09/2026

On this day in 1750, one of Edinburgh’s great literary voices was born.

Robert Fergusson was born in Edinburgh on 5 September 1750. During his short life, he became known for poetry that vividly captured the people, places and everyday experiences of 18th-century Edinburgh.

His influence stretched far beyond the city. Robert Burns greatly admired Fergusson’s work and acknowledged him as an important inspiration. After Fergusson’s death, Burns even paid for a headstone to be erected at his grave in Edinburgh’s Canongate Kirkyard.

Fergusson also holds a special place in our own story at The Real Mary King’s Close. He appears as a character on several of our tours and has become a much-loved figure among our team.

Today, 276 years after his birth, we’re celebrating an Edinburgh writer whose words helped preserve something of the character of the city he knew so well. ❤️

Happy birthday, Robert Fergusson.

04/09/2026

Have you ever stopped to look closely at Edinburgh’s buildings? 🪨

Sandstone has played an important role in shaping the appearance of the city. Across the Old Town, you can still spot differences between rougher historic stonework, more uniform later buildings, darkened stone and sections that have been repaired or replaced.

Those dark tones are also a reminder of another chapter in Edinburgh’s history. Smoke from countless fires and chimneys once hung over the city, helping earn Edinburgh its famous nickname, ‘Auld Reekie’.

At The Real Mary King’s Close, the architecture takes you beneath the Royal Mile and into uniquely preserved streets and spaces associated with Edinburgh’s past residents.

Edinburgh is a city where history isn’t confined to museums. Sometimes, all you need to do is look at the walls around you.

Next time you’re exploring the Old Town, see what stories you can find in the stone.

01/09/2026

Have you ever wondered how Edinburgh’s plague doctors managed their work-life balance during the outbreak of 1645?

We asked ours.

The answer was… painfully relatable. 😅

Some problems, it seems, transcend the centuries.

30/08/2026

Edinburgh is a city filled with mysteries, but almost two hundred years later, we’re still searching for an explanation for this one.

In 1836, seventeen miniature coffins containing tiny carved figures were discovered hidden on Arthur’s Seat.

Were they connected to witchcraft? A burial ritual? Lost sailors? Or even the seventeen victims associated with Burke and Hare?

There have been plenty of theories, but no definitive answer.

This September, our Myths & Legends Tour explores some of the stranger stories that have become part of Edinburgh and Scotland’s folklore.

Expect witches, fairies, mysterious lights, ghostly pipers and tales that blur the boundary between history, folklore and legend.

Join us on Saturdays and Sundays throughout September and discover a rather more magical side of Edinburgh’s past.

https://www.realmarykingsclose.com/whats-on/myths-and-legends-tour/

29/08/2026

“The plague didn’t hit Edinburgh in the 17th century.”

That was the claim in a recent review we received. According to the reviewer, the plague struck Europe in the 14th century, not the 17th.

The first part is certainly true. The devastating Black Death swept across Europe in the 14th century and killed millions of people.

But it wasn’t the end of the story.

In fact, Edinburgh experienced repeated outbreaks of plague over the centuries, including in the 17th century.

We asked Alex from our team to delve into the history, explain where the confusion comes from and reveal just how long plague continued to affect Scotland and the wider world.

Have you heard any historical “facts” about Edinburgh that you’d like us to investigate? Let us know in the comments.

27/08/2026

On this day, 27 August 1788, the trial of one of Edinburgh’s most notorious criminals began.

Deacon William Brodie was a respected cabinetmaker, businessman and prominent member of Edinburgh society. But behind that respectable exterior was a secret life of crime.

Brodie used his position and knowledge to gain access to wealthy households, before returning as a burglar after dark. The money helped fund another hidden side of his life, including two mistresses and five children.

Eventually, an accomplice informed on him and Brodie’s carefully constructed double life began to unravel.

His remarkable story has endured for centuries and is widely associated with the inspiration behind Robert Louis Stevenson’s "Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde".

If you’d like to discover more, "The Man Who Was Jekyll and Hyde: The Lives and Crimes of Deacon Brodie" by Rick Wilson traces Brodie’s life, crimes and eventual downfall. You can find a copy in our gift shop.

There’s more hiding beneath Edinburgh than history… ✨This September, step into a different side of The Real Mary King’s ...
26/08/2026

There’s more hiding beneath Edinburgh than history… ✨

This September, step into a different side of The Real Mary King’s Close with our Myths & Legends Tour.

Witches. Fairies. Mysterious lights in the darkness. Ghostly pipers. Tiny coffins. And centuries of stories passed from one generation to the next.

Discover the myths, legends and supernatural tales that once helped people explain the unexplained, and find out where history ends and legend begins.

It’s stranger, darker and a little more magical than your usual journey beneath the Royal Mile. 🔮

Myths & Legends Tours begin next week, running Saturdays and Sundays throughout September.

Ready to step into the story?

24/08/2026

There are only a few days of August left, but if you’re heading to Edinburgh before the festivals wrap up, we have a few tips for you!

First, come prepared for the weather. Layers and waterproofs are always a good idea in Edinburgh, even when the forecast looks promising. ☔

Next, plan ahead and book the experiences you really want to do, including your visit to The Real Mary King’s Close. But don’t fill every minute of your itinerary. Part of the fun of Edinburgh in August is stumbling across a Fringe show you’ve never heard of and deciding to give it a go.

Finally, explore beyond the busiest stretches of the Royal Mile. Wander down the Canongate, visit Canongate Kirk, discover the peaceful Dunbar’s Close Garden or simply see where your feet take you.

Edinburgh in August can be busy, but it’s also one of the most exciting times to experience the city.

What advice would you give to a first-time August visitor?

23/08/2026

It’s Question Time, and our little Plague Doctor has a 17th-century medical question for you…

Physicians believed the human body contained four humours, and that your health depended on keeping them in balance.

Which of these was NOT one of the four humours?

A. Blood
B. Yellow bile
C. Urine

Think you know your 17th-century medicine? Leave your answer in the comments. 👇

Address

2 Warriston's Close, High Street
Edinburgh
EH11PG

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 9pm
Tuesday 9am - 9pm
Wednesday 9am - 9pm
Friday 12:15pm - 9pm
Saturday 9am - 9pm
Sunday 9am - 7:30pm

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