The Real Mary King's Close

The place has so much history and such deep rooted history in it that only when you walk into the close you would know how people have lived in those era and how things were said to the the norm of those time. The tour guide was simply too good he was really fun and extremely very educated. The place doesn’t allow you to take pictures from inside as it’s a historic place the museum above it is simply too good.

We did the tour today and it was quite fascinating to learn about the history of the closes of Scotland. No cell phone use is permitted on the tour. Staff was very helpful before and after the tour and things flowed very smoothly. Our guide was Zelda from London and she did a lovely job leading us along our journey. Definitely recommend and would encourage you to buy tickets in advance.

It was a great tour, we travelled to 17th century Edinburgh and witnessed different life styles of the time, how the plague affected the life and finished our tour with a spooky picture. Our guide was very good. I was expecting to see costumed actors around, but we only interacted with our guide. Overall it was impressive, definitely recommend it.
There’s a good gift shop at the end of the tour.

Absolutely brilliant, so informative. Our guide Ash was amazing. Played her part Margaret very well. Would highly recommend this to anyone going to Edinburgh.
Something to note is I am quite claustrophobic and never felt worried at all.
My son 12 also loved it

Great historical tour to take while you're in this area. The guide was awesome, never a dull moment and humorous too. Made for a perfect tour of Mary King's Close. Now some of spaces are small and steep, so not for people that are claustrophobic. Fascinating to see what lies underneath and what the times were like back then. So if you're in the area, please visit. Cheers!

Amazing place to visit told me more about the history and the incredible structure of the building! How it started with four streets and then those streets had different rooms where people would share and houses made up of wood but did not have good insulation. The history behind it was very informative and would recommend it. %100. Thanks to Our Amazing tour guide All.

An excellent experience very worth your time. You will venture back in time (for real) with an actor on a walking tour. Low ceilings & rough floors (which are the real actual ones) so be careful when walking. Very educational and the actors make the experience so memorable & fun.

That was one the most fascinating tours that I have experienced in Edinburg. It took about one hour to go through the old Mary king’s close listening to true stories of people lives of very very old Edinburg. The tour guide was very knowledgeable gave us nice interesting information. I highly recommend this tour.

This place was so much fun! The guide we had was really detailed and very funny. It’s incredible they keep this area in good shape. It was so interesting to hear the stories and see some of the structures of that time. The gift shop is really great to grab a souvenir and your photos from the tour. I would highly recommend doing this at least once. We did book ahead and only waited 10 min for the rest of our group to arrive before they shuffled us in the back. No pictures or videos are allowed so just be mindful of that.

I've always loved old places, and I'm giving Mary King's Close a full 5 Stars because of the effort and impeccable preservation of this historic site. A few steps in, and you're teleported to a bygone era.

Tucked beneath the Royal Mile this warren of hidden “closes” once bustled with real people—living, working, and eventually fading into history. The dimly lit passages, narrow alleys, and preserved rooms offered a glimpse into everyday life during a bygone era. The authenticity was striking; no replicas or staged scenes here—just genuine remnants of Edinburgh’s past.

Sarah, the very knowledgeable guide, took me through the pages of history with delightful stories, held my camera for me - so I didn't have to take too many selfies and invited me for a chat, a couple of drinks and a delightful meal at Hector's.

if you’re in Edinburgh do the Marys king’s close it’s fascinating to learn the history. Unfortunately you’re not allowed to take pictures while on tour best tip of advice wear good shoes there’s lots of stairs to climb I wouldn’t bring your little one on a tour since the steps are steep.

Very informative and interesting view of the past life of Edinburgh. Well worth the visit if you are interested in the history. Parts were being restored so there were a few parts we were not able to see but overall a great time. For a family of 6 it was very steep in price for a 1hr tour especially when you convert from AUD. Maybe a family discount would better option cause I think any child under 12 wouldn't be interested. Despite price it was a good tour maybe add in more of the past history and not rush through so quickly. We could also here the next group coming through which was a little annoying as it distracts you from what your listening to.

The tour was fantastic. So interesting, informative and very well done, with a mix of a tour guide and visual effects.
I found the preserved streets in the foundation of the building fascinating, and you could really imagine what life would have been like for the residents all those hundreds of years ago.
Our tour guide Daisy was great - superb level of knowledge, fun, enthusiastic and friendly. Also felt safe and looked after at all times.
Would not hesitate to recommend this tour.

Don't have many pictures of here because phones are not allowed as the streets you'll explore run under a government building. That being said, it's a great toured experienced. The staff are great at what they do and the hour long tour is pretty special. You'll go thru various buildings underground and have them explained as what they were used for, who'd love there, ect.. all with a tour guide dressed to play the old timely part.

It was a wonderful experience, but I felt that with an entire underground city present, the small bit that you see wasn't enough. Would've liked to see more and delve deeper into the areas. However, as it is a legit underground labyrinth, understandable why you only see what you see. It is holding up the entire present day city above afterall.

HERSTORY TOUR on Saturday 17 of March with Madison, French Sarah and Daisy. I don't have enough words to express how satisfied I am with this tour. I was looking to learn more about Scotland's history since I now live here but mainly was looking for sources of inspiration to empower myself as a woman and this tour was perfect. I even bought the book, "where are the women?". Everything was perfect. The information, the performance and the kindness were all on point. Thank you so much for such a powerful experience and for the knowledge, Paula.

Embarking on this tour with the charismatic Mr. James L. was like stepping into a time machine of quirky tales! We delved into the intriguing history of the Mary King's Close, unraveled stories about the plague, and even got the lowdown on the close's construction – all peppered with humor that kept us chuckling throughout. A historical journey with a side of laughs, thanks to the one and only Mr. James L.! 😄📜

Fascinating look at a snippet of the history of Edinburgh and its residents, how they lived and what they lived through. What could have been quite a dry, factual tour was brilliantly brought to life by our guide, Rebecca, who was knowledgeable and entertaining for the whole session. Her descriptive commentary brought to life the rooms, artefacts and staging that we passed through and added to the success of the experience as a whole. It was also fantastic to see such a piece of the City’s history preserved and accessible in this way.
Recommend booking in advance, as this is a popular tour.

We booked this tour a few weeks in advance, and I am glad we did, as It was sold out. Our guide, Isaac, was lovely and full of information. He answered all of the questions and had great historical stories to share. It was a very different side of old Edinburgh.

Nice experience, it lasts about 1 hour, it costs around 22£, photos are not allowed(except the one that they can take for you and buy it at the end of the tour) and Luis was a fantastic guide.
I totally recommend it. 😊

Daisy was absolutely delightful! She was engaging, creative, and incredibly funny. My family and I went on the Medical History tour and we learned so much! We actually ended up at the Holyrood Palace because she told us about the history of the Royal Mile. We all highly recommend this tour if you'd like to learn more about the history of Edinburgh.