Venue Description

Beneath the City Chambers on the Royal Mile lies Edinburgh's deepest secret a warren of hidden streets where real people lived, worked and died between the 17th and the 19th centuries. A time capsule of streets beneath Edinburgh’s Royal Mile bringing history to life. On a one hour tour led by a character tour guide depicting a former resident of the Close, guests will delve below to learn the real stories from Edinburgh’s incredible past between the 16th and 19th centuries. Hear the stories of the people who lived, worked and died on these streets and discover how all social classes lived together stacked on top of each other in tenements that are said to have been the world’s first skyscrapers! The Real Mary King’s Close offers guests an authentic insight into the social history of these uniquely preserved streets and houses.

Accessibility

From the street to the main entrance, there is level access. The Royal Mile is sloped, but fairly level at the main door into the attraction. Steps lead from the admissions area and exhibition to the rest of the site. Our café, shop, and toilets can also be accessed via the Warriston’s Close entrance to the attraction. There are a total of 58 steps to be descended and 38 ascended as part of the tour. There is no lift access, unfortunately. The character-led experience lasts approximately one hour. There is a minimum age limit of 5 for the tour, and children aged 16 or under must be accompanied by an adult. Due to uneven surfaces and some steep inclines, sturdy footwear is recommended. Many areas are dimly lit, and some guests may experience disorientation or claustrophobia. Guides are equipped with radios. If you need to leave the tour at any stage, your guide will arrange for a member of the team to take you back upstairs. Due to the historic nature and layout of the site, as well as to protect the health and safety of all of our guests, we would like to make you aware of the following: - Guests can view a model of the Close in our free exhibition. - Our knowledgeable team is always on hand to answer any questions and to explain the site in more detail. - There’s free admission for carers when accompanying visitors with disabilities. Tickets are not available via our website at the moment. - We have free multi-language audio guides available. The audio provides an overview of the tour but isn’t an exact character guide interpretation of the experience. To reserve, please email contact@realmarykingsclose.com. - A copy of our script is available for guests with hearing impairment needs. To reserve an e-reader, please email contact@realmarykingsclose.com.

Access Statement

Access Statement Link: https://www.realmarykingsclose.com/plan-your-visit/accessibility/

Toilets

Information about the toilets has not been added for this venue.

Staff

Information about the staff has not been added for this venue.