Halloween lovers need look no further than The Real Mary King’s Close this October to celebrate the ominous side of Edinburgh’s past. Recently revealed as the UK’s favourite tourist attraction and 11th best visitor attraction in Europe in this year’s Tripadvisor® Travellers’ Choice® Awards – Best of the Best for 2024, the two limited edition experiences are set to be a must visit.
The Lantern Led Tours and True Crime Tours shine a light into the dark about the lives of former residents and unravel truths about their deaths… for those willing to descend onto Mary King’s Close at night!
The adult only True Crimes Tour offers visitors the chance to explore the history of real offences committed on Mary King’s Close and its neighbouring areas. For years, the closes of the Old Town have been shrouded in shocking tales of crime and punishment: but this -one hour social history tour is a chance to gain a more investigative insight into the nature of Edinburgh’s criminal activity. With a special “True Crimes” guide to lead you on your journey through Edinburgh’s forgotten streets, discover how the people of the closes were just as compelled by the dark details of criminal misdemeanours as we are today.
The tour will delve into the reign of James VI, the rise of the witch trials, and what this meant for ordinary people living on Mary King’s Close. It will confront themes such as eviction, addiction, and the lack of legislation in place to protect residents. Also, discover the intriguing link that Mary King’s Close has to the infamous character that likely inspired The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. This is a tour for only the most undaunted visitors.
The Lantern Led Tours will shine a light (or lack of) onto Edinburgh’s history, illuminating the lives and deaths of former residents throughout time. Guests will descend into complete darkness, with the only light source being the flicker of their lanterns, as they explore The Close and meet two interactive characters along the way. Visitors will need to brave stepping into the underground to experience history as it was lived… with all the lights off.
Paul Nixon, General Manager at The Real Mary King’s Close, said: “The Real Mary King’s Close is a place filled with excitement and mystery, but Edinburgh’s ominous past means we also have the perfect tales to tell this Halloween. We are so excited to launch our Lantern Led Tours and True Crime Tours and elevate the experience to a whole new level, this is a great activity to do with family and friends over Halloween!”
The Real Mary King’s Close stands as an important part of Edinburgh’s history. It teaches the following generations about the incredible struggles people faced during the plague, the extreme living conditions, and the punishing impact of social hierarchy.
The tours will be running Thursday 10th to Thursday 31st October, and will take place from 6pm-9pm every 15 minutes, and until 10pm on Saturdays. Prices are £30 per adult / £24 per child (no under 18s for True Crime).
For more information and bookings please visit: https://bookings.realmarykingsclose.com/book
