Real Mary King's Close

Closes, a Scots term for an alleyway, were originally narrow streets with tenement houses on either side, stretching up to seven stories high.


Mary King's Close is an old Edinburgh close under buildings in the Old Town area of Edinburgh Scotland. It took its name from one Mary King, daughter of advocate Alexander King, who in the 17th century had owned several properties within the close. The close was partially demolished and buried under the Royal Exchange, and later being closed to the public for many years, the complex became shrouded in myths and urban legends; tales of ghosts and murders, and myths of plague victims being walled up and left to die abounded.

 However, new research and archaeological evidence has revealed that the close actually consists of a number of  The guide for our tour of Mary King's Close was Pam, portraying Mary's daughter. She was informative and fun and helped bring the close to life for the duration of our tour.