Experience the Underground Preservation of the Real Mary King’s Close. If there’s one tour in Edinburgh I’d recommend above all others, it would be the Real Mary King’s Close Tour. This tour has a little of everything – history, architecture, culture, and even a ghost story.
How long does it take to do Mary Kings Close?
Each fully guided tour lasts approximately one hour. For safety reasons, the tour is unsuitable for children under 5 years of age.
Is Mary Kings Close the same as the vaults?
Mary Kings close is mainly a tour around some vaults below ground with some storytelling, then it finishes up in a street (or close) that latterly had buildings constructed over the top. That last segment in the close is all too brief yet intersting.
Was Mary Kings Close always underground?
Mary King’s Close and its surrounding streets were not always underground. In the 1600s, they were open to the skies and filled with residents and market traders.
What happened in Mary King’s Close?
The close was partially demolished and buried due to the building of the Royal Exchange in the 18th century, and later closed to the public for many years. The area became shrouded in myths and urban legends; tales of hauntings and murders abounded.
Why is Mary Kings Close Famous?
Mary King’s Close History
Mary King’s Close was a street in Edinburgh sealed off from the world, leaving all the people suffering from the bubonic plague trapped beneath.
Does Mary King’s Close have toilets?
Our café, shop, and toilets can also be accessed via the Warriston’s Close entrance to the attraction.
How long do you need at Edinburgh Castle?
2 hours
You should set aside at least 2 hours to see the main attractions at Edinburgh Castle. Opening times for the independent museums at the castle may vary. The castle is closed on 25 and 26 December.
Why is it called Mary King’s Close?
The close in question is comprised of a cluster of underground passageways named after Mary King, an affluent merchant burgess and widow residing in the buildings from around 1635 onwards. Mary King’s Close housed numerous towering tenement buildings regarded by many as the world’s first skyscrapers.
Why is Mary Kings Close underground?
According to legend, Mary King’s Close’s gates were locked and plague victims were left to die. But in reality the area was quarantined with food and water brought in, until finally the last residents left – one way or another – and the close was abandoned in 1645.
Why is Edinburgh so dark?
The city is also affectionately named by the Scottish as “Auld Reekie” (Reekie meaning “Smoky”), referring to the pollution from coal and wood fires that left dark smoky trails from chimneys through the Edinburgh skies.
What’s the difference between Edinburgh Old Town and New Town?
The city centre of Edinburgh is made up of two distinct areas, the Old Town and the New Town. The Old Town is the ancient part of the city, dating back to Medieval times, and the New Town, which is not so new anymore, was built during the Georgian era.
Did Scotland have the Black Death?
In the 1340s, the Black Death wasted much of Europe and the Middle East, yet Scotland initially welcomed the onset of the plague.
Descend into a section of Edinburgh’s legendary Underground City, where a population once lived in utter misery. Forgotten for centuries and only recently unsealed, this part of the vaults is known as Damnation Alley.
Is John Knox House Free?
Look out for the tricks and traps to fool intruders and hunt for the devil hiding in The Oak Room ceiling. Opening times: Tuesday – Sunday 10am-6pm, last entry 5pm. Admission: Adult – £6, Concession – £5, Children over 7 – £1, Children under 7 – Free.
How can I spend a day in Edinburgh?
Here’s what to see and do in Edinburgh in one day:
- Sunrise at Calton Hill (or visit at sunset)
- Breakfast at Princes Street Gardens.
- Stroll Princes Street Gardens & see the Ross Fountain.
- Short Visit to Scottish National Gallery.
- Explore Edinburgh Castle.
- Don’t miss the One O’clock Gun (1 pm at Edinburgh Castle)
Can you walk around the grounds of Edinburgh Castle for free?
Edinburgh Castle
Entry to the castle is not free, but you can walk up to it and take in the fantastic views. Edinburgh Castle tickets are cheaper if you buy online (£18 per adult) but paying at the gate will cost £21.
Why are there so many closes in Edinburgh?
Back in medieval times, Royal Mile was lined with individual plots of land with paths to gain access to the land behind. As each plot became built up over time, these paths or closes developed into narrow lanes connecting courtyards and streets behind the Royal Mile.
How old is Mary Kings Close?
Opened in 2003, The Real Mary King’s Close is an award-winning five-star attraction located in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town.
Who is Annie from Mary Kings Close?
Historic research behind Annie
Over the years, we have researched Annie’s story. Although we haven’t found a reference to a child named Annie in the history books, it doesn’t mean she didn’t exist. The closest link was the child be the unnamed daughter of Jean McKenzie, recorded during the plague in Allan’s Close.
Is there an underground in Scotland?
The SPT Subway is an underground rail system serving stations in and around Glasgow city centre.