Underground Unlocked at The Real Mary King’s Close
For one night only on Thursday 13th March, step beneath the Royal Mile and experience The Real Mary King’s Close like never before!
About Underground Unlocked at The Real Mary King’s Close
| 13th March 2025 | |
| See content below for details | |
|
The Real Mary Kings Close 2 Warriston's Close, Edinburgh Old Town EH1 1PG |
|
| £40 | |
| Visit the event website here | |
| Follow marykingsclose on Instagram | |
For one night only, we’re unlocking the secrets of The Close in a way few have ever seen. Underground Unlocked is a truly unique chance to step into the 17th century and witness history spring to life around you.
Unlike our traditional guided tours, this immersive event will allow you to uncover stories, interact with the past, and see The Close as it might have been—alive with voices, characters, and hidden tales waiting to be discovered.
For the first time since people lived, worked and died on the streets beneath Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, the site of The Real Mary King’s Close bustles with life again. Roam at your leisure through preserved shops and homes, and meet thirteen former residents along the way.
Meet the formidable plague doctor, John Paulitious, and hear his grim diagnosis. Step into the world of Mary King, the determined businesswoman whose name still echoes through The Close. Or exchange words with renowned poet Robert Fergusson before crossing paths with the eerie Foul Clengers, those tasked with cleansing plague-ridden homes, as they reveal their chilling duties in Edinburgh’s past. Or pause to listen to Janet Chesney, mother of the Close’s last resident, as she shares memories of a life once lived in these very streets.
Every corner you turn, every shadow you step into, another piece of history unfolds. But only for one night. Will you seize the chance?
18.00-18.10 / 18.10-18.20 / 18.20 – 18.30 / 18.30-18.40 / 18.40-18.50 / 18.50-19.00
The Close will be open from 18.00 until 21.00 for Underground Unlocked.
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
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Other Events at The Real Mary Kings Close
Medical History Tours at The Real Mary King’s Close
Delve into the darkest days of Edinburgh’s history, the Plague outbreak of 1645, and discover how the city confronted this devastating epidemic on this new tour at The Real Mary King’s Close!
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