Discover Edinburgh after dark

This October, step beneath the Royal Mile and experience The Real Mary King’s Close by lantern light.

As evening falls above the city, descend into the preserved underground streets carrying only the glow of your lantern to guide the way. Led by one of the Close’s former residents, this immersive 1-hour tour reveals what life was truly like in Edinburgh’s crowded Old Town during the 17th century.
At a time when the city was confined within the Flodden Wall, Edinburgh could only build upwards. Towering tenements and tightly packed closes blocked much of the natural light, leaving the lower streets in near darkness. On this special after-hours experience, you’ll explore the Close much as residents once did, by flickering lantern light.

Along the way, uncover the stories of the people who lived, worked, and survived here, from ordinary residents to some of the more feared figures who once walked Edinburgh’s streets.

Atmospheric, immersive, and rooted in real history, this is a memorable way to experience Edinburgh during the Halloween season.