The darker side of Edinburgh’s past, uncovered.

Step into the shadows of Edinburgh’s Old Town and explore the real stories of crime, punishment, and survival on The Real Mary King’s Close.

This immersive 1-hour guided experience reveals the truth behind the city’s most unsettling chapters. Led by a specialist “True Crime” guide, you’ll navigate the preserved underground streets where history’s darker moments unfolded, from everyday offences to extraordinary events that shaped life on the closes.

Through gripping storytelling rooted in fact, uncover how issues such as eviction, addiction, and the absence of social protections impacted ordinary people. Learn how fear and suspicion fuelled the rise of the witch trials, and discover the chilling connections between the Close and the real-life figure believed to have inspired Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

The truth, as it turns out, is often far more compelling than fiction.

Includes:

- 1-hour guided True Crime tour
- Specialist character guide
- Access to the underground streets of The Real Mary King’s Close

Good to know:

- Over 16s only
- Tours conducted in English
- Audio guides are not available
- A gripping experience for those ready to confront Edinburgh’s most unsettling stories.