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Real Mary King's Close


TripAdvisor Traveller Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #28 of 255 attractions in Edinburgh
Traveller Description:   To experience Mary King's Close is to step back in time.  A Close means Ally way. The homes and apartments dating back to the plague, were used to... more »
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Attraction type: Neighbourhood, Historic site, Landmark/point of interest
Activities: Group tours/walking tour
Address: Edinburgh
Scotland

Reviews you can trust

[ Date ] [ Rating ]
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5 of 5 stars
Highlands
1 Dec 2009

Hard to believe we are walking around a seven storey close underneath the streets above. A warren of houses and passages which we discovered and gave us a real sense of how life was like to live in the close. Three people including myself felt the eerie cold spot later to find that this was the place of a previous... more

27 Nov 2009
1/2 found this review helpful

I will say i went here with great expectations. I had seen this on tv and it looked eerie, which it was, but not ghosts - the conveyer belt tour of edinburgh! pushed from room to room, awful effects, dusty manequins. Other tours were relaxed fun and spooky, this was all about guide books and coffee!! The attraction here is... more

Poor Value
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2 of 5 stars
UTDBOY
24 Nov 2009

Went on tour of this attraction with a group of friends, For over ten pounds this hour long tour was not value for money. You are not allowed to take photos - at one stage our guide did raise his voice at a non english speaker and shout " no pictures ! " This made our group jump. This person... more

Management response from
Lisa Robshaw, Marketing Manager

Thanks for your feedback UtdBoy and for your constructive criticism. Feedback is vitally important to us, enabling us to be challenged and therefore continually improve our offering. Photography is not permitted on the site underground for the comfort of our visitors and tour guides, - as you know it is dark for the majority of the tour with minimal lighting...

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5 of 5 stars
Hertfordshire
10 Nov 2009

This tour was recommended by a friend and I am glad it was. If you are looking for a scary ghost tour this is not for you. It is informative and interesting. Our guide Stephen Boyd (Will in the real world) was very entertaining. He was humerous but made the tour interesting aswell. I would recommend this tour more

Management response from
Lisa Robshaw, Marketing Manager

Thanks for taking the time to write a review - delighted you enjoyed your tour and I will be sure to pass on your comments to Will!

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4 of 5 stars
west sussex
14 Oct 2009

This was good fun with some interesting information, our Guide (Hamish) was very good, he created atmosphere and made up jump a few times. An hour of fun. more

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5 of 5 stars
south coast
2 Oct 2009

an amazing experience, particularly good if you are interested in edinburgh's past. The guide was fun and humourous but very well informed. We came away having both enjoyed oursleves and learnt stuff! Would say if you are visiting edinburgh for the first time (as we were) its an absolute must see. more

A must!
29 Sep 2009

We booked a tour for 6pm (they sell out fast so make an online reservation or book the day before!) and were also included on an 1-hr walking tour at 130pm earlier that day. The tour is not over the top, but the guide is in period costume and references modern day items in his tour. We walked A LOT... more

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2 of 5 stars
Berkshire
25 Sep 2009

I had seen Mary Kings Close on TV, and was expecting a bit more than it realy is. Perhaps TV had hyped it up. It was interesting historicaly, but not quite up to expectations more

Management response from
Lisa Robshaw, Marketing Manager

I am sorry to hear that your visit did not live up to your expectations - we have been lucky enough to be featured on many different types of TV programme which raise our profile and naturally some of these programmes do 'sensationalise' some aspects of the Close which can be outwith our control - we do strive to select...

14 Sep 2009

We heard about the place and wanted very much to visit. The tour is quite childlish and touristic, not detailed enough for my expectations. when in Edinburgh in August and there is so many nice attractions on the street, this place is a waste of money and time. more

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4 of 5 stars
South West Scotland
10 Sep 2009

This was one of the attractions I most wanted to see and I wasn't disappointed. The trip underneath the streets of Edinburgh was fascinating and entertaining. It was a real treat to walk down this hidden part of Edinburgh and brought to life by the amusing and entertaining guide who, if I had one criticism was just a wee bit... more

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Real Mary King's Close Address

Edinburgh, Scotland