The Real Mary King's Close

Frommer's Review

Beneath the City Chambers on the Royal Mile lies a warren of hidden streets where people lived and worked for centuries. When the Royal Exchange (now the City Chambers) was constructed in 1753, the top floors of the existing buildings were torn down and the lower sections were left standing to be used as the foundations. This left a number of dark, mysterious passages largely intact. These underground "closes," originally very narrow walkways with houses on either side, date back centuries. In 2003, groups led by guides dressed up as characters from the past began to visit these dwellings for the first time in perhaps 250 years. During the tours, visitors return to the turbulent and plague-ridden days of the 17th century. Dim lighting and an audio track are intended to add to the experience.

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