Mary King’s Close Tickets & Tours
Buy tickets for Mary King’s Close online and secure your place on one of Edinburgh’s most popular underground guided tours – voted Best UK Attraction by TripAdvisor travellers in 2024.
On this page, you’ll find the best ticket options, current availability, and trusted providers for visiting Mary King’s Close.
✔ Official guided tours ✔ Limited group sizes ✔ Mobile tickets accepted
Mary King’s Close Guided Tour Ticket
Discover the underground streets of The Real Mary King’s Close on a fully guided tour led by professional storytellers. This standard ticket is the most popular way to visit Mary King’s Close and is suitable for first-time visitors looking for a complete introduction to the attraction.
During the tour, you’ll explore preserved underground closes while learning about daily life in historic Edinburgh through engaging stories and original locations. Tours are conducted in small groups to ensure a comfortable experience and better interaction with the guide.
Entry is based on a selected time slot. Please arrive shortly before your scheduled tour time.
This ticket includes free cancellation up to the provider’s stated deadline.
From: Prices vary by date and availability, starting at £28.50.
🛡️ Official tickets via our trusted booking Partner Tiqets
Mary King’s Close + Ghost Bus Tour (Combi-Ticket)
Maximize your Edinburgh experience by combining the city’s top underground attraction with a journey on the world’s only comedy-horror theatre show on wheels. This combined ticket is perfect for travelers who want to explore Edinburgh’s dark history both above and below ground while saving time and effort on separate bookings.
With this deal, you’ll journey through the hidden 17th-century streets of Mary King’s Close and then hop aboard the classic 1960s black Routemaster bus for a hilariously haunting tour of the city’s most infamous sites, including Edinburgh Castle, Grassmarket, and Greyfriars Kirk.
Both tours are highly popular and often sell out. Booking this combination guarantees your spot for two of Edinburgh’s most iconic experiences in one go.
Note: Please check the specific departure point for the Ghost Bus (usually near Waverley Station), which is a short walk from the Royal Mile.
From: Prices vary by date and availability. Tickets start at
From: Prices vary by date and availability, starting at £47.50.
🛡️ Official tickets via our trusted booking Partner Tiqets
Mary King’s Close + Hidden & Haunted Ghost Tour
Double your underground exploration with this ultimate “dark history” package. This ticket pairs the 17th-century social history of Mary King’s Close with the chilling atmosphere of the Blair Street Underground Vaults—the deepest and most haunted in Edinburgh.
Uncover stories of plague and survival at the Close, then join an expert guide for a walking tour through the city’s macabre past. You’ll venture into the subterranean darkness of the vaults to hear legendary tales of torture, treason, and unsettled spirits.
Note: The ghost tour is adult-focused. Both attractions are located a short walk from each other on the Royal Mile.
From: Prices vary by date and availability, starting at £53.50.
🛡️ Official tickets via our trusted booking Partner Tiqets
Mary King’s Close + Whisky Experience
Savor the best of Edinburgh with this perfect pairing of history and heritage. Explore the hidden 17th-century streets of Mary King’s Close to discover how residents lived and worked, then head to the top of the Royal Mile for a sensory journey through the world of Scotch Whisky.
At The Scotch Whisky Experience, you’ll enjoy the “Silver Tour,” featuring a guided tour through the production process, a tasting of a fine dram, and access to one of the world’s largest private whisky collections. It’s a sophisticated way to round off your underground adventure.
This combination is ideal for those looking to experience two of Edinburgh’s most famous traditions—storytelling and whisky—while benefiting from a discounted bundle price.
Note: The whisky tasting is for guests aged 18+ only (soft drinks are provided for under-18s). Both attractions are just a 5-minute walk apart near Edinburgh Castle.
From: Prices vary by date and availability, starting at £53.50.
🛡️ Official tickets via our trusted booking Partner Tiqets
Mary King’s Close + Loch Ness Explorer (Combi-Ticket)
Maximize your adventure by combining Edinburgh’s top-rated historic attraction with a full-day expedition into the Highlands. This ticket gives you the deep urban history of the Real Mary King’s Close and the sweeping natural beauty of Loch Ness, Glencoe, and the Great Glen.
The Loch Ness Explorer day trip is led by a local Scottish guide who will bring the legends of the Highlands to life as you travel via comfortable coach from the Royal Mile. Paired with your tour of the 17th-century streets buried beneath Edinburgh, it’s the most comprehensive way to see Scotland’s past and its most famous landscapes in one booking.
This is the perfect choice for travelers who want to tick off Scotland’s “Big Two”—the mystery of Mary King’s Close and the legend of Loch Ness—while saving money on a combined fare.
Note: The Loch Ness tour is a full-day commitment (approx. 12 hours). It is recommended to book your Mary King’s Close visit for a different day to ensure a relaxed experience.
From: Prices vary by date and availability, starting at £95.50.
🛡️ Official tickets via our trusted booking Partner Tiqets
Plan Your Visit: Fast Facts for the Perfect Experience
- Finding the Entrance: You can find the main entrance at 2 Warriston’s Close, directly on the Royal Mile (High Street). Look for the sign across from St. Giles’ Cathedral. It’s trickier than you may think so, take a look at our page Getting there.
- Timing is Key: Tours run every 15–30 minutes starting from 09:30 AM. Because group sizes are strictly limited to maintain the atmosphere, booking in advance is essential to secure your preferred time. Don’t forget to check out the Opening Times.
- Dress for the Underground: You will be walking on 17th-century stone paving and navigating 58 steps down. We recommend sturdy, closed-toe walking shoes—save the heels for the cocktail bars!
- Family Rules: Remember that children must be at least 5 years old to descend. For more on why this rule exists and where to take younger kids, visit our Accessibility & Age Limits Guide.
- Atmosphere vs. Fear: Expect a chilling, atmospheric look at history rather than a modern haunted house. If you are worried about the “creep factor,” check out our guide: Is Mary King’s Close Scary?.
- Memories & Media: While you can’t take photos inside the historic close (due to its location under a government building), souvenir photos are available for purchase at the end.
- The “Underground” Debate: Still not sure if this is the right tour for you? See how it stacks up against the city’s other subterranean sites in our comparison: Mary King’s Close vs. Edinburgh Vaults.
- Go Cashless: The attraction (including the café and gift shop) is 100% cashless. Be sure to have a card or mobile payment ready.
Pro Tip: To get here from Waverley Station without climbing the 100 stairs of Warriston’s Close, simply walk up Cockburn Street until you hit the Royal Mile, then turn right. The attraction is entirely cashless, so have your card or mobile pay ready!
Frequently Asked Questions
The tour lasts approximately 1 hour. We recommend arriving at the Royal Mile entrance at least 15 minutes before your scheduled time slot to check in.
Unlike the Edinburgh Dungeon or certain Vaults tours, Mary King’s Close is a historical tour, not a haunted house. While the underground atmosphere is “creepy” and atmospheric, there are no actors jumping out at you. It focuses on real stories of the plague and daily life.
Yes. For safety and conservation reasons, children under the age of 5 are not permitted on the tour. Children aged 5–15 must be accompanied by an adult.
Since you are heading deep underground, there are a total of 58 steps down and 38 steps up during the tour. Because it is a preserved 17th-century site, it is unfortunately not wheelchair or pram accessible.
Yes! With limited group sizes, tours often sell out AT LEAST 2–3 days in advance (and even faster during the Fringe or Christmas). Booking online ensures you get the time slot that fits your schedule.
Yes, The Real Mary King’s Close is a fully cashless site. If you plan to buy souvenirs or a coffee at the café, make sure you have a valid debit or credit card (please note: American Express is generally not accepted)