Mary King's Close

Mary King (1590-1644) was a clothes merchant and city burgess. She died the year before plague struck and carried off the rest of her family. In 1753 Royal Exchange, now City Chambers, was built over several closes by demolishing their upper storeys, while the lower storeys were used for storage then later blocked off. This means a warren of medieval alleys and low dwellings has been preserved, re-opened in 2003 and visited by guided tour. Almost as weighty as the Exchange is the mass of ghost stories piled on top of the close, woo-ooh! - but the real history is fascinating enough. Book ahead as it often sells out.

• history
• family

Address

2 Warriston's Close, EH1 1PG

Getting there

opposite St Giles

Hours

Mon-Fri 9AM-5:30PM, Sat Sun 9AM-7:30PM

Price

Adult £21, child £15

Phone

+441312250672

Website

realmarykingsclose.com (opens in a new tab)