Real Mary King’s Close After Dark (Edinburgh)
Dates
October 24, 2026
Doors
Early evening
Where
The Real Mary King's Close
Tickets from
Price range: £22.00 through £65.00
Book your experience
- Instant e-ticket by email, with a QR code per guest
- Secure card checkout — final total confirmed at checkout
- Every activity on the night is optional
Inside the venue
Gallery
About this
Event Description
- By the venue’s own policy this is a historical, lantern-led experience. There is no ghost-hunting equipment (EMF meters, spirit boxes), no EVP sessions, and no séances or table-tipping at any tier.
- No staged frights or jump-scare actors — the atmosphere comes from lantern-light, real architecture, and storytelling.
An exclusive private-hire evening at The Real Mary King’s Close — a sealed 17th-century street preserved beneath Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, voted Scotland’s Best Heritage Tourism Experience.
We hire the close after normal visitor hours and extend its own lantern-led and myths-and-legends evening tours — a history-first experience in one of the city’s most extraordinary spaces, told with respect rather than as a horror attraction.
Your night
- Twilight Family Tour — an early, all-ages tour through the close.
- Lantern-Led Standard — the atmospheric after-hours lantern tour, including the Annie’s Room story.
- Premium — an extended evening with more time in the close.
- VIP Out-of-Hours (12+, 31 Oct only) — everything in Premium, with the most exclusive access of the night.
Dates & times
Saturday 24, Thursday 29 & Friday 31 October 2026.
Where
The Real Mary King’s Close, Royal Mile, Edinburgh.
Good to know
- Age policy varies by tier — check the ticket option you pick. Photo ID may be requested for age-restricted tiers.
- These are genuine historic buildings: expect cold, dark, uneven floors and, at some venues, steep stairs and limited step-free access.
- Bring a torch, warm layers and flat, sensible shoes.
- No physical contact takes place. Every vigil is guide-supervised and every activity is optional.
Before you visit
- Entry & timings: Arrive for 8:30pm at the entrance on Warriston’s Close; a welcome hot drink is served in the upstairs visitor centre.
- Parking & getting there: On the Royal Mile opposite St Giles’ Cathedral — Edinburgh Waverley station is a short walk away and the area is well served by city buses, so no car park is needed.
- Code of conduct: This is a lantern-led storytelling experience with no ghost-hunting equipment; please follow your guide’s instructions throughout. This is a no-touch, guide-supervised event — please follow all host instructions. Anyone who is abusive or under the influence of alcohol or drugs may be refused entry or removed without a refund, and latecomers may not be admitted.
Getting there
Where
Venue
The Real Mary King's Close
Please allow extra travel time — several of our venues are rural, with limited public transport. Parking details are shown on your ticket.
Event dates
October 24, 2026
Instant e-ticket
In your inbox the moment you pay
Secure checkout
Encrypted card payment
Guide-supervised
Every vigil led by experienced staff
Date changes
Move night up to 48 hours before*
Still deciding
Questions
Is anything staged?
No. Nothing is staged and no outcome is ever promised. These are genuine historic buildings, investigated with structured vigils and traditional techniques.
What happens after I pay?
Your e-ticket is emailed straight away, with a unique QR code for every guest. Save it as a PDF, add it to Apple or Google Wallet, or resend it anytime from My Account.
Which ticket should I choose?
Twilight for families and first-timers, Standard for the full after-dark tour, Premium if you want a small-group vigil with equipment, VIP for the extended late session on 31 October.
Can I change my date?
You can move to another available night up to 48 hours before, subject to availability on the night you move to. Get in touch and we will sort it.
Do I need any experience?
None at all. Guides run every session, explain the equipment, and stay with your group the whole time.
Price range: £22.00 through £65.00
Early Bird — 30% off
