Access For All

Key Information

• Our historic site beneath Edinburgh’s City Chambers has been uniquely preserved since 1753. Because we are a listed building, it is impossible to add a lift or take a wheelchair around the site. But we’ll do everything we can to help.
• There are a total of 58 steps to descend and 38 steps to ascend as part of the tour.
• While our site is too steep and too narrow for wheelchairs to move around, especially in the event of a fire evacuation, it’s important to note that accessible ground floor facilities, including toilets and the Burgh Courtroom Gift Shop, remain available for use.
• We welcome one carer free per paying visitor. Kindly bring your carer status ID when visiting and feel free to book the Carer ticket online. Please be aware that we do not have the available staff resources for physical support during your visit.
• We do offer support chairs for guests with mobility issues. To organise a support chair for a member of your party to carry on the tour, please email contact@realmarykingsclose.com.
• Due to uneven surfaces and some steep inclines, sturdy footwear is strongly recommended.
• Many areas are dimly lit, and some guests may experience disorientation or claustrophobia.
• Guides are equipped with radios. If you need to leave the tour at any stage, your guide will arrange for a member of the team to take you back upstairs.

Carers

Carers supporting visitors with disabilities go free. We welcome one carer per paying visitor. ‘Carer’ is a ticket option on our website when booking, so this can all be done in advance of your visit to secure your entry time slot. You will be asked to present ID on arrival to us if you select Carer as a ticket type.

For Carer entry, we would accept any of the following:

• Entitlement to Disability Living Allowance for children under 16 or DLA.
• Personal Independent Payments (PIP) for those aged 16-64, either in the form of a letter stating that the benefit has been awarded or the allowance book.
• Attendance or Carer’s Allowance letter of award.
• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
• A Valid Blue Badge or Credibility Access Card.
• BD8 or a Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI).
• Proof of Entitlement to Child Disability Payment
• An Access card, Young Scot card or disabled bus pass indicating that the individual requires a carer

• If you are an international visitor or have any other documentation that has not been listed here, we can accept other forms of identification. Please contact us directly in advance of your tour via our contact form.

Mobility Issues

• There are a total of 58 steps to descend and 38 steps to ascend as part of the tour. There is no wheelchair access as we are a listed building and it is unfortunately impossible to add a lift.
• Due to uneven surfaces and some steep inclines, sturdy footwear is recommended.
• A handrail is available on all our staircases and Mary King’s Close.
• We do offer support chairs for guests with mobility issues. If you would like to book one, please email contact@realmarykingsclose.com.

Visual Impairment

• We offer 50% off any of our tickets for guests with a visual impairment.
• These can be purchased at our Ticket Office on the Royal Mile. You can also email us at contact@realmarykingsclose.com to book in advance.
• We welcome guide dogs into our attraction.
• Please be aware that due to the nature of the listed building, our site has some uneven surfaces and some steep inclines.
• Please be aware that many areas are dimly lit.

Hearing Impairment

• We offer 50% off any of our tickets for guests with a hearing impairment.
• These can be purchased at our Ticket Office on the Royal Mile. You can also email us at contact@realmarykingsclose.com to book in advance.
• Our free Mary King’s Close Audio Guide includes a copy of our tour script in English. To secure the script on your mobile before your tour, follow our handy download instructions by clicking here.
• Alternatively, we can also provide guests with a hearing impairment a printed copy of the script. To arrange this with us, please contact contact@realmarykingsclose.com.

Photosensitivity or Epilepsy

• Our tour includes a Souvenir Photograph at the end with a bright flash.
• To ensure a comfortable experience, please inform us in advance if you or any member of your group is sensitive to bright flashing lights, or has a history of epilepsy triggered by such stimuli.
• We are committed to making necessary accommodations to ensure a safe and enjoyable visit. Please email us at contact@realmarykingsclose.

Parking

• We don’t have on-site parking, but there are a few options nearby. Limited disabled parking spaces are available on Johnston Terrace. If you need to find the nearest on-street parking or locate disabled parking spaces, you can use the Edinburgh City Council map here.
• Additionally, there’s a multi-storey car park at NCP Edinburgh Castle Terrace, about a 14-minute walk away. No need to worry about the steep Castle Wynd North steps. Simply continue up Johnston Terrace, turn left at the roundabout past The Hub onto Castlehill.
• Then, continue down the Royal Mile until you reach Edinburgh’s City Chambers, the entrance to The Real Mary King’s Close.

Vertigo and Motion Sickness

• Some visitors may experience sensations of vertigo or motion sickness due to the enclosed nature of certain areas.
• Many parts of the tour feature dim lighting, which might contribute to disorientation or feelings of claustrophobia in some guests.
• Guides carry radios and are ready to assist. If at any point during the tour you feel the need to leave, inform your guide. They will promptly arrange for a team member to accompany you back upstairs for your comfort and safety.

Toilets

• We offer six private and locked cubicle toilets, all of which are unisex and two of which are designed for disabled access.
• There is level access to all of our toilet facilities from our Burgh Courtroom Gift Shop entrance via Warriston’s Close from the Royal Mile.
• For Changing Places facilities, the nearest locations are at Waverley Train Station and the National Museum of Scotland. You can view the map and find more information at Changing Places.

Audio Guides

• We have free multi-language audio guides available for French, German, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin, Dutch, Portuguese, Polish or Hungarian speakers.
• Please download our (free!) Mary King’s Close Audio Guide app, and make sure to bring headphones along with you on the day.
• Apple Store, click here.
• Google Store, click here.
• We will provide you with a 24hr access code to the app on the day of your visit.

Support Dogs

• Dogs are not allowed on the tour unless they are assistance dogs.
• If you need your assistance dog to accompany you, please contact us at contact@realmarykingsclose.com to make the necessary arrangements. Thank you for your understanding.

Age Restriction

• There is a minimum age limit of 5 years old for any tour at The Real Mary King’s Close. Children aged 16 or under must be accompanied by an adult (18+).
• For student groups consisting of individuals aged 18 or under, we require one adult guest to accompany every 10 students during the tour. For more information, visit our Education Groups page.
• Our True Crime tour is only suitable for guests who are 18+ due to the sensitive nature of its content.