The Real Mary King’s Close welcomed 296,726 guests from 147 countries to explore the hidden streets beneath the Royal Mile in 2025.
The latest figures show an increase of 5% from 2024, as bosses behind the attraction say the historic landmark continues to draw strong interest from both domestic and international audiences keen to explore the city’s hidden history.
International guests travelled from as far afield as the Åland Islands, Belize, French Polynesia, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritius, Namibia and Nepal, alongside key tourism markets in Europe, North America and Asia.
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The growing popularity of Real Mary King’s Close has been reflected online, as it boasts more than 5780 reviews across Google and Tripadvisor, with 93% rated four stars or higher, making it among Edinburgh’s highest-rated cultural experiences.
Paul Nixon, general manager at The Real Mary King’s Close, has put the rising interest in the attraction down to its “powerful storytelling” and its “deep connection” to Edinburgh’s past.
He said: “Achieving another record-breaking year is a fantastic milestone and demonstrates the overwhelming appetite for immersive, high-quality historical experiences in our Capital City. Our dedicated team welcomed nearly 300,000 guests in 2025, from 147 different countries.
“We are continuing to evolve our offering through new tours and experiences while staying true to what makes The Close distinctive – its powerful storytelling, authenticity and a deep connection to Edinburgh’s past.
“It’s so encouraging to see consistent growth across both the peak and shoulder seasons, and we’re excited to build on this momentum.”
null (Image: The Real Mary King’s Close)
The announcement of record visitor numbers comes after two new tours were launched in April last year. The Carnage and Contagion: The Plague Tour welcomed 574 guests, meanwhile, the Coffee & Closes, in partnership with John’s Coffee House, attracted 884 guests in its first year.
These new additions ran alongside specialist and limited-run experiences, which organisers said will give returning visitors the opportunity to delve into different facets of Scotland’s history, including the Dr Arnott Experience, which welcomed 3043 guests, and four Underground Unlocked free-flow events that together welcomed 976 guests.