Mary King's Close, Edinburgh (must see)
If ghost stories give you chills in a good way, then Real Mary King鈥檚 Close might just be your perfect haunt in Edinburgh. Tucked beneath the Royal Exchange, this underground maze of shadowy alleyways and crumbling tenement rooms has a reputation for being one of the most haunted corners of the city鈥攁nd in Edinburgh, that鈥檚 saying something...
Originally a bustling neighborhood, the close was sealed off after the Great Plague of 1645 rolled into town, carried by flea-infested rats from merchant ships. With zero plumbing and not a bar of soap in sight, these cramped quarters became ground zero for infection. In a desperate attempt to contain the spread, entire blocks鈥攑redominantly the poorer areas, including Mary King鈥檚 Close鈥攚ere bricked in as urgent quarantine measures. Legend has it, some unlucky souls were trapped inside at the mercy of plague or starvation... and they never left. At least, not in spirit.
One ghost in particular likes to make her presence known: Annie, a small girl, who is said to have lost her doll鈥攁nd possibly much more鈥攚hen the plague swept through. Visitors claim to feel her presence, and many bring her gifts: toys, trinkets, or coins, all of which are passed on to children鈥檚 hospitals and local charities. So, even the ghostly get a little goodwill...
The area was uncovered during renovations to the Royal Exchange and was opened to the public in 2003 as a tourist attraction. Since then, costumed guides have been leading brave guests through these 17th-century underground time capsules, sharing tales of the little Annie and Mary King鈥攁 respected businesswoman and seamstress after whom it is named鈥攁s well as the dark chapters etched into every cobbled corner.
So, if you鈥檙e in the mood for a little historical horror with a charitable twist, Mary King鈥檚 Close is calling. Just... don鈥檛 forget Annie鈥檚 doll.
Originally a bustling neighborhood, the close was sealed off after the Great Plague of 1645 rolled into town, carried by flea-infested rats from merchant ships. With zero plumbing and not a bar of soap in sight, these cramped quarters became ground zero for infection. In a desperate attempt to contain the spread, entire blocks鈥攑redominantly the poorer areas, including Mary King鈥檚 Close鈥攚ere bricked in as urgent quarantine measures. Legend has it, some unlucky souls were trapped inside at the mercy of plague or starvation... and they never left. At least, not in spirit.
One ghost in particular likes to make her presence known: Annie, a small girl, who is said to have lost her doll鈥攁nd possibly much more鈥攚hen the plague swept through. Visitors claim to feel her presence, and many bring her gifts: toys, trinkets, or coins, all of which are passed on to children鈥檚 hospitals and local charities. So, even the ghostly get a little goodwill...
The area was uncovered during renovations to the Royal Exchange and was opened to the public in 2003 as a tourist attraction. Since then, costumed guides have been leading brave guests through these 17th-century underground time capsules, sharing tales of the little Annie and Mary King鈥攁 respected businesswoman and seamstress after whom it is named鈥攁s well as the dark chapters etched into every cobbled corner.
So, if you鈥檙e in the mood for a little historical horror with a charitable twist, Mary King鈥檚 Close is calling. Just... don鈥檛 forget Annie鈥檚 doll.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Edinburgh. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Mary King's Close on Map
Sight Name: Mary King's Close
Sight Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (See walking tours in Edinburgh)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (See walking tours in Edinburgh)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
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