[Sharon]

I've visited this gem of a place twice, I strongly recommend it to anyone visiting Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

The entrance is accessed via the City Chambers on the Royal Mile but the bottom of the close can be seen from Cockburn Street, just near Edinburgh Waverely train station. If you look up above a walled area, you can see a black metal panel and gateway with 'Mary King's Close' written on a plaque in gold lettering (image below).

I found it quite creepy when I used to pass it

Buried beneath Edinburgh's Royal Mile lies the city's deepest secret warren of hidden streets that has remained frozen in time since the 17th century - Mary King's Close!

Around 400 years ago Mary King’s Close was a bustling and busy street, above ground and full of life. The lower floors housed businesses and the poorer classes, close the filth and waste dumped onto the street, while the richer residents lived on the upper floors.

A close is a term used to describe a series of lanes and alleyways that branch out on either side of a long street and can be several stories high. This particular close was named after Mary King, who was a prominent business woman in the 1630’s.

The top three floors were taken down in 1753 and the Royal Exchange was built on top of the close, that building is now used for the City Chambers.

The floors below have remained exactly as they were, making the close one of the only original streets from the 1600s still standing in Edinburgh.

The close was partially demolished and buried under the Royal Exchange, and later being closed to the public for many years, the complex became shrouded in myths and urban legends; tales of ghosts and murders, and plague victims being walled up alive and left to die.

Latest research and archaeological evidence has revealed that the close consists of a number of closes which were originally narrow streets with tenement houses on either side, stretching up to seven stories high.

There is a lot of original interior wall 'decor' and artifacts there such as the table in the small pub, meat hooks in what was possibly a butchers, fireplaces, fixtures, glass and other objects. A true step back into time!!

Mary King's Close is now a commercial tourist attraction.


Some images below and a model of what the close looks like below street level

It has featured on 'Most Haunted' and I'd love 'Ghost Hunters International' to explore it - just to give it some TV exposure.

See here to read about it's two ghosts
http://www.documentingreality.com/fo...ghosts-113651/

Further reading and links
http://www.realmarykingsclose.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_King's_Close

[Sharon]

Not many images as I'm certain photography isn't allowed inside.

[Arsedestroyer]

that looks cool and creepy at the same time

[butterfly]

I want to go to place's like that.

[Sharon]

Originally Posted by Arsedestroyer ↗

that looks cool and creepy at the same time

That's EXACTLY what it is When I visited the place, the atmosphere really was awful! I was genuinely a leedle bit scared. Of what exactly, I don't know. It was just oppressive and so desolate.

[Faline]

Totally a place i would check out

[Space Particle]

Aside from being cold because its underground, I bet there are many "cold spots" from previous residents.

[Megamel29]

That is awesome!!! I want to go!

[Sharon]

Originally Posted by JackiRive26 ↗

Aside from being cold because its underground, I bet there are many "cold spots" from previous residents.

'Yes' and 'there were'

[chris]

wow, that's pretty cool.