Signature Guided Tour

A one-hour costumed guided tour exploring the preserved 17th-century closes and rooms hidden beneath Edinburgh's Royal Mile.

This daily one-hour guided tour takes visitors underground to explore the original 17th-century closes and rooms beneath the Royal Mile. A costumed guide embodying a real historical character leads the way through preserved streets and rooms, sharing fact-based stories of the residents who lived, worked and died there, from plague and poverty to resilience and rebellion. The tour involves 58 steps across several floors, uneven surfaces and steep inclines, and photography is not permitted. Audio guides are available in nine languages.