Record summer visitor numbers for Edinburgh underground attraction The Real Mary King's Close
Historic Edinburgh Old Town attraction enjoys a great summer away from the sunshine
An Edinburgh heritage attraction has reported a record-breaking summer after welcoming more than 106,000 visitors from across the globe.
The Real Mary King’s Close, a historic site located beneath the Capital’s Royal Mile, recorded 106,477 guests across June, July and August.
Admissions at the historic attraction, located beneath Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, increased by 12 per cent year on year across June and July, with August admissions six per cent ahead of the same period in 2025.
The strong performance comes during another busy summer for Edinburgh, as visitors from around the world travelled to the capital during its tourism peak, particularly during August for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The Real Mary King’s Close recorded visitors from more than 100 countries and territories this summer, underlining both Edinburgh’s continued international appeal and growing interest in the city’s hidden history.
The United States was the attraction’s largest identifiable overseas market, with 6,357 visitors, followed by Canada with 1,304 and Germany with 1,037. Strong numbers were also recorded from France, Spain, Australia, the Netherlands and Italy.
Guests travelled from across Europe, North and South America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania, including visitors from locations as far afield as Afghanistan, French Polynesia, Samoa, Mauritius and the Cayman Islands.
Paul Nixon, general manager at The Real Mary King’s Close, said: “Welcoming more than 106,000 guests and achieving a record-breaking summer is a fantastic result for The Real Mary King’s Close and our dedicated team.
“This performance comes against the backdrop of an increasingly competitive tourism market, with visitors understandably more conscious of how and where they spend their money. Our team has worked incredibly hard to achieve these results and ensure that every guest enjoys an experience which offers both quality and value.
“It has been another incredibly busy summer for Edinburgh, and it is encouraging to see visitor numbers continuing to grow. Welcoming guests from more than 100 countries and territories demonstrates the enduring international appeal of the capital and the appetite for authentic heritage experiences that bring its history to life.