The Real Mary King’s Close partners with Amber Restaurant for a Halloween experience on the Royal Mile

Oct 8

2 min read

This month, The Real Mary King’s Close, one of the UK’s top-rated experiences on TripAdvisor, invites visitors to explore the lives and deaths of Edinburgh’s former residents in the city’s Old Town.

Two immersive experiences, Lantern Led Tours and True Crime Tours, return to reveal the harsh realities of life in the closes for those brave enough to venture below the Royal Mile after dark.

On the True Crime Tour, guests will uncover real offences and the social pressures that shaped the lives of Edinburgh’s residents, from eviction and addiction to the chilling rise of the witch trials. Visitors will gain an insight into the legal system, or lack thereof, that governed the lives of those living on the Close.

The Lantern Led Tours immerse visitors in near-total darkness, guided only by a flickering lantern and the stories of the people who once lived in the Close, including an infamous 17th-century character who struck terror into the hearts of locals.

New for 2025, guests on select Lantern Led Tours can choose to extend their experience with ‘A Spirited Evening’ at Amber restaurant, just steps from the Royal Mile. Available every evening from 11-31 October, this optional add-on features a seven-dish tasting menu served across three courses, with dessert paired with a specially selected dram and finished with tea or coffee.

Highlights of the menu include a ‘Blue Murder’ cheese and roast-beetroot tart; seared saddle of venison with pumpkin puree; and an apricot and ginger pudding with toffee sauce.

Paul Nixon, general manager at The Real Mary King’s Close, said: “Halloween is one of our busiest times of year, and we’re delighted to be bringing back the ever-popular Lantern Led and True Crime Tours for 2025.

“This year, we’re particularly excited to partner with Amber restaurant, allowing visitors to continue their evening just steps away, with exceptional Scottish food and drink. There’s so much to enjoy right on our doorstep on the Royal Mile, and it’s fantastic to work with Amber to create an experience we hope our guests will love.”

https://bookings.realmarykingsclose.com/book