Contagion & Carnage: The Plague Tour

Expect eerie tales, immersive storytelling, and unforgettable moments that shine a flickering light on the resilience of Edinburgh’s past residents, with The Real Mary King’s Close new guided tour.

The year is 1645. The air is heavy with fear. The bubonic plague has swept through the city, leaving devastation in its wake. Remedies are as dangerous as the disease. Superstition reigns—and survival is anything but certain.

On Contagion & Carnage: The Plague Tour you’ll journey through the authentic underground streets of The Real Mary King’s Close. Led by a costumed character guides, you’ll meet the city’s infamous plague doctor, discover the life-risking work of the ‘foul clengers’, and uncover the shocking truths behind 17th-century medical “cures”.