Edinburgh’s The Real Mary King’s Close has been revealed as the UK’s favourite tourist attraction, beating competition from some of the nation’s most iconic locations.
The tour takes guests beneath Edinburgh’s Royal Mile to discover the city’s long-forgotten 17th-century streets and beat London attractions including Tower Bridge, The British Museum and Tower of London to top spot in Tripadvisor’s latest rankings.
Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best was revealed on Tuesday and highlights the top attractions to visit in the UK and internationally.
The Real Mary King’s Close, which was opened in 2003, is operated by Continuum Attractions and welcomes more than 250,000 visitors each year.
Commenting on the landmark achievement, Juliana Delaney, CEO of Continuum Attractions, said: “Our attraction is truly unique. Being able to bring the centuries-old stories of Edinburgh’s dark past to life in such an engaging and fun way is testament to our brilliant team of storytellers who capture the imagination of our guests.
“When we took on the Close some 20 years ago the predictions were for 60,000 visitors per year. Through the careful development of the site and expert storytelling we have built a reputation that has reached far and wide.
“Being named as the UK’s number one tourist destination is a real privilege but the most important thing is knowing that our guests enjoy their time with us and will want to return. Our partnership with City of Edinburgh Council has delivered them a world-class heritage attraction.”
The Real Mary King’s Close has been part of Edinburgh’s rich cultural scene for 21 years after Continuum Attractions teamed with the city council to reveal the Close’s rich history.
Edinburgh attractions claimed all three top spots in Tripadvisor’s latest rankings with Royal Yacht Britannia taking second place and Edinburgh Castle rounding off the top three.
The Real Mary King’s Close has received more than 21,000 reviews on Tripadvisor which has helped it to land in top spot.
One recent reviewer said: “This tour is highly recommended by me! If you love history this will be an awesome way to immerse yourself in what life was like in the 1600s in Old Town.
A second said: “A very interesting and unique visit to the Edinburgh of past times. You get to visit the old homes of people who lived there and learn their stories. Our guide Emilia was very nice and made the whole tour feel like time travel. Would totally recommend!”
Find out more about The Real Mary King’s Close and book tickets here.
