IT is billed as Edinburgh’s “most unique visitor attraction” and now Tourism Secretary Fiona Hyslop has helped the Real Mary King’s Close mark its three-millionth visitor.
She congratulated the team on their multiple award successes – including the Thistle Awards where it was named Best Heritage Visitor Experience and won a special commendation in the Best Attraction category.
Hyslop’s visit followed the busiest July the attraction has experienced, with a record 34,263 visitors coming through its doors.
“The Real Mary King’s Close represents the best of Scottish tourism – an immersive attraction that both educates and entertains visitors in Scottish history and culture in the heart of Edinburgh,” Hyslop said.
“It was a privilege to join staff to celebrate their three-millionth visitor and being awarded a Thistle Award Best Heritage Tourism Experience for 2019.”
The news coincided with Lonely Planet’s latest Ultimate United Kingdom Travelist publication, which recommended the attraction for the first time.
Located on Edinburgh’s historic and world-famous Royal Mile, the Real Mary King’s Close takes guests on an underground journey into a warren of uniquely preserved 17th-century streets, which were once home to the thriving community that included local resident Mary King.
Paul Nixon, the attraction’s general manager, said: “This has been an incredibly busy season already here at the Real Mary King’s Close and these successes recognise the hard work of the whole team here, who host thousands of visitors from across the world and really bring Edinburgh’s hidden history to life.”
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