Mary King's Close
A buried street beneath Edinburgh's Royal Mile where plague victims were sealed in to die. Ghost girl Annie is the most famous resident.
Mary King’s Close
Beneath Edinburgh’s busy Royal Mile lies a hidden world—streets and homes sealed off for centuries, where the ghosts of plague victims still wander.
The Buried City
In the 17th century, Mary King’s Close was a thriving street of merchants and craftspeople. Then came the plague:
- The Black Death swept through in 1645
- Hundreds died in the cramped quarters
- Bodies piled in the streets
- Legend says victims were sealed in to contain the disease
When the Royal Exchange was built above in 1753, the street was simply buried—buildings, possessions, and ghosts intact.
Annie’s Room
The most famous spirit is a little girl named Annie:
- Discovered by Japanese psychic Aiko Gibo in the 1990s
- The psychic felt overwhelming sadness in one room
- She “saw” a child abandoned when her family fled the plague
- Annie had been searching for her doll for 400 years
Gibo bought a doll and left it in the room. Now:
- Visitors leave thousands of dolls and toys
- Annie is still sensed in the room
- Cold spots and tugging at clothing
- Children’s laughter echoes
Other Spirits
Mr. Chesney
A former resident:
- Seen standing in doorways
- Disappears when addressed
- Wears 17th-century clothing
The Phantom Limb
A disembodied arm reaches from walls:
- Possibly a victim trapped in rubble
- Grabs at visitors
- Associated with intense cold
The Plague Doctor
A figure in the bird-like mask:
- Walks the corridors
- Carries a staff
- Seen during tours
Modern Investigation
Tours descend into the Close daily:
- Temperature fluctuations documented
- EVPs captured in multiple languages
- Photographs show unexplained figures
- Visitors report being touched
- Objects move during tours
The Real Mary King’s Close offers tours daily, venturing beneath the streets of Edinburgh.