Prize draws on Crowdfunder
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Win a night at The Real Mary Kings Close
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Aim
To offer an experience no one else can: a night inside The Real Mary King’s Close, over 100 years after it was last lived in.
Win a night's stay in The Real Mary Kings Close
One lucky person will win:
The keys to Real Mary Kings Close for 1 night:
- 🛌 The first person to stay overnight in over 100 years
- 🍽️ Special after-hours dinner
- 🎭 Exclusive full character interactions
- 🗝️ Full behind‑the‑scenes access when everyone else has gone home
- 🎟️ Honoured guest access to all special tours for two throughout 2026
Plus 10x runners up win:
- 🎟️ 2 x Free entry tickets to Real Mary King's Close
Beneath the streets of Edinburgh lies Mary King’s Close, a place sealed in time and shaped by the lives of the people who once lived there. For over 100 years, its doors have closed each night. No one has stayed within the Close after dark.
Now, for the first time in centuries, that will change.
We are offering one extraordinary prize: an overnight stay inside The Real Mary King’s Close.
A rare, private experience in a place normally seen only by day, after the public have gone and the city above has fallen quiet.
Every entry to this prize draw goes directly towards preserving the Close and all its spaces. Not replicated. Not rebuilt. Preserved, exactly as it has stood for centuries. By entering, you are playing a direct part in keeping this piece of Edinburgh's history intact for future generations.
This prize draw is how we will make that possible.
One winner will experience something that has not happened on Mary King’s Close for more than 100 years.
When the final tour has ended and the doors are closed to the public, you and a guest will remain behind. The lights dim. The city above settles. And The Real Mary King’s Close becomes yours alone for the night.
This prize is a private overnight stay for two inside the Close itself, a rare and intimate encounter with one of Edinburgh’s most extraordinary historic spaces, experienced after hours and away from the crowds.
The experience includes:
- An overnight stay for two on Mary King’s Close, with exclusive after-hours access to the site
- A private, after-dark tour led by an experienced costumed character, revealing stories and details rarely shared during public visits,
- An immersive experience with the Plague Doctor or Dr Arnott, exploring the realities of illness, belief and survival in 17th-century Edinburgh
- Dinner and breakfast.
+ Honoured guest access for two to all of The Real Mary King's Close special tours running throughout 2026, including Contagion & Carnage: The Plague Tour, A Dram of History, Pride History Tour, Dr Arnott's Sampling Sensation, Myths and Legends Tour, Lantern Led Tour, and Victorian Christmas Experience
This is not a recreation or a themed set. It is the original Close, preserved in place beneath the Royal Mile, unchanged in its setting and atmosphere for centuries. And this is an offer never before seen.
The Real Mary King’s Close is not a reconstruction or a themed attraction. It is a surviving piece of 17th-century Edinburgh, preserved where it stands beneath the city’s streets.
Spaces like this are rare, fragile, and finite. Once lost, they cannot be recreated.
Your support will help fund the ongoing preservation of the Close and all its spaces. This work allows historians, conservators and visitors to better understand how people once lived, worked and survived in the heart of the old city. It is about safeguarding original architecture, protecting surviving materials, and uncovering stories that would otherwise remain hidden.
This work is careful, specialised and costly. It requires conservation, research and skilled craftsmanship rather than modern replacement.
By taking part in this prize draw, you are not only entering for an extraordinary experience. You are directly supporting the preservation of a genuine historic space, ensuring that an authentic part of Edinburgh’s past remains intact and accessible long into the future.
We care for one of Edinburgh’s most important surviving historic sites.
The Real Mary King’s Close is a genuine 17th-century street, preserved beneath the Royal Mile exactly where it was built. When the city grew above it, the Close was sealed rather than destroyed, leaving its homes, passageways and rooms intact beneath the modern city.
Our work is focused on preserving this wonderful snapshot of time. We conserve what remains, research what can be learned, and share its history responsibly.
We tell the stories of the people who lived and worked here, merchants, families, tradespeople and residents, using surviving evidence, archival research and careful interpretation. Our tours are led by trained storytellers who bring these stories to life while respecting the authenticity of the space.
1) Enter the draw by buying your tickets. There are a number of entry options to choose, starting from £5.
2) Support the cause. Every entry helps fund the ongoing preservation of The Real Mary King's Close and all its spaces.
3) Win an unforgettable prize. One lucky winner will win the keys to the Close for one night, plus honoured guest access to all special tours for two throughout 2026. Ten runners up will each win two free entry tickets.
We are raising money through this Prize Draw on Crowdfunder. You can enter to win the prize and know that your entry is going towards the ongoing preservation of The Real Mary King's Close and all its spaces.
- Entries to the prize draw cost £5 per entry.
- You can buy as many entries as you want.
- The prize draw will be live for 19 days only, and closes at 9pm on Monday 30th March.
- Winners will be announced on The Real Mary King's Close social media channels within 14 days of the draw.
- The overnight stay will be arranged directly with the winner at a mutually agreed date, subject to availability and site constraints.
- A free entry route is available, in line with UK prize draw regulations.
- Full Terms and Conditions can be found on this page, under the Terms link near the top of the page.
Can I bring someone with me?
Yes. The overnight experience is for two people. You and a guest of your choosing.
When would the overnight stay take place?
The date of the overnight stay will be agreed between you and The Real Mary King’s Close, subject to availability. The winner will have six months from the date they are notified to select and confirm their preferred date for the experience.
Is it safe to stay overnight?
Yes. The experience is fully managed by The Real Mary King's Close team. There is also a partnered hotel adjacent to the site with shower and bathroom facilities. You can move between the hotel and the Close during the overnight period.
What if I have mobility concerns or claustrophobia?
The Close is a historic underground site with uneven surfaces and enclosed spaces. Winners and their guests must be physically able to participate safely. Please get in touch if you have any concerns before entering.
How is the winner chosen?
By random draw of all valid entries, within 7 days of the draw closing on 30th March.
Can I enter for free?
Yes. A free postal entry route is available. Full details are in the Terms and Conditions on this page.
What are the special tours included in the main prize?
The winner receives honoured guest access for two to all seven special tours running in 2026: Contagion & Carnage: The Plague Tour, A Dram of History, Pride History Tour, Dr Arnott's Sampling Sensation, Myths and Legends Tour, Lantern Led Tour, and Victorian Christmas Experience.
Don’t miss this opportunity
19 days. One winner. The first overnight stay in 100 years.
This prize draw closes at 9pm on Monday 30th March. This experience will not be offered again.
11 winners in total. One walks away with the keys to the Close for the night, plus honoured guest access to every special tour in 2026. Ten more win free entry for two.
If you would like to be part of this moment in the site's history, enter now.
This project successfully funded on 30th March 2026