The Lost Close – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

The Real Mary King’s Close and The Lost Close partner for new “Above & Below Edinburgh” experience

The Real Mary King’s Close and The Lost Close have announced a new collaborative tour experience, Above & Below, launching this February.

Running from Friday 13 February to Sunday 22 February, Above & Below brings together two independently guided experiences to offer guests a richer understanding of Edinburgh’s layered history, both beneath the Royal Mile and above the Old Town.

The experience begins with a 1-hour guided tour at The Real Mary King’s Close, where guests descend into preserved 17th-century streets and hear the real stories of the people who lived, worked and survived there.

Following a short break, guests then continue their journey above ground on a guided Old Town walking tour led by one of The Lost Close’s expert guides, concluding with time spent exploring The Lost Close itself, a series of hidden underground vaults rediscovered in 2019 located directly opposite The Real Mary King’s Close.

The collaboration builds on the success of the two visitor attractions’ ongoing joint experience, Closes & Coffee, which has been running for more than 7 months and has been warmly received by guests.

Paul Nixon, General Manager at The Real Mary King’s Close, said: “We are incredibly proud to be partnering once again with The Lost Close. Supporting small, locally owned businesses is something we genuinely value, and this collaboration is a great example of how working together can create something special for visitors.

“After more than 7 months of successfully running our joint Closes & Coffee experience, we have been really pleased with the outcome, and Above & Below feels like a natural next step in that partnership.”

Katie Scott, Head of Experiences & Events at The Lost Close added: “Working with The Real Mary King’s Close has been a hugely positive experience for us. Closes & Coffee showed just how powerful collaboration can be when two organisations with shared values and a passion for Edinburgh’s history come together.

“Above & Below allows us to build on that success, connecting underground spaces with the streets above and offering guests a more complete and meaningful way to experience the Old Town.”

Priced at £40.00 per person, Above & Below is available for a limited time only during February half-term, with advance booking recommended –

https://thelostclose.com/above-and-below-edinburgh

Celebrate Burns Night in an exclusive Edinburgh venue with rare whiskies and immersive storytelling

This month, The Lost Close invites you to experience Burns Night in a way few ever will – an intimate evening of Scottish heritage, exceptional whiskies, and captivating storytelling in two of Edinburgh’s most exclusive private spaces.

On 24th and 25th January 2026, only 20 guests per night will step inside a private luxury apartment overlooking St Giles’ Cathedral, Mercat Cross, and Parliament Square; a venue rarely open to the public with incredible views.

From the moment you arrive at 6pm to the sound of the pipes, the evening unfolds as a celebration of Scotland’s culture and history. Guests will be welcomed with a glass of fizz before the ceremonial “Address to a Haggis,” performed by a bagpiper as the haggis is led in.

Throughout the night, storytelling takes centre stage. Expert hosts will share tales of Robert Burns and the poet Robert Fergusson, whose work profoundly influenced him, alongside stories of Parliament Square, St Giles’ Cathedral, and the fascinating history of The Lost Close itself.

Between these moments, guests will enjoy a three-course Scottish dinner, with each dish paired with an exceptional whisky introduced by The Lost Close’s whisky expert.

The tasting features four remarkable Scotch whiskies, including Annandale Distillery’s Man O’Words, a single cask expression from the two-century old Scottish distillery, and An Edinburgh Dram, distilled in 1991 at North British and matured for over 33 years.

The evening concludes underground at The Lost Close, where guests will savour The Lost Close 2, a single cask release exclusive to the venue, bottled at 57.6% ABV with only 190 bottles ever produced.

After the final dram, guests are welcome to linger in the atmospheric underground setting until 11pm.

This is not just a Burns Night supper – it is an immersive journey through Scotland’s poetry, history, and craftsmanship in a setting few will ever experience.

Event Details:

Dates: 24 & 25 January 2026
Time: From 6pm
Price: £155 per person
Capacity: Limited to 20 guests per night

Booking is essential.

For reservations and more information, visit: https://thelostclose.com/book-now

Step Into Two Hidden Worlds Beneath Edinburgh: A New Dual Underground Experience Launches This Summer

– The Real Mary King’s Close and The Lost Close partner for the first time to reveal a forgotten side of Edinburgh’s rich history –

This summer, Edinburgh visitors and locals can delve beneath the city’s streets and explore not one, but two of its best-kept secrets thanks to a new underground experience that unites The Real Mary King’s Close and The Lost Close for the very first time.

Launching on Thursday 19th June and running every Thursday, Friday and Saturday until 30th August, this exclusive dual-site tour invites guests to journey through two unique underground closes.

The experience begins at The Lost Close, where guests gather at the historic John’s Coffee House – once a vibrant meeting place for Scottish Enlightenment thinkers like Adam Smith and David Hume.

From there, guests will descend into underground vaults and a close sealed off for nearly 200 years following Edinburgh’s Great Fire, only rediscovered in 2019. Guided by an expert storyteller, learn about the fascinating journey of coffee in Scotland, from its early trade roots to the rise of the city’s first coffeehouses and their enduring influence today.

During the tour, guests will enjoy a cup of specialty coffee from local roaster, Common Coffee, before encountering one of the most extraordinary industrial discoveries in recent Scottish history: the world’s second-oldest surviving Crossley four-stroke engine. Originally installed at the Royal Aquarium and later used to ventilate the city’s police chambers, this rare Victorian relic offers a remarkable glimpse into Edinburgh’s innovative past.

Following the 35-minute Coffee Tour at The Lost Close, the journey continues just a few steps away at The Real Mary King’s Close, one of Scotland’s most celebrated heritage attractions. Voted the UK’s best tourist attraction in the Tripadvisor® Travellers’ Choice® Awards – Best of the Best for 2024, the award-winning experience invites guests to step directly into 17th-century Edinburgh.

Led by character guides, guests explore a perfectly preserved warren of underground streets, homes and passageways that once bustled with life above ground. As the Close was gradually buried under the foundations of the Royal Exchange, its stories were sealed in time.

On the immersive one-hour tour, guests will uncover tales of plague, poverty, politics and the perseverance of residents who once called the Close home. Rich in historical detail and theatrical storytelling, The Real Mary King’s Close offers an unfiltered look at Edinburgh’s hidden past and the people who shaped its future.

Paul Nixon, General Manager at The Real Mary King’s Close, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with The Lost Close to offer a fresh and unique way to experience Edinburgh’s hidden history.

“This joint ticket gives our visitors a rare chance to explore two underground closes in one morning, each with its own powerful story. From coffee culture and Enlightenment thinking to industrial innovation and everyday life, it’s a journey through the layers that have shaped the city we know today.

“We expect this to be a highly popular experience and anticipate that tickets will sell out quickly.”

James Armandary, Tourism Development Lead at The Lost Close, added: “This partnership with The Real Mary King’s Close is an exciting first for us at The Lost Close.

“With one ticket, guests can explore two very different underground closes and uncover the rich, hidden history they share – from the story of coffee in Scotland to the everyday lives of people who once walked these streets. It’s a unique way to experience Edinburgh’s past from two fascinating perspectives.”

Tours last approximately 1 hour 45 mins. Tickets are priced at £40, including access to both tours and a cup of coffee, making it the perfect experience to start your day. With a maximum of 12 guests per session, availability is limited, and early booking is advised.

Tour Schedule:

Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 19th June – 30th August.

09:15 – 09:50: Coffee Tour at The Lost Close

10:00 – 11:00: Guided tour at The Real Mary King’s Close

To book, please visit: https://www.realmarykingsclose.com/event/closes-coffee/

Lost Victorian relic found in attic during Edinburgh renovation

During renovations, an exceptionally rare Victorian Crossley engine was found tucked away in the attic of CoDE The Court, where it had remained hidden for decades. It is now on display in The Lost Close, the underground vaults of the building.

Built in 1878, this marvel of Victorian engineering, it was far ahead of its time, used to regulate the temperature of the Edinburgh Police Chambers, and its survival offers a rare glimpse into 19^th century innovation.

Remarkably, this engine is the second-oldest surviving Crossley four-stroke engine in the world and the oldest in Europe. Only two other examples exist, the oldest is housed at the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan, USA, and another in Denmark. Its discovery, in near original condition, by founder Andrew Landsburgh, adds a significant chapter to Britain’s industrial heritage.

It’s unclear whether the engine was newly installed in the building or a second-hand acquisition. Adding to the intrigue, research revealed a royal connection.

In the 1800s, Edinburgh Police Chambers and Balmoral Castle, the Royal Family’s Scottish residence, had the same system installed; adding to the royal connection, this rediscovered engine had originally been installed in the short lived “Royal Aquarium” at Waverley, before being moved to the police chambers in 1881 where it was installed for the purpose of ventilation.

Andrew Landsburgh, Director and Founder of CoDE Concepts, said: “This is one of the most exciting finds in Scotland. We found it during The Court’s renovation, posted a photo online not knowing what we had, and suddenly experts from around the world were contacting us telling us we’d uncovered something incredible.

“What began as a refurbishment turned into the discovery of a vital piece of Edinburgh, and the world’s industrial heritage. This engine connects us directly to Scotland’s innovative past and the very beginnings of technology which still powers the modern world.

“We’ve brought it down from the attic to The Lost Close, the underground vaults of the building, where visitors can experience this historic find firsthand.”

The story of this extraordinary discovery will be featured in an upcoming documentary titled ‘Potential Energy’ airing from 23^rd May, which delves into how the engine was found, its relocation from the attic to The Lost Close, underground vaults of the building and the possibilities of restoring it for modern use.

The engine is currently on display at The Lost Close. To mark this discovery, The Lost Close is launching the Scottish Innovations Tour this June, exploring the country’s contributions to innovation and industry.

Visitors will journey through The Lost Close, now the permanent home of the Crossley ‘Otto Silent’ engine, and uncover Edinburgh’s role in shaping global technological progress.

James Armandary, Tourism Development Lead of The Lost Close, said: “This is an incredibly exciting addition to The Lost Close. It’s not every day you uncover a piece of engineering history that bridges the gap between Scotland’s past innovations and technology we take for granted today.

“This building continues to surprise us with its storied history and with the launch of the Scottish Innovations Tour, visitors will not only be able to see the engine up close but also explore Edinburgh’s long-overlooked role in shaping global industry.”

The Lost Close, hidden for nearly two centuries beneath layers of rubble from the Great Fire, was also rediscovered during renovations in 2019.

For more information, please visit https://thelostclose.com/crossley-engine

To book tickets to the ‘Potential Energy’ premier and Q&A, please visit:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/potential-energy-documentary-premiere-qa-underground-engine-discovery-tickets-1330781375919

To book tickets to the Scottish Innovations Tour, please visit:

https://thelostclose.com/crossley-engine#innovations-tour