Can anyone advise on whether they found this tour to be valuable? It looks like it could be a bit hokey (and I passed on it last time) but, I am wondering if it has any redeeming features. The reviews are varied, but more positive than not. If one decides to go, does one need advance tickets?

No advance tix needed when we took something similar. There are a lot of tours of Edinburgh "Closes". We took one that was a bit hokey but had one really good redeeming feature (other than the theatric guide): the private little torture museum display they had. Don't remember the company.

We went and I would give it a 7 out of 10.
Think a lot of it depends on how good your guide is. I liked the historical part of it and seeing the conditions that people lived in. The 'ghost story' part was played down (thank goodness) on the tour I did. It definitely wasn't a 'ghost tour'.
I've been to Edinburgh many times and this place certainly wouldn't have been on my list of things to do as a first or even second or third time visitor.

Bring a flashlight. When we took the tour, one person fainted in one of the rooms. There are no lights and the guide had to get help.

Thanks everyone...it is actually our 4th trip but this time we will have some relatives with us. I thought the history of it might be interesting.

My wife wanted to take it so we did. Very silly.

I did Real Mary's King Close on my first trip. I didn't have a far in advance ticket, but I did go in on the day of and get a time slot.

Small flashlight - definitely wanted!

Ghost story - I took the option to go around the corner and not listen.

When I went through they took a group photo and then you had option to buy a copy. Like an impulse buy temptation, and yes, I bought. Perhaps forewarned is forearmed - so you buy only if you truly want a copy.

I did enjoy the historical the most. I'll ditto Morgana's 7/10 thought.

My sister and I just did it. We are in our 70s and didn't need a flashlight, didn't faint, didn't hear much about ghosts, and no group picture was made. Our guide was a young woman who did a good job, talking quite a bit about the bubonic plague.

We did get a timed entrance on the day, and it was a pretty interesting tour for a rainy afternoon.

Agree with carolyn, no fainting or ghosts (although we did take a separate ghost tour) or group pic on our tour. I guess it depends on your guide. Sounds like we might have had the same one, very informative.

Thank you everyone. I think it will be one of those things I will save for a rainy day but not give a huge priority to. We'll see how everyone feels about the tour and those who want to go can.

< I think it will be one of those things I will save for a rainy day >

Just be sure to decide early enough so that the tours are not sold out. If it rains there will be a lot of bookings and it might be hours until you get an opening.