Plan Your Perfect Close-Hopping Adventure in Edinburgh - Using AI the Smart Way!
- Nath
- May 5
- 6 min read
Last weekend, we decided to explore one of Edinburgh’s best-kept treasures: its Closes - the tiny, mysterious alleyways that branch off the Royal Mile.
If you’ve never wandered down Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, you might be wondering, what exactly is a "Close”?
Closes are the tiny, secret alleyways branching off the main street, hidden between the grand old buildings. They twist, climb, and sometimes plunge underground, leading to hidden courtyards, merchant houses, or former marketplaces.
Every Close has its own story, some were homes to poets and philosophers, others to butchers and bookbinders. Many Closes witnessed riots, celebrations, plagues, and revolutions.
Today, they’re like living time capsules and exploring them feels like slipping back into medieval Edinburgh.
The best part?
No two Closes are the same. Some are eerie, some grand, some colourful and when you plan your route the smart way, they reveal a side of Edinburgh most tourists miss entirely.
✨ How We Used our Edinburgh Close Tour Personal with AI
We didn’t want this to be just a stroll, we wanted to experiment with AI, and not just the boring way ("Top 10 Tourist Spots" list). We wanted to travel smarter, discover deeper and make it personal with a little help from AI.
And that’s where the magic happened. ✨
With a few smart AI prompts, we created four completely different tours of Edinburgh’s Closes, each one tailored to the traveller's style, interests, and mood!
Here’s how you can do it too.
🧒 Tour 1: The Family Adventure - Making History Fun for Kids
💬 Smart AI Prompt: "Plan a family-friendly walking tour of Edinburgh's Closes, with fun stories, interactive stops, and short walks under 10 minutes each."
🎒 Here’s what you can expect:
1. Advocate’s Close
Story: "Once upon a time, rich lawyers lived here! But if you listen very closely at sunset, some say you can still hear the whispers of secrets being shared."
Interactive Stop: Photo Challenge: Find the perfect spot where you can frame the Scott Monument through the Close's alleyway. Who can snap the most magical photo?
2. Lady Stair’s Close
Story: "A lady named Lady Stair built a beautiful house here over 300 years ago. Today, it’s full of books and treasures."
Interactive Stop: Treasure Hunt: Find a word that starts with "W" in the Writers' Museum sign!
3. Anchor Close
Story: "Over 250 years ago, a man printed the very first copies of The Edinburgh Advertiser newspaper here!"
Interactive Stop: Mini-Reporter Challenge: "If you could print a newspaper today, what would your headline be?"
✅ Why it works: Short walks, hidden nooks, mini-adventures, storytelling at every stop.
👻 Tour 2: Ghostbusters Unite — The Spooky Closes Tour
💬 Smart AI Prompt: "Create a spooky-themed walking tour of Edinburgh’s Closes with the darkest secrets, ghost stories and atmospheric alleys for night-time exploration."
🎒 Top 3 Spooky Closes:
1. Advocate’s Close
Mood: Narrow, dark, stone steps, feels like you're slipping into another century.
Story: "In the 1600s, plague victims lurked in these alleys. Some say you can hear faint coughing and whispering if you linger too long…"
Secret Tip: Pause halfway down. Look back toward the Cathedral — you'll feel like the modern world vanishes.
2. Mary King’s Close
Mood: Famous underground alley, deeply chilling.
Story: "During the plague, parts of Mary King’s Close were bricked up… with the living still trapped inside. Their trapped souls are said to still wander in search of freedom."
Secret Tip: Stand at the entrance (near the Real Mary King’s Close tour) and listen — you might hear footsteps… with no one there.
3. White Horse Close
Mood: Enclosed, silent, utterly atmospheric.
Story: "A ghostly white horse is said to appear here at midnight, seen only by those who are about to have a life-changing experience."
Secret Tip: Reflection Challenge; Stay quiet and see if your imagination plays tricks with the flickering lights
✅ Why it works: It feels like stepping into another world; spooky, dark, and thrilling.
🏛️ Tour 3: Edinburgh’s Timeless Closes - A Heritage Discovery Tour
💬 Smart AI Prompt: "Create a historical-focused tour of Edinburgh’s Closes for a traveller who loves architecture, hidden plaques, and detailed heritage stories."
🎒 First 3 Historic Closes:
1. Gladstone’s Land
Heritage Highlights: A stunning 17th-century tenement, restored by the National Trust.
Architecture: Look at the original timber gallery! Rare in Edinburgh.
Hidden Detail: Plaque: Spot the information board about Thomas Gladstone, a wealthy merchant who lived here in 1617.
2. Riddell’s Close
Heritage Highlights:
Architecture: Quiet courtyard once used by wealthy merchants.
Notable History: Hosted a banquet for King James VI in 1586.
Hidden Detail: Look Up: Find the carved stone dated 1587 above the archway, one of the oldest surviving features.
3. Chessel’s Court (off the Canongate)
Heritage Highlights:
Architecture: Fine Georgian courtyard from the 18th century. Once grand homes, now peaceful apartments.
History: Built by Archibald Chessel, a wealthy builder, to offer luxury city living.
Look for: The old stone wellhead in the courtyard, a relic of communal life.
✅ Why it works: Perfect for nerdy travellers who want every historical detail (and won't mind reading the tiny plaques!).
😎 Tour 4: Picture-Perfect Closes: A Relaxed First-Time Tour
💬 Smart AI Prompt: "Suggest a relaxed walking route through Edinburgh’s most famous and photogenic Closes, perfect for first-time visitors who want nice views, good photo spots, and nearby coffee shops."
🎒 First 3 Relaxed Stops:
1. Advocate’s Close
Why It’s Special: Probably the most iconic view in all of Edinburgh: a dramatic alleyway framing the Scott Monument perfectly.
Photo Tip: Take a photo looking downhill to capture the silhouette effect against the skyline.
Nearby Coffee: The Milkman (Cockburn Street): Gorgeous indie coffee shop, a 2-minute walk away. Or lunch at the Devil Advocate, the perfect spot for lunch (or Dinner!)
2. Ramsay Lane (Bonus Stop - Worth a Tiny Detour!)
Why It’s Special: Technically a lane, but the view down Ramsay Lane gives you sweeping views over Princes Street Gardens and the New Town.
Photo Tip: Early evening is magic here; the sunset over the city is unforgettable.
Nearby Coffee: The Elephant House (George IV Bridge, a short 5-minute stroll): Famous as a Harry Potter writing spot.
3. Bakehouse Close
Why It’s Special: One of Edinburgh’s most perfectly preserved closes. Quiet, cobbled, lined with historic buildings.
Photo Tip: Focus on the old stone archways and narrow passage — it’s especially pretty in soft afternoon light.
Nearby Coffee: Clarinda’s Tearoom (Canongate): Adorable vintage tea room with cakes and scones!
✅ Why it works: No heavy history — just beautiful old streets, good cafés, and easy paths for strolling.
🎯 The Big Lesson: Travel Smarter with AI, Travel Your Way
The truth is, no traditional travel guide or Google search could have crafted these four different tours just for us.
AI didn’t replace the adventure.
It made it personal.
It made it fun.
It made it ours.
👉 By asking smarter, more detailed questions, you can turn a simple afternoon in Edinburgh into a treasure hunt, a ghost story, a history deep-dive, or a relaxed wander, depending on what you want. Just remember it’s all in the prompt. Instead of just asking 'Show me Edinburgh’s best Closes, (which gives you a generic tourist list)
Ask AI specific, creative questions based on traveller styles.
"Create a spooky-themed walking tour of Edinburgh’s Closes with the darkest secrets," or"Plan a family-friendly tour with short walks, fun stories, and hidden treasures."
👉 By telling AI who you are, what you love, and what experience you want, you get a custom itinerary - not a copy-paste tourist guide.
✅ Pro Tip:Mention:
Interests (ghosts, history, photography)
Ages (kids, adults)
Walking difficulty (easy strolls or steep adventures)
Budget (free spots or guided tours)
The better your prompt, the better your adventure.
💬 Our Real Close-Hopping Adventure: What It Felt Like
Walking the Closes with our AI-inspired plan honestly felt magical. Over the years, we have walked many times around the Royal Mile. This time, we weren’t just tourists ticking boxes, we were time travellers, explorers, ghost hunters, storytellers. Every turn had a surprise waiting for us: a hidden courtyard lit by golden sunlight, a plaque telling a secret story, a quiet spot where you could hear the city breathing beneath the noise.
Best of all? It was our adventure. Built around what we loved, not what a guidebook told us to see.
We laughed at spooky legends, discovered a secret coffee shop with old-fashioned arcade games and pinball machines! and finished the day feeling like Edinburgh had shared some of its hidden soul with us.
And honestly? I don’t think any Google search could have given us that. 🧡
✈️ Want to Try It Yourself?
👉 Download our FREE AI City Planner now!
It’s packed with ready-to-use prompts, tips, and templates to help you plan your next adventure — your way!
Let’s travel smarter, not harder. 🌍🧡
Loved this Close-hopping adventure? We’ve got even more ideas to help you travel smarter, deeper, and your way!
Every adventure starts with one smart question. Ready to plan your next one? 🌍✨
👋 About Nathalie - Travel lover. AI experimenter. Hidden gem seeker.
Co-creator of AI SmartTraveller and firm believer that planning your next trip should be part of the adventure. Join me as I test AI tools, dig up unusual destinations, and share smart ways to travel better.💛 Learn more about me →
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