Hidden Scots tourist attraction named best in UK – it’s in centre of major city

SCOTLAND has scored FOUR of the 10 best attractions in the UK – including the top spot.

Every year TripAdvisor reveals its most highly-rated Travel Experiences, all based on reviews by real visitors.

And in the top attractions category there are four tourist favourites from north of the border – all in Edinburgh.

Making it to number one across the UK is The Real Mary King’s Close, which was also rates number 11 in Europe.

Inviting guests to venture beneath the capital’s iconic Royal Mile and discover the hidden close, which was once bustling with life, the popular tour takes visitors on a journey to uncover the city’s long-forgotten 17th century streets and soak up the rich history of Auld Reekie.

Juliana Delaney, CEO of Continuum Attractions which runs the tourist favourite that attracts 250,000 people a year, said: “Our attraction is truly unique.

“Being able to bring the centuries-old stories of Edinburgh’s dark past to life in such an engaging and fun way is testament to our brilliant team of storytellers who capture the imagination of our guests.

“When we took on the Close some 20 years ago the predictions were for 60,000 visitors per year. Through the careful development of the site and expert storytelling we have built a reputation that has reached far and wide.

“Being named as the UK’s number one tourist destination is a real privilege but the most important thing is knowing that our guests enjoy their time with us and will want to return. Our partnership with City of Edinburgh Council has delivered them a world-class heritage attraction.”

Meanwhile, The Royal Yacht Britannia took a close second place. A Royal residence for over 40 years, the stunning vessel sailed over one million nautical miles on 968 state visits with the Royalty on-board, where they entertained prime ministers and presidents.

Across five decks, visitors can now discover stories of life at sea at the attraction in Leith.

The iconic Edinburgh Castle, meanwhile, took third place in the ranking and in fifth place is the National Museum of Scotland.

A TripAdvisor spokeswoman said: “Analysing Tripadvisor review data from millions of travellers across the globe, this is a definite guide to the very best travel experiences for 2024.”