Tucked away in the heart of the Old Town, White Horse Close is a hidden gem courtyard that makes visitors feel as if they're stepping back in time - yet appearances can be deceiving.

Dating back to the 17th century, the picturesque close, which is located a stone's throw from the Canongate in Edinburgh's historic Royal Mile, looks as if it's been virtually untouched for centuries.

The courtyard is positively dripping with history. The White Horse Coaching Inn was established here in 1623 by Laurence Ord with stagecoaches bound for Newcastle and London leaving from the back entrance.

The Inn is said to have been used by Bonnie Prince Charlie and his soldiers during the Jacobite Occupation of Edinburgh in 1745, while William Dick, of Dick Vet fame, was born here in 1793.

However, just be

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