The Edinburgh Dungeon
The Edinburgh Dungeon
4.5
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The Edinburgh Dungeon is the ultimate underground journey through Edinburgh's darkest history; a unique, award-winning visitor attraction that brings together an professional cast of theatrical actors, special effects, 360 degree sets and thrilling rides in a truly unique and immersive walk-through experience. Shows are based on real Scottish history, minus the boring bits!
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Old Town
Few Edinburghers live in the Old Town, but its labyrinth of dank alleys and steep streets suggests this was not always the case. Today, it’s mostly visitors, tartan-flavoured souvenir shops, and pipers that you’ll find on its cobbled streets. This is the place to get a feel for Auld Reekie (Old Smelly), as the town was once nicknamed, and stroll the Royal Mile, the thoroughfare that links the castle with the royal palace – two of Edinburgh’s great set-piece attractions. But there’s lots more exploring to do here down dozens of little alleys, or wynds, while at night the city’s busiest clubs erupt along the Cowgate which is closed to traffic for this purpose.
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See what travellers are saying
- charley668Fife, United Kingdom147 contributionsBrilliant Fun!Hadn't been to the dungeon for many years, oh my goodness, it's so much better than it used to be! Two adults & two teens all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! The actors are absolutely brilliant, it's them that really make the experience so good, their enthusiasm, quick wit, improvisation & acting skills are 10 out of 10. The drop ride at the end finishes of the tour perfectly, I didn't go expecting a full on massive theme park ride & it was just enough for what it was. The only bit I felt wasn't suitable for all was the passageway which has the very very low ceiling that you have to really crouch down to get under, made me feel a wee bit panicky, but I'm probably the minority. All in all, a fantastic experience, highly recommended!Hello charlie668, Thank you very much for your super detailed 5 star review of us! It was very nice to read about how much fun you had here at the Edinburgh Dungeon. Our actors do enjoy their work at scaring the life out of people so thank you for your kind comments about them. I hope you come back again to have some more scary fun with us!Written 14 October 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Travelled with familyWritten 12 October 2023
- Susan CBlyth, United Kingdom39 contributionsEdinburgh DungeonAmazing Actors, brought history alive, full of horrible histories. They brought everyone into their stories.Not good for people with walking difficulties or very young children, We paid 23 pounds per person, less for children, it was worth every penny. Would put it on your list for a trip to EdinburghHello susancW834XA, Thank you very much for your 5 star review of us! I am a glad to hear you had an amazing time with our actors and enjoyed how they brought our city's history to life. We hope to see you again for some more scary fun in the future!Written 3 November 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited November 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 2 November 2023
- Briella S5 contributionsYou should go here, you won't regret itMe and my mother are visiting in Scotland, and we saw this cool haunted house sort of thing. And it was a last-minute decision and that decision was a good one for sure! There are no lines,great staff and actors and actresses,and a good mix of Edinburgh history. It was funny and interactive, and I was chosen . At first, I was nervous, and they picked up on that and helped me, and calmed me down. Overall, it was a great experience. I really recommend it.Hello Briella S, Thank you very much for your 5 star review of us! I am happy to hear that you had a great experience at the Edinburgh Dungeon, even though you were a bit nervous after being chosen. Our actors do enjoy what they do but I'm glad they helped you calm down so you could enjoy the rest of the tour. Thanks for leaving a review and we hope to see you again soon for some more scary fun!Written 10 November 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited November 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 5 November 2023
- Rhal13 contributionsAbsolutely FantasticWhat an absolutely fantastic experience from start to finish. The actors were incredible, fun, and made sure to include the group in every single room. It was the perfect balance of informative, hilarious, and scary. The jump scares were brilliant and the whole experience was very immersive. There were lots of laughs and screams in our group. I seemed to be targeted several times which was great for me, I found it hilarious and fun. The drop ride at the end was a lot more brutal than we were expecting, which for us is an added bonus. The gift shop was brilliant and I left with a few extra goodies! Photographs were available at the end, and were hilarious to look at (especially the photograph from the ride!) - absolutely a must for thrill seekers and those who want to be scared!Hello 36alishat, Thank you very much for your super detailed 5 star review of us! I am so glad to hear that you had an absolutely fantastic experience at the Edinburgh Dungeon. Our actors do enjoy picking on people, and for you to be chosen several times must have been a treat. It's always lovely to hear when they do a great job so thank you for that. Please do come back again for some more scary fun in the future!Written 10 November 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited November 2023Travelled with familyWritten 9 November 2023
- andrewjennyHervey Bay, Australia619 contributionsAwesome funVisited the Edinburgh Dungeon and had a blast. Don't want to give away anything so you will have to go check out for yourself. Make sure you book online before you visit as we watched a lot of people get turned away as tickets sold fast. Awesome fun.Hello andrewjenny, Thank you for your 5 star review of us! I am glad to here you had a blast and awesome fun at the Edinburgh Dungeon. Cheers for not giving away any spoilers and definitely everyone.....book online! We hope to see you again for some more scary fun soon.Written 11 December 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 10 December 2023
- Sajjjers8 contributionsWorth it!We booked a timed tour online on the day that we were visiting. Paid less for a ticket and walked straight in. We loved the dungeons! The actors were really enthusiastic and funny and it was a good level of scary for us. Part way through the tour we had to ask to use the toilet - the actors were really helpful showing us out and helping us to rejoin the tour we were on. If you are someone that needs to know you have an exit, there are actors in each room who can help you at the end of their scene if needed. Great, fun experience, glad we went.Hello Sajjers, Thank you for the 5 star review and the lovely comment to! We're glad to hear you enjoyed your time with us here at the Edinburgh Dungeons and that our staff where very helpful. We will be sure to pass this on to the team! Hopefully we will see you again or at one of our other Dungeon attractions for some more frightful fun!Written 15 March 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited March 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 15 March 2024
- Ang GScottish Highlands, United Kingdom647 contributionsGreat fun!Came as a group of 4 adults last week, what great fun! The whole experience from start to end is very well done, lots of interesting facts and special effects. The actors were fantastic too, really made the experience what it is. Had a good laugh and a few scares along the way, and the drop ride at the end was unexpected but great. Would come back.Hello Furiousgeorgina, Thank you for very much for your 5 star review of us! I am so glad to hear that you had a great experience at the Edinburgh Dungeon and that you enjoyed the facts and special effects we provided. We hope to see you again for some more scary fun soon!Written 3 July 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited June 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 2 July 2024
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4.5
6,448 reviews
Excellent
3,955
Very good
1,567
Average
549
Poor
183
Terrible
194
Lucy W
Ramsgate, UK19 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Tip- you can get money off entry cost and avoid the queue if you use your Hop on Hop off bus ticket
Very entertaining, good value for money as you're in there for about 90mins.
Live actors add to the 'fear factor' but they don't touch you! Funny, light-hearted but enough to make you jump. Even when you know how they do the'tricks' it's still tense.
Impressive final ride... didn't expect that to be so good.
Very entertaining, good value for money as you're in there for about 90mins.
Live actors add to the 'fear factor' but they don't touch you! Funny, light-hearted but enough to make you jump. Even when you know how they do the'tricks' it's still tense.
Impressive final ride... didn't expect that to be so good.
Written 2 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cheers for the great review Lucy! We hope you had a terrifyingly good new year!
Written 3 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
MrsMamfa91
Northern Ireland, UK52 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
This place is fantastic!! A fun and entertaining way to learn about Edinburgh. We were not expecting the tour to be as interactive as it was with actors, audience participation and rides throughout! The guides were unbelievable, hilarious and tailored to the crowd. Great value for money and it has definitely encouraged us to check out the other attractions on offer by this company.
Written 9 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kristian
Ljubljana, Slovenia31 contributions
Sept 2020 • Couples
This is a masterpiece from start to finish. The bloke at the begining who is taking photos has enough energy to wake you up from the dead. All the performing actors (👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻, couldn't clap there, since it's a mad house) are really good and super attentive at the same time for social distancing. Hands down the best thing in this city siteseeing wise. I was scared and I was laughing at the same time, it's creepy and educational too. They got CoVid under control and in my honest opinion the shows are even better during this pandemic because it adds the tragi-comic taste to the whole thing. It cost 15€ per a human body and it was the best 15 spent since february. All in all, in there, you get the picture of life back in the day in Edinburgh while being batshit scared. 20/20 would recommend.
Written 24 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your fantastic review - its amazing to hear that you think we are the best in the city site seeing wise! We hope that you can visit us again in the future
Written 19 October 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ben V
Caldicot, UK30 contributions
Aug 2021 • Couples
Feel a bit ripped off to be honest. I don't understand how £20 per person is justified for an attraction which didnt even last an hour especially considering its a merlin owned attraction. Many times I've been to thorpe park and paid £25 for the whole day which is far better value.
We paid extra to go to the hard rock cafe for a meal after however when you book the deal you don't get to book the meal at the same time meaning that the only time we could eat was 4 hours after the experience at 9pm which wasn't ideal. The restricted menu we were offered on arrival was really poor with only one choice of dessert. I think a bigger menu needs to be offered and 1 alcoholic drink per person would make the cost seem more reasonable.
If you don't want to take part in the experience then I would recommend not going at all. Luckily the people that were picked on embraced it but I imagine there are a lot of people who get picked on to do stuff and refuse which must look so awkward.
I am in no way a snowflake however I would like to say thank you to the cannibal who brought up the size of my head many times. I'm sure this is part of his act and he's said the same thing to people many times. I was savagely bullied growing up about my large head so it was lovely to experience my school days again.
To top it off at the end of the experience you get lined up to take a look at your photos and you're asked if you want to buy them. For the cost I feel that you should be offered one photo for free. When it was clear that I didn't want to buy anything the guy behind the till decided to say " you've been a complete waste of time run to the lift" I almost saw red at this point however I'm a disciplined bloke and just walked away.
We paid extra to go to the hard rock cafe for a meal after however when you book the deal you don't get to book the meal at the same time meaning that the only time we could eat was 4 hours after the experience at 9pm which wasn't ideal. The restricted menu we were offered on arrival was really poor with only one choice of dessert. I think a bigger menu needs to be offered and 1 alcoholic drink per person would make the cost seem more reasonable.
If you don't want to take part in the experience then I would recommend not going at all. Luckily the people that were picked on embraced it but I imagine there are a lot of people who get picked on to do stuff and refuse which must look so awkward.
I am in no way a snowflake however I would like to say thank you to the cannibal who brought up the size of my head many times. I'm sure this is part of his act and he's said the same thing to people many times. I was savagely bullied growing up about my large head so it was lovely to experience my school days again.
To top it off at the end of the experience you get lined up to take a look at your photos and you're asked if you want to buy them. For the cost I feel that you should be offered one photo for free. When it was clear that I didn't want to buy anything the guy behind the till decided to say " you've been a complete waste of time run to the lift" I almost saw red at this point however I'm a disciplined bloke and just walked away.
Written 24 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello vaughan1995 ,
I’m sorry that you felt the experience wasn’t worth the price as we feel for the quality of all the shows and drop ride it is competitive for Edinburgh but understand that not everyone will feel this way.
The package you purchased included the voucher for a set meal at the Hard Rock Café which also gives you the menu available at the time, we find most guests enjoy this as it gives them the freedom of choice and does not tie them down as well as allowing them to reserve a table for up to 6 months from the Dungeon Experience.
I’m very sorry if you felt you were being personally picked on in the Sawney Bean cave as this is part of the script and due to the darkness guests are only picked at random an no other reason but I fully understand that if your bullied at school due to this that it would be painful.
Thank you for your feedback regarding you experience and we do appreciate it.
Written 25 August 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mitchellnufc91
4 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Tired to phone several times to book tickets for this, each time received an automated voice saying no one was available to take calls. I understand that most tickets are booked online however from an accessibility aspect a phone line should be available for those who cannot book online. We decided to go and just pay on the door to be told that the last tickets had been sold! Would not have happened if we could phone up. Have been before and a great attraction although totally let down by the ticket office.
Written 2 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Mitchell, firstly apologies for the delay in responding to this. None of the Dungeons take bookings over the phone as a service, the only exception being school bookings organised by our dedicated schools booking line which is managed centrally so had you got through we would have directed you to the website or recommended walking up and advised to come early. We can be contacted via email, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google my business, etc as well as by phone - we are a very small on site team and our duty managers are often on the floor helping guests or running the day to day of the business so not always able to be by the phone so we have tried to make other means of contact available to potential guests. Tickets do sell out especially during holidays, but usually if you walk-up early in the day and ask there are always tickets available for that day and our admissions team can advise which slots might be busier. Appreciate on this occasion we were not able to accommodate your request and we hope this won't happen again.
Written 15 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jack
5 contributions
Jan 2020
It was educational in the setting of a fun, immersive and interactive experience. The very good actors did their best to make you feel like you are in the time period. The time that was spent in the Dungeons flew by. The only negative is that the photos were more on the pricey side for what they were. Would definitely visit again!
Written 1 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Jack, thanks for the great review!
Written 6 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Matt S
Katy, TX7 contributions
Feb 2020
I was pleasantly surprised at how good of a time this attraction was. It caught my eye as I was walking to my hotel from the bus stop, and peaked my interest enough I had to come back and give it a try. The performers really get into their characters, which makes for a fun experience, and there's are amazing rides that I was not expecting. I would highly recommend to anyone who wants to see Edinburgh's seedier history come to life in a fun way.
Written 3 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Woop! Cheers for the great review, peasant! We just LOVE seedy history!
Written 9 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ca12039
7 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
I have visited all of the dungeon attractions in the UK and this is by far the best. This is the only one where you dont feel rushed and you truly get value for money. The humour and acting is spot on alongside a good combination of technology and old fashioned jump scares. This is definitely a must in Edinburgh.
Written 11 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
THanks so much peasant, for your kind words! We're glad you had a "horrible" time!
Written 15 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Le_la
Ljubljana, Slovenia10 contributions
Sept 2020 • Couples
By far the most entertaining and enjoyable attraction in Edinburgh. You have to book in advance and be sure to have your tickets printed. It is a live museum/game (cca 1h) in which you are to become part of the dark history of Scotland in a underground city with actors, jump scares, laughter, hand sanitiser (went there during Covid-19) and much more. The special effects in the rooms are just on point but the real applause goes to the actors who are not just funny, but also entertaining, scary, full of energy and they involve you in every part of the path thru the dungeons. I loved it and would surely recommend it to all of you who want to make their trip to Edinburgh not just culturally rich but also enjoy one hour in what feels like a movie.
Written 24 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your amazing review, it is lovely to hear that you feel we are the best in Edinburgh! Its great that you think the actors are not just funny, but also entertaining, scary, full of energy, this is just what we aim to be - we will certainly be passing on your feedback to the team
Written 19 October 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mellisa H
Middlesbrough, UK15 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
This is very extra !! The dungeons is not what you expect it’s very scary and is very interactive, when I went the same women got picked on 3 times. This is perfect for adrenaline junkies as there is 3 experiences 1 being a rotating room with a moving floor 2 being a boat ride where water and air was blown into your face 3 being a drop where you had to get strapped in and got dropped to simulate hanging. This is not good for younger children as some of the actors scream in your faces. Even though I found it scary I am so happy that I went and experienced it as it’s a good thing to do, would recommend to some extent
Written 17 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BOOM!!!!! *spoiler alert* glad you had a horrible time!
Written 10 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Goggz F
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Hi there we visit tomorrow my daughter is my young carer is it my disability one card with the plus one logo I bring as proof of carer. That's what the cinema asked for. It's a bus pass and many things on one card. Many thanks Dungeons. G
Written 9 February 2024
Hi, how long is this please - states 1-2 hours but could you please be more specific as we need to arrange around our train home - thanks
Written 3 February 2024
Give yourself 2 hours at a minimum. As mentioned it is right next door to the station.
Written 7 February 2024
Is mobility around the dungeon difficult ? Me & my partner want to do it but she is in a boot following a surgical procedure to her foot. She can walk well with it but I just wanna be cautious.
Written 1 November 2022
Hello Jamie,
Thank you for your message. It shouldn't be too bad, we have quite a few stairs but also access to two lifts that you can use. The majority of the tour is walking however there are a few shows that are seated.
Written 15 November 2022
Hi how do I get a blue light card discount. I try to book it and o couldn’t find it anywhere. I think I got it but not sure as I pay 19.70 thro the blue light website. Is that about right.
Written 24 July 2022
Only the usual.
- Bad Back, Pregnant/Expecting, neck problems ect
Written 6 April 2022
Hello, the drop ride is running but the boat is currently being tested and we hope for a Halloween opening.
Written 10 August 2021
We've been looking at going to the Dungeons when we come up to Edinburgh next week. My youngest is 7 and she's adamant she won't be scared 🤣 Are we able to book with a 7 year old, or it is a definite no no for under 8's?
Thanks.
Written 8 August 2021
I don't know if the dungeons actually have a lower age limit. If she is a confident, adventurous and inquisitive youngster, I would think it's ok. However, if she's an anxious, or timid child, best avoided. Some of the stories are portrayed in quite dim lighting to enhance the mood, also allows the actors to creep around unnoticed.
Some of the scenarios enacted could be a little gruesome. eg one highlights the exploits of a family that kidnapped, killed and ate unsuspecting travellers. Another is the Burke and Hare story about body snatchers.
it would be worthwhile finding out which stories are currently being acted and doing a little background research on these to explain to your daughter beforehand what she will see.
Hope this helps.
Written 9 August 2021
For security reasons luggage cannot be left at the Edinburgh Dungeon .
Written 18 June 2021
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