The city of Arthur’s Seat boasts not just Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, and some cracking pubs, but plenty more activities. And for a truly tricky weekend adventure, you’ve got to try some of the Edinburgh’s best escape rooms, using your intellect and nous to solve puzzles and escape these wicked themed adventures. Time to find your favourite escape room in Edinburgh with our handy roundup!
1. Locked in Edinburgh
Voted the best escape room in Edinburgh and one of the best in the world, Locked in Edinburgh will blow your mind. (And not just because your dog can join you there.) They’ve got a list of awards almost too long to boast about, and their puzzles, twists and production quality catapult this place to a spot on our list. They allow up to 10 participants and 60 minutes per team to escape, and both the ‘Secret Lab’ and the ‘Space Academy’ are must-try games.
1 Summerhall, EH9 1PL.
2. Escape Reality
Counted amongst the best escape rooms in Edinburgh, Escape Reality received TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice Award in 2021, a 5-star rating, the Bullseye Award in 2019, and a rating of 4.9 on Google. That’s quite the line-up of accolades…
Games including ‘Nosferatu’, ‘Jungala’, and ‘Alcatraz’ make it a popular choice to come back to, and the tech used in their escape rooms is especially impressive. Escape Reality opens all week between noon and 9 pm and allows 2-6 people, with 60 minutes per team.
1 Fountainbridge Square, EH3 9QB.
3. Escape Edinburgh
Escape Edinburgh has two branches at Morrison Street and Haymarket. The Morrison Street venue is home to two escape rooms: the ‘Magic Emporium’ and ‘Houdini’s Workshop’, both of which will keep you hooked till the end. Meanwhile, The Haymarket branch offers themes like ‘Ocean’s Escape’, ‘Carnival of Curiosities’, and ‘8 Years Later’ (a quest that takes you back to the lab where a virus originated that eliminated humanity. Sound familiar?).
26-28 Morrison Street, EH3 8BJ & 54 Dalry Road, EH11 2BA.
4. Can You Escape?
It would be a bummer if you live in Edinburgh but haven’t yet been to Can You Escape? The recipient of TripAdvisor’s Traveller’s Choice Award 2021, they have two escape room games, including a daring rescue mission onboard the International Space Station, ‘Operation Odyssey’.
The ‘Operation Spellbound’ room, which witnesses an epic showdown between the magicians Merlin & Morgana, is the more complex but remains a hit amongst visitors. Both the games allow 2-6 participants, including at least two adults, and the venue is open everyday between 10 am and 10 pm.
5 Holyrood Road, EH8 8AE.
5. Padlox Escape Rooms
Now, who doesn’t love superheroes? But have you ever wondered what makes them one? Come and train yourself to be a superhero at Padlox, which offers two escape room games: ‘Superhero Training Academy’ and ‘Going for Gold’. The former in particular is an absolute do-not-miss, promising a brain-racking task engaging every member of your team. It’s open daily from 12 noon to 10 pm, with 2-6 players and 60 minutes per team, but if you’re playing the ‘Superhero Training Academy’, we recommend a team size of 4-5 for a better experience.
1 Carpet Lane, EH6 6SS.
6. Escape the Past
Looking for a mystery in history? Look no further and head straight to Escape the Past‘s ‘The Anatomist’. This escape room on the edge of Edinburgh’s Old Surgical District is set in the nineteenth century, and takes as its premise a case of medical malpractices and robbery by a doctor. You’ll have an hour to find Dr Malcolm’s journal, which holds the key to many answers…
Basement 1, 25 Nicolson Square, EH8 9BX.
7. Department of Magic
Edinburgh offers escape rooms in all genres, from the medieval to the historical, and from superheroes to a space rescue mission. So how can it skip Harry Potter? The Department of Magic is Edinburgh’s much-loved escape room game inspired by the blockbuster series. Visitors often make the ‘Unbreakable Vow’ to come back for more, and we reckon you’ll feel the same way after choosing your quest for prophecies, resurrecting Voldemort, or brewing a magical potion. This wizard-themed escape room in Edinburgh is open everyday between 10:30m and 10 pm.
9 Blair Street, EH1 1QR.