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The Edinburgh Dungeon

Interactive Theme Attraction verified UK Days Out Savers

The Edinburgh Dungeon

31 Market Street, Edinburgh (EH1 1QB) • Lothian

star4.5(16,500)
Lothian
🎭 Brilliant Live Theatrical Actors 🎢 Two Thrilling Underground Rides ☠️ Burke & Hare Body Snatchers 🔥 Gruesome Scottish History
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scheduleDaily: 10:00 – 17:00 (Hours extend during summer and Halloween. Check ahead).

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SAVE 17% bolt Tiqets

Advance Entry Ticket — Save up to 20%

Never pay the walk-up gate price! Secure your timed entry slot online in advance to guarantee entry and save up to 20% off the standard on-the-door price.

Standard £29.00
£24.00/ person
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Getting Here

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Location Address

31 Market Street, Edinburgh (EH1 1QB)

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Public Bus Services

Local bus lines operate frequent daily services directly to stops adjacent to the attraction entrance.

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Regional Transit Links

Connections
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Edinburgh Waverley Station

Walking

1 min walk
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Edinburgh City Centre

Lothian Buses (Airlink 100 or Princes St buses)

5 min walk

About The Edinburgh Dungeon

Located directly next to Waverley Station, the Edinburgh Dungeon is a high-energy, 80-minute walkthrough experience. It uses brilliant live theatrical actors, highly detailed sets, special effects, and two thrilling underground rides (a boat ride and a sudden drop ride) to tell the gruesome stories of Edinburgh's past. Visitors are plunged into total darkness and will encounter legendary characters like the cannibal Sawney Bean, the body snatchers Burke and Hare, and the local witches.

Quick Facts

  • 🎭Brilliant Live Theatrical Actors
  • 🎢Two Thrilling Underground Rides
  • ☠️Burke & Hare Body Snatchers
  • 🔥Gruesome Scottish History
  • scheduleDaily: 10:00 – 17:00 (Hours extend during summer and Halloween. Check ahead).
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Insider Tips

  • check_circlePrepare to be picked on: The actors rely heavily on audience participation. If you sit in the front row or stand near the front of the group, expect to be singled out (in a fun way!).
  • check_circleYou can skip the Drop Ride: If you hate freefall rides, or suffer from heart conditions or back problems, simply tell the staff member before you board. They will let you walk past the ride to the exit.
  • check_circleThe 'No Under 5s' Rule is strict: This attraction relies on total darkness, loud noises, and jump scares. Children under 5 are strictly banned, and it is honestly recommended for ages 8 and up.
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What to Expect

1. The Courtroom

Your group is dragged before a crazed 17th-century judge who will pick on members of the audience for hilarious, improvised mock trials.

2. The Boat Ride

Board a small boat and drift in total darkness into the caves of Sawney Bean, Scotland's legendary cannibal.

3. The Anatomy Theatre

Watch a gruesome 'autopsy' as the infamous body snatchers Burke and Hare provide fresh corpses for the medical school.

4. The Drop Dead Ride

The finale! You are strapped into a seat in the Grassmarket gallows before suddenly dropping in a thrilling, stomach-churning freefall ride.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Edinburgh Dungeon too scary for an 8-year-old? expand_more

The Dungeon recommends the experience for ages 8 and up, but it depends entirely on the child. It features total darkness, sudden loud noises, jump scares, and gruesome themes. Many 8-year-olds love it, but sensitive children will find it overwhelming.

How long does it take to go through the Edinburgh Dungeon? expand_more

The guided walkthrough experience, including the two rides, takes exactly 80 minutes.

Can I skip the drop ride at the Edinburgh Dungeon? expand_more

Yes. The 'Drop Dead' freefall ride is the final part of the tour. If you do not want to ride it, simply inform the staff member when you arrive at the gallows, and they will direct you safely to the exit.

Explore the Area

The Real Mary King's Close

The Real Mary King's Close

One of the most unique historic attractions in the world. When the City Chambers were built in the 18th century, they simply lopped the top off several medieval streets (closes) and built on top of them. The result is a subterranean, perfectly preserved 17th-century neighborhood. Led by brilliant costumed character guides, visitors descend beneath the Royal Mile to explore dark, cramped, myth-filled underground alleyways, plague-stricken homes, and the devastating realities of life in 1600s Edinburgh.

Camera Obscura & World of Illusions

Camera Obscura & World of Illusions

Situated directly next to Edinburgh Castle, Camera Obscura has been entertaining visitors since 1853. The experience starts on the roof inside the Victorian 'Camera Obscura' itself—a fascinating optical periscope projecting a live, moving image of the city onto a viewing table. Below this, there are five incredibly chaotic floors packed with over 100 hands-on optical illusions, light tricks, a mirror maze, and a dizzying vortex tunnel.

The Scotch Whisky Experience

The Scotch Whisky Experience

Situated right at the top of the Royal Mile just steps from Edinburgh Castle, The Scotch Whisky Experience is an interactive exhibition and tasting venue dedicated to Scotland's most famous export. Rather than focusing on a single brand, the experience educates visitors on all five whisky-producing regions of Scotland. The tour features a newly updated, high-tech immersive storytelling journey, an expert-led tasting, and culminates inside a breathtaking glass-and-marble vault housing one of the world's largest collections of Scotch whisky.

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Local Car Rentals

Explore the beauty of Lothian at your own pace. Hire a car from trusted agencies nearby.

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VW Polo or similar (Economy)

Manual • 5 seats • Hertz

£35/day
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Nissan Qashqai or similar (SUV)

Automatic • 5 seats • Enterprise

£68/day
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