Edinburgh is one of the best places in the world for an escape game enthusiast. It boasts a rich history, a diverse culture and some truly puzzling challenges that will have you working your brain to its limits. Some of the best escape rooms in Edinburgh are in the city’s historic buildings. They are perfect for exploring off the beaten track and coming across hidden passageways, staircases and other hidden access points that most people would overlook. With so many great hide-and-seek opportunities it can be hard to know where to start looking when you’re planning your escapade in Edinburgh. That said, there are plenty of fantastic escape games worth checking out if you have time spare while you’re here. Here we list our top recommendations for anyone who is new to this type of activity or simply wants something new, different and a little bit challenging:
This is perhaps the most famous of all Edinburgh’s escape rooms. It is also one of the most challenging. The Locked Room is based in an old Edinburgh prison. The game is set in 1923 and you must try to find out who has broken into the prison and locked themselves in one of the cells. As well as having to find a way into the room, you must determine what item has been placed inside so that you can finally solve the mystery and unlock the door. This game is a real challenge and has been known to stump even the most seasoned of escape room enthusiasts. The Locked Room is open daily from 11am to 5pm.
This games is based in Aberdeen and is one of the best escape rooms for families. It is also one of the oldest escape rooms in the city. The Dark Mind Games team set out to create a game that was not just challenging but also fun and engaging for all members of the family. They did just that with a medieval themed challenge which has you traversing through a fantastical realm with a range of puzzles that will have you scratching your head. You will also encounter many different characters and creatures while you’re on your adventure. This escape game is open daily from 11am to 6pm.
This is another great historical building escape room in Edinburgh. It is based on the Scottish Parliament Building and you must try to find out who has broken into the Parliamentary Computer. The Parliament Computer Challenge is not only one of the best escape rooms in Edinburgh but also one of the best in the UK. It is a truly challenging adventure that will have you looking for hidden clues and working out how to solve the puzzles that are hidden throughout the room. The challenge is open daily from 11am to 6pm and is suitable for ages 14 and above.
This is an older, more traditional Edinburgh escape room. It is set in an old schoolhouse and you must try to find out who has broken into the school and locked themselves inside one of the classrooms. The game is based in the 1980s and you must solve basic puzzles in order to finally unlock the door. Once you’ve solved the puzzles you must then try to determine who the culprit is and why they have locked themselves inside the classroom. The Listening Room is open daily from 10am to 5pm.
There is probably no other type of entertainment that allows you to experience what it is like to be inside someone else’s head as much as an escape room. This is where you are forced to slow down and be introspective. You have to try to figure out what symbols, sounds, colors and other clues are actually trying to tell you something. You have to look hard for these clues and you have to try your best to figure them out.
This can be a powerful exercise that is especially useful when used in conjunction with other forms of mindfulness meditation.
If you are looking for a new form of entertainment then you should definitely consider visiting an escape room. It is a mentally challenging activity that will require you to use your brain to its full potential and it can be incredibly rewarding once you finally figure out how to solve the puzzles.