Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
4.5
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
About
Winner of VisitScotland's Best Visitor Attraction Experience 2022/23! We are Scotland’s oldest purpose-built attraction, established in 1835. Interact with over 100 illusions and get a breath of fresh air on our magnificent Rooftop Terrace, which offers the most spectacular 360 degree views of Edinburgh. At Camera Obscura & World of Illusions, experience five floors of interactive hands-on optical illusions, tricks and fun things to do including our head-spinning Vortex Tunnel, bewildering Mirror Maze and mind-blowing Shrinking Room. Not to mention our 170 year old Camera Obscura! Get involved, play, touch, listen, and see. Great fun for all ages and nationalities, whatever the weather. 'Best family attraction in Britain’, The Telegraph. 'Five Stars, outstanding, world class', VisitScotland. Free Wi-Fi. Allow about 2 hours. Please note the attraction is located in a listed 17th Century building over 5 floors without a lift. Open every day, open late on holidays.
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
- Go677672Madeira, Portugal2 contributionsExtra fun in the dark, great experienceNice mixture of “old” and new optical illusions. Fun. You can take a lot of pictures. We went in the evening, great tip to do so, not crowded at all and a nice extra is the extra “spooky” stories by Hannah during the camera obscura experience at the rooftopHello, and thank you for your five star review. It's fantastic to hear you had a fun visit and that Hannah gave you a special Camera Obscura demonstration, we'll be sure to pass along your kind words. We'd love to see your pictures, please do tag us in them on our social media channels. Thank you for visiting and we hope you'll visit us again soon.Written 18 September 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited September 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 17 September 2023
- Robyn C45 contributionsfun day outWent for a family day out as we were staying in seton sands for a long weekend with our toddler. This was very enjoyable. Our little boy found this entertaining, we couldn't complain that because he's under 5 he was free. Emily who did the Camera Obscura show was very good and it was very well done. The gift shop was also very good. we enjoted the crazy mirrors and the vortex and the view from the top was just beautiful.Hello Robyn and thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We're delighted you had a fun family visit with your toddler and especially enjoyed our Mirror Maze and head-spinning Vortex Tunnel! Our fascinating Camera Obscura show is a highlight for lots of our visitors so it's great to hear you loved it too, and we will pass on your compliments to our brilliant guide Emily. We hope you all visit us again soon.Written 19 September 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited September 2023Travelled with familyWritten 18 September 2023
- zoe152Weston super Mare, United Kingdom31 contributionsAwesome interactive fun.Fun, amazing, awesome, interactive. I am a 70 year old and enjoyed every floor. There are 6 so be prepared for stairs. The outside viewing was amazing with very powerful binoculars so you could see people walking in Princes St. I did find the camera obscura a little uninspiring but think you have to be local to enjoy this. The person that narrated this was very good. In all well worth the price I paid and it gave me lots of smiles and fun for 2 hours. Well worth going. 5*Hi Zoe, thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We're so pleased you had such a wonderful visit and found lots to enjoy on every floor! Our stunning rooftop views are a highlight for lots of our visitors so it's great to hear you loved them too. We can't wait to welcome you back for another visit soon.Written 19 September 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited September 2023Travelled soloWritten 19 September 2023
- Abby T2 contributionsCamera Obscura MuseumI visited Camera Obscura with my friends on a day trip to Edinburgh, and we all had an enjoyable experience with lots of laughs! There is 6 levels in this museum all that are interactive with brilliant effects. My favourite was the Vortex Tunnel and the Hall of Mirrors. Well worth a visit for anyone visiting Edinburgh.Hello Abby, thank you so much for your review. We are glad that you enjoyed your visit and that the 5 floors of exhibitions provided lots of entertainment. The Vortex Tunnel and the Mirror Maze are two of our most popular exhibits and it’s good to hear that they were some of your favourites too. We would love to welcome you back soon!Written 24 September 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited September 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 22 September 2023
- Mobile413889779831 contributionFantastic experienceVisited with my adult daughter. Location was easy to find. Received a warm welcome with map and clear instructions. Lovely clean toilets. The experience itself was fantastic. We very much enjoyed everything the attraction offered. Views at the top were beautiful. Well worth a visit!Hello and thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We're delighted you had such a wonderful visit with your daughter and felt your experience was fantastic! Our friendly staff work hard to ensure everyone has an excellent visit so it's great to hear you received a warm welcome. We hope you both visit again soon.Written 25 September 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited September 2023Travelled with familyWritten 25 September 2023
- travelalways247927 contributionsFavorite site in EdinburghMy 11 year old grandson absolutely loved Camera Obscura. So interactive and the talk at the top with the periscope was top notch. He loved the hall of mirrors and learning about electric current. A+Hello and thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We're so pleased you and your grandson had a fun visit and especially enjoyed our fascinating Camera Obscura show! We hope you both visit again soon.Written 26 September 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited September 2023Travelled with familyWritten 25 September 2023
- Star Wars M2 contributionsFun-filled wonder at the many illusions to experienceI went with my girlfriend and we had a really good time! I've been before but she hadn't, and I thought it was even better this time, but the mirror maze wasnt a surprise anymore! There is a large range of illusions and also has an informative side to some of them which I liked. My favorite part was the roof and all of the telescopes we can use to look at Edinburgh from the centre, as well as the rooftop talk from the staff, very interesting to hear about the history.Hello and thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We're so pleased you had a fun visit with your girlfriend and found lots to keep you entertained! Our stunning rooftop views of Edinburgh are a highlight for lots of our visitors so it's great to hear you loved them too. We hope you both visit again soon.Written 27 September 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited August 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 26 September 2023
- Oliver N1 contributionWell worth the visit!A brilliant experience in a superb location. All the staff were so friendly and it's even dog friendly. They love dogs and made ours feel special! The museum itself was fascinating and James who did our obscura show was funny and knowledgeable. I was really impressed! And the view from the top was an added bonus.Hello Oliver, thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a review. We are so glad that you and your dog were left amazed by the experience. The panoramic views of the city from the rooftop are certainly a unique aspect of our attraction, so it’s great to hear you loved it too. We’ll make sure that we pass your kind comments along to James too—he’ll be thrilled to hear how much you enjoyed your time with us. We would love to welcome you back soon!Written 1 October 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited September 2023Travelled with familyWritten 30 September 2023
- Snappy26Sunderland, United Kingdom77 contributionsVery entertainingVisited Edinburgh for my brothers birthday and found this little gem. Spent nearly 3 hours here just enjoying all the exhibits. And generally having a laugh. We hung around for the show on the top floor and was very pleasantly surprised. Jamie the guide was very informative and entertaining. Would definitely visit again!Hello there, thank you so much for your review. We are glad that you and your family had a mind-blowing visit and that the 5 floors of exhibitions provided lots of entertainment. We’ll make sure that we pass your kind comments along to Jamie too—he’ll be thrilled to hear how much you enjoyed your time with us. We would love to welcome you back soon!Written 1 October 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited September 2023Travelled with familyWritten 30 September 2023
- Andrew JKirkliston, United Kingdom18 contributionsGood fun and friendly staffStaff could not have been more helpful and welcoming despite the place being at full capacity and nearly queued out the door. Luckily we had pre-booked so got straight in. The complimentary loan of a baby harness was a really nice touch and saved us going back to the car. Kids 13, 7 and 1 all enjoyed the experience. At over £70 though it's a one time thing for us probably.Hi Andrew, thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We're delighted you had a fun visit with your family and felt there was lots to entertain all ages! Our staff work hard to ensure everyone has an excellent visit so they'll be delighted to hear your kind feedback. Thanks again Andrew.Written 2 October 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited September 2023Travelled with familyWritten 1 October 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
16,565 reviews
Excellent
11,129
Very good
3,996
Average
1,020
Poor
288
Terrible
134
Ca12039
7 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
We visited here due to the adverse weather and following positive reviews we thought we would give it a shot. However we were left heavily disappointed. Despite a couple of highlights in terms of the tunnel and the camera obscura, the rest was overcrowded and many of the exhibits were well worn. As much as it offers a couple of unique experiences, it is not worth the entry price. I fell going forward they need to put in place timed entry to allow people to get the most out of the exhibits.
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.
Hello, and thank you for taking the time to share your visit with us. We are pleased to hear you enjoyed our head-spinning Vortex Tunnel and the demonstration of the 166-year-old Camera Obscura. These are only two of over 100 interactive exhibits, spread over five floors. During seasonal holidays we can get busy, and as you’ve mentioned the wet and windy weather can also encourage more visitors to indoor attractions, which is why we offer an All-Day Ticket to allow you to return later in the day at a quieter time to experience all our exhibits again. We use people counting technology and our team regularly monitor the amount of visitors in the building, but we will investigate your suggestion of timed ticketing for our future developments. Thank you for visiting.
Written 13 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
MancTeacher
Manchester, UK315 contributions
Mar 2020 • Family
If you have kids who like problem solving, trying things out and love science museums, they will really enjoy it here. It is quite pricey and I recommend showing your Scot Rail ticket if you have one to get a discount.
There are a few floors of fun and your inner child can come out, so that you can be as one with the kids who love this place. There is even something for teens here, as there is a great deal to see and do.
Plenty of photo ops here and a really dramatic view of Edinburgh from the top. I prefer the Science museums as this did remind of the Ripley I can't Believe it attractions at times.
But my nephews had an absolute blast and that's what is about. They had enough to do to stop them reaching for their phone and that is some compliment! 😁
There are a few floors of fun and your inner child can come out, so that you can be as one with the kids who love this place. There is even something for teens here, as there is a great deal to see and do.
Plenty of photo ops here and a really dramatic view of Edinburgh from the top. I prefer the Science museums as this did remind of the Ripley I can't Believe it attractions at times.
But my nephews had an absolute blast and that's what is about. They had enough to do to stop them reaching for their phone and that is some compliment! 😁
Written 9 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.
Hello, and thank you for this amazing review. We’re so pleased you found something to entertain everyone in your group. We pride ourselves on bringing out the inner child in everyone and are delighted to hear you all had so much fun. Thank you for visiting and we hope you’ll visit us again in the future.
Written 23 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ElloWorld
Yarm, UK43 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
We secured a last minute booking for entry a few hours before our train home.
Obviously, we were disappointed that the demonstration of the camera obscura was cancelled due to COVID restrictions, but needs must in these strange times and we were aware of this before booking, as it is mentioned in prominent view on the website.
The rest of the building was open however and we were very pleasantly surprised at how many of the illusions and exhibits remained open. There was an easy-to-follow one way system in place, which led you to the third floor and then up and around the rest of the building, following the exhibits.
The rooftop views are spectacular all around and the illusions and interactive exhibits all the way down are mind boggling.
Despite the amount of hands on stuff on display, there were plenty of sanitiser stands and we passed staff who were disinfecting surfaces on every single floor, so their cleaning regime is clearly very good.
I would also recommend going earlier in the day if you wish to avoid crowds and make social distancing that bit easier for yourself: we managed to sneak a 9:15 booking on the day, but prior to that we had been hard pressed to get bookings for 2 people after 12pm.
There is a locked cupboard where staff will le you deposit bags or luggage and there are toilets, but these are located right at the start, so use them first or lose them. There are no catering facilities in the building itself, but you’re pretty spoilt for choice in the area around.
We spent about 2hrs here, which was the perfect amount of time to enjoy some mind bending nonsense on a Sunday morning.
We’ll be back soon and can’t wait to see the camera demonstrations back up and running.
Obviously, we were disappointed that the demonstration of the camera obscura was cancelled due to COVID restrictions, but needs must in these strange times and we were aware of this before booking, as it is mentioned in prominent view on the website.
The rest of the building was open however and we were very pleasantly surprised at how many of the illusions and exhibits remained open. There was an easy-to-follow one way system in place, which led you to the third floor and then up and around the rest of the building, following the exhibits.
The rooftop views are spectacular all around and the illusions and interactive exhibits all the way down are mind boggling.
Despite the amount of hands on stuff on display, there were plenty of sanitiser stands and we passed staff who were disinfecting surfaces on every single floor, so their cleaning regime is clearly very good.
I would also recommend going earlier in the day if you wish to avoid crowds and make social distancing that bit easier for yourself: we managed to sneak a 9:15 booking on the day, but prior to that we had been hard pressed to get bookings for 2 people after 12pm.
There is a locked cupboard where staff will le you deposit bags or luggage and there are toilets, but these are located right at the start, so use them first or lose them. There are no catering facilities in the building itself, but you’re pretty spoilt for choice in the area around.
We spent about 2hrs here, which was the perfect amount of time to enjoy some mind bending nonsense on a Sunday morning.
We’ll be back soon and can’t wait to see the camera demonstrations back up and running.
Written 13 October 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.
Hello there, thank you for the marvellous five-review! We appreciate the in-depth detail of your review, and it's fantastic to hear you had a wonderful time exploring our wacky World of Illusions. As you mention, our Camera Obscura is currently closed given the current restrictions, and we finish installing the new ventilation system. We're grateful to receive positive feedback on our additional COVID-19. The views of Edinburgh from our Rooftop Terrace are spectacular. Hopefully, you captured plenty of photos on your visit. Thank you for visiting, and we can't wait to welcome you back in the future.
Written 15 October 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mai Tang
Birmingham, UK18 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
Starting on the top floor there are amazing views of Edinburgh, especially the sunset allowed us to see the city in the light and dark. The small show, done by Blaine, was very entertaining and informative as to the camera obscura. Working your way down the building there are plenty of optical illusions, most of which you can interact with, a very fun day for people of all ages. Only negative was when we went it was incredibly busy making stairways difficult and meaning a short queue before being able to interact with the exhibits.
Written 3 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 Maisie, thanks for leaving us such a lovely review. It is great to hear that you had such a good time when you came to see us recently. Blane will be delighted that you enjoyed his show, we will make sure to pass on your kind comments. With over 100 interactive illusions, we like to think that there is something for everyone. We provide all of our visitors with an All-Day ticket allowing you to leave and come back during our opening hours that day, meaning you could leave if it gets a little busy and return during quieter times. Thank you once again for leaving us a review. Hopefully, you will return and see us again soon.
Written 8 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
buggiessarah
Salisbury, UK10 contributions
Feb 2020
We visited here with out 6 year old son. There was quite a long queue outside but it went down very quickly. We were disappointed to be told by an employee that the show at the top was sold out. Having been before we knew our son would love this and had already told him all about it so were quite disappointed but decided to carry on in anyway. There are several floors of amazing illusions and all very hands-on exhibits and my son loved all of them. Some of them he didn't quite understand but they are interesting to adults and he liked looking at them anyway. When we got to the top the lady doing the show said anyone who didn't have tickets for that show could wait to see if there were any spaces and there were loads so we got to see the show anyway, which was fantastic. They were offering you to come back the next day to see the show or to get 20% off entry as the show was fully booked so I felt bad as we had had 20% off our ticket price but, it was their mistake. I just hope too many people didn't leave and not bother going in as they thought they wouldn't see the show. The next showing after ours was the same and basically, there seemed to be lots of spaces left at every time so not sure what went on there. Our son loves a gift shop and I was glad to see everything was good quality and quite reasonably priced apart from the sweets! My husband thought we'd be in there an hour, it was more like 3! Fantastic fun.
Written 6 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.
Hello Sarah, thank you so much for your kind review. At Camera Obscura, we like to think that we appeal to all ages and are so pleased to hear that your whole family loved the experience. We want everyone that comes in to get the best out of their visit. We are so proud of our 167-year-old Camera Obscura that we want everyone to get a chance to have a look at it and it’s fantastic to hear there was space for you to enjoy the show. Thank you for letting us know what a great time you had and we hope to see you and your family again soon.
Written 23 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Traveler
2 contributions
Feb 2020
There is nothing wrong with the Camera Obscura, it is just way over priced for simple illusions that you will find at any science museum all over the world. The displays have not kept up with the times. Minds are no longer amazed by color tricks, size manipulations and carnival mirrors. You've seen this all before. At the steep price, this is something that can easily be taken off a must do list.
In contrast, the National Museum of Scotland is large with a sizeable kids' area filled with displays much more current and interesting than can be found at camera Obscura. Best of all, the museum is free and easily reached by foot or on one of the many hop on hop off buses.
In contrast, the National Museum of Scotland is large with a sizeable kids' area filled with displays much more current and interesting than can be found at camera Obscura. Best of all, the museum is free and easily reached by foot or on one of the many hop on hop off buses.
Written 23 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.
Hello, and thank you for letting us know about your visit. With over 100 interactive exhibits, including modern trickery and classic illusions, we feel we offer something to entertain all ages. The majority of our visitors have great fun, creating humorous and memorable experiences with their friends and family. We hope that you had the time during your visit to discover all we have to offer including the 166-year-old Camera Obscura itself as well as the spectacular views of the city from our Rooftop Terrace. Being right beside Edinburgh Castle, we're really easy to find and easily accessible by bus and on foot. We agree the National Museum of Scotland offers a great visit, but it is a very different experience to ours, however we're glad to hear you enjoyed your visit there.
Written 24 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kit T
44 contributions
Feb 2020
We visited late as there was a line out of the door.
Pros: A lot to look at, particularly for children. Excellent light displays and the mirror maze is very cool. Camera Obscura very good and the staff very enthusiastic and polite - allowed us two days for the price of one due to fading light for Camera Obscura.
Cons: It is a small building and is compact - the 6 floors are very busy and full with lots to look at. Stairs a bit dodgy and no one way system due to the building, which meant a lot of traffic. Difficult to have a go at much due to numbers not being limited. Seems very expensive for what you get for your money.
Pros: A lot to look at, particularly for children. Excellent light displays and the mirror maze is very cool. Camera Obscura very good and the staff very enthusiastic and polite - allowed us two days for the price of one due to fading light for Camera Obscura.
Cons: It is a small building and is compact - the 6 floors are very busy and full with lots to look at. Stairs a bit dodgy and no one way system due to the building, which meant a lot of traffic. Difficult to have a go at much due to numbers not being limited. Seems very expensive for what you get for your money.
Written 19 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.
Hello and thank you for your feedback. We’re delighted to hear that you found plenty to engage with and enjoy during your visit, with over 100 interactive exhibits we have something to keep all ages entertained. As you allude to, we are a popular attraction, particularly at peak times. Visitor numbers are carefully monitored to ensure the safety of our visitors. We also offer an All-Day Ticket which allows you to return later on when it is a little quieter. We hope you found this helpful. We’re delighted to hear that you had such a fantastic experience with our staff, and we will make sure to pass your feedback along to the team, too. Thanks once again for visiting, and we hope to see you again.
Written 27 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
sophieebee
Chatham, UK684 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
A great activity during our stay in Edinburgh (and we were 2 adults without children!)
We went in the evening to try and miss queues but this means you miss the show by the camera obscura.
Lots of mind boggling and fun activities with the highlight being the best maze we’ve probably ever tried!
There was a very friendly member of staff who welcomed us, a kind Scottish man in a kilt.
Every time we walked past there was a long queue so I’d recommend booking tickets online beforehand to save the queue time.
We went in the evening to try and miss queues but this means you miss the show by the camera obscura.
Lots of mind boggling and fun activities with the highlight being the best maze we’ve probably ever tried!
There was a very friendly member of staff who welcomed us, a kind Scottish man in a kilt.
Every time we walked past there was a long queue so I’d recommend booking tickets online beforehand to save the queue time.
Written 5 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 Sophie and thank you so much for taking the time to leave us such a great review. It is fantastic to hear that you all had such an enjoyable time on your visit. With over 100 interactive exhibits we like to think that there is something for everyone here. The nice Scottish man in a kilt would be Blane, we will make sure to pass your kind comments on to him, he will be thrilled to receive them. Also, it is great to hear that you enjoyed our Mirror Maze, hopefully you didn’t get too lost! Thanks once again for your lovely review, we look forward to welcoming you back again soon.
Written 13 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rafick E
Croydon, UK354 contributions
Mar 2020
Visited on a Saturday afternoon in March. It is quite costly at £16 each but there is quite a lot to see for the price and it also includes a small show from the top floor observatory.
Each floor has a small museum space with different themes/activities. These include things like; a mirror maze, a very fun if not a bit crazy tunnel thing and lots of other smaller attractions. There is lots of hands on attractions but at this time and during the current coronavirus crisis it was very good that there was lots and hand sanitizer stations.
There are lots of steps and no lift this is something to be aware of.
You get a time slot for the observatory show which gives excellent views of Edinburgh especially the nearby castle, our host was very entertaining and new a lot of interesting information, neat the show there is an outdoor roof space with amazing views all across Edinburgh well worth a look.
The combination of all of the above make it a very good museum.
Each floor has a small museum space with different themes/activities. These include things like; a mirror maze, a very fun if not a bit crazy tunnel thing and lots of other smaller attractions. There is lots of hands on attractions but at this time and during the current coronavirus crisis it was very good that there was lots and hand sanitizer stations.
There are lots of steps and no lift this is something to be aware of.
You get a time slot for the observatory show which gives excellent views of Edinburgh especially the nearby castle, our host was very entertaining and new a lot of interesting information, neat the show there is an outdoor roof space with amazing views all across Edinburgh well worth a look.
The combination of all of the above make it a very good museum.
Written 6 April 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 Rafick, thank you for letting us know what a fun time you had visiting us. We’re delighted to hear you took part in all of our interactive exhibits (we have over 100!) and also experienced our Camera Obscura show. We take health and safety very seriously and have always offered hand sanitiser stations throughout our attraction. We also have a cleaning team who continually keep our site clean and safe. Thank you for sharing your photos with us, the views from our rooftop are spectacular. Thanks for visiting and we hope to welcome you back in the future.
Written 20 April 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Luxtravellers
Brisbane, Australia64 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
We were a reasonably large group with kids age ranged from 9-16. The exhibits were great, keeping all ages intrigued and interested. Despite it being overcast the camera obscura was really good and the chap presenting (Blaine) was very engaging, amusing and informative! We had to leave briefly to go to the castle to see the 1pm gun and then did a tour and we were able to return to Camera Obscura and spend a further 2 hours enjoying the exhibits. I do have to say though, after reading a number of the 1 star reviews here ... you’d have to be a misery guts to leave anything lower than a 4 star review ! 😂 Keep up the great work Camera Obscura!! ❤️
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.
Hello there and thanks for taking the time to leave us an absolutely fabulous review! It is so good to hear that your whole group enjoyed their visit with us. With more than 100 interactive illusions, we like to think that there is something for everyone here and your feedback backs up that theory very nicely. We're delighted that you made use of our All-Day Ticket that allows you to come and go throughout the day. Thank you for sharing some of your fantastic pictures with us. We always enjoy seeing our visitors having fun! We hope that you will return to see us again very soon for more mind-boggling illusions and memories.
Written 16 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Do the Discount Partner discounts have to be used the same day as the visit to Camera Obscura?
Written 18 February 2023
Beth Camera Obscura
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
No, just have your recent Camera Obscura ticket to show them.
Written 28 February 2023
Hello! I'm a hungarian university student. Can I use the student discount? (European Youth Card)
Written 4 January 2023
Beth Camera Obscura
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Hello and thank you for your question. If your youth card states you're a student, we can accept this. We would also accept a student ID card from your university if you have one.
Written 4 January 2023
My partner currently gets PIP. I am her carer but don’t currently have my carers allowance letter or card. If my partner brought her PIP award letter would that be proof enough?
Written 4 September 2022
Beth Camera Obscura
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Hi there. Yes, the PIP award letter is enough proof for our Carer discount. Thank you, we look forward to welcoming you for a visit.
Written 5 September 2022
Is there any discount for this attraction
Written 20 August 2022
Beth Camera Obscura
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Hi there, we do discounted tickets for students, seniors and carers with a valid ID. We also offer discounts for Blue light card holder and the ScotRail Kids for a Quid promotion if you're travelling by train with a child. We also offer a 10% discount to those who are visually impaired or hard of hearing. If any of these apply to you, please visit our website to learn how to arrange these discounts. Thankyou!
Written 22 August 2022
Wir wollen im Mai nach Edinburgh, muss ich zuvor Tickets für Camera Obscura kaufen?
Written 3 May 2022
You can buy tickets in advance from their website. Best to buy in advance to ensure you can get in. It does get booked up
Written 7 May 2022
Hello Claire, thanks for your question. We do recommend pre-booking during peak holiday seasons and weekends to avoid disappointment, as timeslots can get booked up in advance. All of our ticket availability can be found on our website.
Written 3 August 2021
How long does it take to go through the whole attraction?
Written 13 June 2021
Hello Nim, thanks for your question. The average visit takes about 1.5 - 2 hours. That's exploring our five floors at your own pace.
Written 14 June 2021
Hi, are you able to take pushchairs into this attraction? I have a 5 year old and 6 month old. Thanks
Written 22 May 2021
Hello there, Thanks for your question! Due to the number of stairs throughout the attraction, we recommend visitors leave pushchairs and buggies in our buggy park area inside. We offer free baby carriers to anybody with very young children to help get your little ones around the attraction more easily. For any more information, don't hesitate to get in touch.
Written 24 May 2021
Katie
Aberdeen, United Kingdom
Are you reopen yet and do I need to pre-book tickets?
Written 16 July 2020
Hello Katie, Thanks for getting in touch! We are indeed open now - every day from 10 am till 7 pm. We are recommending that everyone pre-books their tickets online to ensure you secure the time and the day of your choosing as we have limited capacity in each time slot.
For further information or to book tickets, please head over to our website. We look forward to welcoming you soon!
Written 17 July 2020
Kim F
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Do they still do the discount with a valid Scotrail ticket?
Written 12 February 2020
Hi Kim,
Yes, you can with a Kid for a quid ticket from Scotrail one child gets entry with one full paying adult. You can buy the Kids go for a quid tickets on the train or at any staffed station, there are not available from the self-service ticket machines.
To get the discount, simply show your Kid for a quid ticket to one of our friendly staff at the front desk.
We look forward to welcoming you soon.
Written 13 February 2020
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