Facilities & Accessibility
What To Expect
The Edinburgh Dungeon is a live, interactive tour through Edinburgh’s darkest history. We have an amazing cast of actors and special effects that bring the sights, sounds (and smells!) of our great and gruesome past to life.
This page is designed to ensure all guests are aware of what The Edinburgh Dungeon is and what it involves to help each guest make an informed decision about their visit.
We are committed to inclusivity and accessibility and want to ensure all guests who cross our threshold have the best experience possible.
During your visit to The Edinburgh Dungeon, should you wish to enter The Edinburgh Dungeon but later feel the need to leave, please speak to a member of staff or an Actor and they will assist you. You are welcome to take some time backstage and re-join the tour when you are ready, or you are able to leave should you wish to do so. A Duty Manager will be called to assist you and will wait with you while you decide what you wish to do.
Audience Participation
Audience Participation is a key element of our tours. Guests are selected at random in some shows to become part of the experience.
If you would prefer not to be selected, please speak to a member of our Admissions team before your tour. They will provide you with a yellow lanyard to wear throughout the tour, signalling to the Actors that you don’t wish to be selected. If you change your mind during the tour, you can remove the lanyard to make yourself available for selection.
Special Effects
The Edinburgh Dungeon is a highly sensory experience with:
- Dark spaces
- Loud noises
- Pungent Smells
- Water Sprays
- Air blasts
- Jump Scares
The Edinburgh Dungeon contains flashing lights/lighting effects throughout the tour that may affect guests with photosensitive epilepsy. We recommend speaking to a staff member before you begin your tour so we can fully brief you on the rooms where strobe lighting is used. The Castle Ghosts room uses strobe lighting effects which may not be suitable for guests with photosensitive epilepsy. There is a health and safety brief in that room where the Actor will ask if anyone is sensitive to strobe lighting and escort you to a waiting area to re-join your group after the show.
Other special effects include:
- The Witch’s Judgement uses lighting to evoke a fire effect, the walls of the room spin towards the end of the tour, and some guests may find this causes the lighting effect to intensify when combined with the movement. A helpful tip for if you wish to experience the room but are concerned about the effects is to look up at the ceiling when the wall spins as it does not move.
- The Anatomy Theatre has a short, yet surprising, movement under the seats at one point during the show.
- The Burke and Hare Graveyard show has seats that drop back and have a poke effect.
- The Castle Ghosts show uses strobe lighting but also features an effect where the benches rise and shake at one point during the show.
Navigating the Dungeon
The Edinburgh Dungeon lasts approximately 75 minutes. Six of our shows require the majority of guests to stand unless they are using a wheelchair or have been provided with one of our foldable stools for the duration of the tour. Due to the nature of the building, there are some spots with uneven flooring and low-rise gradient slopes.
There are three levels in The Edinburgh Dungeon, with one of our shows situated between the middle and bottom one.
Level 1: Admissions, Gift Shop.
Level 2: Photo Area, Tolbooth Waiting Room, Judge’s Courtroom, Witch’s Judgement.
Between 2 and 3: Jailor
Level 3: Torture Chamber, Sawney Bean’s Cannibal Cave, Anatomy Theatre, Burke and Hare Graveyard, Plague Close, Castle Ghosts, Drop Dead Drop Ride, Mirror Maze, Photo Redemption Point.
Stairs
There are 14 steps down to the first landing. There are an additional 7 down to the toilets and 7 to the Queue Line.
After Witch’s Judgement there are 16 steps down to the Jailor room. The staging of this room has 3 steps down and 3 steps up to the main platform. The majority of the group will be moved to the main platform, however on busier days you might be asked to stand in the space between the two sets of steps. There are 14 steps down to the Torture Chamber. The rest of the tour continues on the lower level of the building with a lift bringing you to the Gift Shop at the end.
The only show area you might encounter a step on the lower level is the Anatomy Theatre as there are two rows of seats, there are 2 steps to the back row.
For Wheelchair Users
We have two lifts to bring wheelchair users to the lower levels of the building. The first one is at Admissions and will bring you to the start of your tour. The second is after the Witch’s Judgement room; this lift goes to the bottom level via the Photo Redemption Point, you will re-join your group in the Torture Chamber, bypassing the Jailor.
The exit from our Gift Shop has a short staircase, however, we have lift access between the shop and Admissions for a step-free exit.
For safety reasons we can only accommodate one wheelchair user at a time to ensure an evacuation chair is available to exit the building should the need arise. However, if an ambulatory wheelchair user can self-evacuate in an emergency, we can admit more than one. We recommend booking in advance as without an advanced booking guests may need to wait a considerable time to start the tour.
For the Drop Dead Drop Ride, guests must be able to transfer from their wheelchair to the ride unaided by Dungeon staff.
The Edinburgh Dungeon is not accessible via mobility scooter; however, we have a manual wheelchair that can be used instead. We are happy to store the mobility scooter for the duration of your tour if needed.
For more information about getting around the building, please visit AccessAble here.
Carer Tickets
A carer is welcome to accompany any disabled visitor without charge. Only one Carer ticket can be booked per guest. We may ask for proof of Carer status at Admissions, i.e.: blue parking badge, Access Card, DLA or PIP confirmation, or a letter from a doctor or specialist physician.
Language Suitability
The Edinburgh Dungeon is an English language tour, all of our actors perform with Scottish accents. The Edinburgh Dungeon is not a scare attraction, nor is it a horror maze, it is an interactive theatrical experience.
- Some cultural references are not directly translatable, so for consistency and as we welcome many international guests, English language caters to the vast majority of our visitors.
- Many of our non-English speaking guests still enjoy the sights, sounds (and smells!) of Edinburgh’s gruesome history, however, may not experience the attraction the same way as those proficient in the English language.
- If someone in your party wishes to translate, they are of course welcome to do so, however please be mindful of other guests.
- Unfortunately, audio guides are not available at this time.
Pregnant Guests
Pregnant guests are welcome to visit The Edinburgh Dungeon at any time during their pregnancy and can take part in all of our shows. However, the Drop Dead Drop Ride is not suitable for pregnant guests at any stage of pregnancy; guests who are unable to take part in the ride, or do not wish to, are guided to the Noose Room.
Please note we have two shows where the actor will ask if any guests are pregnant before the show begins:
- In the Graveyard, the seats drop back during the show. Pregnant guests are required to stand for the duration of the show.
- In Castle Ghosts, the benches rise and shake. Pregnant guests are required to stand for the duration of the show.
The Edinburgh Dungeon is a 70-minute walking experience and guests will be required to stand for the majority of the shows as there is only seating in 3 of the show areas, however, two are the aforementioned where pregnant guests are required to stand. We are happy to provide a fold-out stool if needed. Please note these are subject to availability.
The Edinburgh Dungeon is very dark with loud noises, bangs and sound effects. Some areas may feel “claustrophobic” as though you are enclosed. There will be other members of the general public on your tour, and please note that during peak periods, the attraction can get very busy. Our maximum group size is 26.
Actors perform jump scares which may shock you, however they will not touch or chase you. There are areas within the attraction which intentionally smell quite pungent.
Children
The Edinburgh Dungeon is not a scare attraction, not is it a horror maze, it is an interactive theatrical experience. Inside, it is very dark with lots of loud noises and some actors perform jump scares, however they will not touch or chase you.
We recommend that The Edinburgh Dungeon is suitable for children ages 8 and above, however, entry is at the discretion of the parent/guardian. Children under 5 years old are not permitted to enter.
Everyone is different and some younger children who have visited have loved every second of the tour, whereas some older children (and adults!) have been terrified and had to leave, so it does depend on each individual child. Our Admissions team are happy to answer any questions that might help to reassure the child before entering the attraction too.
If your child is of a nervous disposition, gets scared easily, and is afraid of the dark, you may wish to check if they are confident that they want to enter the attraction. If they do enter and later wish to leave, they can do so at any time just ask an actor and they will call for someone to escort you to the exit. Please note tickets are non-refundable.
Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 18. Please bear this in mind if you choose to leave but wish to leave other guests in your group to continue the tour.
FOR VISITORS WITH HIDDEN DISABILITIES
As The Edinburgh Dungeon is very dark and the floor is often uneven, guests with visual impairments, blind and partially sighted visitors may have difficulty navigating around the attraction.
The experience is largely delivered by actors and voiceover audio, often in low light levels. Therefore, guests with low vision or a visual impairment might struggle to experience the attraction fully, however you are free to bring a carer, personal assistant, support worker or interpreter to assist.
Assistance dogs are welcome in The Edinburgh Dungeon; we have a water bowl onsite if required too. There are loud noises, water sprays, mist effects and a variety of smells (good and bad!) that may be confusing to assistance animals.
If you would like to visit The Edinburgh Dungeon but are concerned about navigating the building, please email us at edinburgh.dungeon@merlinentertainments.biz for more information.
Deaf visitors, guests who are hard of hearing and users of BSL can bring an assistant free of charge.
The Edinburgh Dungeon experience is largely delivered by actors and voiceover audio, often in low lighting, so some deaf visitors, guests who are hard of hearing and BSL users may not fully experience some elements of the attraction.
We have QR Codes at Admissions, Photo Redemption Point and the Gift Shop to Convo, a platform that instantly connects you to a BSL interpreter. Unfortunately, this cannot be used throughout the tour, but we are currently looking into alternative solutions.
Assistance dogs are welcome in The Edinburgh Dungeon; we have a water bowl onsite if required too. There are loud noises, water sprays, mist effects and a variety of smells (good and bad!) that may be confusing to assistance animals.
The Edinburgh Dungeon is intentionally a very sensory experience with dark spaces, loud noises, pungent smells, flashing lights and jump scares. Some guests with neurodiverse conditions, including autism, may feel the experience is an overwhelming one.
Our staff are trained to recognise the Hidden Disabilities sunflower lanyard, and we have ear defenders and fidget toys available should you need them. As the rooms can be quite dark, we also have bright, yellow lanyards for guests that are a bit easier for the actors to spot in low lighting. Please note that our staff are trained to acknowledge the lanyards as a sign someone does not wish to be selected for audience participation too, if you would like to make yourself available for selection at any point, you can remove the lanyard and keep a hold of it in case you wish to use it again. Please speak to a member of staff at any point during the tour should you require assistance.
Should you wish to enter The Edinburgh Dungeon but later feel you need to leave, please speak to a member of staff or an Actor and they will call for a Duty Manager to assist you. You are welcome to take some time backstage and re-join the tour when you are ready, or you can leave and we will guide you to the nearest exit.
The Edinburgh Dungeon is not a scare attraction, nor is it a horror maze, it is an interactive theatrical experience. It is very dark, with loud noises and sound effects. Actors often perform jump scares which may shock and surprise you, however they will not touch or chase you.
Please note the Drop Dead Drop Ride is not suitable for guests with heart problems or pacemakers.
Some areas may feel “claustrophobic” as though you are enclosed.
There are areas within the attraction that intentionally smell quite distinctly. There are also lots of lighting effects, flashing lights and one instance of strobe lighting.
Your group will move between rooms either led by or directed by the actors. You will not be in any particular room longer than a maximum of 7 minutes, unless there is a technical difficulty which is unlikely but possible.
Should you wish to enter The Edinburgh Dungeon but later feel you need to leave, please speak to a member of staff or an Actor and they will call for a Duty Manager to assist you. You are welcome to take some time backstage and re-join the tour when you are ready, or you can leave and we will guide you to the nearest exit.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, The Edinburgh Dungeon does not have any designated parking.
The nearest car parks to The Edinburgh Dungeon are Waverley Station Car Park (Postcode: EH8 8BH) and Holyrood Road NCP Car Park (Postcode: EH8 9UL) which both have parking bays for blue badge holders. Please note that these car parks are not operated by The Edinburgh Dungeon and that the use of these parking bays is subject to the terms and conditions of the car park operator.
We have an accessible toilet just after Admissions on the middle level of the building. It is right beside the lift.
BALPAA Statement on Public Safety for People with Disabilities
Members of the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions (BALPAA) welcomes visits by all visitors with disabilities and will do all that is possible to ensure a safe and pleasurable stay. However certain rides/attractions within our attraction can be physically demanding and vigorous. We, therefore, reserve the right to refuse admission to certain rides/attractions should we feel there is a danger to a particular individual or individuals for whatever reason. We have been advised by the health and safety executive that refusal on the grounds of health and safety does not constitute discrimination. We hope that you understand and accept the decisions made in the interest of your safety.
