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ESCAPE THE PAST

ESCAPE ROOMS | EDINBURGH

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Unlock the secrets, Discover the stories,
Escape The Past!

Descend into a world of grave robbery, mystery and malpractice as you discover Edinburgh's fascinating history through our live  escape rooms and outdoor escape room city trails.

At Escape The Past, we believe history isn't just something to be studied - it's something to be lived! Every detail of our highly interactive experiences is designed to feel authentic, atmospheric, and thrilling, bringing Edinburgh's past back to life.


Discover our award-winning experiences:

Edinburgh's Immersive Historical Experiences


Real Edinburgh History

We're the only Edinburgh escape room to draw inspiration directly from the city's past. Our stories are carefully researched and rooted in real history making them even more fascinating!


Live Actor Storytelling

We create beautiful environments rich in  detail and brought to life by trained actors to maximise immersion. Expect historical accuracy peppered with a few technological surprises!


Mind-bending Puzzles

Every story we tell places your group right at the  heart of the action. To succeed, you'll have to work together to solve ingenious puzzles and unravel thrilling mysteries.

Fun, immersive experiences for all...

Our engaging historical escape room experiences are perfect for:


Tourists & Visitors

Perfect for visitors to Edinburgh who want an engaging way to discover the city's dark past.
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Edinburgh Families

An ideal activity for multi-generational family groups with something for everyone!
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Couples

The ideeal date night activity for couples - fun, original way to discover Edinburgh's past together!
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Corporate
Events

The ultimate interactive team building activity for corporate events in Edinburgh. Our activites can cater to up to 45 people!


Escape Room
Enthusiasts

If you're a veteran puzzler you'll love the challenge that our meticulously crafted experiences provide. Don't miss this!


School Trips & Educational Groups

Get kids out of the classroom and into the action - an immersive and engaging way to learn about old Edinburgh as part of a school trip.

Who are Escape The Past?

Escape The Past are an independent Edinburgh escape game company who aim to bring stories from the city's dark and intriguing past to life through the best Edinburgh escape rooms possible!

You could learn about Edinburgh's history in a museum or on a tour, but why not experience it for yourself with all the sights, smells and thrills?

Our highly immersive Edinburgh escape room experiences transport you back in time, combining live-actor storytelling with rich historical details such as authentic artefacts as well as custom-made props and puzzles.

Immerse yourself and your team in thrilling escape room fun, discover more about Edinburgh's past and expect the odd... unexpected surprise!

More About Us...


The Edinburgh Escape Room Blog

All the latest escape room news and company updates from the world of Escape The Past.
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Escape Room
Leaderboards

Feeling competitive? See how you stack up - our Digital Leaderboards are coming soon!


Meet the
Team

We've a team of talented actors committed to bringing Edinburgh's dark past to life.

Frequently Asked Questions

View our General FAQs below, or select a topic to focus on:

What's the difference between an Escape Room and a City Trail?

Our Escape Rooms are immersive, interactive experiences, where your team's actions directly impact the story and the outcome! While the goal may simply be to "escape", you could also be solving a crime or locating a long lost object. Your powers of deduction will be tested as a thrilling historical mystery unfolds around you complete with live actors, historically accurate props and special effects!

Our City Trails are outdoor escape rooms. Part scavenger hunt, part treasure hunt and part self-guided walking tour - you'll visit real historical locations from the story, completing puzzles along the way. Everything you need can be found in your satchel which includes maps, physical props, locks and puzzles. You'll also be using your smartphone to interact with characters from the game.

How many people can take part?

Our Escape Rooms can accommodate group of up to 15 people at a time while our City Trails are suitable for groups of up to 30 people. If you've an even larger group, please contact us and we'll discuss options for how we can best accommodate you.

Can I add additional people to a booking?

Yes, whether you've booked a City Trail or an Escape Room you can always add additional group members. Simply drop us an email: info@escapethepast.co.uk and we'll send you a link to pay the difference. Please note that we are unable to accept payments on site, so you'll need to ensure you have paid for any additional group members before you arrive. We regret this it isn't possible to remove group members once a booking has been made.

Can I change the time of my booking?

You can change the date or time of your booking, we just require 48 hours notice to do so. Drop us an email at info@escapethepast.co.uk and we'll do the rest. Unfortunately we are unable to reschedule if we receive the request with less than 48 hours before the booking is due to take place.

Please note that refunds are not possible in any circumstance. For more details please refer to our Terms & Conditions.

Is there an age limit?

Each of our experiences comes with a suggested minimum age limit. Please check the specific Escape Room or Outdoor Escape Room page for more information. These are guidelines rather than strictly enforced restrictions and we ultimately leave the decision to parental discretion.

If you'd like more information on the suitability of a specific experience feel free to Contact Us.

Please note that every group must contain a least one adult (18+). This is for insurance reasons and therefore isn't a rule that we can waive in any circumstances.

How accessible are your Escape Rooms?

Disabled access for our Edinburgh escape rooms can usually be arranged given prior notice - please ensure you complete the relevant "Special Assistance" box at the time of booking.

While we aim to be as inclusive as possible, we are constrained by our basement location and the age of the building we occupy. Those attending in a wheelchair will need to ensure the chair can fit through a doorway 72cm wide. Please note that not all aspects of the game may be accessible for those with physical disabilities. If you need any more information, please don't hesitate to contact us.

We design all our City Trails to be as accessible as possible, but please note that Edinburgh is a hilly city and some historic streets are uneven or paved with cobble stones. In some cases we will suggest a slightly different route for groups requiring step-free access. We advise you to check a City Trails' specific page for information on accessibility, and if you've any questions, feel free to email us: info@escapethepast.co.uk

How long does it last?

Our Escape Rooms last approximately 1 hour, while our City Trails generally last about 2 hours.

When should I arrive?

Please ensure your whole group arrives 10 minutes before your Escape Room or City Trail is due to begin. We regret that we cannot always accommodate late arrivals.

Are bookings private or might we have to join another group?

All our experiences operate on a private booking basis. This means that we never combine groups and you'll be participating with only those people you've brought with you - good luck!

What languages are your experiences available in?

At present, all of our experience are available in English only we recommend a reasonable grasp of the language to get the most out of the experience. We hope to launch in other languages in the near future.

How difficult are your experiences?

We provide an estimated difficulty rating from 1-5 on each experience's page. While our experiences should offer a reasonable challenge, our helpful staff always on hand to provide unlimited extra clues if required. Needs some more tips? Check out our escape room strategy guide.

Do you allow Stag & Hen do's?

Yes! We're the perfect Edinburgh escape room for Stag and Hen do's and can accommodate large groups of up to 45 people in total across our City Trails and Escape Rooms. To ensure a fun and safe experience, we just ask that you don't attend under the influence of alcohol, and always follow the instructions given to you by our Gamesmaster.

Do you cater for Corporate Groups?

Yes! We an extremely popular destination for a work night out or team building away day. We can host corporate groups of up to 45 people at once across our Escape Rooms and City Trails.

The building above us (25 Nicolson Square) also offers a wide range of meeting room hire options and there are a number of great bars and restaurants nearby. We can often tailor start times and other deais to suit your requirements, so please contact us for help planning your work event.

Still have a question? Please Contact Us and we'd be delighted to help.

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June 2025

Escape The Past Launch First Outdoor Escape Game

A Trail of Burke & Hare is the first City Trail outdoor escape room from award-winning historical escape room company Escape The Past. This unique experience blends a self-guided walking tour with immersive escape room puzzles, perfect for tourists keen to uncover Edinburgh’s dark history and locals eager to see their city in a thrilling new way.

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