Educational Escape Rooms for School Groups in Edinburgh
Bringing Edinburgh’s history to life through immersive, interactive learning that’s a hit with students and teachers alike!
Looking for a school trip activity in Edinburgh that’s engaging, educational and unforgettable? Whether you’re from a local school or visiting the city from afar, Escape The Past offer award-winning escape room experiences that allow students to step back in time to a richly crafted historical environment to work together as a team to solve a historical mystery.
Why our Escape Rooms are perfect for School Groups
Our historically themed escape rooms and outdoor trails are designed to make history feel real. Whether it’s investigating the dark secrets of Edinburgh’s medical past or tracking famous criminals through the streets of the Old Town, students become active participants in uncovering history.
Perfect for upper primary, secondary, and college-level and even adult learners, our experiences support cross-curricular learning in areas including:
- Scottish History
- Critical Thinking
- Math & Arithmetic
- Communication & Colaboration
- Creative Problem Solving
- Literacy & Comprehension
Why Teachers choose Escape The Past:
Curriculum-Relevant Themes
Each escape room is closely inspired by real historical events, figures, and locations from Edinburgh’s rich (and sometimes grisly) past. Including Burke & Hare, the Scottish Enlightenment and the life and crimes of Deacon Brodie.
Active Learning in Action
Students will be fully engaged from the start and motivated to use reasoning, teamwork, and communication skills to explore, deduce, and unlock puzzles all while immersed in a story-driven historical setting.
Indoor and Outdoor Options
Choose from immersive indoor escape rooms or get outside and follow our Outdoor City Trail, which leads students through Edinburgh’s Old Town as they follow clues and uncover real history.
Seamless Booking Experience
We offer easy group booking online with flexible scheduling. Our activities are fully insured and risk assessed. We’re always happy to liaise directly with teachers and trip leaders to discuss requirements, simply Contact Us.
Centrally Located in Edinburgh
Our venue is in Edinburgh’s historic centre, a short walk from the Royal Mile, National Museum of Scotland, and Waverley Station.
Choose Your Educational Escape:
The Anatomist
DURATION:
1 hour
PLAYERS:
2-8
DIFFICULTY:
3/5
AGES:
12+*
A multi-award winning escape game set on the edge of Edinburgh's old surgical district. Descend into a world of grave robbery, mystery and malpractice as you enter the study of a 19th century anatomist to unearth a thrilling mystery...
Learn MoreThe Deacon's Cabinet
DURATION:
1 hour
PLAYERS:
2-6
DIFFICULTY:
4/5
AGES:
10+*
A historical heist escape room which challenges you to outsmart the infamous Deacon William Brodie - Edinburgh's favourite villain, and the inspiration for Jekyll & Hyde. Can you unlock the mysteries of The Deacon's cabinet and discover his ill-gotten fortune before the noose tightens?
Learn MoreA Trail of Burke & Hare
DURATION:
2 hours
PLAYERS:
2-30
DIFFICULTY:
2/5
AGES:
8+*
A body has been discovered in The Cowgate with wounds eerily reminiscent of a dark period of Edinburgh’s past… The path ahead descends through the city's very darkest history.
Follow the trail, decipher the clues and, if you dare, follow in the bloody footsteps of Edinburgh's infamous 19th century serial killers: Burke and Hare...
Award Winning Edinburgh Escape Rooms
The Anatomist escape room at Escape The Past Edinburgh has received multiple awards from enthusiast sites & industry bodies, placing us among the UK's best escape rooms...
What other groups say:
“A really beautiful set with lots of different types of puzzle with a mix of challenges that teens could solve and a few with group input. Really enjoyed this one a lot. Fantastic.”
Deborah R. | GOOGLE REVIEWS
“Highly recommended! Cleverly tied to Edinburgh and its history, with a well designed setting and challenging clues (but not to the point that the experience becomes frustrating). Our hostess Sophia was lovely too!”
Laura D. | GOOGLE REVIEWS
“Such a great experience - really well thought-out. The story explores the history of the local area, and so it is great for both visitors to Edinburgh (like us) and locals. Thank you!”
Tim C. | GOOGLE REVIEWS
FAQs for Educational Groups...
How many students can attend?
In total our facilities can host up to 45 people (including teachers). Our Outdoor City Trails are suitable for groups of up to 30 people, which our two indoor escape rooms can host a total of up to 15 people at one time. We require that each room contain at least one teacher or other responsible adult. For large groups please contact us to discuss how we can best accommodate you.
What age of children are your escape rooms designed for?
Our escape room experiences are designed for adults and children 12+.
Can you provide a copy of your risk assessment?
Yes, if required we can provide a copy of our risk assessment or public liability insurance certificate in advance. Simply Contact us to request this.
Are your staff experienced with school groups?
Our friendly and professional staff are experienced in running our escape rooms for visitors of all types. For insurance reasons, we insist that each group contains at least one teacher or other responsible adult who must be physically present inside the room at all times.
Is it really educational?
Full disclosure - we designed our escape rooms to be fun first and foremost! But beyond this, yes - we draw upon real stories from Edinburgh’s past, expertly researched and crafted into immersive, interactive experiences Plus, there’s growing evidence of the value of escape rooms in team building and critical skills development so your pupils will be learning - even if they don’t realise it!
Do you offer Student Discounts?
We do! Take a look at our discounts page for details. If you're booking multiple activities for a particularly large group, feel free to contact us as we may be able to offer further discounts.
We welcome schools, colleges, youth groups, and international student tours. We’d love to help you create a meaningful and memorable experience for your learners. Please get in touch to discuss your requirements.
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