Edinburgh Dungeon: Entry Ticket & Live Actors Immersive Tour

4.54

(656 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the echo of footsteps on stone as we shuffled into the Edinburgh Dungeon. It smelled like old earth and something metallic—maybe just my imagination running wild. Our guide, Jamie, had this wicked grin and kept calling us “the next batch,” which made me laugh but also check who was behind me. The place is right off Market Street, but once you’re inside it feels like you’ve dropped into some other century where people actually believed in witches and monsters.

I didn’t expect to jump at the sound of Sawney Bean’s voice booming out of the darkness (he’s worse than any horror movie villain). There’s a bit where you end up in Mary King’s Close, and honestly, I could swear I felt a draft on my ankles—like the plague might be lurking under the floorboards. The actors are so good at switching from creepy to funny; one minute you’re laughing at Judge Mental making fun of someone’s accent, next minute you’re accused of witchcraft by Agnes Finnie. Li tried to say her name in Scots and got a round of applause (and then blushed bright red).

The whole day trip to Edinburgh Dungeon from our hotel took less than ten minutes’ walk, but inside it felt like hours passed. The Drop Dead Ride at the end? My stomach’s still somewhere near the Grassmarket gallows—I screamed louder than I meant to. There’s this weird mix of laughter and nervous energy in the air; everyone pretends they’re not scared but you can see people gripping each other’s sleeves. I keep thinking about that moment when everything went quiet before the drop—just your own breath and someone giggling nervously nearby.