Edinburgh: Witch Hunts & Burke Murder Walking Game
Hunt clues through the streets where Edinburgh hanged its witches and hid its murders
You work through a self-guided game across Edinburgh's most haunted landmarks, solving clues at each stop to unlock stories of witchcraft trials, public executions, and infamous murders. Play offline, start anytime, and move at your own pace through Greyfriars Kirkyard, the Grassmarket, Mary King's Close, and beyond. No guide, no fixed schedule, no internet needed. Just you, the clues, and the city's darkest past.
Step-by-step itinerary
Haunted Edinburgh walking tour
- Start at The Mound
- Explore Edinburgh Castle
- Visit St Giles' Cathedral
- Discover The Real Mary King's Close
- See Greyfriars Bobby Fountain
- Walk through Grassmarket
- Pass New College
- View Scottish National Gallery
- End at Old College
What’s included
- Full flexibility to start at any hour and take breaks whenever you want.
- The game plays completely offline without needing an internet connection.
- You can play anytime after booking without rescheduling or committing to a specific time slot.
- Access to all clues and challenges across multiple Edinburgh landmarks including Greyfriars Kirkyard, the Grassmarket, Mary King's Close, St Giles' Cathedral, and Edinburgh Castle.
- Suitable for all fitness levels, with stroller access available for infants and small children.
Times
- Every day No fixed time
Information
Self-guided exploration game through Edinburgh's Old Town haunted sites including Greyfriars Kirkyard, Grassmarket, and Mary King's Close. Play offline, start anytime.
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Traveler reviews
The experience
The Grassmarket used to be a cattle fair. Then, around the 1670s, it became something else entirely. A place where public executions were held, bodies left hanging as warnings. You'll stand in that same square now, solving clues to unlock the story of what happened there, moving between real locations that still carry the weight of Edinburgh's dark history. This isn't a guided tour where someone talks at you for two hours. It's a mix of walking tour, outdoor escape game, and treasure hunt rolled into one. You get a set of challenges tied to actual sites: Greyfriars Kirkyard, the Nor' Loch (now Princes Street Gardens), West Bow, St Giles' Cathedral, Mary King's Close, and you solve them at your own pace, learning about the Great Scottish Witch Hunts, the Burke and Hare murders, and figures like the Wizard of West Bow and the Grey Lady as you go.
The real difference here is flexibility. You don't need to show up at a set time or stick to a group schedule. Start whenever you want, take a break for coffee, pick it back up later. The game runs offline, so you're not burning data or waiting for a connection to load the next clue. If you've got kids, they can ride in a stroller and still be part of it. Groups larger than fifteen just split into separate bookings. You move through Edinburgh's Old Town on your own terms, which means you can linger at a spot if something catches your attention or rush through if the weather turns. The itinerary takes you past Edinburgh Castle, New College on the Mound, and into the narrow closes where the city's strangest stories live, including a hall that contains a book bound in William Burke's own flesh, a detail that stops most people cold.
Because you're solving puzzles rather than listening to a guide, you're actively engaged with each location instead of passively absorbing information. You have to look around, find details, answer the challenge to move forward. It's the kind of experience that makes the history stick because you've earned it yourself. And since there's no rescheduling required and no time pressure, you can do this whenever it fits your trip: morning, afternoon, or split across two days if you want.
Top questions
Do I need internet to play this game?
No. The game plays offline, so you don't need a data connection once you've downloaded it.
Can I start at any time of day?
Yes. You choose when to begin and can pause and resume whenever you want, even across multiple days.
Is this suitable for children?
Yes. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and the experience is suitable for all fitness levels.
What happens if my group is larger than 15 people?
Make multiple bookings. Each booking can accommodate up to 15 people.
Do I need a guide?
No. This is a self-guided experience. You follow clues and solve challenges on your own.
Which locations does the game cover?
The game includes Greyfriars Kirkyard, the Grassmarket, Mary King's Close, St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh Castle, the Mound, and other Old Town sites.
Can I use public transport to get between locations?
Yes. Public transportation options are available nearby, though most locations are within walking distance in the Old Town.
Operated by Questo. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated yesterday
Edinburgh: Witch Hunts & Burke Murder Walking Game
1h
from £ 5.35 per person
≈ US$ 7 in your currency
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