Private Tour
Escape Old Edinburgh with a Thrilling Outdoor Puzzle Trail
Overview
2 hours
Mobile ticket
Step into Edinburgh's delightfully dark past with 'A Trail of Burke & Hare', an outdoor escape room experience that plunges you into the sinister legacy of the city’s most notorious murderers.
Traversing the old town's cobbled streets, you'll visit real locations from the Burke & Hare tale, uncovering clues and secrets hidden in plain sight. You'll follow genuine historical maps and solve physical escape room puzzles as you race against time to prevent another murder.
This thrilling 2-hour adventure invites teams of 2 to 30 to engage in a unique blend of storytelling and interactive problem-solving, all while enjoying a scenic walk through Edinburgh’s macabre past.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
The trail should be suitable for well behaved pets (dogs must be kept on a lead)
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
A private booking for 'A Trail of Burke & Hare'
What To Expect
Our city trails are like outdoor escape rooms! A cross between a scavenger hunt, a treasure hunt, and a self-guided walking tour. Expertly researched and crafted, we combine technology with real locks, props and puzzles to deliver a fun, engaging experience that shines a light on Edinburgh’s dark past. 1. Gather your team at our central Edinburgh location to collect your satchel & learn about the trail ahead. You'll be advised of the latest time the satchel must be returned. 2. Follow the map to discover real locations from the story, solving escape room style puzzles en route. Allow about 2 hours and expect to cover about 4-5km. Feel free to stop for coffee or grab lunch en-route. 3. Solve the puzzles to complete the story. You'll need items from the satchel, information from the urban environment and a mobile phone with internet access. Return the satchel and claim your prize! Escape The Past are located at BF01, 25 Nicolson Square, just a 5 minute walk from the Royal Mile. The activity lasts approximately 2 hours and covers around 5km.
Options
A Trail of Burke & Hare
Reviews
26 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great fun
Lizlawr,
Nov 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great way to explore the old town. We really enjoyed the puzzles and the history. Well designed and just the right length for an afternoon walk .
Fun, excitement and top support – highly recommended!
334piao,
Nov 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We participated in the Outdoor Escape Game and are absolutely thrilled! It was an exciting, creative and super entertaining experience. We had an incredible time and can really recommend it to anyone. Special praise goes to our gamemaster Edmund: He introduced us to the game with a lot of enthusiasm and passion, explained everything excellently and created a great atmosphere. Thanks for this unforgettable adventure!
Amazing, will go again
942kirstyd,
Oct 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We went as a way to explore some of the Old Town and had an amazing experience! Beth was a great host and gave a really engaging performance! Would definitely recommend and will be back to do the others soon!
Brilliant, would come back for more!
meganlP8995DS,
Oct 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Really amazing experience! Beth was incredible! Thanks so much, would love to come back and do the inside rooms! Such a fun way to view the city!
Lots of fun - even in the rain!
KrisLamb1988,
Oct 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I did the outdoor activity with 3 friends and we had a blast! Everything from the introduction of the game to the clues and ending were all fab! Beth was great and was so good in character - highly recommended!
Escapists Enjoying Edinburgh
andrewhV6545UA,
Oct 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Done many indoor escape rooms, this was our first outdoor escape room and second outdoor puzzle solving adventure. Had a great time and absolutely love the use of hidden local history bits as clues. Great adventure and highly recommend!
Brilliant fun and see the City!
dw534,
Oct 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Brilliant fun, see bits of the city you might have missed, solve some clues. Stop for a pint if you want. What's not to like?! First outdoor room we've done. Really well set up with the briefing. Liked the text messages, it helped in still feeling involved and that we were making progress. Very well done the Team, especially Julia
Great fun (even for locals)
amyvs88,
Oct 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Such a fun twist on a traditional escape room. The puzzles were so well thought out and the different props and use of the app made it a really unique experience. Despite being from Edinburgh it was still a really fun challenge with lots of interesting historical elements. I think it would be a great activity to do with family as well but I would avoid doing it with young children. It’s a lot of walking (we took an hour but it could definitely last longer) and the puzzles can be quite tricky. Remember you’re in Scotland! Go prepared for all weather! It was genuinely such a fun afternoon and I’d love to go back and try the escape rooms. Hopefully they’ll create some more outdoor games as well. I would say it’s on the expensive side and would definitely recommend no more than four people in a group. The puzzles are interactive and I feel like larger groups wouldn’t have the same experience. Staff were fantastic! The wee intro before you get going is great.
Entertaining with quality!
172sissels,
Sep 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a very interesting and funny way of strolling trough Edinburghs many lively sites. We were happy to solve the riddles quite easy, but we were temted to make small stops at some bakerys. Our guide, Julia, was able to give clear instructions and at the same time enter a role, which gave us the perfect start.
Something g fun and different
Rachel T,
Sep 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Would really recommend doing this ! It is a 5km explore around Edinburghs tourist spots - but even being from Edinburgh really loved it ! Something different and super fun even learnt a few things !
Related Experiences
Operated by Escape The Past