An amazing place to visit. If you're able to choose your time of year, go off peak mid-week. There were no crowds and I had all the time in the world to try all the exhibits. The staff were all really helpful - a shout out to Jeremy for his camera obscure guide. Suitable for all ages - it brings out the inner child in all of us
Absolutely brilliant. Whether you live in Edinburgh or a Tourist this is the place to go. The old house sits at the top of the Royal Mile just before the Castle Esplenade (So No Parking). It's set on six floors and is an amazing museum type of set up full of visual effects. It's if full of wonderful effects and is for all ages. Only if you can climb up 6 stories. At the top you have a brilliant 360⁰ of Edinburgh taking in Fife, the Pentlands and beyond. Once you go back in you have the actual Camera Obscura which is an old Victorian structure using lenses to project live images onto a circular table. Obviously will only work in daylight Enjoy
Firstly, not the cheapest attraction for a family, but on a nice day this place is hard to beat. We loved everything it had to offer on every floor and just took our time. The views from the top (and a sunny day) are just stunning! The highlight for the kids was the mirror maze and vortex, not for those who get dizzy easily! Worth noting, they stamp your hand and you can return later, it's open until 9pm most nights, and we did go back when it was dark, it was quieter and again the views of the city lit up were spectacular!
A must-visit for a fun and memorable experience! Each floor is filled with incredible optical illusions that kept us entertained and amazed the whole way through. We had a great time exploring all the interactive exhibits. The Camera Obscura itself was fascinating—both fun to watch and interesting to learn about its history. And the view from the rooftop is absolutely stunning, offering one of the best panoramas of Edinburgh. A fantastic place for all ages!
Great way to spend time indoors. Cool layout and a lot of interesting things to explore, plus it’s a historical site too. Staff were just as excited to be there and a lot of fun. Also, super dog friendly! They even had biscuits up front (including cat treats - they said they have had 1 cat visit). It ultimately made the experience even more fun having our entire party together and seeing how a dog reacts to some illusions. Definitely worth a visit!
A fun and original experience, full of fascination and surprises. We also loved the stunning views of Edinburgh, including the castle, from the top of the tower. The actual camera obscura device at the very top uses mirrors and a large wooden disc to give live views of the city during daylight and recorded views projected when it's dark or overcast. Our guide gave an animated and entertaining tour through the city using views from the device. Booking essential we found. Highly recommended for all ages!
Do you have children? Bring them here!! Oh man this place is awesome and full of happiness. My wife and I are in our 30's and we enjoyed every attraction here. The spinning vortex was mesmerizing. Charlotte gave us a presentation at the top of the attraction and she was very good and provided plenty of information. Prices are reasonable, £19 a person.
This place is brilliant. Costs a lot, but it's worth it. We're a family of 4, and asked how long they recommend you stay. They said 1.5-2hrs. We were definitely there for 2 hours. So much to see and do. Take your time. It was really busy (summer holidays), but we did everything and saw everything. Had some waits at various parts, but we had a brilliant time. We loved the mirror maze (you need to wear plastic gloves they provide), and the tunnel is fantastic. The views are just amazing. The staff are so friendly and helpful too. You must book in advance or you will likely be turned away at peak times. Definitely recommend
It was really fun and exciting. Great place to take kids with you. I enjoyed it a lot and so did the kids, loads of lights and things to interact with. The rooftop view is incredible! Even though it was a bit windy and foggy it was an amazing view. One place that everyone MUST visit
Camera Obscura & World of Illusions is located at 549 Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2ND, UK
You can contact Camera Obscura & World of Illusions at +44 131 226 3709
You can find directions to Camera Obscura & World of Illusions by following this map link