Edinburgh Dungeon Entry Tickets with Live Shows & Drop Ride

The Edinburgh Dungeon

The Edinburgh Dungeon is one of the city's most popular indoor attractions, and it is built around a simple idea: history told as theatre. Instead of glass cases and information boards, you walk through a series of sets while costumed actors act out the tales, speak directly to the audience and lead you from one scene to the next. If you are searching for Edinburgh Dungeon tickets, this page lets you choose peak or off-peak entry.

The show lasts around 80 minutes and is based on real history and local legend, but told for entertainment, with a lot of jokes. It is more spooky and funny than truly frightening, though it may be too intense for young children.

The stories: Sawney Bean, Burke and Hare and more

Among the characters you meet are Sawney Bean, the legendary Scottish cannibal, and Burke and Hare, the infamous body snatchers of the nineteenth century. Other scenes deal with the plague, with witch trials and with the city's grisly justice. The actors use the audience as part of the story, so it is common to be picked out by name.

The sets, sounds and smells make the scenes feel real, and the effects are timed to surprise you. It is an entertaining way to learn about Edinburgh's past, especially for visitors who do not enjoy traditional museums.

The drop ride and the live shows

The journey ends with a drop ride, which lifts you up and lets you fall in the dark, a short and sudden finish. The ride is part of the entry ticket. Live shows and actors run throughout the visit, so there is no need to plan separate show times.

If you are afraid of the dark or of sudden effects, you may prefer not to take the ride. Staff can explain height and health restrictions at the entrance. Loose items should be kept safe during the ride. The finale is brief but memorable, and most groups leave laughing.

Location, peak and off-peak, and the best time to go

The Dungeon is in Edinburgh's Old Town, a short walk from Waverley station and the Royal Mile. If you are wondering how to get to the Edinburgh Dungeon, it is easy to reach on foot from Princes Street or the Royal Mile. There is no hotel pickup.

Peak tickets apply to busy times such as weekends, school holidays and popular slots, while off-peak tickets apply to quieter times. Your choice affects the price, which appears in the booking panel. The best time to visit is often a weekday, and it is a good plan for a rainy afternoon.