At Camera Obscura & World of Illusions you can experience and take part in over 100 illusions as well as a breath of fresh air on our magnificent Rooftop Terrace, which offers the most spectacular 360 degree views of Edinburgh. Five floors of interactive hands-on optical illusions, tricks and fun things to do including vortex tunnel, mirror maze and shrinking room. Get involved, play, touch everything. Great fun for all ages and nationalities, whatever the weather. Scotland’s oldest purpose-built attraction, established in 1835. Free Wi-Fi. Bring your camera - lots of photo opportunities throughout. Allow about 1.5 hours. Please note the attraction is located in a listed 17th Century building over 5 floors without a lift.
Open every day, open late on holidays.
Fully safe, ‘Good to Go’ certified and have all the necessary health and safety guidelines in place to make your visit the most enjoyable ever! Your visit will feel a little different to normal, but we hope just as much fun!
These are the things we are doing:
- Checking in: Please use the social distancing markers at our admissions area. A member of the team will then check your ticket and talk you through the safety measures in place during your visit.
- Reduced capacity.
- One-way system: There will be a new one-way route in place for you to follow during your visit. There is no time limit, and you can take as long as you need to explore each floor.
- Signage, screens and floor markings: We have installed new safety signage throughout the attraction.
- Washing / Sanitising hands: Hand sanitiser stations are allocated at every exhibition floor entry and exit. There are also handwashing facilities in our toilets located on the first floor.
- Keeping it clean: we already maintain the highest standards of hygiene on site, but now more than ever we’ll be going above and beyond to make sure the attraction is super clean.
You can read our full COVID-19 FAQs and Safety Measures on our website at www.camera-obscura.co.uk/coronavirus-update
CAMERA OBSCURA: Our Camera Obscura demonstration is currently postponed. We are currently renovating the room and installing a new high power/rapid air-change ventilation system in line with COVID-19 health and safety measures. We hope to be able to start shows again as soon as possible.
ROOFTOP VIEWS: Perched high above the city, let the view take your breath away! 360° panoramas of Edinburgh and don't miss our fantastic, free high-power telescopes which give close-up views of the city and far beyond.
BEWILDERWORLD: Immerse yourself in Bewilderworld, a collection of our most popular, biggest and most amusing illusions. A scramble for the senses, which will leave you feeling fully bewildered! Lose yourself in our magical Mirror Maze, get ready for a turning, tilting, twisting, crazy experience like no other in the Vortex Tunnel and once you’ve recovered your balance the Chaotic Pendulum awaits – the world’s first fluorescent chaotic pendulum.
MAGIC GALLERY: The Magic Gallery houses some of our most electrifying exhibits, a great variety of cool optical illusions and hands-on, interactive experiences. Like every aspect of your visit, it's also great fun! Catch your shadow, shake hands with your ghost, and walk on water. You'll be amazed at our giant kaleidoscopes and marvel at all the fun you can have with plasma domes.
LIGHT FANTASTIC: Light Fantastic is our biggest gallery of interactive fun, tricks, and illusions – many unique to Camera Obscura. We’ll mess with your mind (in the best possible way) as your eyes are fooled by brilliant visual effects. Start your journey in the hologram room, a world class collection of amazing, unique, 3D images, where a mummy, Frankenstein's monster, a falcon, and even a spider comes alive. This floor contains some of our most popular illusions. The Ames Room is a brilliant piece of trickery, which can shrink and grow you instantly; try the Severed Head and keep a close eye on our Living Animal. Stop by our Kaleido-draw, transform yourself in the Morph Machines and while you're in the mood for transformation, the Hand Mirage and Meet Your Twin exhibits give you a new perspective on yourself.
EYE SPY EDINBURGH: See Edinburgh in 3D from the 1850s to the present day and make sure you try our live city View Cams which you can control. Scan right around the city and zoom in and out on anything (or anyone!) that takes your fancy! Spot how hot you are in the Thermal Camera and make sure to see your reflection in the Victorian bendy mirrors, which are almost impossible to look at without laughing.
Gift shop - With a wide range of gifts to amaze and delight your family and friends, our gift shop has something for everyone!
Money-back guarantee if you are not completely satisfied after your visit.
