Ghosts of Edinburgh: Bloody Past Exploration Game and Tour

Ghosts of Edinburgh is interesting because it turns Edinburgh’s haunted landmarks into a self-guided puzzle game. You can start when you want, pause when you feel like it, and play at your own pace with an app, not a lecture.

I love the flexible timing and the fact that you get to control your route pace. I also like that the experience threads you through famous sights in a tight loop, starting at The Mound and finishing near the Old Town.

One possible drawback: this is phone-first. If you run into slow loading on the app, or if you prefer short walks between clues, the fixed puzzle locations can feel a little demanding.

Key highlights to know before you play

• Self-guided, flexible schedule so you can start any hour and pause, then resume later
• Play offline so you are not dependent on cell service while exploring
• Edinburgh landmarks as puzzle checkpoints from The Mound and Edinburgh Castle to Mary King’s Close
• Good for families and friend groups because the pace lets you talk, look around, and figure things out together
• No need to enter paid attractions to keep playing (in case Edinburgh Castle crowds or ticketing plans throw you)

What you are really getting: a haunted city walk that runs like a game

This is not a guided tour with a person leading you by the elbow. It is a self-guided exploration built around story clues at specific spots. That sounds abstract until you do it, because the game gives you a reason to stop, scan your surroundings, and read what is actually in front of you.

The experience is designed to feel active without being exhausting. The loop is short enough to fit into a one-hour plan, but it is flexible enough that you can stretch it if you want extra photo stops or slower clue solving.

And because the game is offered in English, it works smoothly for English-speaking visitors and mixed groups.

Price and value: why $7.21 can work well here

At about $7.21 per person for an experience that is roughly an hour, you are buying convenience and structure more than a scripted history lesson. The value is in the way the game nudges you to notice things you might otherwise walk past, like carvings, sightlines, street layouts, and local legends tied to very specific corners.

You are also paying for flexibility. The experience description includes the ability to start at any hour, take a break, and resume later, and it can be played any time after booking without needing a reschedule. For many travelers, that is the real money saver, because you can fit it around dinner, weather, and tired legs.

Two notes for value-watchers:

• If your group prefers zero phone use, you will likely feel the friction.
• If your group enjoys wandering slowly without searching, you might wish the clues were more spaced out. The game has fixed puzzle points, so you are committing to those stops.

Your biggest practical question: how the app experience feels on foot

You get a mobile ticket, and the game is played via an app you can use offline. That matters in Edinburgh, where you might lose signal in street canyons or inside crowded areas.

From a practical standpoint, I suggest treating the first few minutes like a warm-up:

• Get your phone ready with the app and the correct starting point before you start walking.
• Expect you will need to move around to find the exact spot where the next challenge makes sense.

One caution based on real-world feedback: if your account loading is slow, it can eat into your time fast. If you are traveling with kids or a tight evening plan, start earlier in the day or build in a little buffer.

Route overview: a loop through Old Town landmarks and views

The walk starts at The Mound (Edinburgh EH2 2EL) and ends at 100 W Bow (Edinburgh EH1 2HH). That placement is smart. The Mound sits between the New Town and Old Town, so you begin with big city views and end near central Old Town streets, where it is easy to keep exploring after the game finishes.

The loop hits a range of Edinburgh moods:

• sweeping viewpoints
• iconic historic buildings
• narrow closes and churchyards
• a grim public square tied to executions
• an art and university stretch that keeps the atmosphere from getting too heavy

Start at The Mound: the “why this hill exists” clue

The Mound is an artificial slope that connects Edinburgh’s New and Old Towns. It was formed by dumping a massive amount of earth excavated from the foundations of the New Town into Nor Loch, which was drained in 1765. Today, you can feel that transformation in the way the slope lines up views and walking routes.

In the game, this first stop is where you learn how the puzzle works. You are basically trained to look around for the answer to a challenge at the site, then move on when you are ready.

What I like about beginning here:

• You get a wide view right away, which helps your bearings.
• The story is specific, so it feels more grounded than generic ghost lore.

Tip for your first minute: spend 30 seconds orienting yourself. If you jump straight into scanning, you will miss the broader “what am I looking at” context that helps you later.

Edinburgh Castle puzzles: scary in vibe, not ticket-heavy in practice

Edinburgh Castle dominates the skyline from Castle Rock, with human occupation dating back at least to the Iron Age. Even if you have seen photos, standing under its shadow makes the scale feel immediate.

This is one of the key challenge locations. The game asks you to look around and answer a prompt on-site so you can move forward to the next location.

A key practical reassurance: the experience is designed so you can play without needing to enter paid attractions. So if your plan is Castle-adjacent, this should not force you into ticket decisions just to progress in the game.

What to consider:

• Castle area foot traffic can be heavy depending on time of day.
• The puzzle checkpoints can require you to search within the site area, so move deliberately if you are with slower walkers.

If you want a slightly less crowded feel, consider starting earlier or choosing a weekday evening, when the city vibe is still lively but you are less likely to be funneling through dense crowds.

St Giles: church origins and a leprosy patron story

St Giles’ dates back to around 1130, when a parish church was built during King David I’s reign to serve Edinburgh. The church was originally granted to the Lazarites, and it is dedicated to St Giles, the patron saint of lepers. That dedication later linked St Giles to Edinburgh itself.

This stop is a nice change of pace because you get a story that is both religious and social, and it explains why certain dedications matter. In the game, you look around and find the answer to a challenge connected to what the place represents.

Practical angle: if your group likes short, clear prompts, this stop tends to work well because church iconography and inscriptions can be easier to spot once you know what you are hunting for.

One small caution: if your group is tired, churchyard reading and looking for the exact clue point can feel slow. That is when the flexibility to take a break helps.

Mary King’s Close: walking the Old Town under your feet

Mary King’s Close is a historic close located under buildings on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh’s Old Town. It is named after Mary King, a merchant burgess who lived in the close in the 17th century.

This is the stop that often sells the spooky atmosphere, because closes feel like secret spaces even in daylight. The game continues with a look-around challenge where you find the answer on the close and connect it to the story.

What makes this stop valuable, even if you are not a hardcore history person:

• It gives you a sense of the Old Town’s layered layout.
• It turns the area into a puzzle, which makes you slow down rather than rush through the Royal Mile.

If your group includes teens or first-time visitors, this stop usually gets the best energy because it feels like you are stepping into an Edinburgh legend rather than just reading about it.

Greyfriars Bobby Fountain: a memorial you can pause at

Near the south entrance to Greyfriars Kirkyard, you will find a life-size statue of Greyfriars Bobby. It was created by William Brodie in 1872, paid for by Baroness Burdett-Coutts, and unveiled on 15 November 1873.

This is a satisfying stop because it is concrete. A statue is easy to locate, easy to photograph, and it gives your eyes something clear to focus on before the next clue.

In the game, you again look around and work out the answer to advance. I like that the Greyfriars Bobby stop offers a natural pause in the route, so you are not constantly “on the move” while solving.

Practical tip: if you are playing at night, this stop can feel extra eerie because memorials and stone textures catch low light in a way that is hard to fake with daylight photos.

The Grassmarket: a place of markets and public executions

The Grassmarket dates to the 1300s. It was originally populated with cattle fairs and stables, and by around the 1670s it became a trading point for goods. The story turns darker too, because it was also a traditional place of public execution.

This is where the ghost element has more bite. Even without leaning fully into horror, you can feel how a public square becomes part of local memory.

In the game, you look around for the answer to the challenge at the site, then move onward. The Grassmarket stop rewards the way you can shift from scavenger hunt mode to street-history mode quickly.

Consideration: if your group dislikes grim topics, you can treat this as a “cultural context” moment and keep the tone lighter by focusing on the market-era layout rather than the execution history.

New College: Free Church roots and a foundation-stone moment

New College was founded as the theological college of the Free Church of Scotland. Classes began in Edinburgh’s New Town on 1 November 1843, then it moved to the Mound soon after. Rev Dr Thomas Chalmers laid the foundation stone for the current building on 3 June 1846.

This stop adds an intellectual rhythm to the route. You are not just moving through famous streets, you are hitting institutional Edinburgh, which helps the whole experience feel balanced.

In the game, you again need to look around to find the answer tied to the place. This stop works well if your group enjoys tying names and dates to what they are seeing.

Modern art and Old College: Inverleith to Belford Road, plus the University’s built heritage

The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art started in August 1960 at Inverleith House in Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden. It moved to its present site at Modern One on Belford Road in 1984. Then, in March 1999, Modern Two opened across the road from Modern One.

Right after that, you reach Old College, a University of Edinburgh building on South Bridge. It originally carried the name New College and was designed by Robert Adam to replace older buildings. Today it houses parts of university administration, the School of Law, and the Talbot Rice Gallery.

This is a smart ending area because it avoids the experience feeling like a one-note ghost story. You finish with art and education spaces, which can make the whole thing feel more like a broader “Edinburgh in layers” route.

In the game, each of these stops includes a look-around challenge. I like that the final segments let you end on a calmer note, even if you started the evening in full spooky mood.

Who this experience is best for, and who should skip it

I think this ghost game is a great fit if you want:

• flexible timing and a self-guided pace
• a fun way to see major Edinburgh landmarks without a formal guide
• a shared activity for families and friend groups, where puzzles spark conversation

It is also a solid option if you like night exploring. One of the best-loved vibes here is simply that it is spooky enough to feel like a ghost walk, without turning into something that feels too intense for casual visitors.

I would hesitate if:

• you strongly dislike app-based navigation
• your group hates searching for clues at specific points
• you are coming in with almost no patience for slow-loading phone steps

Should you book Ghosts of Edinburgh?

Book it if you want a structured self-guided experience in one compact hour, and you like the idea of learning Edinburgh through story prompts and look-around challenges. The combination of offline play and flexible timing makes it easy to fit into real travel days, not just ideal schedules.

Skip it if you want a traditional guide who explains everything in depth, or if your group prefers wandering without stopping at puzzle checkpoints. For most visitors who are happy to use a phone for a short, active walk, this is a strong value way to see Edinburgh with a spooky twist.

FAQ

How long is the Ghosts of Edinburgh game?

It takes about 1 hour (approx.).

Can I start at any hour and take breaks?

Yes. You can start at any hour and you can take a break at any time, then resume later. The experience is also listed as playable without needing rescheduling after booking.

Do I need an internet connection to play?

No. You can play offline, and you do not need an internet connection.

Do I have to enter paid attractions, like Edinburgh Castle?

No. Entrance to paid attractions is not required to play the games.

Where do we meet, and where does it end?

You start at The Mound, Edinburgh EH2 2EL, UK. You end at 100 W Bow, Edinburgh EH1 2HH, UK.

Is this tour private?

Yes. It is a private tour or activity, so only your group participates.

What if our group is larger than 15 people?

If your group is larger than 15 people, you can make multiple bookings.