📌 Old Town, City of Edinburgh
★★★★
“5 jam-packed floors of fun”, asserts the website of this popular building on the Royal Mile – which is also jam-packed with tourists over the summer months. Edinburgh‘s Camera Obscura & World of Illusions also has a surprisingly long history: the Camera Obscura (a sort of giant pinhole camera) part of the attraction was born in 1853, making it the capital’s oldest purpose-built tourist site. The remaining floors offer up a kaleidoscopic collection of optical illusions and other exhibits from a mirror maze to 3-D holograms, all deftly designed to bamboozle and amaze; these tricks of light and amusing special effects pander perfectly to children, though it has some appeal for other ages too. Climb up to the rooftop terrace for excellent views across large parts of the city, including a grandstand view of the entrance to Edinburgh Castle. My only reservations? I’ve already mentioned the peak season crowds; our other slight grumble is the steep entrance fee.
🌍 Location
📌 Castlehill, Royal Mile, 10-min walk south of Edinburgh Waverley station
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 255735
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.948995,-3.195551
🚌 George IV Bridge | 🚆 Edinburgh Waverley | 🚋 Princes Street
🚗 Car parks / street parking nearby (both charge)
📝 Key info
⌚ Daily
🎫 £22.95 adult / £17.95 child – discount for booking online
