FAQs

Yes. You can book a date and time slot for entry on our 'Book Now' page. We'll be monitoring the number of visitors carefully throughout the day, and capacity per time slot will be limited to guarantee that everyone gets the very best experience.

Please note: we do not currently work with any 3rd party websites selling our tickets, so please ensure you only buy tickets directly from our website. If you have already purchased tickets from someone else, please contact them for a refund. 

Yes, if we have spaces available, you can buy tickets on the day at our front desk. However, we would recommend booking online in advance for guaranteed entry and to avoid disappointment.

All ages. From babies to grandparents, everyone loves Camera Obscura. There’s something for everyone, even those that are hard to impress. The proof? Parents of teenagers often tell us we were the highlight of their family’s Edinburgh trip.

Yes! Our attractions are ideal for all ages, from tiny babies to hard-to-impress teenagers.

Please note that children aged 12 and under need to be accompanied by an adult when visiting the attraction. An adult qualifies as anyone aged 16 and over. 

Our 17th-century building only has stairs for you to explore our six floors of fun. This means that pushchairs, buggies and prams all need to be left in our admissions area before starting your visit. 

You can borrow one of our brilliant baby carriers – there’s no charge. Just speak to a member of the team on your arrival. 

You can use a valid Kids for a Quid train ticket to get one free child ticket for every full paying adult. 

This offer is valid for bookings before 11am or after 6pm.

To secure your entry timeslot please book all other tickets in advance through our website here, including any under 5s. Then use code 'SCOTRAILKIDS40' to claim.

If you have any questions please call or email us.

More information can be found on the ScotRail website here.

Yes! We have a storage area where you can leave bulky items like luggage and backpacks. Although we’ll take good care of your belongings, we can’t accept liability for any loss, theft or damage to it. Items can only be stored for the duration of your visit at Camera Obscura. Ask at the front desk on arrival. 

You can also store your luggage for the day at convenient and secure storage services close by for a small fee. Unbaggaged will collect your bags from you and store before returning to you at a convenient place and time. The closest facilities are with Bounce at Castle Rock Hostel on Johnston Terrace. They also have locations at Waverley Train Station, Princes Street and Grassmarket. You can also use Excess Baggage Company and City Spare Space who have locations across Edinburgh. 

We’ve made sure there’s lots on offer for people with all kinds of different abilities. For information about specific access requirements, see our accessibility page or give us a call – we’re happy to provide as much information as you would like.

You can read all about what we are doing to keep you and our team safe on our dedicated Coronavirus Update page. 

In its simplest form, a camera obscura is a dark room with a small hole in one wall. When it’s bright outside, light enters through the hole and projects an upside-down image of the outside world onto the wall opposite the hole. Our Camera Obscura is a little more complex than this, but it’s based on the same principle. We have a mirror at the top of our tower which is angled to reflect light down a large tube which contains three lenses. Check out our blog post for more details.

Yes ! You can do this on our website here or give us a call or email us with what you need.

Our wonderful 17th-century building is listed by Historic Environment Scotland so for the timebeing, we are a stairs-only attraction. We hope to find a way to make it more accessible in future. Please contact us if you have any questions about access – we’ll do everything we can to help.

We don’t have an on-site café, but you can grab a snack in our gift shop any time. Your ticket also gets you money off at several nearby cafes and restaurants. Visit our Discount Partners page to see all the current offers. 

Yes, we accept all major credit and debit cards.

At this time, we can only accept sterling. We also accept all major credit and debit cards.

First thing in the morning – no question. It’s the best way to start your day in Edinburgh, taking in the incredible city views from our rooftop tower. This is also when we’re quietest, so you’ll get more time and space to explore.

We pride ourselves on being a pet-friendly attraction and can provide water bowls you can take around with you to maintain your pet's comfort and wellbeing. We offer all our furry friends a treat of a dog or cat biscuit on arrival. 

Dogs must be on a short leash at all times and well behaved during their visit. Cats must be on a leash or in a carrier at all times. We recommend calling ahead to let us know you're bringing your cat.

As family groups consist of many variations, we don't currently offer a family ticket, to allow inclusivity to all our visitors. Tickets are individually priced. 

Yes! We have free WiFi which is available to all our visitors. Our team will give you the access code at the admissions desk on your arrival. 

Why not use the WiFi to share your visit on social media or leave us a review of your visit on TripAdvisor? 

Yes! You can take photos everywhere except in the Camera Obscura chamber. We love being social. Please share them with us by tagging us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.