Is Camera Obscura & World of Illusions Haunted? Three Spooky Stories from Edinburgh
Edinburgh is famous for its ghost stories, haunted buildings and mysterious history. But did you know that Camera Obscura & World of Illusions, at the top of Edinburgh's Royal Mile, has a few spooky stories of its own?
Our historic building has welcomed visitors since 1853, and over the years our team has experienced some rather strange goings-on. From mysterious voices in our Mirror Maze to unexplained noises and a forgotten Victorian doll, here are three stories that might just send a shiver down your spine.
1. A Mysterious Voice in the Mirror Maze
Imagine being alone in a maze of mirrors, switching off the lights and suddenly hearing someone whisper in the darkness. That's exactly what happened to Kirsty, one of our Guides.
"As closing time approached, I checked the Mirror Maze. It was completely empty. Or so I thought…
"I switched off the lights, plunging the maze into darkness. Seconds later, I heard a woman's voice whisper 'It's dark in here…'
"Startled, I flicked the lights back on and hurried to apologise. But there was nobody there."
Was somebody hiding among the mirrors? Or was Kirsty sharing the maze with an unexpected visitor?
2. The Mystery of the Victorian Doll
Sometimes the strangest stories aren't about what you hear, but what you find.
Years ago, builders carrying out work on the fourth floor knocked down a wall and discovered a hidden room. Inside was something rather unsettling: an old, dusty pram containing a tattered Victorian doll.
Nobody knew how it got there, who it belonged to or how long it had been hidden away.
Today, that part of the building is home to our Ames Room, where visitors appear to grow and shrink before their very eyes.
But knowing what was once hidden behind the walls gives this curious room a rather different atmosphere…
3. Ghostly Newlyweds at the AutoWed
Our AutoWed machine has married countless visitors, but could it have welcomed a couple from beyond the grave?
Marta, a member of our Retail Team, recalls one particularly strange morning.
"One quiet spring morning, I was about to clean the staircase when I heard visitors laughing excitedly and pressing buttons on the AutoWed machine. I decided to leave them to enjoy themselves.
"Ten minutes later, I realised no one had entered the shop. I went to check the staircase, but there wasn't a soul in sight.
"To this day, we don't know who was using the AutoWed that morning."
Perhaps the mystery couple simply disappeared unnoticed. Or perhaps AutoWed has a few customers we can't quite explain!
Discover the Spooky Side of Edinburgh This Halloween
Are these unexplained experiences simply tricks of the imagination, or is there something more mysterious lurking inside our historic building? We'll leave that for you to decide.
If you're looking for fun things to do in Edinburgh this Halloween, visit Camera Obscura & World of Illusions for five floors of interactive exhibits, mind-bending illusions and plenty of surprises.
And if you're feeling brave, step inside our Mirror Maze. Just listen carefully when the lights go down…
Discover our Halloween activities and book your visit
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