The Edinburgh Dungeon

The Edinburgh Dungeon is horror-comedy theatre built from the city's grimmest true stories, and it is best taken in that spirit. You move in a group through a sequence of themed sets beneath Market Street, a couple of minutes' walk from Waverley Station, and in each one a costumed actor takes over: a plague doctor, a torturer, a judge, a surgeon looking for volunteers. The material is drawn from real Edinburgh history, and the city has more of it than most. Burke and Hare, the West Port murderers who sold their victims' bodies to the anatomy schools in the 1820s, are inevitable. The witch trials, in which Scotland executed far more people per head than England, get their turn. So does the legend of Sawney Bean, the cave-dwelling cannibal clan of Scottish folklore, and the grim reality of the Old Town in plague years. The tone is panto with gore: actors pick on members of the audience, the jokes are broad, and the jump scares are timed for maximum shrieking. The whole thing runs as a continuous show of about an hour and twenty minutes, and the sets are elaborate. It is run by Merlin Entertainments, which operates Dungeons in several cities, so the format will be familiar to anyone who has been to the London or York versions, but the stories here are local. Opening days and hours change with the season and can be reduced in quieter months, so book a timed slot online, which is usually cheaper than paying at the door. Combination tickets with Edinburgh Castle and the hop-on hop-off bus are available.

Who will enjoy it? Teenagers, groups of friends and adults who like interactive theatre will have a great time. It is not a museum and does not pretend to be: if you want the history straight, the Real Mary King's Close and the National Museum of Scotland tell it better. But as an evening-before-dinner or rainy-afternoon diversion it is effective, and the actors are usually sharp, quick-witted and good at reading a crowd. Being picked on is part of the fun, so if you would rather not be, stand towards the back and avoid eye contact.

Age and suitability: the Dungeon is dark, loud and deliberately frightening in places, with scenes of torture, death and gore played for comedy. Merlin publishes age guidance and generally advises against bringing young children, and the experience is not well suited to anyone who dislikes enclosed dark spaces or sudden noise. Older children who like scary stories tend to love it. Accessibility varies through the sets, so anyone with mobility needs should contact the venue in advance. Bags are best kept small, as you stand and move between scenes throughout.

Planning: book online for the lowest price and a guaranteed slot, especially at weekends, in school holidays and around Halloween, when the Dungeon is at its busiest. Arrive a little before your time. Its position on Market Street, below the Old Town and opposite the back of Waverley, makes it easy to slot between the Scotch Whisky Experience or Camera Obscura at the top of the Royal Mile and dinner in the Old Town. Bundles with Edinburgh Castle or a Royal Attractions ticket can reduce the cost if you plan to do those anyway. One honest caveat: the format is the same polished formula used in other Merlin Dungeons, so if you have done one recently, the surprises will be fewer. If you have not, it is one of the most reliably entertaining hours in the city, and a useful card to hold for the day the weather closes in.