Secrets of · Scavenger hunt
Secrets of Edinburgh Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour
1.5–2 hours · 1–4 players per team · no app€19.95 per team
Sherlock Holmes · Murder mystery
Edinburgh Self-Guided Detective Murder Mystery Game
- 1.5–2 hours
- 1–4 players per team
- In the free Loquiz app on your phone
- Start any time within 12 months
- Free cancellation until you start
Work a detective murder mystery on foot through Edinburgh, from Canongate Kirk up the Royal Mile to St Giles' Cathedral.
There is a body in Edinburgh. Balthasar is the name, and nobody is coming to work out who did it except you.
This is what a murder mystery looks like once you take it outside. Edinburgh is the crime scene, your phone is the case file, and the two hours in between are yours to spend how you like - a self-guided detective game with nobody standing over it.
The file sends you to National Records of Scotland; Old College, The University of Edinburgh; and National Galleries of Scotland: National.
Where the Case Takes You in Edinburgh
McEwan Hall, The University of Edinburgh; and National Museum of Scotland come into it too. Expect 3 to 4 km on foot, at whatever speed suits the slowest member of the group.
Playing the Detective Game in Edinburgh
Walking is the mechanism. Between locations the witnesses come to you, each with a puzzle, a code or a photo task standing between you and what they know. Most groups need 1.5 to 2 hours for the 3 to 4 km, and a long pause costs nothing at all. It asks the sort of attention Sherlock Holmes made his name on - the detail other people step over.
For Families, Friends and Teams in Edinburgh
With friends. A better answer to "what shall we do today" than another cafe. It works as a pair and it works as a four, and it gives you something to disagree about over dinner.
With your team. Two teams on one case turns it competitive, which is the whole point. No booking a room, no briefing, no waiting for stragglers: a team outing in Edinburgh that starts when the last person shows up.
With kids. Eight years old is about the floor. The distance is not the problem it sounds like, the photo tasks are where children beat adults outright, and the codes end up being solved by the whole family at once.
Before You Book
How does the murder mystery game work?
It runs in the Loquiz app on your own phone. Open it at the starting point in Edinburgh, and from there the case comes to you: someone to question at each location, something to solve before they talk, and a name to hand in at the end.
How long does it take?
About two hours of playing and 3 to 4 km of walking. How long the whole outing takes is up to you, because you can stop for as long as you like and carry on after.
How many people can play on one ticket?
One €19.95 ticket covers four players on a single phone. Past four, take a second ticket: two teams chasing the same killer beats six people squinting at one screen.
Do we need to book a time?
Just a date. The hour is yours to choose, because nobody is standing anywhere in Edinburgh expecting you - no meeting point, no guide, no group.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes, from about eight. The difficulty is easy, the walking is gentle, and children tend to be the fastest in the group at the photo tasks.
What happens if it rains?
Nothing forces you to keep walking. Duck into a cafe, let it pass and carry on when you feel like it - there is no time limit on any part of this.
Is this a detective game or a walking tour of Edinburgh?
It is a detective game first. But you see Edinburgh properly while you play it, and people tend to remember a street they searched better than one they were shown.
What else is there to do in Edinburgh?
There are other city games in Edinburgh built on the same idea and a different story, and the United Kingdom has plenty more where this came from.
- National Records of Scotland2 Princes Street, General Register House, EH1 3YY Edinburgh
- Old College, The University of EdinburghSouth Bridge, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL Edinburgh
- National Galleries of Scotland: NationalThe Mound, Edinburgh, EH2 2EL Edinburgh
- McEwan Hall, The University of EdinburghTeviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG Edinburgh
- National Museum of ScotlandChambers Street, EH1 1JF Edinburgh
- Adam Smith StatueRoyal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 1RF Edinburgh
- Scott MonumentE. Princes St Gardens, Edinburgh, EH2 2EJ Edinburgh
- Tron Kirk122 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1SG, UK
Show all 15 stops
- The Writers' MuseumLawnmarket, Lady Stair's Close, Edinburgh, EH1 2PA Edinburgh
- St. Andrew Square GardenSaint Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH2 2AD Edinburgh
- Royal MileRoyal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 1QS Edinburgh
- Museum on the MoundThe Mound, Edinburgh, EH1 1YZ Edinburgh
- Greyfriars KirkyardGreyfriars Kirkyard, EH1 2QQ Edinburgh
- St Giles' CathedralHigh Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1RE Edinburgh
- Bristo SquareBristo Square, Edinburgh, Edinburgh
How it works
- BookYour ticket arrives by email.
- Go to the startThe start point is in your email. Any day within 12 months.
- PlayOpen the link on one phone per team and press start.
What players in other cities say
- ★★★★★
Wir (Mein Mann, unsere 9-jährige Tochter und ich) haben heute ganz spontan das Spiel "Moordmysterie Düsseldorf" gebucht und gespielt. Die Buchung verlief schnell und reibungslos. Es hat super viel Spaß gemacht! Die Story, die Rätsel, das Konzept, die Route, die Gestaltung der App... richtig gut!!! Das Spiel würde ich vor allem Familien mit Kindern empfehlen. Für Erwachsene waren die Rätsel (meiner Meinung nach) zu einfach. Aber trotzdem wegen der schönen Route durch Düsseldorf, der Story, den lustigen Anweisungen zwischendurch eine schöne Aktion, die man zusammen machen kann.
Lingling Z.October 2026 · via google - ★★★★★
Had great fun playing secrets of Haarlem!
Martin M.March 2026 · via google - ★★★★★
Game in Amsterdam was fun!
Enzo L.March 2026 · via google - ★★★★★
Had So much fun playing while exploring the city
Philip C.March 2026 · via google - ★★★★★
I had a fantastic experience with CityGame! The concept is creative, engaging, and a great way to explore a city in a completely new way. The games are well-designed, combining puzzles, storytelling, and adventure so you’re constantly discovering something interesting around every corner. What I especially love is how CityGame turns a normal walk through the city into an interactive experience. It’s perfect for friends, families, or team outings, and it makes sightseeing much more exciting than the usual tours. Everything was easy to use, the challenges were fun and clever, and it really encouraged us to look closer at the city and its hidden details. Highly recommended if you’re looking for a unique and memorable way to explore!
Jessica S.March 2026 · via google - ★★★★★
This is an interesting way to conduct a self-guided Amsterdam city tour. It used the GPS on your phone to guide you to stops on a route. There are mini quizzes once you arrive at the stops on the path. The quizzes draw your attention to features in front of you or to a brief history of the place. In many cases, we visited a spot that would not have been obvious as a regular passer by. The tour as a whole was interesting to us as newcomers, but I would have liked more information on many locations we visited - a few links outside of the app for each place would have been helpful. Beyond that, the interface was a bit clunky and sometimes awkward to navigate. We definitely don't regret trying this out and feel like we got our money's worth on the experience.
JaibhijaiJune 2024 · via google
How we check reviews
These reviews were left by players on Google and other review sites and are copied from there as they are, with their source.
Leaderboard
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