Sherlock Holmes · Murder mystery
Edinburgh Self-Guided Detective Murder Mystery Game
1.5–2 hours · 1–4 players per team · free Loquiz app€19.95 per team
Secrets of · Scavenger hunt
Secrets of Edinburgh Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour
- 1.5–2 hours
- 1–4 players per team
- On your own phone, no app
- Language of the game: English +31
- Start any time within 12 months
- Free cancellation until you start
Follow Maggie Dickson through the closes and wynds of Edinburgh and track down the cursed Hangman's Hood in this city game.
A scavenger hunt that uses the streets themselves as its board: Secrets of Edinburgh runs on your own phone, starts when you say so, and takes exactly as long as you let it.
It works off GPS, so the game knows where you are and hands over that location's riddle, puzzle or photograph. All of it points outward, at Edinburgh rather than at the phone. The history arrives sideways, through the puzzles, which is why it stays with you.
Statue of Walter Francis Montagu Douglas Scott, Deacon Brodie’s Tavern and The Elephant House come up along the way. The stretches between the stops are where most of the looking gets done, at things that are hidden only by being ordinary.
Greyfriars Bobby Statue and Greyfriars Kirkyard are also on the route, and nobody needs telling twice to examine a doorway.
A Self-Guided Tour of Edinburgh That Asks the Questions
Everything a self-guided tour of Edinburgh gives you, minus the narration. The route is real and so is the history behind it — but you get at it by solving rather than listening, and nobody is standing at the front of a group. You walk, you look, you work it out. Intermediate difficulty, so most things fall and the rest makes for a decent argument. Riddles, code-breaking, and photographs you would not have taken.
Want to Plan a Fun Scavenger Hunt in Edinburgh?
Right here. Organising it means booking a date and then starting when it suits you. Nothing to print, nothing to plant beforehand, no clues to invent: the route through Edinburgh and everything on it is already built, about two hours across 3 to 4 km. One ticket covers up to four people on one phone for €19.95. The evening you were going to spend writing riddles is now free.
An Outdoor Scavenger Hunt That Works for Any Group in Edinburgh
Adults. A scavenger hunt for adults in the sense that the puzzles actually resist you. Intermediate difficulty, riddles built on detail you have to go and look at, and two hours that hold a group that came out to enjoy itself.
Families. Children manage the walking easily and tend to win the photo tasks outright. Because the riddles get solved together, a group spanning three generations still functions as one team.
Teams. One ticket covers four people, so a department divides straight into groups running the identical route through Edinburgh. No host to hire, no venue to reserve, no departure time. Put three or four teams on it together and the competition takes care of itself.
Couples and friends. No umbrella to follow, no group to stay with, no fixed pace. Stop where you like, take as long as you like, and finish knowing things about Edinburgh that most residents never learned.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Secrets exploration game work?
After booking you get a link, walk to the starting point in Edinburgh and begin. The game reads your location, gives you that spot's riddle, puzzle or photo task, and unlocks the next one when you have it.
Is this a walking tour or a game?
Both, deliberately. On distance and route it is a walking tour of Edinburgh; on content it is a puzzle. The history arrives through the riddles rather than through a guide, and there is nobody to follow.
What do we need to bring?
Just a charged phone and comfortable shoes for 3 to 4 km. You get a link when you book and open the game in the browser at the first stop; nothing to print, nothing to plant beforehand, nothing to pick up anywhere.
How long does it take?
Two hours is typical, over a 3 to 4 km route. There is no clock and no scheduled departure — you fix the day when you book and start whenever you want on it.
How many people can play on one ticket?
One ticket covers a group of 1 to 4 people playing on one device, at €19.95 in total. Groups larger than four buy a second ticket, which also lets them play against each other.
Is it hard?
It sits at intermediate. What it asks for is attention and lateral thinking rather than local knowledge, and no riddle is obscure enough to end the afternoon.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. Children manage the 3 to 4 km easily and are usually the quickest at the photo tasks. The riddles are intermediate, so most families work through them together — which is how the game is meant to be played anyway.
Do we need to book a time slot?
No. You choose a date when booking, then start at whatever time you like on that date. There is no meeting point, no guide and no group to join.
What happens if it rains?
You play when it suits you and stop when it suits you, so a shower just means a coffee. No timer is running, and the route is exactly where you left it.
Will we actually learn something about Edinburgh?
That is the point of this one. The riddles are built on the history, the characters and the odd details of Edinburgh, so you finish knowing things most visitors never find out. If you would rather have a story than a tour, look at the other city games in Edinburgh instead.
More City Games: city games across the United Kingdom · Secrets of Manchester
- Statue of Walter Francis Montagu Douglas ScottWest Parliament Square, EH1 1RN Edinburgh
- Deacon Brodie’s TavernLawnmarket 435, EH1 2NT Edinburgh
- The Elephant HouseVictoria Street 21, EH1 1EN Edinburgh
- Greyfriars Bobby StatueEH1 2QE Edinburgh
- Greyfriars KirkyardEH1 2QQ Edinburgh
- GrassmarketGrassmarket, EH1 Edinburgh
- The Last DropGrassmarket 74-78, EH1 2JR Edinburgh
- Victoria StreetVictoria Street, EH1 Edinburgh
Show all 15 stops
- The Scotch Whisky ExperienceCastlehill 354, EH1 2NE Edinburgh
- Assembly HallMound Place, EH1 2LU Edinburgh
- Royal Scottish AcademyThe Mound, EH2 2EL Edinburgh
- Cockburn StreetCockburn Street, EH1 Edinburgh
- Royal MileEH1 1QS Edinburgh
- Mary King’s CloseWarriston's Close 2, EH1 1PG Edinburgh
- Charles II StatueParliament Square, EH1 1RE 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.
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