The Royal Mile

The Scotch Whisky Experience

The Scotch Whisky Experience beside Edinburgh Castle, reveals the history, mystery and romance of Scotch Whisky making. Start by nosing and tasting a Scotch whisky with one of our expert guides who will help you to reveal the secrets in the glass. Find out how the amber, water of life is produced and then one of the experienced tour guides will take guests through the amazing differences between whiskies from the Highlands, Lowlands, Speyside and Islands. Visitors then meet the resident ghost, the Master Blender and enjoy a barrel ride through the history of Scotch Whisky. The tour is available in 10 different languages.

Relax in Amber Restaurant and enjoy the very best of Scottish produce. For the enthusiast we have our own Whisky Appreciation Society.

Both our Bar and Shop are stocked with over 300 whiskies and whisky liqueurs - something for everyone.

Whisky Tastings and Private Events can be catered for in our beautiful Private Reception Rooms.

Cross the road to visit Camera Obscura and World of Illusions (open every day from 9.30am until 6.00pm and in July and August until 7.30pm).

These two early 17th-century tenements were added to by a lady optician in the middle of the 19th century to become Short's Observatory, whose crowning glory was the Camera Obscura. This Victorian 'Eye in the Sky' has fascinated visitors for 150 years with its live moving panorama of the city. You will be captivated by this unique experience as your guide entertains you with stories of Edinburgh's exciting past. You can spy on people and even pick them up in your hand! You can also enjoy spectacular 360° rooftop panoramas with free telescopes from rooftop terrace.

The building still contains the Camera Obscura in the curious domed turret on top of the tower, but it now also hosts the World of Illusions, three fascinating floors of interactive visual illusions and other hands-on exhibits. You can capture your shadow, shake hands with your ghost, swap heads with a friend and walk on water on the incredible living floor. There is also an impressive collection of holograms. These entrancing 3D pictures appear, change and disappear before your eyes.

You can also discover extraordinary 3D views of Edinburgh and spy on the city from live viewcams which you control to zoom in and out. New exhibits are always being added to the collection including most recently an incredibly amusing automaton of two singing cats with a dog accompanying them on the piano, and a heat detecting thermal camera which shows your hot spots in vivid colour on a giant screen.

Camera Obscura and World of Illusions is open every day of the year with the exception of Christmas Day, from 9.30 in the morning until 6pm with extended opening hours in July and August until 7.30pm. You can see more of the fascinating exhibits on the website: www.camera-obscura.co.uk

Continue to the foot of Castlehill and the Highland Kirk of Tolbooth St John's.

Called the Highland Church because it once held services in Gaelic, St John's has now been