Groups

All group bookings of 15 or more (which book within specific dates and times) will receive a discount of 10% once we have confirmed their booking.

Group entry is limited to our first entry time of the day, which varies depending on season. Please check our latest opening hours here. We regret that we are currently unable to accommodate groups during school holiday periods and weekends.

Bookings must be paid for in full a minimum of 14 days in advance of the visit date. Please advise us by email once you have made payment. If full payment is not received 14 days in advance, then the booking is void.

Unfortunately, we are not able to hold a booking and cannot guarantee the availability of an entry time until your booking has been confirmed. Any booking will be deemed provisional until confirmed in writing by Camera Obscura & World of Illusions.

Groups of 14 people or less can book out with the group times, but these bookings will be charged at full price. These bookings can be made through our website as normal. If your group is 15 people or more, please do not attempt to book online as if you do so, your booking will regretfully be declined.

If your group is 15 people or more, then please contact us and we will help you find the best time for your group to visit, provided  your visit is on a weekday, at the start of the day and outside of school holidays.

Please call us on 0131 226 3709 or email info@camera-obscura.co.uk. All bookings are taken at the discretion of Camera Obscura; we recommend that bookings are made as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

We will need:

• Day of your visit
• Time of your visit
• Name and contact telephone number of group leader or organiser
• Number of visitors
• Method of payment (credit card or BACS)
• Contact details: your address, email, and telephone number 

You can amend your booking up until 48 hours before your booking date and time.

If you want to amend the numbers in your group, for the same date and entry time, please call 0131 226 3709 or email info@camera-obscura.co.uk.

Any amendments to the size of the group must comply with group terms and conditions regarding minimum and maximum numbers. If your amendment to the size of the group results in a group smaller than 15 people in number, then full admission rates will apply and an additional payment for the difference will be required. Please call us on 0131 226 3709 to make the additional payment by credit card.

If you want to change the date of the visit, please contact us to see whether it will be possible to reschedule. Please call us on 0131 226 3709 or email us at info@camera-obscura.co.uk for any query regarding payment.

Rescheduling can be done up until 48 hours prior to the visit, but please note, the earlier you reschedule the more likely we are to be able to accommodate your group.

If cancelling a confirmed booking, please call us on 0131 226 3709 or email us at info@camera-obscura.co.uk and let us know a minimum of 14 days in advance. If less than 14 days are given 50% of admission fees are refundable. If less than 2 days’ notice is given, admission fees are not refundable.

In response to visitor feedback and to ensure that we provide the best possible experience for everyone, we have reduced the capacity of each entry time to a maximum of 35 visitors every 15 minutes.

Groups receive one free leader for every 15 paying people. Adult groups receive one free leader per group. 

For us to manage visitor numbers more efficiently with reduced capacity, all group leaders, guides and drivers who enter are counted as members of the group. All group members recieve discounted group rates.

As we are limiting the number of visitor bookings per time slot and the number of time slots available, our overall visitor capacity has reduced, we therefore require that all bookings are paid for in advance to avoid any potential loss of income.

Where available your visit will include a guided demonstration of the Camera Obscura, (time and seasonally dependent), though this cannot be guaranteed.

If your group miss their allocated show time, we will be unable to arrange another show. If a guided visit is not available, we will allow unguided access to see a recording of the view of the city inside the Camera Obscura chamber.

The Camera Obscura chamber has a high-power rapid air-change ventilation system in line with COVID-19 health and safety measures. 

Unfortunately, we do not have the facility to store bags for groups.

The minimum number of visitors for a group booking is 15, the maximum number of visitors is 35. Groups larger than 35 people will be required to split down into smaller groups, entering at separate times and remaining in their individual groups, with a maximum group number of 70.

It is very important you arrive at your assigned entry time. We are currently operating at reduced capacity with limited entry times.

If you miss your entry time, we regret it will not be possible to admit your group as other visitors will be booked at the time immediately after your group. Please ensure you plan accordingly and give yourself plenty of time. If you think you might miss your entry time, please give us a call as soon as possible on 0131 226 3709.

If you are a nursery and would like to come along with a group of children under 5 years old, please get in touch with us directly to book your visit. Any more than two children under 5 years old accompanied by anyone other than a relative or guardian will be charged our Under-5 Nursery Rate of £11.00 per child.

You are more than welcome to book a general visit to us as part of a child’s birthday party, but please be aware that we no longer have a private space to host a party or catering facilities. If you have a group of 14 or fewer people, then you can book tickets as normal through our website here. If you have a group of 15 or more people, then please get in touch with us directly to book.