Escape The Past: The Anatomist

By | September 3, 2020

by Escape The Past (website)

Edinburgh

2-7 players

Languages: EN

60 minutes

Set on the edge of Edinburgh's old surgical district, The Anatomist invites you to descend into a world of grave robbery, mystery and malpractice as you enter the study of a 19th century anatomist.
‍
How has Dr Malcolm been procuring bodies for dissection? What research takes place here late into the night? And what terrible 'crime' did Mr Patterson witness that caused him to flee in fear?
Dr Malcolm's journal will reveal all, if you can find it before he returns...
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Overall rating

Rated between 4 and 5 out of 5

based on ratings from 37 users
combined with 2 pro reviews

Your review

Player reviews

🏆Annagramma expert rated this:Rated between 4 and 4 out of 5
Played: 23 Oct 2024 Team size: 2 Time taken: 46:02 Outcome: Successful escape!
immersivegreat hosting😨creepy

A brilliant game. Great theming, very clever use of everything on here room and some unique quirky puzzles, reveals, and combinations as you progress. Brilliant hosting by Oliver too. Excited to hear they have more in the pipeline so we can come back next time we're up that way!

🔐EscapedBear experienced rated this:Rated between 4 and 4 out of 5
Played: 23 Oct 2024 Team size: 2 Time taken: 46.02 Outcome: Successful escape!
immersive😨creepy

Great theming, a nice backstory and some solid and satisfying puzzles made this a really fun experience. Looking forward to their new room! 

chloeurso rated this:Rated between 5 and 5 out of 5
Played: 10 Oct 2024 Team size: 2 Time taken: 65 Outcome: Failed 🙁
beautifulvalue for moneygreat hostingquite difficult😨creepy

It was great, my very first escape game! It’s a very tricky and difficult one, which is really what we were looking for. Sandy was absolutely amazing and the set was great. We just think it’s better to be at least 3-4 people instead of 2. We really recommend it!! 😊

stairs expert rated this:Rated between 3.5 and 3.5 out of 5
Played: 18 Aug 2024 Team size: 5 Time taken: 44:38

The introduction from a softly-spoken GM set the mood for this (ever so slightly) creepy room that tells a story inspired by Edinburgh's history (think Burke and Hare, grave robbing, anatomy experiments, etc.).

A nice set dressing that is entirely appropriate to the theme, props created with decent-quality materials (e.g. written clues on fabric or heavyweight paper, not nasty photocopies or laminates), and a decent variety of accessible puzzles make this a solid room all round.

Not much tech, but what was there worked, and the room was kept in good working order.

Wesley Mead expert rated this:Rated between 4.5 and 4.5 out of 5
Played: 19 Aug 2024 Team size: 2 Time taken: 52m00s Outcome: Successful escape!
cleverimmersive
NerdsEsacpe rated this:Rated between 5 and 5 out of 5
Played: 15 Aug 2024 Team size: 3 Outcome: Successful escape!
value for moneyimmersivestory-drivenquite difficult😨creepy

Fantastic escape room. Epic theming and great game master. Would highly recommend this escape room!

d.green26 expert rated this:Rated between 4 and 4 out of 5
Played: 25 Jul 2024 Team size: 2 Outcome: Successful escape!
beautifulstory-drivengreat hosting
Farmergeddon Outta Here experienced rated this:Rated between 4.5 and 4.5 out of 5
Played: 26 Mar 2024 Team size: 2 Time taken: 48:38 Outcome: Successful escape!
cleverstory-drivenintense😨creepy
A really good escape room centered in Edinburgh's creepy medical past, we enjoyed our time breaking out of this creepy room! Our host, Edmund, set the scene for us nicely before going in and then set us to work on escaping the room, with good puzzles and a great attention to detail in set design. We thoroughly enjoyed the room, the exterior of the building on a dark, rainy evening added to its creepy vibe, so if you want an authentic experience go for the 8pm booking! 
Jack R rated this:Rated between 5 and 5 out of 5
Team size: 2 Time taken: 59 minutes Outcome: Successful escape!
beautifulimmersivegreat hostingquite difficult😨creepy
We completed this game as one of our first experiences of escape rooms and fully credit it with kickstarting our evergrowing addiction of being locked in rooms.Being within the surgeons district this room is bang on theme and looks amazing, leading it to being one of the few games where we've felt fully immersed in the space. Puzzles are in abundance, creative and varied with everything from searching, physical, observation and more. 
Overall, this is one of the highlights of our trip to edinburgh and still sits near the top of our escape room roster.Definitely would recommend to anyone in the area.
Anonymous rated this:
Played: 28 Jan 2024 Team size: 3 Time taken: 60 Outcome: Successful escape!
cleverstory-drivengreat hosting
This escape room was great! I went with two friends, it was our very first escape room, and we managed to solve it! We needed few extra suggestions from Oliver because we don't speak English fluently, but the experience was still very amusing! Really recommended😊
Conor Gaffney rated this:Rated between 5 and 5 out of 5
Peno Ali rated this:Rated between 5 and 5 out of 5
Played: 21 Dec 2023 Team size: 3 Time taken: 1hour Outcome: Failed 🙁
value for moneyimmersive😨creepy

I went with family and friends all in their 60s. We had such a fun time with lots of laughs and squabbles! 

It had the correct amount of challenge, lots of fun and enough intrigue to keep us going! 

Matthew Owen rated this:Rated between 5 and 5 out of 5
Played: 21 Dec 2023 Team size: 2 Time taken: 59.27 Outcome: Successful escape!
cleverstory-drivengreat hostingquite difficult😨creepy

Had a great time! A good theme related to local history which was well introduced by our very knowledgeable host Oran, in character (but not excessively dramatically as I've seen in other rooms) as The Caretaker.

The room itself definitely pushed us but was very atmospheric with puzzles well integrated and hidden that you could either complete together or split off to try and move through it quicker. The hints were just enough to point us in the right direction but not spoil anything. Overall a fantastic room and after talking after, definitely excited to try another room from them when they open it in the future. Thanks again Oran!

Oliver M. Giggins rated this:Rated between 5 and 5 out of 5
Played: 23 Oct 2023 Team size: 2 Time taken: 70 Outcome: Failed 🙁
immersivestory-drivenintense😨creepy
A well made and immersive room with good puzzles and a friendly & approachable games master. Great for fans of puzzles and the darker side of Edinburgh history!
puzzlepalooza experienced rated this:Rated between 4 and 4 out of 5

Nice game, very well put together in an easy to get to part of Edinburgh. I wouldn't advise a team of more than 2 enthusiasts as otherwise you'll blast through this. 

jontheescapegoat rated this:Rated between 5 and 5 out of 5
Team size: 4 Outcome: Successful escape!
beautifulimmersivestory-drivenquite difficult

This room was a recommendation from this very website as one not to miss if visiting Edinburgh, and boy you lot were right. 

Very immersive, 18th century Edinburgh. The GMs were in character from the moment they opened the door and welcomed us into the doctor's office. The room was beautifully designed and built and very realistic. The GMs worked well together and we were immersed in the story from the start. No spoilers, but the story leads you and there is plenty to get stuck into, it's not all locks and codes. We really enjoyed this room and there was a not-unexpected, but interesting twist at the end. Highly recommend this room. 3-4/5 for difficulty - not quite hard, but not easy either. 

Dan Getliffe experienced rated this:Rated between 4.5 and 4.5 out of 5
Played: 15 Mar 2022 Team size: 2 Time taken: 52 Outcome: Successful escape!
WinglessArchangel experienced rated this:Rated between 3.5 and 3.5 out of 5
Played: 22 Jul 2023 Team size: 6 Time taken: 30:45 Outcome: Successful escape!
immersivestory-drivenoverhypedquite easy😨creepy

I had been looking forward to this room as it’s had such good reviews, but personally I really didn’t understand the hype. Maybe it’s because we’ve done quite a few rooms with similar theming recently, maybe it’s because of the excessively over the top hosting (don’t get me wrong, she was lovely, and it was fun that she was “in character”, but I found her too full on - maybe other folks might like this!), but I just didn’t find this to have much that was original or had the “wow” factor. A nice wee effect at the end was a slight jump scare, and it was great that the room was historical and relevant to the area in Edinburgh (it’s round the corner from the Surgeon’s Hall and deals with the story of Burke and Hare). The room was by no means bad; it’s just that personally there wasn’t too much that really grabbed or excited me. I hope the venue will open another room as I’d love to go back and try them again and have a different experience as they seem like a lovely independent company in a good location (with some nice ideas about tying escapes into history) who deserve to do well. 

norah_eves rated this:Rated between 4.5 and 4.5 out of 5
Played: 2 Jun 2023 Team size: 2 Time taken: 59 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalimmersivestory-driven
Julia Jacome rated this:Rated between 5 and 5 out of 5
Played: 30 Sep 2022 Team size: 2 Time taken: 44 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalimmersivegreat hosting😨creepy

I played this room with my sister and we had a great time! There were lots of puzzles to solve but not so many that it seemed overwhelming for a group of 2. The room is the perfect level of spooky and the Gamesmaster, Oran, was fantastic! 10/10 would recommend! 

Hugh MacCuish rated this:Rated between 5 and 5 out of 5
Team size: 6 Time taken: 57 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalcleverengaging

I played this game with a group of friends and we just about managed to get out! I thought the escape room was really atmospheric. This tied in nicely with the theme of the room and made the setting come alive. It felt a little creepy in there! There were a couple of nice surprises too (but I won’t spoil those!)  I feel the atmosphere really added something to the whole setting, and Iv been to other escape rooms that haven’t managed this aspect as well as it was done here. 

The puzzles themselves were fantastic. We found found we had to think hard but nothing felt too hard (or too easy or illogical). It felt really satisfying when we finally cracked a tricky riddle. I thought  the room walked the perfect line in terms of difficulty. 

I really enjoyed it! Absolutely to notch escape room where the puzzles, the setting and the room itself all came together perfectly! I couldn’t recommend this enough for anyone who enjoys escape rooms!

Solemn rated this:Rated between 5 and 5 out of 5
Team size: 4 Outcome: Successful escape!
value for moneyclevergreat hosting😨creepy

I really loved playing this room! There's some great attention to research connecting it to  Edinburgh's historic past. The GMs are all delightful and all dress in historical costumes which is a really nice touch! Story was fun and engaging and linked well to the puzzles. Definitely worth a visit!

jonjames rated this:Rated between 5 and 5 out of 5
Played: 25 Feb 2023 Team size: 2 Time taken: 56 minutes Outcome: Successful escape!
originalcleverimmersivequite difficult👻scary

Excellent experience, best escape room we've been to. Lots of thought has gone into crafting such a detailed and immersive story. Everything is connected and it gets better and better as the plot develops. The room feels fully authentic. 

Additionally, the game host was exceptional at setting the scene.

Absolutely first class. I'd highly recommend it.

Edmund Clark rated this:Rated between 5 and 5 out of 5
Played: 10 Jan 2023 Team size: 3 Time taken: 55:08 Outcome: Successful escape!
beautifuloriginalclever😨creepy

The detail of the theme in this room is probably the best I've ever seen - so much attention has been put into making every part of the room as authentic as possible, and it really pays off with making you feel immersed in the setting. This is particularly nice given that the theme is based on Edinburgh's history - something which will appeal both to locals and visitors. 

The puzzles too are interesting, varied, and above all clever: it's a room that feels very satisfying to complete, and the puzzles tie together very well.

The atmosphere is also spot on. It's not so scary as to be off-putting, but a creepy atmosphere is built well, and there are some unexpected surprises to keep you on your toes!

Overall, I would highly recommend The Anatomist, it's the top rated room in Edinburgh for a reason!

rorysturrock rated this:Rated between 5 and 5 out of 5
Played: 12 Feb 2023 Team size: 4 Time taken: 36:00
originalimmersivestory-driven😨creepy

Brilliant experience and the best escape room I’ve done so far.

Very thoughtful and original design, with enough twists and surprises to keep you on your toes. Clearly a lot of effort has gone into the design and the theming is really immersive.

Not to be missed - big recommend 

ruth_penny rated this:Rated between 5 and 5 out of 5
Played: 12 Feb 2023 Team size: 4 Time taken: 36 mins Outcome: Successful escape!
originalcleverstory-driven😨creepy

Really enjoyed this room.  It’s themed on local history so a great one for visitors to Edinburgh (and locals alike)!

 It was a good level of difficulty — the puzzles were challenging but not so hard that we kept getting stuck.  The host was good at not giving too much help.

👽benjed rated this:Rated between 5 and 5 out of 5
Team size: 3 Outcome: Successful escape!
beautifuloriginalgreat hostingquite difficult😨creepy
elfgrunge experienced rated this:Rated between 5 and 5 out of 5
Played: 18 Jan 2022 Team size: 4 Time taken: 54 Minutes Outcome: Successful escape!
beautifulimmersivegreat hostingquite difficult👻scary

The first game I ever played and still one of the best! It's clever, beautiful and incredibly immersive. It's an independent room and the care that went into it is clear, and it's the only room I've played where the GM's are in costume and in-character! 

hmltnangel rated this:Rated between 4 and 4 out of 5
Played: 2 Jan 2023 Team size: 2 Time taken: 57 Outcome: Successful escape!
beautifulimmersivegreat hosting😨creepy

Well put together room. Great to play. Well themed, and nicely decorated. 

Couple of points were a little too obvious, but didn't really spoil the enjoyment. Couple of tweaks and this would be a five star room. 

Anonymous expert rated this:Rated between 4 and 4 out of 5
Team size: 2 Outcome: Successful escape!
beautifulimmersivegreat hosting
abunai expert rated this:Rated between 4 and 4 out of 5
Sparkz1977 rated this:Rated between 4.5 and 4.5 out of 5
Played: 9 Jun 2022 Team size: 6 Time taken: 37 Outcome: Successful escape!
immersivestory-drivengreat hosting

Great hosting and a great room

Ksen experienced rated this:Rated between 4.5 and 4.5 out of 5
Played: 2021 Team size: 2 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalcleverlocation themedquite difficult

Amazingly themed to go with the history of Edinburgh. Clever puzzles. 

Jemileh experienced rated this:Rated between 4 and 4 out of 5
Team size: 2 Outcome: Failed 🙁
Jen Wells (Get Wells Soon) expert rated this:Rated between 5 and 5 out of 5
Played: 26 Nov 2021 Team size: 2 Time taken: 39 mins Outcome: Successful escape!
beautifuloriginalimmersive

Superb set up! The puzzles were lovely and the room is just spot-on. There were some great things here I've not seen before and it felt incredibly well put together. One of my favourites!

🦡cipherdelic virtuoso rated this:Rated between 4 and 4 out of 5
Played: 02/10/20 Team size: 4 Time taken: 52 Outcome: Successful escape!

Played a preview game (as the venue officially opens on Monday), this is the first room from Escape the Past and for those of you who have been playing rooms for years may remember Dr.Knox in Edinburgh, this has a similar theme of the anatomists and their dubious ways of getting dissection corpses.
The setting is perfect for the theme, the surgeons hall is just around the corner and you're in the basement of a church building, but what will immediately strike you is the attention to detail they have put in with the decor, everything fits the setting beautifully and some serious thought has gone into placement of the props and puzzles so signposting is intuitive and enhances the gameflow. Immersion is also excellent as all senses are employed to immerse players.
As with many great rooms it initially looks like theres not much to do, but you'll soon think differently as this room is packed with puzzles and it is a good challenge for enthusiast teams.
A final bonus is that they're only a few minutes walk from Locked in Edinbugh, so if you're heading to Locked in then you really should book this one too.

Shahin rated this:Rated between 5 and 5 out of 5

AMAZING what an incredible experience!

The whole thing is brilliant- the theme, the props, the sights, sounds and even the smells. Very authentic. The attention to detail is superb ,the great variety of puzzles are well thought out ,enjoyable and challenging. Would highly recommend to friends and family. Staff are  great too professional and engaging. A great way to spend an afternoon.

Reviews by escape room review sites

The Anatomist is one of those games that you could probably class as a ‘traditional’ escape room. It probably won’t blow you away, but it’s likely to give you a good time and help you feel like you’ve lived some of Edinburgh’s ‘darker’ history. There aren’t a huge amount of games in Edinburgh, but if you’re looking for games to play while you’re in the city, then this isn’t a bad shout.
A must visit!

Lists

This game is part of the following user-created game lists:
  • Best UK escape rooms 2022 by Escape the Review virtuoso
    These are the 100 highest rated escape rooms in the UK, as of 31st Dec 2022, based on combined ratings from enthusiasts, bloggers and experts - every game here comes highly recommended. 
  • Best UK escape rooms 2021 by Escape the Review virtuoso

    These are the 100 highest rated escape rooms (out of 1600) in the UK, as of 31st Dec 2021, based on combined ratings from enthusiasts, bloggers and experts - every game here comes highly recommended. 

  • Best UK escape rooms 2023 by Escape the Review virtuoso
    These are the 100 highest rated escape rooms in the UK, as of 31st Dec 2023, based on combined ratings from enthusiasts, bloggers and experts - every game here comes highly recommended. 

See also