HiddenCity’s immersive hunts are riddled with …well, riddles.
And if you’ve ever seen someone walking round an art gallery with a compass, receive a strange envelope from a barman or take a furtive glance inside a very specific book in Waterstones, you’ve probably seen someone playing them.
Either that, or they were a spy.
Taking place across the city, HiddenCity’s trails are adventures into familiar fictional worlds that use London as their stage. Led by a series of strange, cryptic clues sent straight to your phone, you’ll navigate parts of the city you never knew existed – from hidden back streets to the lesser-known parts of buildings you’ve walked past for years.
The way it works is simple: you pull together a team of 2-6 players – or multiple teams, if you’re feeling competitive – and make your way to the start point. You’ll then receive a trail of clues direct from the characters (putting you on texting terms with Sherlock) as the story unfolds across the city. Over the course of three hours or so, you and your team mates will have to pit your minds against a series of challenges, riddles and clues, linked to the streets around you, like escape rooms on a city-wide scale. As you race against time, you’ll interact with physical clues hidden for you in the real world, slip passwords to complete strangers, and face big decisions that could affect where your journey takes you.
What’s certain, however, is that you’ll be led into plenty of suitable spots for liquid refreshment along the way.
They’ve just announced a brand new game for 2024, 007: Shadow Of Spectre, which will see you diving headfirst into the world of Bond for a fast-paced adventure that plays out across Central London. Communicating with the likes of Q and Moneypenny, you’ll need to intercept dead drops, access top secret information and follow in Bond’s footsteps to figure out who put him into a mysterious coma, and why…
That launches in February, but if you can’t wait that long, there are three other (highly-rated) games that are playable now, namely:
Snow White’s wicked stepmother has had enough back-chat from her mirror, and has hidden it away in a secret location, pending transfer to the Big Yellow Storage Company. And to prove she’s the wisest of them all, she’s issued a challenge to anyone who thinks they can solve her clues and hunt it down. En route, you’ll explore palatial gardens, cobbled mews and fine works of art – just don’t be deterred that nobody’s ever made it back alive.
Name sound familiar? No sh*t, Sherlock. The criminal mastermind is recruiting, but you’ll have to prove your worth if you’re going to get access to his safe-house. And that’s not just a test of your mental powers – Moriarty expects loyalty, and this city has eyes and ears everywhere…
The perpetually mischievous feline’s on the loose, drawing you into the strange, surreal, and absurd side of London. You’ll find yourself weaving through galleries, scouring literary archives, and descending into cellar vaults to ‘paws’ for drinks. But Wonderland’s in the midst of a revolution, and you’ll need to be careful with who you trust.
After all, we all know what curiosity did to the cat.
NOTE: HiddenCity currently has three real world adventure games running in London, plus a new Bond experience launching in February 2024. Tickets cost £25-30pp, and games are recommended for 2-6 players. You can find out more, and book, at HiddenCity’s website right HERE.
Like exploring the city’s hidden side? Here are some other quirky things to do in London…