Escape games · SELF-GUIDED GAMES IN THE UK
Good self-guided games in the UK fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 7 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Follow a 3-kilometre mystery trail from Leeds Art Gallery through the Corn Exchange, Victoria Leeds, and Leeds Cathedral. Your 40-page English Mystery Guide contains 16 cryptic clues, maps, local stories, and a crime tale that ends with a dramatic reveal. Go at your own pace, with no guide or shared group.
Explore Liverpool on a self-guided paranormal hunt using your phone. Solve 12 puzzles at places including Ma Egerton’s Stage Door, St. George’s Hall, Liverpool Playhouse, the Queen Victoria Monument, and the Eleanor Rigby statue. Allow about 90 minutes, though you can pause, resume, and take longer.
Follow a smartphone-led puzzle trail from the Corpus Clock through Cambridge’s historic college quarter. You solve riddles, use GPS, and uncover clues linked to a secret society while walking privately with your own group. Plan for 1 to 2 hours, outdoor sightseeing, and views of college buildings rather than guaranteed indoor entry.
“Good way to appreciate the buildings, clues a little scatalogical at times ( yellow and red arrows at Clare college pointing to the sky!?!) But good fun all the same and got our 15 year old engaged”
Follow a phone-based puzzle trail from the Palace of Westminster to Buckingham Palace. You will solve clues at 12 royal and political landmarks, including Westminster Abbey, Horse Guards Parade, St James’s Palace, and Spencer House. There is no guide or attraction admission, so you control the pace and explore with only your own group.
Use the Explorial app to explore Covent Garden at your own pace. Follow map hints, answer questions found on signs and sights, and earn points through creative photo tasks. The route takes about two hours and reaches Cecil Court, Trafalgar Square, Cleopatra’s Needle, and other central London highlights.
“We played it with friends and family during our little adventure in London, and we all loved it. This tour made our trip a fun game, with lots of excitement and a sense of adventure. We will definitely try the other London routes.”
Follow a self-guided Questo puzzle from 47 Doughty Street to Fleet Street, tracing Charles Dickens through Holborn and the City. Solve clues at 11 historic stops, including the Dickens Museum, Three Cripples pub setting, Staple Inn, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, Dr Johnson’s House, and St Dunstan-in-the-West. Start anytime, pause freely, and play offline without a physical guide.
“Great concept and a very enjoyable day, went at our own pace and stopped at several pubs! Lovely sunny day and in the heart of the City all was beautiful & quiet. Very atmospheric and clues were not too easy but also not too difficult! Loved 🥰 looking for the Man in Black!”
Use the World City Trail app to follow clues from Westminster Station through central London. You’ll solve location-based puzzles, visit the outdoor areas of 10 or more attractions, and learn local facts in English, German, French, Dutch, Italian, or Spanish. Plan about two hours, though you can pause or finish later.
“It was a very enjoyable experience. I love puzzles, so this was right up my street. It was the right level of difficulty for an afternoon out. My friend and I had a blast. How come I never came across this activity before?I will definitely do it again.”
Pick a room, a street or a table.
