London Escape Rooms

The capital of British royalty is a city steeped in history and mystery, and now it's also home to some of the world's most innovative escape rooms. If you're looking for a fun and different activity to do with friends or family, make it your bucket list of things to see and do in London to challenge your wits by solving the puzzles in these escape rooms.

Here's a selection of the best experiences, from the nostalgia of a retro glass maze to the thrill of a high-tech escape. I'll also tell you about the prices, pros and cons of each, so you can confidently choose the one that best suits what you're looking for. In the end, you'll know which of these escape rooms is the perfect challenge for you and your companions.

The challenge activity begins with a terrifying situation: you are trapped in a room surrounded by one or more zombies looking for their next victim. Your goal is to escape before they get you, but watch out! Every moment the zombie comes within inches of you.

The game is intense and suspenseful. You have to solve puzzles and clues as the zombie slowly approaches. The atmosphere is very realistic and you will feel as if you are really in danger.

It is an opportunity to test your survival, teamwork and problem solving skills. If you are looking for a fun and challenging activity to do with family or friends,Zombie Escape Room London is a great option!

Details of interest

• Price: from £39 per person.
• Duration: approximately 60-90 minutes.
• What you need to know: the experience is usually private. Participants are allowed to be over 13 years old and the best time to do it is in the late afternoon. It is perfect to be combined with one of the top 10 London night tours in the city where paranormal activity seems to be present on every corner. 4 people is the minimum number of participants to book this escape room.
• What the tour may include: 60 minutes or more inside the room surrounded by zombies and riddles everywhere. Digital photo of your group. A souvenir.
• Pros: Small groups of up to 10 people are usually allowed, so immersion is guaranteed.
• Cons: Activity times are pre-scheduled, so we suggest you plan your visit to participate at a time that best suits your schedule for the day.

Are you a fan of Arthur Conan Doyle's greatest detective? This experience will transport you straight to 221b Baker Street, surrounded by the curiosities of Sherlock Holmes. In this escape room, inspired by the famous BBC series, you will become a detective for a day. Explore scenarios identical to those in the series, all guaranteed by Steven Moffat, creator of the series and of this unique experience.

Benedict Cumberbatch, Andrew Scott, Martin Freeman and Mark Gatiss, the main actors of the series, will reveal clues. You will have to solve puzzles and escape before time runs out. Every corner of this escape room is designed to immerse you in the Sherlock universe: from the replica sets to the props used in the series.

And if you fancy following in the detective's footsteps through some of London's secret locations and getting your adrenaline pumping with the iconic sites of London's most famous modern criminal, you can book a Sherlock Holmes and Jack the Ripper bus tour of London.

Details of interest

• Price: from £35 per person.
• Duration: approximately 100 minutes.
• What you need to know: one of the highlights of this activity is that, like the series, it allows you to immerse yourself in the mind of Dr Watson's best friend with Sherlock: The Game is Now; or in the mind of his arch enemy with The Mind of Moriarty. Choose one of the experiences or sign up for both. On the other hand, if you want to take the fun level up a notch and your group is over 18, in the bar of this universe (in the same building), you can try to crack the case of the poisoned chalice: an immersive experience in the mystery of cocktails.
• What the tour may include: a dynamic escape room. Access The Mind Palace, the Sherlock-themed speakeasy, for drinks with a twist.
• Pros: The experiences are for small groups (between 2 and 6 players). This activity is designed for ages 10+. However, children between 7 and 9 years old are welcome in the company of their parents or guardians, so you can book this activity as one of your things to do in London with children. It is also part of the range of activities included in the London Pass.
• Cons: The variety of options makes it a guilty pleasure that is unlikely to take less than 3 hours.

Are you ready for a dose of 90's nostalgia? The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience is the perfect escape room for those who want to relive the best moments of this iconic TV show while getting a fun workout.

Test your stamina, agility and wit. Work with your fellow players to complete challenges and earn crystals. With meticulously reconstructed sets, travel back in time and test yourself physically and mentally as you try to complete the challenges in the four themed zones before facing the final challenge in the Crystal Dome.

The experience is one of the most entertaining, in fact, it's a firm fixture among the top Escape Rooms as published by The Guardian From the scenery, the uniforms you wear to the background music, it's impossible to avoid going back in time. And because of its location, you can even get there with one of London's best tourist buses, as it is located between some of the city' s iconic museums such as The National Gallery, just a couple of streets away from Piccadilly Circus.

Useful details

• Price: from €37 per person. Price varies according to season.
• Duration: approximately 75 minutes.
• What you need to know: Everyone from the age of 9 years and upwards is welcome, however, minors must be accompanied by their representative.
• What the tour may include: Team uniforms. The Escape Room experience fully set in The Crystal Maze. Jackets are provided for photos in the Crystal Dome.
• Pros: One of the best options for families or large groups because the energy of the place is infectious and the thrill of living inside the live show shakes participants.
• Cons: The activity is not recommended for people with disabilities or pregnant women because of the physical agility involved.

These escape rooms are the stuff of movies and rank among the top recommended immersive experiences in London that you have to try at least once along with Secret London.

Located beneath the bustling streets of Oxford Street, this enigmatic escape room transports you to a world of mystery and challenge. Upon arrival at EscapeLand, you will have the opportunity to choose between two exciting adventures: Da Vinci's Exploration or Right to the Throne.

• Da Vinci's Exploration: A Challenge for Brilliant Minds

Feel like Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) in the film The Da Vinci Code as you immerse yourself in this Renaissance escape room. According to legend, Leonardo da Vinci himself designed the riddles and mechanisms of this room. Get ready to test your wits and solve complex puzzles. This experience is ideal for those who seek an intellectual challenge and enjoy history.

• Right to the Throne: A Struggle for Power

Not enough inspiration from Dan Brown's books? How about the style of George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones? Right to the Throne is the perfect choice. In this room, you'll find yourself embroiled in palace intrigue where you'll have to make crucial decisions to claim the throne. This experience combines elements of strategy and problem solving, and will make you feel like a true king or queen.

Interesting details

• Price: from 30 € per person.
• Duration: approximately 60 minutes.
• What you need to know: unlike other escape rooms, knowledge about history and art adds a great advantage in these challenges which are designed for a minimum of 3 people. Can you go as a couple? Of course! However, it will be more challenging to solve the puzzles, the reasons are left to your imagination.
• What the tour can include: one of the immersive experiences of your choice.
• Pros: these adventures are designed for family enjoyment, combining fun with mental acuity that will make you travel back in time and renew your perspective. Another highlight is the location: you can get there via Tottenham Court Road tube station or on one of London's best sightseeing buses.
• Cons: Booking is for a minimum of 3 people.

Ok, so far we've seen escape room options for the family, now it's time for the adults to put their wits to work with Enigma. With a spooky plot and challenges that will test your problem-solving skills and teamwork, you'll have to solve one of their riddles, which feature different levels of difficulty. The main ones are:

• The Killer. Here you will be involved in a terrifying mystery. You will be the only spectator in a cinema, but you will soon discover that something sinister is going on. You will wake up in a dark cell, pursued by a vengeful killer. You will have only 60 minutes to escape and survive.
• In The Darkest Hour, the adventure ramps up the difficulty level as you are taken back to the Cold War era. You play a secret MI6 agent on a mission to find a nuclear device hidden in Winston Churchill's private sitting room. The device is about to explode, and you only have 60 minutes to save London - will you be able to defuse the nuclear threat and prevent a catastrophe?

Whichever adventure you choose, be prepared for an intense and thrilling experience. Enigma is not for the faint of heart - do you have what it takes to survive?

Interesting details

• Price: from €40 per person. Prices are reduced for groups.
• Duration: approximately 60 minutes.
• What you should know: As well as the aforementioned escape rooms, there are also family experiences on offer such as the Picnic Puzzle an entertaining way to enjoy food and drink with riddles and puzzles present. Likewise, if you're looking for things to do in London at night, combining spirits with challenges and exquisite surroundings, the Purgatory Bar is worth a visit. Here you can sip on signature cocktails amidst the Escape Rooms atmosphere surrounded by Gaudí-inspired architecture.
• What the tour may include: everything you need to solve the enigma of your choice. A souvenir.
• Pros: Because the company behind these activities is the oldest in the London market, your experience reflects positively, offering a wide range of options. Each escape room has different levels of complexity in its challenges and is available at various locations around the city.
• Cons: The duration of the activities is usually only one hour. The target audience is adults.

• If you are travelling with children, before you buy your tickets, check the age limits of the escape room you are interested in.
• Some escape rooms require physical activity, so as a general rule I recommend you wear comfortable clothes and shoes.
• Escape rooms are often open from 10:00h until 21:00h and participants are asked to arrive at least 15 minutes before the scheduled time to explain the dynamic. On the other hand, the timetable may vary during the low season. We recommend that you check beforehand to guarantee your participation.
• The material in the escape rooms in London is often presented in English only, so you will need some knowledge of the language to participate in the activities.
• None of these activities include transport, so plan your itinerary for the day with the best route in mind.
• Some of the escape rooms are included in London City Sightseeing Cards, the savings can be up to 50%. These cards are recommended, especially if you are visiting London in summer, when queues are long and prices increase.
• Pregnant women can join almost all experiences, however, they may not have a place to sit during activities.
• People with limited physical mobility should check before purchasing tickets.

• Planning one of the best excursions from London and don't want to miss out on the escape room experience? Canterbury offers an excellent alternative. Escape in the Towers takes place in the royal cells of the old Canterbury Gaol dating back to 1830.

The sinister plot of this game involves a dangerous doctor and an ancient crime and punishment laboratory, and there is one hour to escape. Tickets include access to the Westgate Towers museum and viewing platform, the largest surviving medieval gateway in England. Entry is available from €18 per person.

• Finally, if after entering the Harry Potter Studio Park you fancy continuing your tour of witches, wizards and creatures, it's worth checking out the escape room at the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Here you'll have to solve puzzles, decipher runes, brew potions and cast spells to successfully graduate in 60 minutes. Each room is specially designed to immerse you in this magical world with hints of J.K. Rolling's book saga. The hat won't let you into Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hafflepuff or Ravenclaw schools but cracking the exit will merit Dumbledore's approval. Tickets are available from €75 per couple.