An adventure in the heart of the west end
Unravel the dark mystery that has plagued Covent Garden for centuries. In this immersive treasure hunt, cryptic clues sent directly to your phone will guide you through hidden alleys, historic markets, and secret passages as you attempt to lift a long-standing curse that has turned unsuspecting inhabitants to stone.
Legend tells of an ancient potion capable of breaking the curse, but the recipe has been badly damaged and scattered across Covent Garden’s cursed landmarks. Your mission: retrace the footsteps of those who first brewed the potion, piece together the missing ingredients, and restore the elixir before the curse consumes you.
With 19 cryptic clues leading you through the heart of Covent Garden’s West End, you’ll explore hidden gems and discover untold stories—guaranteed to surprise even the most seasoned Londoners. The journey begins outside Covent Garden Underground station, and your final destination awaits at a handpicked local pub —a fitting place to celebrate your victory if you manage to outsmart the curse!
Are you ready to embark on this cursed adventure and break the spell? Time is running out...
Locked City's A Journey Through Time begins at the exit of Tower Hill Underground station.
Each team can up to 5 phones connected. We encourage groups of 6+ people to split into multiple teams to have the best experience.
You can easily add more numbers to receive clues by replying 'Add +44XXXXXXXXXX'.
Clues and directions will be sent via WhatsApp. You will only receive the next clue once the correct answer has been sent.
No! Each hunt is designed to require no local knowledge and will be of the same difficulty regardless of prior knowledge.
You can reply 'STUCK' at anytime and a hint will be sent to you. If you are still stuck, you can send 'SKIP' to skip to the next clue. These will incur a time penalty!
You can text 'LOST' at anytime and the exact location of the answer will be sent to you.
Bring your phone with internet connection (for WhatsApp). A battery pack may be advisable if you are likely to run out of charge.
- Please be courteous to other members of the public.
- No conferring or sharing of answers with other teams.
- No deliberately obstructing other teams!
- Use of a map is allowed but is not required.
Don't worry if your phone runs out of battery! As long as another member of your team has been added to the hunt, you can keep playing.
Each hunt passes toilets en-route (toilets may charge a small fee) and features designated rest stops in pubs containing toilets.
We use WhatsApp to send you messages, therefore you will need an internet connection on your phone, which is often included in your mobile plan.
Yes! You can start as soon as the booking is made. You will receive your introductory messages immediately after booking.
No. Our hunts are fully flexible, so if your plans change or if you're running late, you can start at a different time. Just make sure you start before the last start time of the day, which can be found on our website or in your introductory messages.
Some of our hunts will take you through public parks which may close at dusk, therefore we recommend starting with plenty of time. Please see check the available start times on our website, or in your introductory messages to understand when you can start your hunt.
Whilst always best in good weather, our hunts can operate regardless of the weather conditions. We do advise exercising caution if it is slippery underfoot. You are welcome to start (or resume) a hunt at a later date if the weather conditions are poor.
Unfortunately we don't offer refunds due to adverse weather.
We recommend using a UK mobile number, however most international numbers should also be compatible. If you have any questions, please reach out to our team.
Due to the nature of our hunts, we unfortunately cannot guarantee the route will be accessible by wheelchair, as there may be steps and narrow pavements.
There is no time limit. You can race to make the leaderboards or simply relax and take the hunt at your own pace. If you need to return to finish the hunt at a later date, that's possible too!
