Treasure Hunts in London, Compared: The 11 Best

1.The Hunt for the Cheshire Cat by HiddenCity

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 225 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $40Our pick

You and a team of 2 to 6 follow clues sent to your phone from The Coal Hole on Strand to Waterloo. Expect Alice in Wonderland puzzles, staff roleplay, city walking, built in food and drink breaks, and the freedom to pause and continue within the 28 day validity period.

“Such a great day. Took all day with food and drink stops and saw parts of London I have never seen. Great fun. We were a group of 5, parents and three adults kids (aged 19 to 26).”

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2.Little Venice London: Journey Through Lost Memories Quest

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 29 reviews · 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $6

Follow clues through Little Venice on a self-guided Questo game. You will learn about Regent’s Canal, solve puzzles, and move between stops using your phone, with no guide, boat ride, GPS, or live contact required. The game takes about one to one and a half hours and can be paused or spread across several days.

“Was terrible wouldn’t recommend. The location stated on the website was the wrong location. And when we got there we was told this website is a scam.”

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3.Greenwich, London: Real-world Adventure Game

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $20

Take on a self-guided detective game through Greenwich with up to six players. Clues arrive by WhatsApp and lead you from the Old Brewery through the Cutty Sark, market, park, Queen’s House, and Royal Observatory. Bring a pen, expect adult-level puzzles, and allow about three hours for walking, breaks, and problem-solving.

“Me and my friend walked around Greenwich for the first time doing this adventure city hunt and had a wonderful time. It takes you through some of the best spots including the market and the park and we were blessed with some nice weather as well. Some of the challenges are harder than others, but overall it’s a good brain teaser and a good walk as well!”

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4.Jack the Ripper in London: Quest Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 10 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $7

Follow a self-guided mobile quest from Bishopsgate through Spitalfields and Whitechapel, solving clues at ten locations linked to Jack the Ripper, local migration, pubs, churches, and old markets. You play offline, set your own start time, and finish near the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. No physical guide is provided.

“There was nothing in this walk that was worth the money I spent on it. The explanations were poor, the directions inexistant. I ended up using Google to learn more about the Ripper and the neighbourhood we were walking in. Extremely disappointing service. I would never recommend it. Instead, I would recommend against it at the first opportunity.”

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5.GRAILTRAIL: Quest for the Holy Grail (Self-Guided Adventure Walk)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $13

Start at Paternoster Square and follow a 5km, step-free mystery trail through London’s forgotten sacred geography. Use Telegram to solve visual clues tied to Glastonbury, Celtic saints, Templars, relics, and old chapels. Play in 11 languages, pause at pubs, and finish around Covent Garden.

“Great hunt showing some of the oldest parts of London that as a local even if never spotted before! Questions are easy but was great for a family of 4 with 2 teens for a bit of fun. A lot of pubs on the way too if you don’t have kids with you 😁”

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6.London’s Crown Secret: Self-Guided Royal Puzzle Quest

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $6

Use the Questo app to follow a two-hour royal puzzle walk from the Palace of Westminster to Buckingham Palace. Along the way, solve clues at Westminster Abbey, Horse Guards Parade, St James’s Palace, Spencer House, and other central London sights. There is no guide or attraction admission, so you control the pace.

“Not being able to start the experiment as the map pin was in an inaccessible location! Wouldn't load onto more than one phone.”

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7.Interactive Treasure Hunt London – City of London/Southwark

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 5 reviews · from $24

Follow a self-guided CityDays puzzle trail from St. Paul’s Cheapside through the City of London and Southwark. Solve riddles about kings, bridges, markets, medieval pleasure districts, sculptures, and riverside London. Choose Classic, Relaxed, or Spanish clues, play privately with up to five people, and pause along the way.

“Very interesting however some of the clues don’t quite match up to the location! Be prepared to walk a long way! It’s difficult to get to requested location if you can’t get a signal on your phone!!!”

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8.London Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 4 reviews · from $3Best value

Use the World City Trail app to solve location-based riddles around Westminster and Parliament Square. Walk about 4.4 km, find 10+ London attractions, and learn local facts at your own pace. The self-guided game works in six languages, needs internet access, and takes about two hours, with no guide waiting at the start.

“Centered around parliament square. Too much crossing of busy roads in a tourist packed area. You have to go back the way you came quite a lot. Would be better if it was more of a linear route. Gave up after 5 clues. Clues themselves are OK.”

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9.Cluefall – Immersive Treasure Hunt in London’s South Bank

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $30

Play spy across London’s South Bank with your private group. Starting at the Graffiti Tunnel on Leake Street, you’ll use a GPS-enabled app to solve puzzles, follow clues, meet secret agents, and uncover lesser-seen corners near famous landmarks. Allow about four hours, with morning and afternoon start times available.

“A great day out with friends which took us to some parts of London we had never seen before. If you are looking for something different to do with a giggle along the way then this is a must!”

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10.Romantic Notting Hill: Self-Guided Love Story Puzzle Walk

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · from $9

Follow Ophelia, a lonely florist searching for love, through Notting Hill on a self-guided Questo game. Solve phone-based clues at 14 stops, from Portobello Road and The Notting Hill Bookshop to the blue door and Banksy’s The Painter. Allow 80 to 110 minutes, bring charged phones, and expect no guide or attraction entry fees.

“This was good fun. Some surprises along the way as Notting Hill is not the only film that makes an appearance! Found lots of interesting stuff out that we didn’t know. The only downside was that we found it hard to navigate how to actually start the game but the helpline were great.”

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11.Southwark Pirates of the Thames Quest Experience in London

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours (approx.) · from $7

Use your phone to follow a pirate-themed story through Southwark, solving clues at 16 historic stops from Shakespeare’s Globe to Tower Bridge. This private, self-guided game takes about 90 minutes to two hours and includes Southwark Cathedral, Borough Market, Crossbones Garden, the Golden Hinde, London Bridge, and more. No guide or attraction tickets are required.

“Fun afternoon solving quizzes along the Thames and down the back streets. Interesting and engaging conversations about the history we learnt from the app and the landmarks we visited”

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