DAYSOUT
TEAM BUILDING WITH A DIFFERENCE
HIDDEN CITY 007 :
SHADOW OF SPECTRE
007 HAS BEEN TARGETED . M16 NEEDS YOU TO INVESTIGATE . GATHER INTELLIGENCE , NAVIGATE THE CITY AND SOLVE CLUES IN A BID TO OUTSMART SPECTRE … EVER HAD THAT ISSUE OF WANTING TO FIND SOMETHING FUN TO DO WITH FRIENDS OR FAMILY , SOMETHING THAT APPEALS TO EVERYONE FROM PUZZLE LOVERS TO CITY EXPLORERS ? HIDDEN CITY HAS JUST THE THING AND IT IS SIMPLY BRILLIANT ! BY SAMANTHA READY
Shrieking “ The name ’ s Ready , Sam Ready ” across Waterloo station is probably an apt description of the level of excitement felt as I met with my very best friends at 11am one sunny Friday morning ready to undertake a very different day out . Part treasure hunt , part exploring walking tour , Hidden City offers budding groups of between two and six players the opportunity to undertake a series of 3-4 hour-long themed adventures across the capital ; all you need is a mobile phone , your best puzzle-solving skills and a sense of adventure …
With a die-hard Bond fan on our team , it seemed only right to opt for the 007 : Shadow of Spectre game , which has actually been developed in collaboration with the producers of the James Bond films no less . Your mission is simple : become an MI6 agent , work with Moneypenny , Q Branch and other characters , and solve a trail of clues left by Bond .
Now , of course , we can ’ t give the game away nor spoil your fun , but be assured that the gameplay is simply brilliant !
THE BEST WAY TO GET TO LONDON
Your mobile will ping , instructions will be sent and codes and clues must be solved to progress on your mission which , as the name suggests , will also take you across a wide variety of often hidden London gems . We found ourselves in secluded gardens , private libraries , 17th-century taverns and sleuthing through five-star hotels to name a few !
As you try and find out what has happened to the iconic spy , with gameplay timed daily to allow teams to compete to get to the top of the completed adventure leaderboard , the clever game also builds in natural pitstop breaks at pubs , bars and restaurants , where you can ‘ stop the clock ’ and indulge in lunch , snacks and even a secret ( and specially discounted ) 007 cocktail menu - shaken not stirred of course !
From our very first whispered words at the National Theatre , to running to answer the phone in iconic red London phone boxes , we had the most fun we ’ d had in ages ! Full of laughter and a few “ I had no idea this place existed ” gasps , we were shocked to realise just how quickly three hours passed , and were more than happy to celebrate our completion efforts with a Martini or two , even if we were tripped up by that tricky Spectre a couple of times along the way !
Whether a Bond aficionado , a lover of escape-room-style problem solving , or if you ’ re simply just looking for a day out with a difference , Hidden City should be top of your next day out must-do list !
Hidden City 007 : Shadow of Spectre starts from £ 20pp and runs every day including bank holidays with start times between 11.30am and 7.30pm Monday to Friday , 10.30am - 6.30pm Saturdays , and 12pm and 4.30pm on Sundays . Games run across a two-mile adventure location and typically last 2-3 hours with the option of adding 75 minutes of breaks . Agents of all ages are welcome with under 18s able to play if an adult is in the team ; under 10s go free . The game is also dog friendly .
www . inthehiddencity . com
inthehiddencity
With super fast connections courtesy of Southeastern ' s High Speed trains , venture to London in less than an hour , all ready to enjoy a luxury epicurean adventure . www . southeasternrailway . co . uk
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