London is packed full of history and secrets, with many surprises tucked away behind corners you might normally walk past. Whether it’s your first time visiting the city or you’d like to make your next trip more exciting, a treasure hunt is a great way to explore and learn something new.
Treasure hunts are games which can include riddles, solvable clues and prizes. Just like a pirate map where x marks the spot, all you have to do is follow the trail to find the treasure. They’re a lot of fun to play with friends or family, and if you’re feeling up for a challenge, you could even track down the treasure by yourself.
While the streets of London may not be paved with gold, there are plenty of unique treasures and locations to discover if you’re able to decipher the clues and follow the trail.
Hosting Your Own Treasure Hunt
When planning your own London treasure hunt, there are a few things you should consider before getting started. The best treasure hunts are challenging but fun, meaning participants should be able to solve the clues while still enjoying themselves and not getting frustrated by the difficulty.
Before you begin planning your hunt, consider the difficulty of the clues and ensure that everyone can solve them while still feeling challenged. If you’re feeling up to it, you could create several challenges of different levels and test everyone before the hunt starts.
You’ll want to plan a route through London that is both interesting and feasible. It’s normally best to stay within one area to minimise the amount of travel that’s required, though if you have more free time, a longer treasure hunt can be a lot of fun too.
Most treasure hunts follow a specific theme, and there are lots of different ideas which fit in with London and its history. For example, you could do a treasure hunt featuring lots of historical London pubs.
Much like cash collect games, treasure hunts offer a fun and rewarding way to win real prizes. Whether you offer real cash, souvenirs, or just a pat on the back, make sure your participants feel rewarded for their efforts.
Once you’ve set up the clues and prizes, you need to brief all your participants. Ensure you explain the rules carefully, going over instructions on how to solve clues and the time limits. Create some hints that you can give to people if they’re struggling with certain clues, and be ready to answer any questions that they might have.
Discovering London’s Hidden Gems
London is an incredible city, attracting millions of tourists every year. Its rich history means there are plenty of hidden gems to discover, and any good treasure hunt should focus on the unexplored and mysterious side of the city where possible.
Of course, the locations your hunt focuses on might depend on the theme and your own personal preferences. London has plenty of unique and interesting places to discover, and we’ve created this list of famous locations and hidden gems that you can use for your next treasure hunt:
- Columbia Road Flower Market – Every Sunday, a small street in Bethnal Green blooms into life. The Columbia Flower Market is a street market featuring a stunning array of fresh-cut flowers, bedding plants, houseplants and more. Before the market was established in 1869, the area was a notorious slum.
- Museum of Brands – The unique Museum of Brands is located in Notting Hill and exhibits more than 12,000 items, including packaging, posters, toys and games from Victorian England to the present day.
- Kyoto Garden – This serene space is located within Holland Park, a small section of West London filled with gardens and trees. Kyoto Park was gifted to the UK in 1991 by Kyoto, Japan, as a celebration of the friendship between the two island nations.
- Barbican Conservatory – This is the second-largest conservatory in London and home to a beautiful collection of tropical plants, colourful fish and songbirds. The space is used for events, so it’s not always open, but entry is free, and there are even guided tours available.
- Seven Dials – This road junction is where seven historic streets of London meet at a circular roundabout, which features an impressive sundial in the centre. It’s also close to the Seven Dials market, a huge food hall with a history that goes back to the 17th century.
- Highgate Cemetery – This Victorian-era cemetery was consecrated in 1839 and offers a glimpse into the past, with the graves of many notable figures, including writers and poets from that time period. It’s set on a quiet hill and also offers many examples of Victorian romantic architecture.
- Brick Lane – This famous street in East London is the heart of the country’s Bangladeshi community and today is home to many of London’s best curry restaurants, as well as modern graffiti and a bric-a-brac market.
- Primrose Hill – This hill, just a short walk from Regent’s Park, offers an incredible view of the city and Hampstead. It also features Shakespeare’s tree and an inscription from esteemed poet William Blake at the summit.
- Tulip Stairs – This magnificent set of stairs is located within the Queen’s House and is known for being the first self-supported spiral staircase in Britain. As there’s no central support, you get an unobstructed view from top to bottom, which makes for an incredible photo opportunity.
- The UK’s Smallest Police Station – Trafalgar Square is a hugely famous London landmark, but located in the south-east corner is the UK’s smallest police station. It’s hidden inside a light fitting and was used to observe political protests.
- Leake Street Arches – Also known as the graffiti tunnel, this underground tunnel passes beneath Waterloo Station and is covered in legal street art. You can walk through the tunnel at any time of the day and enjoy the art as well as street performers.
Uncovering London’s Treasures
London is the ideal spot for a treasure hunt, as there’s simply so much to discover. Our above list of potential treasure locations barely even scratches the surface of what the city has to offer. You can write an endless number of riddles and clues to challenge your participants, and the treasure could be history about the city or prizes that fit the theme.