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Time Out's cryptic Christmas trail
Time Out has teamed up with HiddenCity to offer you a free festive trail across London
Discover secret London
- London's hidden bars and unusual nightlife
- Hidden London museums and libraries
- Hidden gardens and green spaces
- Hidden historic treasures
How does it work?
UPDATED: This event has now finished. For more HiddenCity trails visit their website.
HiddenCity is a mobile game where you solve a trail of clues sent to you by text message. Bring your mobile phone and a map and get ready to discover a London transformed by Christmas. It's a fantastic way to see a side of the city that you normally wouldn't.
This is a special Christmas trail in conjunction with Time Out. The trail will lead you through wintry parks, uncover hidden streets and stop by cosy caverns. Once you've signed up (see below), head to the Serpentine Bar & Kitchen. The first clue will unlock a free winter-warmer - either alcoholic or non-alcoholic.
Each clue is sent to you by text message. Send the correct answer back and get the next clue. There are no premium text message charges.
The difficulty of the trail has been graded by HiddenCity as 'easy-to-medium', so don't worry about getting stuck. And if you do get stuck, you can request a hint.
The trail is ideal for two to four people per team, and if there are more of you then split up into multiple teams and compete against each other. All venues en route are suitable for families.
About HiddenCity
HiddenCity is a game where you solve a trail of clues sent to you by text message. Discover quirky shops, stylish bars and tucked-away pubs. Do it in one team or unleash your competitive side by entering multiple groups. It's up to you. We think two to four people per team is a great number.
There are 12 trails to choose from. Each trail lasts between two and four hours. Once you've signed up and paid all team captains receive a welcome text message and email with the start location. The hunt kicks off when Team 1 sends 'start'. Then all the teams get the first clue.
Comments
This hidden trail around London, was a perfect way to see parts of the city you would not normally visit with the added fun of cryptic clues and bar breaks. All that was needed was a phone, a map and a sense of adventure.
It started in Hyde Park with a hot chocolate or snapps and took me and my friends (there were four of us) through Winter Wonderland, Mayfair, Regent Street, Soho, Carnaby Street, Covent Garden and The Strand, and although these are well known areas it was made more interesting by travelling along streets we had never been down before.
There were several pub stops (one of which was our own addition to the trail) and they are places we had not previously visited and would definitely go again now we know they are there. There was also a visit to a chocolate store and a frozen yogurt shop where we were handed treats and the trail ended at Somerset House where we enjoyed a glass of mulled wine as part of the trail.
The clues were not too difficult but made you think (hints were available if you got stuck) and it was definitely value for money (£16 for a team of 4, which would have been the cost of the mulled wine). The trail was very relaxed and me and my friends were able to catch up with each other along the way as well as enjoy the sights. I was also impressed with the fact that you have 28 days to complete the trail, so if you do not finish on the day you start out you can pick it up the next day or following week. It took us around 3-4 hours to complete as we were going at a leisurely pace and stopping off for drinks.
Everything had been thought of including the problem of a phone running out of battery (clues are sent out via text) as you just text the number of someone else in the group to get texts sent to that person as well. We didn't compete against another team but I like the fact that you can and may consider this next time.
There are several other hidden trails available covering all sorts of things from art to bars and it is something I will definitely be doing again soon with friends. Everyone who I have told about the day has asked for the website as they are really keen to check it out.
Well done Hidden City, ten out ten and I look forward to more trails being added in 2012.
Excellent way to explore London, went with kids and they loved it, now I need to try one for adults :)
majbritt, you can get a pay-and-go SIM card from O2, orange or any other phone shops. Even tesco might have it.
If this is supposedly "Free", why does it state £16 per team when you click on the link to book??
Hi Majbritt, we are launching international mobile trails soon (our developer is coding as I type)! Please watch this space...
I tried the HiddenCity Street Art trail in Shoreditch and it was brilliant! I'm really looking forward to doing the Christmas one as well!
Why are only the English allowed to join this christmas trail? We are from Denmark, coming to London in 2 weeks and would have liked to try this event out, but it's not possible without a UK phone no.
Regards
Majbritt Jensen
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