What is it?
Co-scripted by BBC’s Sherlock creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, ‘Sherlock: The Game Is Now’ begins with the master detective mysteriously missing in action. Enter you and your hand-picked gang of fellow sleuths, tasked with solving a juicy selection of three-patch problems during a 90-minute sesh in a secret central London location. Naturally, you’ll get help (and hindrance) from original cast members, including the high-functioning sociopath of 221B Baker Street himself.
The journey begins in ‘Doyle’s Opticians’ (as in Arthur Conan), a cover for a ‘spy training agency’ that looks so realistic shoppers have been wandering in asking to get their eyes tested. Listen carefully and you’ll hear Dr John Watson’s (Martin Freeman) voice on the speakers. With the guidance of an actor, you’re ushered in to a secret room to start your mission as rookie spies out to rescue Mycroft. But the play within the play really starts at 221B Baker Street, an exact replica of Sherlock’s living room, recreated with the help of the show’s designer. Maniacal Irish villain Jim Moriarty (Andrew Scott), exasperated Dr Watson (Martin Freeman) and supercilious Mycroft (Gatiss again) all pop up through footage featuring that familiar quick and caustic logorrhea.
Why go?
For an escape room without the cheesy patter delivered by plummy-voiced drama school grads. Everything is designed to test your mental agility, so there are no physical tasks here – it’s all about opening the door to your mind palace.
Don’t miss
The next door experience ‘Sherlock: The Mind of Moriarty’, in which you travel through the devious villain’s memories to defeat him from the inside. Oh, and don’t miss the secret speakeasy cocktail bar, either.
When to visit
The escape room runs escapes from Tuesday to Sunday and every day of the week during the school holidays.
Ticketing info
Prices start from £30 per children and £35 for adults, with family tickets availbel for £99 (two adults and two kids aged 10 or over).
Find more London escape rooms and discover our guide to the very best things to do in London.