Chase the Cheshire Cat through London by phone. This HiddenCity game turns a standard sightseeing walk into a story-driven puzzle hunt, with clues sent to your mobile as you move across central London. You play in teams of 2-6, solve riddles on the go, and you can pause whenever you need a breather.

I especially like two things about how this works. First, the puzzles genuinely test your thinking without turning into a frustration marathon, and the best moments feel like earning the answer, not guessing it. Second, you get a real walk route that pushes you past familiar streets and into areas you might skip on a first trip, with friendly pit stops built into the route.

One thing to consider: there aren’t checkpoints that clearly tell you how far you are in. On a longer session, that can create some stress if your team expects a shorter finish, and you might end up taking a second day to complete it.

Key points to know before you start

• Start at The Coal Hole (Strand) and finish in Waterloo, so plan for a clear end point on foot or by transit.
• Play in teams of 2–6, and bigger groups can split into multiple teams for a head-to-head vibe.
• Clues come to your mobile phone, and you can pause the game when you want.
• Built-in break points help you grab food and drinks without derailing the route.
• UK, US, or CA mobile number is required, so sort that before you meet up.

How the Cheshire Cat hunt works on your phone

This is a treasure-hunt-style experience with a London twist: you follow a trail of clues delivered to your phone. Instead of a guide talking at you the whole time, the story nudges you forward with questions, tasks, and riddle solving. Your role is basically to become the team’s brain on the move—reading what comes in, figuring out where to go next, then arriving to unlock the next step.

A key detail here is pacing. The game is designed so you can go at your own pace. If someone needs a bathroom stop, or you want to slow down at a busy junction and regroup, you can. That flexibility matters in London, where weather, crowds, and even a surprise bus detour can change your energy fast.

You’ll also want your group set up for message-based play. Players reported getting clues by WhatsApp during the hunt, which makes sense for a phone-led setup. The practical takeaway: charge your phone fully, and make sure your messaging app is working before you start.

Meeting at The Coal Hole on the Strand, finishing in Waterloo

Your start point is The Coal Hole, 91-92 Strand, London WC2R 0DW. Your finish is Waterloo, London SE1. That end point is convenient because Waterloo is a major transit hub, so finishing there can make it easier to get back to your hotel—if you plan your day around it.

The experience runs during listed opening hours on weekdays (Monday–Friday, 12:00 PM–6:00 PM). It’s also available across a multi-year window, so you should be able to find a time that fits your schedule, but it’s still smart to book ahead because demand is real.

One more practical note: this is a walking route across central London. Even if the game lets you pause, you’re still choosing to explore on foot. Good walking shoes are not optional here. If you tend to feel sore after a couple hours of city walking, you’ll feel it by the end.

Puzzles, riddles, and real problem-solving moments

The heart of the experience is the puzzle chain. You’ll be asked to solve riddles and figure out what to do next based on clues that arrive through your phone. Some tasks require out-of-the-box thinking, and you’ll likely find yourselves looking at familiar streets in a new way. That’s part of the point: the game makes you notice details you’d normally ignore, like how signs, streets, and small features can become part of the solution.

What I like about the challenge level is that it feels built for mixed groups. Families with kids around primary-school age have done it and stayed engaged (though the youngest players may need a calmer pace and more help). Couples and friend groups also seem to hit a fun balance—enough challenge to be satisfying, not so hard that everyone feels shut out.

That said, the wording and structure matter. If your team expects a light, casual stroll with easy answers, you might be surprised by how quickly your brain gets busy. One downside noted was that it felt more challenging than expected for some groups. My advice: treat it like a puzzle game first, sightseeing second.

Where the built-in break points fit into the day

The route includes built-in break points for food and drinks. That’s a small detail that makes a big difference in London, where people often lose energy (and patience) when they’re starving and stuck searching for a place to eat.

These breaks also help you reset. Even when you’re having fun, puzzle hunts can create mental fatigue. The built-in stops give you a natural moment to regroup, swap who’s reading clues, and decide as a team whether to push ahead or slow down.

In the same way, multiple pit stops staffed by people connected to the experience can add a little extra flavor—friendly, welcoming stop points can turn your downtime into part of the story rather than an interruption. If you’re traveling with kids, this is also where you can steer the mood: snacks and water keep the whole team participating.

Teams of 2–6: racing the clock or working together

This works best when your group has a clear plan for roles. The game supports teams of 2-6 players. If you have a bigger group, it can split into multiple teams so you can play head-to-head.

For couples or small groups, I’d suggest you pick one person as the clue-reader and another as the navigator. Then rotate. It keeps one person from carrying the whole experience and it helps if someone spots something the rest missed.

For friend groups and family teams, competition can be fun, but it also raises the stakes. If you’re traveling with mixed ages, you might want to treat it as cooperative with a playful race element rather than a strict winner-loser setup. That approach tends to keep the younger players from feeling left behind.

As for timing, the experience is listed as about 3 to 4 hours. In real life, puzzles can stretch that. One group finished faster by taking the right steps quickly; others took longer, especially when they stayed strategic or got temporarily stuck. Plan something flexible afterward at Waterloo, rather than locking your next plan for the minute.

Value and the reality of paying $40.90 for a walking game

At $40.90 per person, you’re not paying for a museum ticket or a classic guided tour. You’re paying for the game framework: the phone-guided clue trail, puzzle design, and the branded story structure that turns London streets into the playground.

So is it worth it? It’s a good value if you like interactive sightseeing—meaning you don’t just want to look at things, you want to do something with them. If your group likes riddles, teamwork, or light competition, you’ll get your money’s worth because the experience keeps you busy the whole time instead of waiting for the next stop.

It’s less of a bargain if your idea of fun is passive sightseeing. If you hate being mentally active while walking, you may feel like you’re trudging between clue points rather than exploring. Also, if your group wants very clear progress signals, the game doesn’t give much of that, which can affect how satisfied you feel with the time you spend.

My practical take: consider it a replacement for one chunk of traditional sightseeing. You’re buying focus and movement, not a sit-down guided lesson.

Potential downsides and how to avoid them

I’ll give you the main issues to watch for, based on how the experience is set up.

First: no clear checkpoints. Some teams found the lack of visible progress confusing and stressful, especially if they were expecting an easier or shorter arc. If you don’t like uncertainty, you can protect your day by setting expectations upfront: you may not know exactly how close you are until the story ramps toward the finish.

Second: some groups found it more challenging than expected. That can happen if your team is more “look at sights” than “solve puzzles.” Fix: bring a mix of thinking styles. Assign more than one person to logic and clue reading so you don’t get stuck waiting on a single brain.

Third: the final stretch may feel less exciting for some teams. Even when the overall hunt is fun, the finale’s emotional payoff depends on what you’re looking for—big dramatic reveal versus a final puzzle wrap-up. If you’re the kind of group that loves big theatrical moments, keep that expectation in check.

Finally: phone requirements matter. The game requires a UK, US, or CA mobile phone number. If you don’t have one, you’ll likely be unable to start. Plan that before you meet up.

Pairing it with the rest of your London day

Because it starts on the Strand and ends at Waterloo, this is easiest to plug into a mid-day plan. You can use it as your “main event” and then treat the rest of the day as buffer time for photos, snacks, and transit.

If you’re already walking around central London that day, you might not need another long guided tour. This gives you a reason to cover ground and it keeps your brain busy, which can make the overall day feel more satisfying than wandering with a map.

If you’re visiting with family, it also works as a structured activity that still shows you real streets and neighborhoods. That combination can be a lifesaver when everyone gets restless and you want something that doesn’t feel like another lecture.

Who should book The Hunt for the Cheshire Cat

Book this if your group likes:

• puzzle and riddle solving
• interactive games on your phone
• walking across central London with built-in breaks
• a team challenge with a playful story

It may not be the right choice if:

• you dislike puzzle pressure and want a purely visual sightseeing experience
• you hate walking for 3-4 hours
• your group lacks phone comfort or can’t meet the mobile number requirement

If you’re deciding between this and another classic tour, think about what you want to remember. If you want memories built around solving clues and laughing at wrong turns, this is a strong pick. If you want a relaxed, commentary-based tour while you watch the city, you may prefer something less game-like.

Should you book?

I’d book it if you want one London activity that’s genuinely participatory. The price is reasonable for the time and the fact that you’re turning streets into a puzzle route, plus the built-in food breaks take care of a common day-killer.

I wouldn’t book it last-minute, and I wouldn’t book it if your group is strongly averse to uncertainty. The hunt runs by phone and doesn’t spell out progress with checkpoints, so you’ll do better if you treat it like an adventure where timing is flexible.

If you’re flexible, bring good shoes, and go in ready to collaborate, this is the kind of London day you’ll talk about later—not because it was just pretty, but because you actually figured it out.

FAQ

How long does The Hunt for the Cheshire Cat take?

The experience lasts about 3 to 4 hours.

How much is it per person?

It costs $40.90 per person.

Where do we meet and where does it end?

You start at The Coal Hole, 91-92 Strand, London WC2R 0DW, and you finish in Waterloo, London SE1.

What language is the experience offered in?

The experience is offered in English.

What do I need on my phone to take part?

You must have a UK, US, or CA mobile phone number to participate. Clues are sent to your phone, and the experience uses a mobile ticket.

Are there break points for food and drinks?

Yes. There are built-in break points where you can pause for food and drinks.

Is it a private tour or shared with other groups?

It’s private. Only your group will participate.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed.

You Might Also Enjoy

London Sightseeing Tour: Guard Change with Tower of London OptionHeathrow To Southampton Cruise Port TransfersSkip the Line: Liverpool Beatles Museum – The perfect tribute to the BeatlesRoyal London Guided Tour with Changing of the Guard